Office of the Superintendent of Health Profession and Occupation Oversight
The Office of the Superintendent of Health Profession and Occupation Oversight (OSHPO), also known as the Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office (HPOROO), is a Canadian provincial government agency within the British Columbia Ministry of Health.
History
On June 23, 2023, private regulatory consulting firm The Regulator's Practice began work on a $100,000 directly-awarded, sole source contract from the British Columbia Ministry of Health to "develop draft policies and procedures for the Office of the Superintendent of Health Profession and Occupation Oversight to consider when appointed."[1]
Brian Westgate began working as Acting Executive Director of OSHPO in May 2024, with the British Columbia Ministry of Health announcing his appointment the following month.[2][3] Sherri Young was announced as the founding Superintendent of Health Profession and Occupation Oversight on June 7, 2024.[4][5] She began working in this new position in August 2024.[6]
On June 18, 2025, Westgate revealed that he had been promoted to Deputy Superintendent of OSPHO.[7]
Organization
OSHPO's personnel is listed on the B.C. Government Directory.[8]
| Name | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sherri Young | Superintendent[4:1] | Yukon Public Service Commission |
| Brian Westgate | Deputy Superintendent | British Columbia Ministry of Health |
| Benson Cowan | Director of Discipline | British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General |
| Muriel Protzer | Director of Board Appointments and Designations | Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) |
| Kurstie Somner | Executive Coordinator | British Columbia Ministry of Health |
| Montana Best | Executive Administrative Assistant | - |
| Lauren Priest | Executive Administrative Assistant | Javelin Group |
| Tanya Demmings | Communications and Engagement Manager | BC Pension Corporation |
| Adam Smith | Senior Policy Analyst | - |
| Mackenzie Creasser | Indigenous Policy Analyst | Little Shuswap Indian Band |
| Hailey Nelson | Policy Analyst | - |
External links
DA34385 - Directly Awarded Contracts - Ministry of Health - June 2023. (2023, June). Government of British Columbia. https://web.archive.org/web/20250626195731/http://docs.openinfo.gov.bc.ca/DA34385_Directly_Awarded_Contracts_Ministry_of_Health_June_2023.xlsx ↩︎
Brian Westgate. LinkedIn. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-westgate-818bb345/ ↩︎
Second Update on Health Profession Regulation Modernization. (2024, June 17). British Columbia Ministry of Health. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/practitioner-pro/professional-regulation/second_update_on_health_profession_regulation_modernization.pdf ↩︎
British Columbia Ministry of Health. (2024, June 7). Superintendent chosen to advance new health legislation. BC Gov News. https://web.archive.org/web/20240608233938/https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024HLTH0079-000883 ↩︎ ↩︎
B.C. finishes merging health-profession colleges in plan for better oversight. (2024, June 28). Times Colonist. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822135651/https://www.timescolonist.com/health/bc-finishes-merging-health-profession-colleges-in-plan-for-better-oversight-9153707 ↩︎
Experience | Sherri Young. LinkedIn. Retrieved June 26, 2025, from https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherri-young-a3786972/details/experience/ ↩︎
Westgate, B. (2025, June 18). “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Deputy Superintendent at Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office (HPOROO)!” [Post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7340919777491619840/ ↩︎
Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office. BC Government Directory. Retrieved June 26, 2025, from https://dir.gov.bc.ca/gtds.cgi?show=Branch&organizationCode=HLTH&organizationalUnitCode=HPOROO ↩︎