Rita Parikh brings more than 30 years of governance and executive leadership experience across the healthcare, financial, regulatory, and non-profit sectors. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Vancity and Chair of Vancity Community Investment Bank.
A recognized leader in healthcare regulation, Rita served for eight years as Executive Director of the Nursing Community Assessment Service, where she led initiatives supporting internationally educated health professionals entering Canada’s workforce. She has extensive expertise in governance, enterprise risk, regulatory oversight, technology transformation, and executive succession planning, including within organizations managing more than $40 billion in assets.
Rita has served on numerous boards and committees, including with Oxfam Canada, the Vancity Community Foundation, and the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society. She is also co-founder of the Pacific Refugee Welcome Group and has sponsored several refugee families to Victoria.
In 2025, Rita was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN and launched Wild Purpose Executive Coaching. She holds an ICD.D designation and graduate degrees from Carleton University and the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs.
Rita Parikh was first appointed to the Board of Island Health on April 30, 2026. Her current term expires on April 30, 2027.