My Fancy Bio

Hi, I'm Jocelyn, and I help non-profits through their sticky problems; I’m an Interm Executive Director, a Fractional Fundraiser and an Executive Coach. I love helping good organizations to be more effective and equitable.

I have driven systems change through non-profit executive leadership roles for the past 20 years. I want to continue the difficult and important work of moving closer to a socially just world, and believe I can be helpful to organizations that are equally committed.

I want to collaborate with organizations willing to be courageous and innovative in their approach to the work.

I seek opportunities with organizations poised for transformation, particularly those eager to embrace new strategies prioritizing equity and prevention. I am convinced that by strengthening organizational foundations and promoting overall operational health, nonprofits can serve their communities more effectively and achieve lasting impact.

My goal is to contribute to an organization that not only shares my values but is also ready to embark on a journey of growth.

My Real Bio

I grew up in a ranching desert town of 1,500 people in the interior of BC called Ashcroft, in Nlakaʼpamux territory, and nearby Pavilion Lake in Ts'kw'aylaxw territory. My heart continues to be grounded in this place. I moved to Vancouver to finish high school and started my career working provincially with various government organizations.

I seem to have always had a knack for quickly seeing how things can fit together to make something great - coupled with a deep rage against injustice in the world around me.

So, when I was barely an adult and hired as a researcher at the Child Advocate’s office in BC, working for children and youth in government care, I knew I was on the right path. Those amazing people at Joyce Preston’s office, all incredible leaders, shaped the very core of everything I have done since. Sitting in her team meetings, being asked my perspective on what the data showed us and how to effect systems change, I was hooked - to the work and the people.

Since then, everything I have done has been to work towards a more just world.

My real training, however, was when I was hired by youth in and from foster care in BC to lead their advocacy organization, the Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks. As a youth-driven organization, nothing can compare to the kind of accountability that young people will hold you when they are running their AGMs, asking hard questions, and telling you what their priorities are for the coming year. It was the honour of a lifetime.

From there, I was recruited to take on a new role: I had the great pleasure of opening a new space for Vancouver’s only multi-agency collaborative youth hub, attached to housing, called Broadway Youth Resource Centre.

Toronto called me when I fell in love with my wife and found my next beautiful chapter as Executive Director of Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth and then CEO of YouthLink in Scarborough.

So, working with youth in and from care, youth at-risk in East Vancouver, Indigenous Youth, 2SLGBTQ youth, youth experiencing homelessness, youth involved in the justice system, women fleeing abusive relationships, and Black youth are all areas I want to continue to share my energy with. I want to work with great people in great organizations that are changing the world and just need a little help with something. I want to make their lives easier so they can focus on what they excel at.

My two beautiful, kind, thoughtful, adventurous children and my remarkable, brilliant, courageous and generous partner make me the luckiest person on mother earth.

Below are photos that capture elements of my heart and give you a brief snapshot of what has shaped me.