I offer a unique combination of competitive business acumen and creativity along with comprehensive knowledge of governance and accountability.

The majority of my working life has been in the business world as an actor, director and acting teacher in the highly competitive film and television industry.   During those 27 years I performed in numerous film, TV and theatre productions.   I also served as Director of the Part-Time Studies Division of Gastown Actors Studio overseeing more than 200 students and 17 staff members.

I returned to University to do my MPA because I wanted to understand how policy is built and how the levers of power work.   I specialized in governance and accountability.

Since February 2007 my energies have been mainly devoted to protecting school lands and urban green space from sell-off.  This work led to the founding of LANDS! (Let’s Agree Not to Dispose of Schools!) which was recently expanded to include hospital lands.  The past year (Oct ’09-present) has been focused on stopping the sell-off of Oak Bay Lodge and Mount Tolmie Hospital here in Oak Bay-Gordon Head, including organizing a public forum on Seniors’ Health Care.  I have worked with citizens in jurisdictions across BC (most recently in Abbotsford) to protect their school lands from sell-off.

Summary of qualifications:  A successful creative career and 27 years as a business person combined with a multi-disciplinary background in government, economics and governance.

Below you will find a full CV

 

Jessica Van der Veen   

Advocacy


Founder (February 2007 to present day)
LANDS! (Let’s Agree Not to Dispose of Schools/Seniors/Urban Spaces!)
Victoria  BC  Canada

• Work to stop the sell-off of public school lands across BC

• Work to stop the sell-off of Oak Bay Lodge and Mount Tolmie Hospital

• Maintain and Correspond with a network of activists Province wide

• Public education about the long-term consequences of selling off public lands
• Protection of Urban Green Spaces

• Advocacy for public education
• Advocacy for public seniors’ health care including organizing a Public Forum on Seniors Care in Oak Bay-Gordon Head.



Work Experience


Consultant  (July 2010 - present )
ACTRA/Union of BC Performers   Victoria  BC  Canada

• Working with the Alliance of Canadian Radio and Television Artists to improve incentives for the film industry in BC;  increase funding for Canadian film and television production in BC and to improve work opportunities for performers in Canada.

 

Performance Reporting Analyst  (Co-op) (May 2005 to Dec 2005 )
Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia   Victoria  BC  Canada

• Researched and wrote a management report entitled: "An Open Book: School Boards and Board Governance Disclosure Practices in British Columbia"

• Researched and reported on accountability, governance and transparency (honest, open government)      

• Wrote and edited draft sections of the "25,000 Seats by 2010" performance audit
• Researched and compiled “knowledge of business” binders on post-secondary institutions and the Advanced Education System in BC
• Researched project selection on the Industry Training Authority

Research Assistant (Co-op) Jan 2004 to Dec 2004 )
Ministry of Advanced Education   Victoria   BC  Canada

• Compiled briefing binder for the Premier’s Advisory Panel on Literacy Summit
• Coordinated formation of the Inter-ministry Literacy Committee
• Researched and wrote briefs on adult literacy strategies in Canada and world-wide
• Screened grant applications including budget analysis
• Communicated and corresponded with grant applicants
• Coordinated External Review Committee grant adjudication
• Coordinated federal granting programs and participated in intergovernmental meetings

Instructor (May 2004 annually to May 2007)
BC Youth Film Festival   BC  Canada

Annual weekend conference on film and television
• Taught Acting For The Camera, Scene Study & The Business of Acting


Instructor (Sep 2000 to May 2003 )
Canadian College of Performing Arts   Victoria  BC  Canada

• Taught Acting For The Camera, Scene Study, Dialects & Accents


Director of Part Time Studies (Jan 1998 to Jun 2000 )
Gastown Actors' Studio   Vancouver  BC  Canada

• Managed 17 part-time teachers and 2 support staff
• Conducted performance evaluations of staff and 200 students
• Evaluated class and project proposals for creative and financial viability
• Chaired staff meetings and created and implemented internal policy
• Mediated conflict among staff and students resulting in a more harmonious workplace
• Oversaw a successful accreditation process by Private Post Secondary Education Commission

Professional Actor and Director (resume available on request) (1988 to 2003 )
   Vancouver  BC  Canada

• Performed in numerous film, television, radio and theatre productions
• Co-created, wrote and directed theatre productions
• Directed sound and visual designers, actors, writers and stage managers, to create a unified, polished result - on time and on budget

Acting Instructor (Dec 1989 to Jun 2000 )
Gastown Actors' Studio   Vancouver  BC  Canada

• Taught Acting For The Camera, Auditioning, Scene Study and The Business Of Acting.
• Planned courses and collaborated on curriculum design
• Created a joyful, disciplined learning environment and supported students studying emotionally challenging material

 

 

Education


Master's Degree Oct 2006
University of Victoria   Victoria  BC   Canada
Master of Public Administration

Comprehensive training including Administrative Law, Performance Measurement and Reporting, Research Methodology, Writing, Management, Dispute Resolution, Statistics, Economics, Public Policy, Accounting and Budgeting and E-Management. (Transcript available on request)

Bachelor's Degree May 1987
University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University   Vancouver  BC  Canada
Theatre

Courses in Humanities, Writing and Rhetoric, Astronomy, Political Science, Theatre, Voice, Movement, History and English

Training & Personal Development


• Sept 2006 to Feb 2007 – Family sabbatical to Paris, Venice, Berlin and London
• Summer 2007 - Applied Career Transitions Program - University of Victoria
• Nov 2007 - Bootcamp for Board Members & Staff - G.V. Chamber of Commerce
• Fall/2005 - Canadian Evaluation Society - Essential Skills Series - Module III
• 2005 - Centre for Non-profit Management, Helping the Helper series
• 2004 - Future of Government Series, Accountability in the 21st Century

Volunteer Work


Vice-Chair (Apr 2007 to present day)
Mary Manning Centre for Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Society
Victoria  BC  Canada

• Governance and policy
• Fundraising and promotion

PAC and School Planning Council (Sep 2000 to 2004)
Ecole Lansdowne School
Victoria   BC   Canada

• Consult and survey parents
• Compile and analyse results
• Collaborate with staff and parents
• Co-write and edit school growth plan


Instructor (1998 to 1999 )
Acting Up
Vancouver  BC  Canada

• Taught performance workshops for people recovering from mental illness due to illness or injury - helping them reconnect with self-expression and overcome fears around communicating with others


Interests


• Member: Amnesty International, Council of Canadians, South Island Health Coalition, Victoria Public Education Coalition, Greater Victoria Water Watch, Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Oak Bay Community Association, Mary Manning Centre, Rotary Club of Oak Bay
• Walking, swimming, weight training, travel and speech writing, the arts, parties & parenting