We are delighted to announce that Dr. Nicole Catherine has been appointed Director of the Children’s Health Policy Centre as of May 1, 2026. Nicole is Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at SFU and holds the Canada Research Chair in Child Health Equity and Policy, Tier 2. She has been a member of the Centre’s senior leadership team since 2012.

Nicole leads a program of research centred on understanding how early prevention programs can support children and families who are experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage and on informing public policies to better meet their needs.

Her work builds on her leadership of the BC Healthy Connections Project, a BC-wide randomized controlled trial evaluating an enhanced child health home visiting program. The program involved frequent support visits from public health nurses to expectant mothers and their children throughout pregnancy and early childhood.

Program benefits shown through the trial — including improving child mental health and language and reducing exposure to intimate partner violence by age two years — continue to inform how early prevention programs are being adapted and evaluated locally in Fraser Health Authority and province wide. Nicole is currently the lead investigator or co-investigator on multiple studies designed to help policy leaders ensure effective child health programming.

As an educator, Nicole’s teaching focuses on child wellbeing and public policy. She also collaborates closely with policymakers, public health practitioners, Indigenous scholars and community organizations to ensure that her research is used to inform better services and supports for children and families in BC and beyond.

“I’m excited to grow the Centre’s work and expand its impact in the years ahead,” says Nicole.

“The Centre plays a unique role in advancing child health equity and policy. As Director, I look forward to further strengthening our team and partnerships so that research evidence continues to support policies that help children flourish.”

We also thank Dr. Charlotte Waddell, our Founding Director, for her many contributions to child health research and policy. Charlotte will continue supporting the Centre in the role of Associate Director.

Since founding the Centre in 2007, Charlotte has played an essential role in shaping its mission and profile. With others, she secured millions of dollars in funding to grow the Centre’s work, establishing it as a unique and influential voice in child health policy research in Canada.

Charlotte co-led the BC Healthy Connections Project with Nicole and others. With the Centre team, Charlotte also led the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly project (2007–2025). This project provided systematic review evidence summarizing the best available research on children’s mental health prevention and treatment interventions for policymakers and practitioners, along with providing regular policy consultations and public talks. Charlotte also supports the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council’s long-term research project, Hishuk-ish Tsawalk, among other projects.

Nicole embodies our Centre’s focus on improving child wellbeing by producing high-quality research for informing policy and practice. As Charlotte says, “We look forward to the Centre growing and going strong under Nicole’s leadership — doing research that makes a difference in children’s lives.”