Joanne is a settler on the traditional territories of the K’omoks People on Vancouver Island.  She is a mother of 4 and grandmother of 3.

Joanne recently “retired” from her role as Executive Director at the Comox Valley Child Development Association and has returned to the Human Early Learning Partnership as Director of Strategy and Innovation. Her role includes leading the newly established Network for Compassionate Systems Leadership in BC Education.

She began working at HELP in 2000 and previously served as Deputy Director. In her initial role, she developed and led their knowledge translation activities.

She was also the Provincial Advisor to “Children First,” a community development project that worked in 45 BC communities, and the National Lead Fellow for the Canadian Council for Early Child Development.

Joanne is passionate about building better systems and policies for children and youth by leveraging innovative practice, community leadership, and research.