Staff and Advisory Committee: 

The Living Wage Campaign is a program of Vancity Community Foundation and guided by an advisory committee, with representatives from community organizations and other partners and supporters across BC.

Our Staff:

Navdeep Singh Chhina, Managing Director, Living Wage BC

Navdeep (he/him) is a communications strategist, equity advocate, and community builder with over two decades of experience working at the intersection of social justice, climate action, and inclusive community engagement.

Navdeep is a settler immigrant to the unceded Coast Salish territories — the lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples — and is Indigenous to the Punjab region of India and Punjabi is his ancestral and first language. This lived experience of navigating belonging, identity, and displacement deeply informs his commitment to equity, inclusion, and the dignity of all workers and communities.

Since April 2026, Navdeep has served as Managing Director of Living Wage BC, bringing his advocacy and community-building experience to the movement for fair wages across the province. Before joining Living Wage BC, he spent more than eight years at HUB Cycling, most recently as Director of Campaigns and Inclusion, where he led grassroots advocacy, communications, and equity initiatives including the #UnGaptheMap campaign to close critical gaps in the regional cycling network. He also served as Acting Executive Director during a pivotal period for the organization.

Navdeep has been a trusted voice on climate and equity issues, serving as a member of the City of Vancouver's Climate and Equity Working Group, where he helped shape the development of Vancouver's Climate Justice Charter. He also participated in the Emily Carr University Climate Justice Field School, an immersive program developed in collaboration with the City of Vancouver that integrates ecological art, decolonization, and land-based knowledge to address the climate emergency through creative practices rooted in care, reciprocity, and systemic change.

Earlier in his career, Navdeep spent over thirteen years at The Georgia Straight, leading marketing, community engagement, and digital strategy across the organization.

Navdeep brings to Living Wage BC a deep conviction that fair wages and dignified work are foundational to thriving, equitable communities and a track record of building the partnerships and campaigns needed to make change happen.

Jessie Niikoi, Communications and Administration Coordinator, Living Wage BC.

Jessie (she/her) recently started at Living Wage BC in October 2025. She has previously worked as the Chairperson of the British Columbia Federation of Students (BCFS), an advocate for affordable and accessible post-secondary education in BC. In her spare time, she enjoys reading romance books and watching anime. Jessie is a sneaker lover and loves talking about new tech devices. 

Advisory Committee:

Advisory committee members represent the following organizations:

• MOSAIC
• Canadian Labour Congress
• BC Federation of Labour
• Hospital Employees’ Union
• BC Government and Service Employees’ Union
• BC Society for Policy Solutions
• Canadian Union of Public Employees BC
• Indigenous Corporate Training
• United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 1518
• BC Teachers’ Federation
• Vancity Credit Union
• Workers Solidarity Network
• YVR Airport

Former Staff

Anastasia French, Managing Director, Living Wage BC. 

From 2021- April 2026

Anastasia (she/her) is a seasoned campaign strategist with over a decade of experience leading initiatives that have shaped public policy and raised millions for social impact across the UK and Canada. Since 2020, she has spearheaded the Living Wage campaign, dr iving systemic change to improve income equity. Anastasia also serves on the board of the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, contributing her expertise to provincial anti-poverty efforts.

As a proudly neurodiverse leader, Anastasia brings a unique perspective, creative problem-solving, and deep strategic insight to her work. Outside of advocacy, she’s explored every park, library, and brewery in Vancouver.