Eli Barnes

Program & Partnership Coordinator | Relationship-Driven, Detail-Oriented Execution

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

About

I’m a program and partnership coordinator who supports teams by creating clarity, structure, and dependable follow-through across relationships, events, and internal systems. I spent 15 years as a professional ballet dancer in an environment where trust, timing, and shared responsibility mattered every day. That experience taught me how to stay grounded under pressure, pay close attention to details that affect others, and take accountability for work that lives inside a larger system. As a union representative, I supported complex stakeholder relationships by tracking issues, maintaining documentation, facilitating communication, and ensuring commitments were followed through with care and consistency. Today, I bring those same skills into coordination and operational support roles. I’ve supported event logistics and on-the-ground execution for large public-facing programs, helped keep internal operations organized through documentation, tracking, and reporting, and acted as a steady point of contact across teams with competing priorities. I’m someone people trust to keep information current, details aligned, and work moving forward. I’m relationship-driven in how I collaborate and execution-focused in how I show up. I care about building trust through reliability and clear communication, and I’m especially motivated by work that supports community engagement and contributes to the long-term health of organizations and the places they serve.

Experience

  • Set Up Team Lead at Werklund Centre
    Dec 2024 - Present · 1 yr 8 mos

    I coordinate the preparation and turnover of multiple venues to support a wide range of public and private events, including performances, corporate functions, and community gatherings. I manage setup crews to ensure spaces are configured accurately, safely, and on time, while adapting to changing requirements and coordinating with event stakeholders.

  • Retail Associate at Vine Arts Wine and Spirits
    Sep 2024 - Present · 1 yr 11 mos

    I support customers through attentive, one-on-one service, providing clear guidance and reliable follow-through in a fast-paced retail environment while ensuring accuracy in transactions and information.

  • Pilates Instructor at Calgary Pilates Centre
    2020 - Present · 6 yrs 7 mos

    I work one-on-one with clients, providing structured instruction and ongoing support while maintaining clear communication, consistency, and attention to detail over time.

  • Alberta Ballet (12 yrs 1 mo)
    • Union Representative
      2013 - 2024 · 11 yrs

      Elected union representative for the dancers, serving as a primary point of contact between artists, senior management, and the Canadian Arts Equity Association (CAEA). Responsibilities included tracking issues, maintaining documentation, facilitating communication, and supporting resolution of workplace concerns. Participated in four collective agreement negotiations and contributed to the development of organization-wide safety protocols that supported a safe return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    • Senior Corps de Ballet Dancer
      2012 - 2024 · 12 yrs

      Senior member of the corps de ballet with Alberta Ballet, performing in all company productions over a 12-year period. Worked in a highly structured, deadline-driven environment requiring consistent preparation, accuracy, and attention to detail. Responsibilities included learning and retaining complex material under time constraints, collaborating within large teams, responding to feedback, and maintaining a high standard of performance across daily rehearsals and live productions. Recognized as a reliable and steady contributor within a demanding organizational system.