Our Team

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core to the culture and values of PIRS. They are the foundation of our strength as an organization. We are committed to inclusive leadership, equal opportunities, and creating a supportive and adaptable work environment that honors unique perspectives and contributions while reducing barriers.

We are proud that many of our program graduates went on to become leaders within PIRS and beyond. Our diverse staff members, program participants and volunteers are the backbone of PIRS.

Meet our Leadership Team

PIRS’ leadership team is a diverse and experienced group of leaders who are committed to the organization’s mandates of building a society that honours the strengths of diverse women and empowers their contributions. This team provides organization-wide direction and oversight in advancing our vision, mission and strategic goals.

Mariam Bouchoutrouch

Executive Director

Mariam volunteered with PIRS in the 90’s and returned as Executive Director in 2014. She has more than 30 years of experience working in the community, with immigrant and refugee women and children. Starting her career as a frontline worker within women’s shelters and neighbourhood houses, Mariam founded two programs for families with young children in Vancouver.

Mariam is fascinated with language and culture and how they intersect in our world. She believes that diversity is a strength that can lead to growth and a better world. A graduate of the Leadership Fellows led by Steve Patty, Mariam is working on building a deliberately developmental organization that encourages the potential of immigrant women to grow into their leadership potential.

Gillian Yardley

Director of Programs & Operations

Gillian Yardley is a senior leader who blends strategic vision with hands-on operational expertise to move PIRS forward with purpose and impact. With over 25 years of experience spanning the non-profit, corporate, and higher education sectors, she is recognized for her innovative, results-driven leadership and her ability to build high-performing, diverse teams rooted in collaboration and trust.

A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Gillian also holds a Human Resources Management Certificate from Simon Fraser University. At the heart of her career is a guiding belief: people are the foundation of every success. Her work is grounded in empowering women, fostering professional growth, and creating opportunities for meaningful change.

Born and raised in the Lower Mainland, Gillian brings both deep community roots and a forward-thinking perspective to her leadership—making her a driving force in advancing equity, inclusion, and organizational excellence.

Nataizya Mukwavi

Program Manager, Women Leadership & Development

Nataizya Mukwavi is the Founding Executive Director of Black Women Connect Vancouver (BWCV), a nonprofit established in 2017 to support and uplift Black women. In 2021, she co-founded Empowered Black Girl, a leadership conference for Black teen girls. Nataizya has also worked with the Black Business Association of BC and Career Contacts as a leadership consultant, and served on the TELUS Storyhive Local Content Advisory Board. She has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch (2022), a YWCA Woman of Distinction nominee (2023), and received the 2024 Trailblazer Award from DiverseCity Community Resources Society.

Kopal Dube

Kopal brings over two decades of leadership experience in marketing, program management, and community engagement to her role at PIRS.

Her career began in child development and community programming in India before expanding into senior leadership roles in media, marketing, and corporate strategy. After immigrating to Canada, Kopal reconnected with her passion for supporting children and newcomer women by earning her Early Childhood Education Assistant certification.

At PIRS, she combines her business expertise with her commitment to community, empowerment—recruiting, training, and mentoring childcare staff, ensuring programs run smoothly, and fostering environments where newcomer women can access opportunities for learning, employment, and growth.

Kopal is especially passionate about women’s empowerment, workforce readiness, and creating safe, inclusive spaces for children. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga and traveling.

Bridget Mailley

Over the past fifteen years, Bridget has worked in U.S., Mongolia, Australia, the U.K., and now Canada on youth leadership development, women’s empowerment, and a variety of other issues– including poverty reduction, environmental protection, and pandemic emergency response– facing local communities everywhere.

As a perennial migrant– both throughout the United States where she is originally from and internationally on several continents– Bridget is enthusiastic about the search for and creation of authentic, supportive communities. Through her work, she has seen how the right support at the right time can be transformative for both individuals and organizations. Bridget is excited to bring her diverse experiences to PIRS and to help grow a community that will continue to support immigrant and refugee women well into the future.

Rosalva Trevino

With over 10 years of experience in logistics, supply chain, and project management in Mexico, with a specialization in North American markets (U.S. and Canada), Rosalva brings expertise and a proactive approach to her role as Office Administrator. She has worked with global leaders such as Maersk and DHL Global Forwarding, gaining extensive experience in operations, team support and process improvement.

Dedicated to advancing PIRS’s mission and vision, she combines strong organizational skills with a genuine passion for creating meaningful impact.

Outside of work, she is an advocate for women’s empowerment, sustainability, and community engagement. As part of the leadership team at Mexicanas en Vancouver, she helps foster networks of support and empowerment for women in the community. In her free time, she enjoys biking and swimming—and one day hopes to master parking a 53ft trailer in reverse.