PRESIDENT

Ella Xie is a Year 2 IB student at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School. She leads this effort with the incentive to do her part in helping the very Vancouver community she grew up in combat the systemic opioid epidemic. Aside from Catalyst, you can find her spending a majority of her time after-school at Science World and UBC. Ella is avidly interested in natural sciences and aims to pursue a career in astrophysics. She hopes that the Catalyst Foundation can help contribute in bringing Vancouver forward as a community into a brighter, more supportive future.

IG @ellayanxingxie

PRESIDENT

Andy Liu is a grade 12 student at David Thompson Secondary. He's alongside with Ella as co-president to help destigmatize drug use and support those who are most vulnerable in Vancouver's major opioid epidemic. Aside from the Catalyst Foundation, he also enjoys physics/chemistry and plans to build a career in mechanical engineering in the future. He has strong hopes for the Catalyst Foundation to play a big positive change for Vancouver's ongoing crisis and making the very city he lives in a better place.

IG @chiesenberg

EXECUTIVE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

Salina Guan is an Odyssey 12 student at David Thompson Secondary. She hopes to help end stigma and strengthen bonds within the communities of Vancouver during her time with The Catalyst Foundation. Aside from volunteering, she spends her free time knitting, reading about oncology, and finding a will to live.

IG @salinaxin

CO-EXECUTIVE OF OPERATIONS

Alice Liu is a grade 12 at David Thompson and they’re a part of the Catalyst Foundation because they hope to destigmatize drug addiction and homelessness. She enjoys psychology, neuroscience, and aspires to get a PhD in either field.

IG @awhlice_

EXECUTIVE OF RESOURCES

Samuel Gao is a grade 12 student at David Thompson Secondary School. He joined the team in order to finally do something beneficial for the Vancouver community. Samuel has a mild interest in medicine and can rarely be found outside, but nevertheless, he wishes that the Catalyst Foundation can make an positive impact for the future

IG @existingsamuel

CO-EXECUTIVE OF OPERATIONS

Nathan Yan is a Grade 12 Odyssey student at David Thompson Secondary School. He values education and believes that the public perception and treatment of the opioid epidemic are severely mishandled. Aside from Catalyst, Nathan is enjoys debate and aspires to sleep more.

IG @nathan763286227

EXECUTIVE OF OUTREACH

Eliel Vega is a Grade 12 IB Diploma student at Britannia Community Secondary. Eliel's journey to joining The Catalyst Foundation is one of purpose and passion, he felt a calling to address the opioid and fentanyl crisis gripping Vancouver. Aside from Catalyst, Eliel finds himself practicing martial arts tirelessly, participating in music festivals throughout the province and studying hard to secure his IB 7's. Eliel is motivated in pursuing a career in Medicine and is fascinated by the Applied Sciences. Motivated by a deep desire to make a difference in the community he immigrated to, he is drawn to The Catalyst Foundation's commitment to harm reduction and support for the most vulnerable, and to create a bright future for generations to come.

IG @occipital_penguin

EXECUTIVE OF IT

Joey Luo is a 12th grade IB student at Port Moody Secondary school. He joined this organization because he truly cares about his community and wants to take initiative in combatting the dire opioid crisis in Vancouver. He now manages the upkeep of its online systems (including this website). Outside of Catalyst, Joey enjoys mountain biking, playing bass trombone, attending science competitions, and listening to music. He believes that his true calling is mechanical engineering and hopes to pursue a career in it. He wants to help The Catalyst Foundation continue to grow its impact on the community.

IG @joey_luo__

OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Sabiq Hassan (on the left)is a Grade 12 student at New Westminster Secondary School. With a passion for creating change, he spends his time involved in his local community in various community centers, farmers markets and other local events. He aspires to pursue a career in public policy By being a part of Catalyst, he hopes to do his part in addressing the opioid epidemic and inspire other students to make positive impacts on their communities.

IG @sabiqhassan07

OUTREACH COORDINATOR

William Yang is a student at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary and is currently taking IB. Beyond Catalyst, he enjoys cooking and runs the Model UN club at Churchill. He has been involved in non-profits and is experienced with working in a group for a good cause!

IG @junyng_20

OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Fran Sayer is a grade 12 (IB year 2) student at Churchill Secondary School. She enjoys reading, science, [listening to] music, crocheting, board games, and the company of her friends, family, and dog. She has witnessed the systemic mishandling of drug addiction in Vancouver for years, and is glad to have a chance to give back to her city.

IG @fransays_

OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Viduni Siriwardana is a grade 12 student at David Thompson Secondary School. She joined Catalyst because she would like to help combat opioid crisis in the Downtown Eastside. One of her aspirations is to hopefully pursue a career in medical research and adopt as many cats as she can.

IG @vidunis16

HR COORDINATOR

Shubhleen Mehat is a grade 12 student at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary. Shubhleen, a compassionate and determined individual, joined the Catalyst Foundation, a non-profit driven by a desire for positive change. Having witnessed the devastating effects of substance abuse in her community, Shubhleen felt compelled to take action. Her role in HR resonates with her roles outside of the Catalyst Foundation where she creates events with volunteers and is even the president of the youth council at her local community centre. With a strong sense of empathy and a belief in the power of grassroots efforts, she recognized the Catalyst Foundation as a platform to make a meaningful difference. Through her involvement, Shubhleen aims to support those affected by addiction, raise awareness, and advocate for effective prevention and treatment strategies, embodying the Foundation's mission of catalyzing change in the fight against drug abuse.

IG @shubhleen.mehat

HR COORDINATOR

Adrianna Dale is a grade 12 student at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary, embodies compassion and determination. She has actively engaged with the Catalyst Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to fostering positive change. Motivated by firsthand experiences of the harmful impact of substance abuse in her community, Adrianna took on a role in HR within the foundation. Beyond her Catalyst involvement, she has been volunteering for three years at her school and local community centre. With a deep sense of caring and a belief in grassroots action, Adrianna sees the Catalyst Foundation as a powerful tool for making real change happen. To lend a hand to those affected by addiction, raise awareness, and push for practical prevention and treatment methods—all in line with Catalyst’s mission to fight against substance abuse.

IG @adriannajdale

SECRETARY

Parinita Gaur is a grade 12 student at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School. She joined this organization because it targets the opioid crisis, a very important issue throughout Vancouver that she would like to take action on.

IG @parinita_gaur

IT COORDINATOR

Masaru Suzuki is a year 1 university student at BCIT. He enjoys doing photography and playing video games during his free time. He wishes to go into a career in Information Technology in the future after graduation. He joined Catalyst because he truly believes in destigmatizing drug addiction across the DTES.

IG @orenarypaladin

IT COORDINATOR

Maxim Bondar is a Grade 12 student at King George Secondary. He joined to (hopefully) put his computer knowledge to good use. He also enjoys sleep and cats, but has neither.

IG @maxim._.bondar