Past Projects

Every project is a chance to learn, create, and help build stronger communities. These are some of the collaborations that I've had the pleasure of working on since launching JBC in 2023.

Services

Testimonials

  • I've worked with Joëlle on multiple projects and have been able to benefit from her wide range of skills. She's an exceptional project manager, from visioning to scoping work and providing regular status updates - she was always proactive and enabled us to shift planning where needed. She brought high level research and analysis skills to our projects, conducting 1-1 interviews with partners and facilitating focus groups in a relational and professional manner. In both experiences she demonstrated exceptional communication and people centric skills, while providing high quality analysis and reports that went beyond what I was expecting. Her deep understanding of the nonprofit sector with a systems thinking lens was extremely beneficial to all of the projects she worked on with IONS. She is a joy to work with and these projects were some of the smoothest experiences I've had working with an external consultant.

    Kristen Faulkner, Director of Sector Transformation

    Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia

  • At ACIC our mission is to build and support just, equitable and sustainable communities, engaging Atlantic Canadians to think critically about global issues while building skills to act locally. Joëlle worked closely with our team to understand our network's vision and values, to craft a strategic plan that reflected who we are and where we are going. Joëlle leads projects with teams in a way that is organized and thoughtful while injecting energy and clarity to allow participants to feel seen and that their contributions are valued. She is a seasoned non-profit professional with extensive experience leading teams in strategic planning and organizational development projects. Her ability to creatively engage teams in thinking strategically about big picture ideas, while also paying attention to detail, lead to results that were tailored to our needs while capturing individuals' contributions.

    Lee-Anne Lavell, Program Director

    Atlantic Council for International Cooperation

  • I’ve had the privilege of working with Joëlle for nearly a decade, across Canada and internationally, in areas ranging from child protection and international development, to social innovation and supporting Indigenous youth in northern Canada. She is a rare mix of big-picture thinker and someone who gets things done. Joëlle is a gifted facilitator who creates spaces where people feel engaged, included, and clear on outcomes. She has a unique ability to listen with intent, analyze complex information, and translate it into accessible, engaging ways that resonate with diverse audiences. As a curriculum writer, Joëlle creates learning materials that are tailored to the needs of participants, and always practically useful. She brings people in, no matter their role, background, or perspective, and ensures everyone feels seen, valued, and able to contribute meaningfully. She brings integrity, warmth, and depth to every collaboration.

    Rachael Borlase, Executive Director

    Healthy Tomorrow Foundation

  • I've worked with Joelle on several projects in different contexts and every time I'm extremely impressed by her project management and research skills, attention to detail and professionalism. I would recommend her for a wide range of projects - you won't be disappointed!

    Annika Voltan

    Saint Mary's University

Management, Research & Case Study Development

Just, Good Business in Action Case Study Project

In 2026, I was brought on to project manage Just, Good Business in Action, a research project funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). It explored how businesses across Atlantic Canada build sustainability into their operations and decision-making to become more resilient and competitive. The project brought together a team from Saint Mary's University's Sobey School of Business, and Just, Good Business to identify, select and interview businesses across Atlantic Canada, and then turn those conversations into case studies of sustainability in practice.

As project manager, I built the project plan, coordinated partners and timelines, and kept the work moving so it was delivered on time. Together with a brilliant project team, we interviewed ten businesses across the all four Atlantic provinces and turned those conversations into common themes, emerging trends and promising practices.

The project produced a practical guide that brings together key themes, practices and insights from those conversations to help other businesses find their sustainability footing. It shows the impact of sustainability on businesses' bottom line, their employees and their communities, and gives other businesses a starting point wherever they are on their own sustainability journey.

Download the Just, Good Business in Action: Your Sustainability Starter Guide, and learn more about incredible Atlantic Canadian businesses that are committed to balancing environmental health, social equity, and economic vitality to ensure that current generations can thrive, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Policy Research & Advocacy Support

Alberta Seniors and Community Housing Association (ASCHA)

In 2025-2026, I worked with the Alberta Seniors and Community Housing Association (ASCHA) to help advance its policy positions on behalf of seniors and community housing providers across Alberta. My work across several projects focused on gathering evidence, making sense of it, and turning it into insights that strengthen ASCHA's advocacy and support the sector as a whole.

This work has included analyzing survey data from across the sector, identifying trends and shared challenges among member organizations, and helping to bring member perspectives together into clear, compelling findings. I have supported ASCHA in shaping evidence-based positions, preparing materials that inform conversations with government and partners, and making complex data accessible to a range of audiences.

Taken together, this work has aimed to strengthen ASCHA’s policy messaging, and helped make the case for the needs of housing providers and the communities they serve.

