Lilian Chau named CEO of Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society (ENF)

The ENF Board of Directors is delighted to announce the arrival of Lilian Chau as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society (ENF). We are excited to welcome her to the Society, and Lilian will officially start on March 2, 2022. Here’s a message from Lilian introducing herself and sharing her vision for our organization.

Hello everyone,

I am honoured and excited to be stepping into the CEO role at Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society. I feel particularly humbled as I assume this position a week before International Women’s Day on March 8, 2022. As an immigrant of Chinese descent, mother, partner and woman of colour, I am passionate about championing gender and racial equality and equity, diversity, and inclusion in our communities. As a professional, I have dedicated myself to amplifying and supporting women, particularly women of colour, as leaders in the community housing sector. I am thrilled to be leading an organization that shares these values.

Over the last two decades, my purpose of creating opportunities for organizations and individuals to thrive has driven my journey to the community housing sector. In the last five years, I have focused on supporting not-for-profits with the funding, financing and development of affordable housing with Vancity Credit Union, Vancity Community Foundation, and Brightside Community Homes Foundation as their Director of Community Real Estate. In addition, to being a Registered Professional Planner, I bring almost 20 years of experience in urban planning, public engagement, communications and strategic leadership.

I am also dedicated to finding ways to advance meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous communities in the community housing sector and in the communities that we serve. I want to acknowledge that Entre Nous Femmes provides affordable housing in the traditional unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, and Qayqayt First Nations and the ceded territory of the Tsawwassen First Nation. I look forward to connecting with the Nations on whose lands we are operating and exploring allyship with Indigenous organizations and communities. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for Hiyám ta Sḵwxwú7mesh Housing Society with the Squamish Nation.

Entre Nous Femmes has an inspiring legacy as one of Canada’s first women-led community housing charities dedicated to meeting the needs of women and single-parent families, and I know that the Society is very proud of its roots. My vision for Entre Nous Femmes is to further strengthen and build upon the legacy of supporting gender equity in housing by increasing the number of affordable homes for women, families, seniors and people with disabilities in the region. With the renewed interest in affordable housing by local, Provincial and Federal governments, we have an extraordinary opportunity to play a role in solving the housing crisis, particularly for underserved groups with redevelopment projects like Alma Blackwell and through future housing partnerships with values-aligned organizations.

I am deeply committed to creating and stewarding inclusive, healthy and equitable affordable housing where everyone can flourish regardless of gender, age, income or abilities. By working collaboratively and creatively with our Board, staff, residents and stakeholders, I am confident we can create a resilient future where Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society, residents and the community housing sector can grow and thrive. I am excited by the possibilities and the things to come over my time as CEO, and I am looking forward to the brighter future we will build together.

Warmly,

Lilian Chau