Our Team

Executive Director

Joben David

Joben is a firm believer in small communities and their ability to exert positive change. He is passionate about seeing people come together, as friends, to be a part of that story. His own journey has taken him from his childhood in rural India to studying and working in various parts of the world. His eclectic work experiences include stints at International Justice Mission, The Walt Disney Company, and Compass Coffee - a coffee startup. David has a BA in Philosophy and a MA in Christian Ministry from Baylor University in Waco, TX (yep). He loves living near mountains and is always on the lookout for his next adventure.

Community Coordinator

Chris Sundby

Chris grew up a hop, skip, and a ferry ride away from Vancouver in Victoria, BC. He more recently moved back from Winnipeg after receiving a BA in Conflict Resolution and Mennonite Studies from the University of Winnipeg. He is currently studying at Regent College and plans to pursue history or an interdisciplinary concentration. When not reading in the library, at a coffee shop, or at home, Chris is likely out for a trail run or hanging around Jacob's Well.

Community Administrator

Joyce Voo

Joyce has a soft spot in her heart for Jacob's Well, ever since she was welcomed into the community nine years ago when she joined Community Kitchen. She has spent most of her life in Vancouver, where she studied the humanities and education. Other than spending time at Jacob's Well, she is teaching high school and studying theology at Regent College. Joyce lives in Burnaby with her husband Joel and enjoys food, gardening, and a good book or movie.

Community Sustainability Coordinator

Anna Panzo

Anna Panzo is deeply committed to living in community and holds generosity and hospitality as core life values. She is a writer with over a decade of nonprofit sector experience, including four years as a Grants Manager. She can often be found frequenting her local library, gardening, and visiting parks with her family. She is originally from New York but moved with her husband to Vancouver in 2018. Both of her children were born in Vancouver and she is now happy to call this city home.

Our Board of Directors

Board Chair

Alexia Gillespie

Alexia is a Registered Nurse who spent years as an educator prior to her career in healthcare. Concerned with the holistic care of people and communities, she is deeply committed to seeing both thrive. Someone who balances fierce care with the ability to get things done, Alexia chairs the board with grace and efficiency.

Board Treasurer

Charlotte Taverner-Whelpton

Charlotte is an ideator and a facilitator. Her family (Colton plus three boys Finn, Arlo and Robin) are monthly community members as part of a St. Pete's community group. Long time supporters of the Well, Charlotte serves as the treasurer on the board.

Board Secretary

Julia Baylis

Julia is a longtime community member and is our secretary extraordinaire. She spent many years on the worship night team at the Well. She is a speech pathologist by profession. Julia has a lifelong commitment to asking how we can best serve those in the margins of our city.

Board Member

Jon Ng

Jon has been a community minister in the DTES for more than a decade. He has been part of the Well for a long time and Servants (a prior DTES ministry). He works with many churches and groups including Strathcona Vineyard and Regent. He's a prodigious musician and supports our Tuesday worship night on a regular basis.

Board Member

Cornelius Dyck

Cornelius lives in the DTES and has been a RCMP officer, health inspector and tree farmer amongst many other professions in past lives. Known to love a good puzzle, he brings deep wisdom and clarity to every meeting.

Board Member

Ellie Auton-Strolz

A recent graduate in Natural Resources Conservation at the UBC Department of Forestry, Ellie is critically concerned with the intersection of people and systems both the creator's creation and the things we co-create. A community member at the Well since she was 12, Ellie is a Monday games night regular together with her parents and siblings.

Board Member

Naomi Pleizier

The most recent addition to the board, Naomi has been a community member at Jacob’s Well for many years particularly around weekly community kitchen. With a PhD, Naomi is specifically an expert on the stressors affecting the physiology and behaviour of fishes. With a keen sense for justice, she is a strong advocate for equity and mutuality in everything that we do.