Deirdre Goudriaan is a health promotion and organizational/community development consultant interested in the health and well-being of our planet, and the people who inhabit it. She has worked extensively with citizens, local, provincial and federal governments and a variety of other groups (not for profit, businesses etc.) to help others develop greater capacity for collaboration, collective impact and creatively to tap into our collective potential. She is passionate about resilience, food security and works as the Coordinator of the Food Action Coalition. She owns her own consulting firm, Team Play Consulting Inc.
As Director of Women, Seniors & Community Services for Sources Community Resources Society, Denise Darrel provides oversight and leadership to a broad portfolio of community programs and services, which are poverty related. These include all women’s services: counseling, family law advocacy, a hot lunch program, shower, laundry and clothing facilities, and educational support groups, emergency aid etc. Denise oversees both the South Surrey /White Rock and Langley Food Banks, all volunteer and seniors services and programs including shop by phone, driving for medical appointments, dental clinic etc. . Her business experience and accounting education assist her with the direction of two social enterprise Sources Concierge developed to employ dis-advantaged women and the Sources Connection Café & Catering, an inter-generational enterprise, fostering positive working relationships with seniors and youth. Sources Community Resources Society is the host agency for the Food Action Coalition.
Neil Fernyhough has been Manager of Community Programs at Alexandra Neighbourhood House since 2013, having worked over twenty years in the social services and community development field. An avid lifelong gardener and outdoors enthusiast, Neil directed his passion for food security and the protection of green-space into the development of two community gardens in South Surrey; and the creation of both a healthy food policy and sustainable practices policy for Alex House. Neil is a strong proponent of community gardening as a vehicle for enhancing community capacity through fostering natural connections between neighbours, who then come together as advocates and activists for food security and green-space connection in their communities. In addition to gardening, Neil also enjoys hiking, cooking, and cycling.
Fiona Stevenson is the Manager of Volunteer and Community Programs at DIVERSEcity overseeing a diverse portfolio of community based programs, including DIVERSEcity’s successful long running food security programs. Fiona has been working in the Settlement sector for 5 years, with a passion for supporting immigrants and volunteers of all ages in integrating into the wider community. She believes strongly in volunteerism and civic engagement supporting healthy diverse communities. Fiona initially came to Canada to work as an ESL instructor after living in Chile before switching to the settlement sector while completing an M.Ed in Adult Education. She also loves running, trying new foods, and keeping active in beautiful BC and meeting people from all walks of life!