POLICY & RESEARCH

CANADIAN HERITAGE EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION REVIEW

From 2021 to 2023, I was hired to be part of a special projects team which launched and completed a two-year Department project to improve access to Canadian Heritage funding programs for equity-deserving communities. I led a team of four policy analysts in the research, data analysis, and writing of the final report, as well as the identification of systemic recommendations for the Department. I also created and convened a new intradepartmental EDI Review Working Group, which convened 50+ colleagues from across the Department in the arts, cultural industries, heritage and sport sectors to advise on EDI and the project recommendations. Our work on the project was recognized by the Department and nominated for a Deputy Minister award.

CANADIAN PUBLIC ARTS FUNDERS (CPAF)

From 2010 to 2018, I was the central resource point for arts councils and equivalent public arts funders across Canada. I managed the research, communications, professional development program, governance activities and budget of the Canadian Public Arts Funders (CPAF), the intergovernmental network of federal/provincial/territorial public arts funders. I advised Board members, CEOs, Director-Generals, Directors and program officers on strategic policy issues in the arts including equity and governance.

A number of research papers were commissioned by the network. I conceptualized the parameters of the research and collaborated with leading thinkers and practitioners in the arts and culture sector to deliver content which aimed to advance the arts sector in Canada.

CANADIAN HUB, YOUNG CULTURAL INNOVATORS PROGRAM, SALZBURG GLOBAL SEMINAR

In 2018, I led the development of a partnership between the Salzburg Global Seminar and the Canada Council for the Arts to launch the Young Cultural Innovators in Canada program. This program aimed to give young cultural innovators from Canada an opportunity to build their leadership skills and engage with other innovators from around the globe. A Canadian hub was established to sustain links between participants from across the country and to advance innovative ideas that could impact the Canadian arts and cultural sector.

GLOBAL CULTURAL relations PROGRAM

In 2017, I was selected as one of three representatives from Canada to participate in the Global Cultural Leadership Program (now Global Cultural Relations Program). The Cultural Relations Platform is a European Union -funded project that connects cultural practitioners worldwide for dialogue, exchange and co-operation. It also provides expertise to the European Union (EU) in the field of international cultural relations.

 AMERICAS CULTURAL SUMMIT

The inaugural Americas Cultural Summit in 2018 convened ministers of culture, ambassadors, arts funders and artists from 33 countries. As one of the key team members, I conceptualized and led development of the Summit’s guiding framework on cultural citizenship and cultural rights, and contributed to shaping the Summit program.

CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH INFORMATION

From 2003 to 2007, I was a research analyst at the Canadian Institute for Health Information, part of a team exploring the social determinants of health and health equity. Our team authored a number of reports, including the product series Improving the Health of Canadians, that can be found here.

Highlights include: