Principle Consultant – Lisa Paterson
Education
- BA (Hons) Humanities – University of Greenwich, UK
- MA, Applied Anthropology, Community and Youth Work – Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK
Masters level training includes research methods of anthropology; the collection of different types of data including surveys, in-depth interviews, participant observation and participatory research; its uses by subject; and conflicts of interest. Themes covered were Anthropological Perspectives in the developed and developing World; Gender; Race and Class; Community and Youth Cultures.
- BC Certified Career Practitioner Award.
Professional Background
Lisa is known for her strong skills in planning, evaluation and project management. An extensive professional career over twenty years includes grassroots community and youth work, and experience developing projects and programming based on need through use of community participatory research. Her work has been with a variety of population groups including Indigenous communities and Bands and communities in rural, semi rural and urban areas.
Lisa first visited Canada from the UK in 2005 and now calls British Columbia her home. Here she actively pursues her passion for the outdoors and skiing. She has worked cross culturally with many diverse populations and has been fortunate to have developed initiatives and strategic plans with many of the communities in the Sea to Sky and Greater Vancouver regions. These include Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton and many Indigenous Bands including Squamish Nation, Lilawat Nation, Baptiste, Naquatqua Band, Skatin and the area up to the Douglas Band.
In a career spanning 20 years, Lisa began her career as a youth worker for the London Borough of Greenwich, UK. She progressed to positions in the UK such as Community Development Officer and Area Manager. Leading a team of part time, full time and specialist staff she was able to use outcomes measurement to improve service delivery and prepare for government inspection. Inspiring and developing staff and services, Lisa has initiated and worked with many strategic multi-agency partnerships. She is skilled in translating strategy and policy into operational service delivery and managing a broad range of services.
Testimonials
“Lisa worked to develop the new Connecting Families to Community Initiative at the Robert Lee YMCA. She was able to work successfully to develop the initiative from scratch. This included a comprehensive needs audit of the downtown area of Vancouver and a successful outreach program in conjunction with community partners and YMCA departments. Consequences of the work included increased use of the facility and programming at the YMCA of Greater Vancouver by those contacted. Positive outcomes included those relating to nutrition, social connections, education and literacy. Lisa was able to work sensitively with a diverse population.”Yael Drinkle, Manager, Employment & Training. Community Branch YMCA of Greater Vancouver.
“I have worked with Lisa both across the Sea to Sky Region and in community programs at the YMCA of Greater Vancouver. I first met Lisa when I was working as the coordinator for Putting Children First. Lisa was working as coordinator for the Communities that Care strategic planning coalition.She initiated a culture of partnership and collaboration creating prevention opportunities across the communities. With her leadership, Communities that Care was able to suggest and help implement changes based on clearly identified researched needs. Work took place to merge funding for the two initiatives. In Vancouver, Lisa developed programming that was attractive, inviting, interesting and easy to access. Lisa’s work is underpinned by strong academic and theoretical training. She combines this with a real depth of grassroots and strategic experience in engagement and community development. I find her creative, open and flexible. She is really easy to work with!“Jane Ballance, Early Childhood Consultant and Program Coordinator – Better at Home.