Two new directors have been appointed to WorkSafeBC’s governance board.
Effective Monday, Dec. 1, 2025:
- Joshua Douglas Towsley was appointed as a director representative of workers, for a term ending Dec. 1, 2027.
- Edith MacHattie, a professional providing health care or rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities, was appointed as a director for a term ending Dec. 1, 2027.
In addition, three existing directors whose terms had expired have been reappointed to the board:
- Cynthia Nan Morton was reappointed as a director representative of the public interest, for a term ending Dec. 1, 2028.
- William Laird Cronk was reappointed as a director representative of the public interest, for a term ending Dec. 1, 2027.
- Anil Kumar Niranjan Singh, a professional in the area of law or law enforcement, was reappointed as a director for a term ending Dec. 1, 2027.
The WorkSafeBC board of directors serves as a steward of WorkSafeBC and the workers’ compensation system. The Workers Compensation Act requires that the board includes representation from professionals from a range of relevant fields, including health care and rehabilitation, occupational health and safety, and law or law enforcement, as well as an actuary.
Representation must also include workers, employers and must be in the public interest.
Two members, Rebecca Packer and Michelle Laurie, have completed their terms on the board and are recognized for their contributions.
Learn More:
Information about WorkSafeBC’s board of directors can be found here: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/who-we-are/leadership/board-directors
A backgrounder follows.
Backgrounders
Updated Dec. 4, 2025
Edith MacHattie is an occupational therapist who has worked in the public health-care system for 16 years and currently works at a child development centre in Surrey with school-age children. MacHattie has also worked in acute care in adult psychiatry and general medicine, and has held leadership roles that include president and vice-president of the Salal Housing Co-op in Port Moody; board liaison for the co-op’s multimillion-dollar renovation project; co-chair of the B.C. Health Coalition; and positions with the Health Sciences Association of B.C. MacHattie’s work background includes lifeguarding, camp counselling, tree planting and violin performance. MacHattie holds a master of occupational therapy from the University of British Columbia and a bachelor of science in psychology from Queen’s University.
Josh Towsley is assistant business manager and assistant administrator, benefits and pensions, of the International Union of Operating Engineers local 115. He is also treasurer on its executive board and chair of its training association. He holds the master of trust management systems designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefits. He was president of the Vancouver, New Westminster and District Building and Construction Trades Council from 2015 to 2024. In 2018, he was appointed to the provincial Environmental Assessment Advisory Committee, where he worked with representatives from First Nations, local governments, industry, environmental organizations, labour and other stakeholders. Towsley advocates for improvements in regulation and enforcement related to tower cranes.
https://news.gov.bc.ca/33106
Labour
