Dr. Ammen Dhillon is a registered clinical counsellor and mother with a passion for fostering school environments where students can thrive.
Before becoming a clinical counsellor, Ammen was a research scientist in the biotech industry for 20 years, investigating new treatments for a range of chronic and infectious diseases and holds a PhD from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at UBC. During grad school, Ammen was part of the team of scientists who worked with Dr. Pieter Cullis to pioneer the development of the drug delivery technology that enabled the use of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
Informed by a profound understanding of psychological development, Ammen is passionate about putting the correct conditions in place to foster a school environment that produces creative and resilient people capable of developing innovative technologies that will solve the challenges we face as a society. Ammen is keen to bring her academic and clinical experience to the school board and help shape a school system that enables every student to reach their full potential.
A long time Delta resident, Ammen and her husband have two children who attend Delta schools and she serves as director and Grant Committee Chair on the board of the Delta Community Foundation.
When she is not working or studying, Ammen enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading, doing yoga or spending time in the pottery studio working with clay. She is a member of the North Delta Potters Guild, and her work is featured at the Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre in Ladner.
What are your election issues?
I was honoured to be asked by Mayor George Harvie and the Achieving for Delta Team to run for Delta school trustee, giving back to the district that fostered the strong foundation upon which my career rests on today, and that I’m now entrusting to educate my children.
I bring a wealth of academic and industrial experience, having worked in the biotech industry as a PhD (UBC) level scientist for 15 years developing therapeutics from the bench through to human trials, including working on Dr. Pieter Cullis’ team to hone the technology behind the mRNA COVID vaccine. Dedicating decades towards challenging problems in medicine, I understand that solutions are achieved with effective collaboration, planning, and innovative thinking. I want to ensure that our education system reflects this and is keeping up with our fast-evolving workforce and social systems.
My passion is to foster mental and physical health literacy in our schools, as it is the first step to securing their educational success. I am a master’s level clinical counsellor specializing in healing trauma and nervous system regulation, and a huge advocate for Achieving for Delta’s comprehensive school health strategy. In line with this plan, I will be prioritizing initiatives that offer mental health training and resources to children and parents, so they feel more in control of their own psychological well-being and protecting them from anxiety, depression, and drug use.
Finally, volunteering as a Delta Community Foundation board member, I get to appreciate Delta’s incredible diversity, which demands that we make schools safe and welcoming spaces for all students and ensure a no tolerance policy for discrimination, bullying and exclusion. With your support, my goal is to see Delta graduates exceed all other districts in their social competency, academic performance, and resiliency.
