Board of Directors

Our board is comprised of visionaries, leaders and like minded individuals who are dedicated to our mission, values, and vision.

Stefan Wittman

Chair
Stefan Wittman
Chair

Stefan has lived his entire life as the younger sibling of his brother Michael who has Cerebral Palsy. His upbringing uniquely shaped his worldview as he developed a profound understanding of the challenges that people with disabilities face on a daily basis. His parents were tireless advocates for Michael’s inclusion and integration, and Stefan has adopted that philosophy. He hopes to devote much of his work in the future to furthering those objectives and is embracing his role as Chair of the Plan Institute Board.

Stefan obtained his JD and MBA degrees from the University of Victoria and currently works as a lawyer in New Westminster. His practice is focussed mostly on personal injury, but his legal interests extend to estate planning, capacity, and human rights. In his spare time, Stefan enjoys a variety of sports, including golf, soccer, tennis, and hockey.

Anton

Anton Medvedev

Treasurer
Anton Medvedev
Treasurer

Anton has extensive experience in the fields of financial performance management and reporting, acquired through his time in the finance department of a multinational corporation and the professional services and product departments of a Toronto-based scale-up. Anton holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Toronto Metropolitan University as well as CPA, CMA and CFA designations. This is Anton’s only board role and he is excited at the prospect of using his skills to enrich the lives of people with disabilities.

Junni Cai

Junni Cai

Board Member
Junni Cai
Board Member

Junni has extensive resource planning, financial reporting and analysis, financial management control, and administration experience working with post-secondary institutions and not-for-profits. Junni deeply believes that inclusive communities are stronger communities, and is committed to advancing Plan Institute’s mission.

Saima Ijaz

Board Member
Saima Ijaz
Board Member

Saima is a non-practicing physician who left her residency to set a home learning program for her son with autism, and then home schooled him when he regressed in the mainstream setup. During her stay at FSI, she organized a few support groups for the local autism families for building connections and capacity, resource sharing and recreational activities. She has worked off and on as a non-ABA behaviour consultant, making Individualized Program Plans for children and youth on the autism spectrum and is passionate about training families on early intervention steps and set-ups by webinars, discussion forums and in person. She is affiliated with several educational, advocacy, and peer support groups for disability communities and is delighted by the opportunity of joining Plan Institute’s board members.

Saima feels blessed having Qasim in her life, who showed her the path of self-growth, ongoing learning, a rewarding vocation, and a new career. In her spare time, she loves reading, and exploring different parks, trails and falls of the amazing Vancouver Island.

Alison Izat

Board Member
Alison Izat
Board Member

Alison works as a Helpline Advisor and RDSP Level 2 Facilitator for Plan Institute. She has also written articles, co-designed workshops, and trained staff for the organization. She has had her Certified Financial Planning Designation since 2004 and brings experience from both the banking and brokerage areas of the Financial Industry. Her education is through the University of British Columbia, Capilano University, and the Canadian Securities Institute.

Alison has always been a strong believer in building financial security through education and planning and the peace of mind this can bring. From the start, she has been impressed by how Plan Institute applies these principles throughout all of their offerings, making significant changes in people’s lives. She would welcome the opportunity to be a part of the organization’s board.

Alison chooses to give back by coordinating at Vancouver Adaptive Ski Sports and training with BC Guide Dogs.

Cynthia Minh

Board Member
Cynthia Minh
Board Member

Cynthia works as Program Manager and Outreach Coordinator at Disability Alliance BC’s Access RDSP Program in partnership with Plan Institute and the BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS). She holds an MA in English Literature from the University of British Columbia with special interest in Asian Diasporic Literature and intergenerational trauma. She sits on the Transitions Advisory Committee and is a member of the Disability Tax Fairness Alliance.

Nicoleta Radoi

Board Member
Nicoleta Radoi
Board Member

Nicoleta has extensive experience in strategic partnership and fundraising in the education, corporate, and not-for-profit sectors, as well as international program and project management experience in Asia, Europe, and Africa. She has worked for over 15 years in roles advancing equitable and inclusive communities and is humbled to be able to contribute to Plan’s mission as a board member.

Hengameh Saberi

Board Member
Hengameh Saberi
Board Member

Hengameh is a Law Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School of York University. Hengameh recognized a need for educational resources and accessible platforms for people with disabilities to learn about investment. As a result, she is starting to work on a start-up to address the gap. While still at the beginning of this work, she thought community serving on Plan Institute’s board would be a very good return on the time and effort she’s invested in educating herself. In addition, she is visually impaired and brings with her a deep personal understanding of the work Plan Institute participates in.

Jack Styan

Board Member
Jack Styan
Board Member

Jack’s career working with people with intellectual disabilities spans forty years. Retired since March 2023, he most recently led strategic planning and key initiatives, including employment and housing, as VP of Strategic Initiatives at Community Living BC.

Prior to this he worked at PLAN, where he collaborated with Al Etmanski and Vickie Cammack to establish the Registered Disability Savings Plan and provincial exemptions for the assets and income from people’s RDSPs.

Jack started his career at the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion where he worked in a variety of positions over 20 years, including nine years as Executive Director.

Jack is married with his partner of 40 years, Catherine, with whom he has two adult children, Gabrielle and Sebastien. He enjoys cooking, reading, writing, cycling, gardening and wine and whiskey in no particular order.