Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
With more than 25 years in higher education and local government, now at the Community Energy Association, I am an experienced executive team member with skills in “advancement” – a way of mobilizing messages and stories, visual identity, and relationships to advance the organization. My experiences, education, and values have exposed me to the complex issues related to the sustainable development of northern, rural, and resource-dependent communities, shaping my interests in the bioeconomy, local leadership, and the aspirations of indigenous communities.
CEA is a member-based, non-profit organization working since 1995 to help communities reduce emissions, conserve energy, and progressively transition to a low-carbon, resilient economy. Responsibilities: increasing CEA’s reach into communities across Western Canada and enhancing public awareness of the organization’s role in support of climate action.
Member of the Senior Leadership Team, advising Council on the strategic direction of the City. Responsibilities: Relationships with governments (including First Nations) and local organizations, visual identity including logo and design standards, public messaging through social media and the website, media relations, and citizen engagement, Select memberships: Prince George Treaty Advisory Committee, Prince George Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Committee, Tourism Prince George board of directors, Digital Governance Team (chair), staff attendee at City Council meetings and the Prince George Education and Student Needs committees.
Member of President's Executive Council, helping to establish and confirm the strategic direction of the University together with the University's governing bodies. I was also a Founding Employee, starting two years before the official opening of the Prince George campus. Responsibilities: Alumni Relations, Communications, Development, and Government Relations, Supervised up to 14 staff. Select Memberships: President's Executive Council, President's Council, ex-officio on the Board of Governors, Investment Committee, Northern Medical Programs Trust, Senate Committee on Honorary Degrees and Other Forms of Special Recognition, Green University Planning Committee (Founding Member). Select Accomplishments: Founded the Green University Committee, trademarked Canada’s Green University, led the University’s 25th anniversary initiative, completed the MoU that established UNBC’s participation in the 2015 Canada Winter Games, and presented about university initiatives in the United States, South Africa, Sweden, Norway, and Canada. Also received numerous awards related to the opening of the University and the establishment of the campus bioenergy system. Oversaw fundraising and donor relations during a time the University endowment surpassed $70 million.
Responsibilities: Beat reporter covering City Council, Regional District, School Board, Hospital Board, College of New Caledonia Board, UNBC Governing Council meetings, and other events/meetings. Arranged and conducted interviews, wrote news articles (including some long-form documentaries), and voiced news and sports casts.