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Mitch assumed the role of Assistant Deputy Minister, Pharmaceutical Services Division on August 11, 2017.
Prior to his current assignment as Assistant Deputy Minister, Mitch was the Executive Director of the Division's PharmaCare Information, Policy and Evaluation Branch where he was responsible for guiding the development, evaluation and research of pharmaceutical policies that support equitable and sustainable patient access to effective drug therapy. A key accomplishment was the drafting of BC’s Pharmaceutical Services Act, a comprehensive legislative framework for the one-billion dollar BC PharmaCare program.
Mitch joined the Public Service in 2001 as a Ministry of Health Communications Officer and has been with the Pharmaceutical Services Division since 2004, progressively taking on increasing responsibilities.
Mitch obtained a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Communication at the University of Regina, which at the time was the only journalism program in Western Canada. He worked as a print journalist and editor at during a 14-year career in that field. He obtained a Graduate Certificate in
Health Systems Leadership in 2008.
Imran Ali is the Senior Manager of the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance Office and has been in the role since September 2015. From 2012 to 2015, Imran held the position of Senior Manager with the Agreements & Negotiations Unit in the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Negotiations Branch. In this role, Imran provided leadership and direction for planning, priority setting and negotiation of accountability agreements with individual providers and health care organizations to optimize the Ministry’s investment in the health care system valued at over $11 billion annually. Imran provided support for the negotiations process with the Ontario Medical Association (OMA). Prior to this, Imran supported the negotiations of the 2012 Physician Services Agreement with the OMA and lead the coordination of subsequent implementation activities related to the agreement. He also served as the Ministry Co-Chair for the Systems Management Committee, which is responsible for bilateral monitoring and analysis of physician services in Ontario with the OMA. Imran began his career with the Ministry in 2006 with the Primary Health Care Branch where he managed physician services contracts valued in excess of $50 million annually in the Specialized Models Unit. Imran graduated with a Masters in Public Health specializing in Health Policy and Management from the University of Alberta's School of Public Health in 2005.
Deborah Maskens, is a kidney cancer patient and patient advocate. Her current roles include Vice-Chair of the International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC). Along with another patient, she Co-Founded Kidney Cancer Canada and played an active role for 10 years. During this time she focused on advocacy, health technology assessment, and patient navigation.
Deb is currently a Patient Advocate on the NCI Renal Task Force. She is a also a Patient Panel member of the HTAi Patient and Citizen Involvement group (HTAi.org) and Co-Lead of the CanCertainty Coalition campaign of 35 cancer organizations advocating for health policy change across Canada (CanCertainty.ca).
In 2016, Deb was awarded the Canadian Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal, Canada’s highest award for her dedication and professionalism in patient advocacy and volunteer service.
Deb is a frequent speaker at national and international cancer meetings where she provides the patient voice perspective, along with sound advocacy knowledge and experience.
Karen Voin is Vice President, Group Benefits and Anti- Fraud at the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA). Karen is responsible for overseeing and advocating for the industry's extensive interests related to health and disability insurance, and the industry’s anti-fraud strategy.
Karen joined CLHIA in 2011. Prior to joining CLHIA, Karen worked in various life and health insurance organizations in a leadership capacity.
