People Services

Meet the team

Gill Henderson

Associate Vice President, People Services
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4419

Diane Adair

Department Administrator
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4717

Ryan Savelieff

Associate Director, People Services
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4223

Delacey Tedesco

Associate Director, EDI
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4720

People Services Business Partners

The People Services Business Partners interpret and administer all Okanagan College terms & conditions and collective agreements and are responsible for providing employee and labour relations advice and consultation to managers, supervisors and employees regarding job descriptions, job evaluation, recruitment & selection, performance management and exit interviews.

Kate Cook

People Services Business Partner
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4208

Gardeen DePluzer

People Services Business Partner
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4718

Shani Herath

People Services Business Partner
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4761

Talent Management & AI Integration Team

Our Talent Management & AI Integration Team leads college-wide strategies to attract, develop, and retain top talent while preparing our workforce for a future powered by people and technology.  The team partners with People Services Business Partners, Managers, and departments to design inclusive recruitment practices, strengthen workforce and succession planning, and embed equity and innovation into every stage of the employee journey.  We also drive the adoption of AI tools and smarter systems to make hiring and talent processes more efficient, accessible, and future-ready.

Shahid Wazed

Manager, Talent Management and AI Integration
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445

Benefits and Wellness Team

Disability Management, Benefits and Wellbeing

Our Manager, Disability Management, Benefits and Wellbeing provides leadership and oversight for Okanagan College's disability management, pension, benefits, wellness, and accommodation programs.  This role supports employees through medical leaves, accommodations, and return-to-work processes.  The Manager also provides strategic guidance and oversight of pension and benefit programs, ensuring compliance with collective agreements, College policies and legislative requirements.

Cheryl Dempsey

Manager, Disability Management, Benefits and Wellbeing
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4603

Pension and Benefits Coordinator

Our Pension & Benefits Coordinator is responsible for the administration of Okanagan College's pension, benefits and wellness programs, as well as the coordination of non-medical accommodation and leave processes.  The coordinator provides guidance on benefit options, pension participation and leave entitlements while supporting and promoting employee health and wellbeing across the College community.

For assistance, please email benefits@okanagan.bc.ca.

Rachelle Nielsen

Pension & Benefits Coordinator (on leave)
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 6361

Edith Nagy

Pension & Benefits Coordinator
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4290

People Services Associates

Our People Services Associates are responsible for administering the staffing process and for accurately compiling, documenting, entering and updating all employment-related staffing actions from initial hire to cessation of employment into the People Services Information System; this includes analyzing the staffing action for the effect on individual employee benefit and leave eligibility and accurately processing those changes, ensuring data integrity.

Tina de Vooght

People Services Associate
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4228

Kara McIntyre

People Services Associate
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4873

Stephanie Gretchen

People Services Associate (on leave)
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4286

Kayla Fraser

People Services Associate
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4939

Reporting & Systems

Our People Services Systems Coordinator provides technical, analytical and professional support and guidance and participates in the planning, development, implementation and maintenance of People Services Information Systems and reporting.

Liz Currie

Business Partner, Reporting & Systems
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4547