Dr. David Byres

Dr. David Byres is the Senior Executive Advisor to the Minister of Health in British Columbia focusing on reconciliation and eradication of Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination across the BC health care system.

He has over 30 years of experience in the health sector, most recently as the President and CEO for the Provincial Health Services Authority in BC leading a specialized network of services including BC Children’s Hospital, BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, BC Cancer, BC Emergency Health Services, provincial supply chain services and BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services. He previously was Associate Deputy Minister, Clinical Leadership in BC as well as Chief Nurse Executive for British Columbia.

Dr. Byres is actively involved in research and is currently a co-principal investigator examining a health equity intervention framework to promote the provision of equity-oriented care for Indigenous people in B.C.’s emergency departments.

He holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Bachelor and Masters of Science degree in Nursing. He is an Adjunct Professor with the School of Nursing at UBC and Adjunct Assistant Professor with the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria. He is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders, holds an ICD.D designation, is recipient of the Dean's Medal of Distinction from the UBC Faculty of Applied Science and was inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Nursing. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Covenant Health Vancouver.