Board
Joanne is pleased to be leading the Women Entrepreneurs Financing and Growth Project on behalf of Vancity Community Foundation. This two year project focuses on how to strengthen the participation of women as business owners – particularly newcomer, aboriginal and social entrepreneurs.
Prior to joining the VCF team, Joanne was the founding Director of Social Returns at Social Capital Partners (SCP) from 2002 -2010, a national, privately financed non profit organization founded in 2001. Prior to joining the VCF team, Joanne was the founding Director of Social Returns at Social Capital Partners (SCP) from 2002 -2010, a national, privately financed non profit organization founded in 2001. SCP facilitates access to growth financing and advisory services for businesses that integrate a community hiring model into their HR strategy. Joanne worked with portfolio management teams to develop and execute on their social mission strategy and led the SROI (social return on investment) portfolio analysis of all SCP investments.
Before joining SCP, Joanne worked domestically and internationally on behalf of organizations such as the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Canadian Business Resource Centre and the Canadian Youth Business Foundation. Joanne has also worked as a business consultant and trainer for startup entrepreneurs. She has written and published on issues concerning employment, entrepreneurship, tourism and gender relations.
Nadi Fleschhut - Vice President
My passion in life is to contribute to a sustainable, resilient local and global community by exploring, demonstrating and educating about the incredible diversity of solutions that are available to us in the realms of human habitat design, sustainable food systems, and grassroots community building.
I have an academic background in Biology, International Development and Environmental Philosophy, and about a decade of practical training in the art of sustainable living (including permaculture, natural building, appropriate technologies and natural food systems).
Currently, I work with the One Straw Society as the Community Food Security Coordinator, and am a founding member of the local cob building cooperative: the Good Earth Builders. I enjoy working with local organizations as a project coordinator and program developer, and have especially enjoyed being a small part of the amazing, ever-evolving vision of the Art Farm!
Marlene Lowden - Secretary/Treasurer
Marlene is a graduate in Broadcast Television from BCIT. She began her career at the CBC as a Jr. Unit Manager. She became the Production Manager for a co-production television series about health and wellness with the CBC called “Alive!” which aired for 5 seasons. Her desire to return to her hometown of Gibsons was brought about by motherhood. She is the proud mom of 2 daughters and one stepson. Before she was offered employment with Coast Cable 11, she operated a successful licensed daycare in her home, designed websites for a number of television programs, was a researcher for a program CBC program called “Spilled Milk,” and tutored children from grades K to 10.
She enjoys her current position as a community programmer with Coast Cable 11 as it allows her to express her creativity through video and keeps her connected to the people of the Sunshine Coast.
ADVISORY
Judith Marcuse, Founder and Co-Director, International Centre of Art for Social Change
Scott Hughes, Principal, CapacityBuild Consulting
Elizabeth Lougheed Green, Social Enterprise Program Manager, Vancity
Madelaine Hatch, Principal, Granville Communications
Sara Dent, Development Director - The Power of Hope Canada
Linda Williams, Chair, Coast Cultural Alliance
Brian Silver, Principal Architect, AG 47 Designs Inc.
Jane Heyman, Founder and Past President, PAL Vancouver
Robert Kerr, Program Director, Cultural Olympiad 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games
Julie Smith, Former Executive Director, Vancouver International Jazz Festival
