Experience

Office of the Representative for Children and Youth

• Canada
• Legislative Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Advocacy Manager

  • Feb 2022 - Present

• A/Executive Director, Reviews and Investigations

  • Feb 2021 - Feb 2022

  • Lead a diverse team of professionals including managers, investigators, analysts and administrative support staff.• Foster and support a team and organizational culture that is trauma informed, culturally attuned and is grounded in the 6R’s of Relationship, Respect, Responsibility, Reciprocity, and Repair. • Contribute to strategic planning, providing advice to the Representative to assist in determining the scope of reviews and investigations and systemic advocacy approaches. • Lead and work collaboratively with executive leadership on cross-organizational initiatives and healthy workplace culture efforts. • Develop and implement procedures and policy for the conduct of reviews and investigations that is both efficient and grounded in the 6 R’s and principles of complexity, trauma informed, culturally attuned and anti-racist. • Lead and guide staff to ethically work through complex investigations, reviews and special reports that are sensitive to the needs and experiences of involved children, youth, families, and communities.• Lead and guide the analyses of confidential and sensitive information received through the reporting of injuries and deaths. • Track and ensure progress on recommendations is made to public bodies as a result of investigations or other reports from reviews and investigations. • Support a cross organizational approach to data linking from both internal and external sources. • Lead and guide human resource matters including issue/conflict management, recruitment, hiring and supervision of managers. • Oversee work plans, team training and development to ensure best practices in the work as well as supporting the team to manage difficult content on a daily basis. • Work collaboratively with external partners in a variety of capacities including recommendation development, project development, and ensuring public bodies are reporting injuries and deaths as required by the RCY Act. Show less

• Advocacy Manager

  • Dec 2013 - Feb 2021

  • Develop and manage program policies, procedures and human resources process’ with a focus on cultural safety and humility.• Develop and refine public workshop materials. • Manage, mentor and develop a diverse team of professionals (local and remote staff).• Manage the local office (facilities and related duties).• Develop process and conduct file reviews and case audits.• Internal committee work:o Indigenous hiring and retention practices;o Systemic issues working group;o Creating a respectful and engaged workplace. • Engage and support cross program collaboration and team development• Carry a small caseload of complex individual advocacy files• Track expenses and ensure spending is within budget• Redesign database system and supporting tools to ensure consistent data collection• Participate in hiring and staffing activities.• Provide staff support and case consultation to determine effective advocacy strategies. • Identify issues requiring notification/elevation to the Director/Associate Deputy Representative and/or the Representative level. • Lead activities involving community relations with children, youth and families, community stakeholders and various professionals. Show less

• Child and Youth Advocate

  • Nov 2008 - Nov 2013

  •Provide children, youth and families with direct advocacy services, and support, assistance and information on rights, service delivery processes, legislation and mandate while encouraging self advocacy in seeking or accessing designated services. .



Canadian Red Cross

• Canada
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• RespectED Program Coordinator

  • Jun 2007 - Nov 2008

  •Promote and market violence and abuse prevention information and diverse service delivery models throughout the NBC/Yukon Region. •Work with the Regional Development Team to build a diversified funding base that ensures sustainability of the program. •Promote and market violence and abuse prevention information and diverse service delivery models throughout the NBC/Yukon Region. •Work with the Regional Development Team to build a diversified funding base that ensures sustainability of the program.



Calgary John Howard Society

• Canada
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Coordinator, Victim Offender Reconciliation and Crime Impact Programs

  • Feb 2004 - Apr 2006

  •Facilitate meetings between youth who have offended and their victims within a restorative justice framework. •Engage youth in a one on one or group meeting to assist them in becoming more aware of the affects of their actions on victims, community, family and themselves. •Facilitate meetings between youth who have offended and their victims within a restorative justice framework. •Engage youth in a one on one or group meeting to assist them in becoming more aware of the affects of their actions on victims, community, family and themselves.



Halifax Regional School Board

• Canada
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Supervisor

  • Jan 2003 - Jun 2003

  Supervisor of before and after school Program. Managed staff and coordinated activities for students. Supervisor of before and after school Program. Managed staff and coordinated activities for students.

• Community Justice Educator

  • Aug 2000 - Jun 2002

  Developed and delivered Justice Education workshops to youth. Developed and delivered Justice Education workshops to youth.



Calgary, Home Support

• Youth Worker

  • Jun 2000 - Aug 2000

  Supported youth in care by promoting pro social activities, transporting to and from appointments and supervising family visits. Supported youth in care by promoting pro social activities, transporting to and from appointments and supervising family visits.