A circular diagram illustrating community focus areas and strategic directions for an organization, with segments labeled 'Members,' 'Atlantic Canadian Public,' 'Partners & Collaborators,' 'Youth & Program Alumni,' and 'ACIC Staff.' The outer segments list strategic directions including 'Decolonization & Anti-Racism,' 'Advocacy and Public Policy,' 'Nurtured Partnerships,' 'Coalition Capacity, Connection and Collaboration,' 'Storytelling & Impact,' 'Organizational Strengthening,' and 'Public Engagement and Activation.'

Visual representation of ACIC’s 2024-29 Strategic Plan

Strategic Planning

Atlantic Council for International Cooperation
2024-2029 Strategic Plan

In 2023–2024, I guided the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation through a five-phase process to deliver a new five-year strategic plan. The goal was to create a clear, actionable roadmap that reflected ACIC’s mission, engaged a broad base of constituents and partners, and set measurable priorities for 2024–2029.

I established project structures, facilitated discovery sessions, guided ACIC in identifying its core values and the communities it serves, synthesized findings, and drafted the plan with the steering committee. In 2025, I also supported the organization in operationalizing the plan and using it to guide funding applications and projects. The finalized, consensus-driven strategic plan captured priorities, integrated community feedback, and provided practical tools to guide mission-alignment, decision-making, programming, and resource allocation. ​

The three-part plan can be found here.

White building with several windows and a sign that says "have a heart."

Mural by Fathom Studio

Community Centred Research

Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia
Labour Market Survey Project

In 2024, I partnered with IONS to lead their Labour Market Survey Project, conducting qualitative interviews with leaders across community impact organizations in Nova Scotia to better understand recruitment, retention, and workforce development within the non-profit and community impact sector. The project aimed to provide actionable insights to improve organizational capacity while identifying strategies and barriers to embedding justice, equity, diversity, decolonization, and inclusion (JEDDI) into organizational operations.

My role included developing the project plan, designing interview protocols, conducting interviews, analyzing recurring themes, and synthesizing findings into a comprehensive report. The resulting report provides actionable recommendations that inform IONS programming and help organizations strengthen their workforce, build capacity, and create more equitable and welcoming workplaces.​

For a deeper dive into these findings, listen to my conversation on The Sector Podcast, in the episode To ED or Not to ED, That Is the Question where I discuss recruitment challenges, equitable practices, and real-world impacts on nonprofit leaders and staff.

Colourful mural on the side of a building featuring three cartoon characters standing on a pink and orange platform, with wires and electrical boxes above, and the phrase 'you got this' written in black letters.

Mural by Fathom Studio

Governance & Capacity Building

NS Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Governance & Engagement Project

In 2024, in partnership with IONS, I led a governance review project for the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women. The project centred on interviews with past and current Council members, as well as interviews with equivalent provincial/territorial bodies, to assess perspectives on roles, mandate, and impact.

My work included designing interview protocols, facilitating discussions, mapping themes, and synthesizing findings into actionable recommendations, as well as a summary jurisdictional report. The project aimed to identify strengths, areas for improvement, and opportunities to enhance the Advisory Council's impact on gender equity in Nova Scotia.

Urban street scene with snow in the foreground, a building with a wall reading 'All together,' and street lamps decorated with holiday wreaths.

Mural by Fathom Studio

Curriculum Design & Development

Small Economy Works
Inspire Curriculum Project

Between 2023 - 2025, I supported Small Economy Works in the design and development of culturally responsive training programs for young, Northern, and Indigenous entrepreneurs. The project aimed to develop engaging, community and culturally-informed learning experiences that integrated Indigenous pedagogy, land-based learning, systems theory, and asset-based community development.​

I authored e-learning modules, designed interactive workshops, and developed engaging and applied assessment methods. In partnership with Northern and Indigenous advisors, I worked to ensure authenticity and relevance for the audience of learners.

Additionally, I collaborated with the University of Toronto to translate parts of this curriculum into microcredentials, allowing learners to earn a credential for their hard work. Outcomes for this project included enhanced learner engagement, measurable skills development, and recognition of learning achievements through formal credentials.

A brick wall with the words 'take care' painted in white. There is graffiti at the bottom of the wall and snow on the ground near the base of the wall.

Mural by Fathom Studio

Organizational Reflection & Learning

Music Nova Scotia
Quarterly Organizational Reflection Sessions

In 2024-2025, I supported Music Nova Scotia in designing and facilitating quarterly Reflection Sessions aimed at helping staff evaluate past work, identify areas for improvement, and plan future initiatives. My role included co-creating reflective prompts, guiding individual and group reflection exercises, and moderating team discussions to synthesize insights from both solo and collective reflections. The sessions integrated restorative practices, navigating differences and surfacing tensions, and structured post-mortems on organizational activities. Outcomes included actionable insights for future planning, enhanced staff self-awareness, and strengthened team cohesion, enabling the organization to better assess impact, improve processes, and foster a culture of continuous learning and thoughtful growth.