Turning Important Work into Coordinated Action
How I Can Help
Sometimes you have a clear strategy but not enough capacity to move forward. Sometimes the strategy itself needs to be revised or updated because circumstances have changed or actions have stalled. And sometimes the challenge is less about the plan and more about getting the right people, priorities, decisions, and relationships working together.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief that people and place matter.
I work alongside organizations and businesses to help them move complex work forward.
That might mean stepping into a major initiative that needs someone to hold the big picture; helping leadership teams translate strategic plans into practical priorities; facilitating conversations that align different perspectives; or providing additional capacity needed to keep important work moving.
My work sits at the intersection of:
Strategy - Implementation - Engagement - Relationships - Capacity
What I Offer
I help organizations clarify what matters most, understand what’s getting in the way, and determine what needs to happen next. From there, I work with the people involved to establish shared priorities, clarify roles and responsibilities, strengthen communications and relationships, and create practical ways to keep decisions and actions connected to the bigger picture.
For organizations navigating change or growth, this may involve assessing whether current structures, resources, roles, and processes are supporting where the organization is trying to go. For complex community or economic development initiatives, it may involve bringing together multiple partners, interests, and perspectives and creating the coordination needed to move from individual efforts to collective progress.
I can provide strategic direction and advice, facilitate alignment and decision-making, lead projects and initiatives, coordinate partners, support stakeholder engagement, strengthen organizational capacity, and stay alongside your team through implementation. The level and nature of support depends on what you are navigating and what your organization needs.
My goal is to help organizations move, and CSTEAD can adapt to that need.
What I Actually Do
With over two decades of navigating complex initiatives from every angle, sometimes you need advice, sometimes you need capacity, and sometimes you need someone to hold the thread.
Every organization and every challenge is different. CSTEAD can adapt to your needs.
I work collaboratively and practically, becoming involved at the level required, and work with you to move your organization forward while building your ability to carry it forward itself.
These are hard-earned insights. Whether that’s navigating the tension between federal requirements and local realities - balancing growth ambitions within communities - or turning competing stakeholder interests into collaborative momentum. This isn't about providing cookie-cutter templates. It is about sharing knowledge because I’ve lived it.
With expertise rooted in Human Resources and Labour Relations, I understand that lasting change is fundamentally about people, not processes. I also understand how organizational cultures can clash, how political pressures influence decisions, and why a stakeholder’s reality matters more than any strategic plan or organizational framework.
And because I don’t offer cookie-cutter solutions, rates vary depending on the scope, complexity, and duration of the work.
If you aren’t sure exactly what you need, that’s okay. We can start with a conversation about what you are trying to accomplish.
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Human Resources & Labour Relations (HRLR) with Distinction) – Athabasca University
Certified Professional Economic Development (Ec.D) – University of Waterloo
Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) – University of Toronto
Microcredential (s) for Practical AI - Keyin College
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Founder | Principal Advisor - CSTEAD Advisory Inc. (2025)
National Project Manager - Women's Economic Council of Canada (2022-2025)
Led the national delivery of the 50-30 Challenge, a program funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) to advance women and equity-deserving groups into leadership roles.
Managed a $3.5M budget and coordinated a stakeholder ecosystem of 40+ organizations across Canada, including an advisory council, community liaison groups, government partners, and consultants.
Developed project plans, managed risk, tracked performance against deliverables, and championed gender equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout.
Delivered on time and on budget through every stage of the project cycle.
Project Manager – Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark (2020-2022)
Managed all organizational activities for the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark on the Bonavista Peninsula, one of only five UNESCO Geoparks in Canada.
Developed collaborative partnerships with private businesses and entrepreneurs to support sustainable development and revenue generation.
Built international and national networks for knowledge exchange around shared cultural, natural, and intangible heritage.
Served as Board Director with the Canadian Geopark Network, contributing to strategic planning and national marketing and communications strategy.
Created the Geopark Café, an online workshop series connecting communities across the network around geology, sustainable development, and collaborative opportunity.
Director of Economic Development – Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay (2019-2020)
Served as economic development advisor to the Town Manager and Council for a municipality of 8,100+ residents in Central Labrador.
Represented HVGB for the development of a Central Labrador Destination Tourism Plan, a Port Readiness Strategy, and stakeholder engagement for the new YMCA project build and fundraising campaign.
Developed a municipal Business Guide and led Small Business Week programming. Collaborated with federal, provincial, and Indigenous governments, external consultants, and community organizations across a complex multi-stakeholder environment.
Regional Cultural Craft Initiative Bonavista Peninsula (2014 - 2018)
Led a four-year ground-up economic development initiative connecting five heritage nonprofit organizations with a regional artisan community within the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark.
Developed regional motifs rooted in local identity, artisan-led visitor experiences including raku firings, rug hooking, and painting classes at heritage sites, and a curated provincial craft retail model across five partner gift shops.
Supported by ACOA, the provincial Departments of Tourism and Industry Trade, and the NL Craft Council.
The model attracted broader sector engagement and was shared with northern artisan communities through the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce and their Northern Lights initiative.
All five partner organizations continue to operate today.
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Inclusive Leadership
Partnership development for multi-stakeholder initiatives
Action planning & vision development for growth opportunities
GBA+ application for equity and inclusion integration
Project management for complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives
Program Facilitation & Evaluation
Mentorship guidance for women in business
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Access to a trusted network of professional colleagues across specialized practice areas
Established relationships spanning multiple sectors and jurisdictions
Active in professional associations, including the Economic Development Association of NL (EDANL) Board of Directors and Chair, Governance and Operations Committee
Experience leading local, regional, and national & international initiatives
A note on AI:
I use AI tools to verify and cite research, support drafting, and organize my work, but I review, edit, and approve every deliverable. The judgment, relationships, and lived experience behind CSTEAD Advisory are mine. AI helps me work more efficiently on your behalf