Staff
Charley Beresford is Executive Director of the Columbia Institute. Prior to joining the Columbia Institute, Charley worked in both the public and private sector. She served four years as a Director in the Ministry of Finance, overseeing Provincial appointments to agencies, boards and commissions. Charley introduced a Code of Conduct for Provincial Appointees, established a “Youth on Boards” program and increased the representation of women and visible minorities on Provincial boards. She was Director of the Work Readiness program for Canadian Mental Health Association in Burnaby and established Leisure Counseling programs for people with disabilities for the municipality of Burnaby.
Based in Victoria, Charley has been an elected Greater Victoria School Board Trustee since 1996, serving as chair of the board for two terms. As a Trustee, Charley successfully campaigned to save provincially funded Inner City School Funds and led the development of a ground breaking anti-discrimination policy.
In her community work, Charley established the Women’s Defense Fund to support a woman victimized in a high profile sexual harassment case, led the establishment of a BC based Big Sister’s organization, served on the BC Therapeutic Riding Association board, served seven years on the Oak Bay Parks and Recreation Commission, served on the City of Victoria’s Social Planning and Housing Advisory Committee, the Food Access Forum on Capital Regional food and Agriculture Initiatives Round Table and chaired the Mount Pleasant Community Centre Association for a number of years, where she worked to preserve urban green space.
Lisa Barrett, Communications Officer
Robert Duffy, Research Analyst
Sean Meagher, Ontario Office Coordinator
Lisa Stewart, Awards Administrator
Amor Verdeflor, Administrator