OUR EXECUTIVE PACK

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Carey McBeth

Founder & Executive Director

Carey McBeth, Tśisxamia of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation, is an Indigenous entrepreneur, with a love and passion for dogs! For over 18 years Carey has been involved in pet therapy with her late Golden Retriever Oakley, Bernese Mountain Dog Burke, and now her Bernese Mountain Dog, Brinkley. 

Carey studied Broadcast and Media Communications at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. She also studied Business Etiquette and International Protocol at The Protocol School of Washington, DC.   

Prior to founding HERO DAWGS, Carey owned Illustrious BC, a company that chartered privately owned superyachts in British Columbia. She also produced luxury events and experiences, and was the Lifestyle Expert for Global BC News, where she had a regular segment on lifestyle events.

Alongside her immense love of all things dog, Carey enjoys international travel, is a passionate European soccer and NFL fan, and loves to plan a good social soiree!

Dr. Darren Klass, MBChB MD MRCS FRCR FRCPC

Board of Directors

Darren Klass is a clinical professor of interventional radiology at VGH and UBC hospitals in Vancouver and at the Cleveland Clinic London, UK. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Pretoria in South Africa and completed his registrar training at the Norwich Radiology Academy, before completing a fellowship in interventional radiology at UBC.

He obtained a doctorate from the University of East Anglia, researching the effects of direct and alternating current for tissue ablation.

He is the IR lead for the complex thoracic aortic stent graft program and is the head of MRI for Vancouver Acute and developed the vascular MRI service at Vancouver General Hospital.

He has over 10 years of experience in oncology, providing minimally invasive therapy in the liver for primary and secondary cancer, and was one of the first interventional radiologists in Canada to offer selective internal radiation therapy for advanced liver cancer.

He was the first radiologist in Canada to offer procedures through the radial artery in the wrist and has been at the forefront of research and teaching in this space for over 10 years; he has trained over 2000 physicians worldwide in this technique.

He has published 58 manuscripts in peer reviewed medical journals and has presented over 150 scientific talks and authored 5 book chapters.

When he is not working, he can be found on his bicycle or petting a four-legged friend. He is a passionate supporter of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya.

Heather Harps 

Board of Directors 

Heather Harps is a seasoned Account and Program Management Leader with over 35 years of experience in the technology and health services industries. She has a proven track record of leading transformative, enterprise-level programs across private, public, and startup environments. Known for her expertise in project delivery, client relationship management, strategic planning, and operational excellence, Heather has successfully guided large-scale programs to improve business outcomes, foster innovation, and drive efficiency.

Throughout her career, Heather has excelled in building and managing strategic portfolios, developing governance frameworks, and leading diverse teams to meet complex organizational goals. Her experience across across private, public, and startup environments has equipped her with a diverse perspective, fostering agility, adaptable problem-solving skills, and a broad understanding of varied organizational structures and approaches in an innovation-driven culture enabling the ability to drive meaningful change, foster strategic growth, and tailor solutions to meet diverse business needs effectively. Most recently, Heather is the Acting Director of the Strategic Portfolio Office and Business Operations with PHSA.  

Heather’s career is marked by her dedication to collaborative client relationships, commitment to continuous improvement, and passion for delivering impactful solutions in the Health Care environment.

Matina Waarbroek

Board of Directors

Matina Waarbroek is a career public servant with the Federal Government of Canada. A former Executive Secretary of the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies, she brings experience in the management and administration of non-profit organizations to HERO DAWGS. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from McGill and a Master of Arts in Human Security from Royal Roads with a focus on health security and emergency preparedness, for which she completed her practicum at the World Health Organization.

Matina is passionate about mental health and wellness in the healthcare sector, having started her own career more than twenty years ago as a project manager and administrator at the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics before joining the federal public service. 

Geena Jackson

Board of Directors

Geena Jackson is a proud member of the Frog Clan from the Shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia who carries the traditional name, Tsetasiya (‘Sa-TAS-ee-ya’). After over 20 years as an Indigenous entrepreneur, business development champion and leader in economic development circles, Geena launched her own media empowerment company, Sparkly Frog Clan Productions, Inc. with one goal in mind – to turn her long-held dream of putting some ‘Indigenous twists’ into the world of business reality TV shows by creating a new series that would showcase the stories, strength and diversity of Indigenous entrepreneurs.  Geena and her team have set the stage to deliver an educational, entertaining and inspirational ‘Reality TV Series with REAL Impact’ that will reward, amplify and elevate the profile of Indigenous entrepreneurs across the nation. 

As a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights and self-determination with 13 years in leadership roles such as Economic Development Officer, Trust Fund Manager, procurement and Major Capital Projects leader for the Squamish Nation, Geena understands the importance of aligning Indigenous entrepreneurs with people and programs who help them turn their dreams into reality. Geena has helped over 550 Indigenous entrepreneurs across Coast Salish communities to launch, stabilize and expand their own business.