Our Staff
Melanie Osmack
Executive Director
Melanie Osmack is a 3rd generation settler of Northern European descent with Cree ancestry on her mother’s side. She lives with her family as a guest on the unceded and continuously occupied territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, also known as Vancouver, B.C. With a deep commitment to improving health outcomes for Indigenous communities across Canada, Melanie brings extensive experience and expertise to her role in the areas of policy development, advocacy, and community engagement. She believes in fostering meaningful relationships and partnerships which in turn allows IPAC to increase capacity and better serve its members. Melanie represents IPAC at the national level, while ensuring that our work is in line with our values and strategic priorities. On a personal level, she has a strong connection to her family and nature, spending her free time connecting with her loved ones and exploring the outdoors.
You can contact Melanie at Melanie.Osmack@ipacamic.ca.
Kayla Knelsen
Finance and HR Manager
Kayla is Métis from Manitoba. She grew up in a small rural community 35 minutes south of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She now lives in St. Malo, Manitoba, which is located on Treaty 1 Territory, in the rural municipality of De Salaberry with her husband, two children and two dogs.
Kayla has worked in the health care field as a health care aide and as a support worker to adults with intellectual disabilities. For the last 9 years she has worked in finance for both a non-profit organization and a for-profit company. She is excited to join the IPAC team as Administrative and Finance Coordinator.
In her free time she enjoys watching racing, camping and participating in ATV derby’s with friends and family.
Rochelle Mathieu
Event and Administrative Coordinator
Rochelle is mixed European descent from Calgary, Alberta. After several moves around British Columbia and Alberta, she currently resides with her partner in Strathmore, Alberta where she is grateful to live, work and play as a guest on unceded Treaty 7 Territories and Region 3 Métis land of Southern Alberta. Rochelle has a certificate in Medical Office Administration; Social Work: Policy, Practice and Procedure; and Event Planning and Management. She has a background in caregiving, and as a family service support worker for both adults and children with diverse needs. In the past several years she has gained both experience and education in event planning and coordination, as well as general management and event management. In her spare time Rochelle likes to travel, cook, and spend time with family.
Stacey Chicoine
Membership and Communications Manager
Stacey (she/her) is Métis on her father’s side and mixed white settler on her mother’s side. Additionally, her family roots extend to the Māori, the Indigenous people of Mainland New Zealand. She is a mother of four—two children and two cats.
With over a decade of administrative expertise in non-profit administration and engagement with settler organizations, she actively amplifies the Indigenous voice, emphasizing healing and justice.