Our Staff
Our Staff
Driven by Faith, Focused on Solutions
Hope and Healing International’s staff serve as hands joining passionate funding, praying, advocating partners here in Canada with the children and families we serve in the poorest countries and communities. The better we are at connecting YOU to moms, dads, children, grandparents living in poverty with disability, the more life transformation we all experience!
Ed Epp
Executive Director
Ed was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has worked in International Development for over 25 years. His career began with community developments in China, Jordan and Lebanon, followed by work in other Middle Eastern countries. Ed has held executive positions in Resource Development and for the Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Economic Development Associates. Ed’s expertise is in partner development, disability-related programs, as well as economic development programs, including microfinance, peace and justice. For over 10 years, Ed has served as Executive Director of Hope and Healing International. Ed says, “When a child who has had no friends, community or hope believes there is a future and sees a road to get there – that is a holy moment. This is the divine work God calls us to, alongside of people like you.”
Jill Bartley
Chief Operations Officer
Jill is a Certified Human Resources Leader with over 20 years of experience in management, leadership, human resources and organizational development. Jill has a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources and a certificate in Business Management Studies. She’s a Supporting Faculty Member for Osgoode Hall Law School and serves as a panelist in the Advanced HR Law for Senior Executives Program. Jill has engaged in leadership training, capacity building, international partner support and emergency response around the world. She says, “What gives me hope are mothers. We need to work alongside mothers to get their kids in school, ensure their access to medical care, help them become true agents of change in their communities.”
Beth Jost-Reimer
Chief Strategy Officer
Beth has more than 30 years of experience in the international development sector, providing strategic leadership in program development, marketing and brand management. Beth has led a Marketing Team that has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the work of disability-inclusive development. More recently, she’s facilitated a Theory of Change process, consulting with children, caregivers and local program partners to connect daily program choices and activities to long-term impact. “The beauty and courage in the kids we serve is already there. If we can play a role in building their confidence, uncovering their sense of higher purpose, healing their bodies and hearts… we’ll be unleashing a powerful force for positive change in the world.”
Stratis Vomvas
Chief Financial Officer
Stratis has been a member of the Hope and Healing International team since 2017. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant, having earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from York University. He has over 15 years experience in a variety of industries and finance leadership roles. Stratis was a driving force on the commercial finance team in the orthopaedic division at Johnson & Johnson. He has led sales and marketing teams, and mentored in the areas of strategic planning, acquisitions and divestitures, budgeting and forecasting, and investment decision support. Stratis has audited not-for-profit organizations, charities and other government-run establishments.
Jamie Planche
Director, Marketing
Jamie’s goal has always been to help people in need, particularly children. For the past 20 years she has had the privilege to serve as a member of World Vision and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Jamie deeply enjoys leading and developing integrated marketing campaigns, specializing in the recruitment of new donors and welcoming all supporters on a journey of transformation. Through a variety of marketing channels – direct mail, face-to-face encounters, digital media and radio programs – Jamie is committed to sharing with all Canadians the joy of helping children and families who struggle in poverty with disability.
Mark Vanderpol
Director, Finance and Decision Support
Mark has over 10 years of experience leveraging financial and operational vision to drive organizations forward. He is a CPA, CMA and graduated from McMaster University with his Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. Through leadership roles at General Motors, Aecon and Anthem Entertainment, Mark has delivered impactful results and promoted organizational change. His areas of speciality include: strategic leadership, operations management, financial analysis and process optimization. Mark has visited children and families receiving support from Hope and Healing and has witnessed first-hand how tangible acts of love restore hope and transform lives.
Dr. Norgrove Penny CM, MD, FRCSC
Senior Medical Advisor
Dr. Penny is a children’s orthopaedic surgeon who has spent many years of his career providing medical care to children in low income countries with a focus in Uganda. He pioneered Ponseti clubfoot treatment in Africa and is regarded as a global expert on neglected clubfoot and children’s orthopaedic surgery. In addition to his work in Africa, he worked with Olympic athletes and was named Chief Medical Officer of the Commonwealth games in 1994. In 2007, Dr. Penny was awarded the Order of Canada for his contributions to medicine and civil society. Dr. Penny lives in British Columbia with his wife, Anne, and has three adult daughters.
Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese MD
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Advisor
Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese is an internationally recognized expert in women’s health. She’s received numerous awards for her vital work, including the Order of Canada. Dr. Jean founded Save the Mothers and is a qualified Ob-Gyn. She worked in rural Yemen for 5 years before serving mothers in Uganda for 12 years. In 2017, she returned to clinical practice at McMaster University where she serves as a professor and continues to support safe motherhood. Dr. Jean is a committed follower of Christ who lives out her faith each day. She is married to journalist Thomas Froese, and they have three children, Elizabeth, Jonathan and Hannah.