First Nations Health Authority names new chief executive officer

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — An Indigenous-centric health body has named a new chief executive officer.

Monica McAlduff, active with the  First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) since 2020, was named the top executive by its group’s board of directors, according to a press release released February 10th.

She will assume office on March 1st. Her career includes time as a psychiatric nurse and numerous posts within FNHA, most recently as the organization’s chief nursing officer and vice-president of cultural safety and humility.

FNHA board chair Dr. Sheila Blackstock says McAlduff has three decades of experience within numerous levels of the care industry and is “positioned her for success” as the organization’s leader.

“Monica has a proven track record of innovative Indigenous health leadership, upholding FNHA’s mandate,” said Blackstock. “[She holds] a shared vision and a passion for advancing the wholistic health and wellbeing of First Nations in B.C.”

McAlduff has both Indigenous and French Canadian roots. She is a member of the Secwépemc Nation of Shuswap through her mother.

She replaces outgoing chief executive officer Richard Jock, who will be retiring.

Jock said he looks forward to supporting McAlduff in her new role, and congratulated her in a statement.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychiatric nursing from Kamloops’ Thompson Rivers University, and a Master’s in leadership and training from Victoria’s Royal Roads University.

Founded in 2013, the FNHA is an organization authorized to provide health programs and services for First Nations members residing in B.C. 

Energeticcity.ca reached out to FNHA for comment from McAlduff, but did not hear back by publication time.