Dr. Jessica Lansfield

My vision is to help clients align values, words, and actions to support healthier communities, ecosystems, and economies.

As Principal of Jessica Lansfield Consulting since 2008, I have worked at the intersections of government, industry, Indigenous nations, academia, the non-profit sector, and public interest. As an interdisciplinary consultant and project manager, I bring a diverse skill set to the building and maintaining of cross-sector partnerships that dynamic and challenging projects require. My current skill set spans strategic planning and implementation, partnership development, community-based research, communications, Indigenous and rights-holder consultation, public and community engagement, knowledge mobilization, project management, and operational leadership. I offer clients a rare combination of rigorous research training in health sciences and extensive hands-on experience developing, implementing, and facilitating projects among diverse parties, priorities, and knowledge systems.

In collaboration with clients, I navigate competing priorities, processes, and perspectives to meaningfully address environmental, health, and socioeconomic issues and create social impacts.

Previous clients and collaborators:

  • Governments

    • Yukon Government

    • Province of British Columbia

    • Government of Northwest Territories

    • Government of Canada

    • Confidential Indigenous Nations

  • Non-governmental organizations

    • UNESCO and the DECODE Knowledge Project

    • Participatory Research in Asia Society

    • Victoria Native Friendship Centre

    • Alexandra Neighbourhood House

    • Murray Alzheimer’s Research and Education Program

    • Fish-Eye Project

    • Western Arctic Youth Collective

    • Robert Bateman Centre

    • Therapsil

    • The Explorers Club

    • The Beaty Biodiversity Museum

    • Ucluelet Aquarium

    • World Elephant Day

    • Confidential advisory committees

  • Public sector

    • University of Victoria

    • University of Waterloo

    • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

  • Private sector / industry clients

    • Confidential marine, transportation, and mining projects

    • HAVN

    • Canadian River Expeditions / Nahanni River Adventures

    • Dinjii Zhuh Adventures

    • Fata Morgana Films

    • Bluewater Adventures

    • Love Letters for Everybody

    • Live It Earth Productions

    • CanazWest Productions

When not working, I often spend time outdoors by the ocean, near a river, or on a mountaintop; gather with family and friends; and support community events, local artists, and musicians.

Education:

  • PhD in the Social Dimensions of Health from the University of Victoria

  • Master’s in Therapeutic Relationships from the University of Waterloo

  • Bachelor of Arts in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Waterloo

  • Bachelor in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph

Non-confidential past project examples:

Most of my consulting work is confidential, strategic, and client-owned. Three non-confidential past project examples are provided below.

  • With the increasing older adult population in the Yukon Territory, the Yukon Government engaged with over 1200 community members to find out what aging in place meant to Yukoners. Based on the engagement and analysis, a number of key themes emerged, including the accessibility of programs, services and infrastructure; the need for a continuum of housing options; seniors’ transportation needs; and older adults wanting to live full and meaningful lives.

    “The What We Heard report on aging in place provided us with further clarity about the needs of Yukon seniors. There is also considerable overlap between the recommended actions in this plan and the recommended actions in Putting People First, the final report of the comprehensive review of Yukon’s health and social services. The two documents share the same philosophical perspective– they are focused on helping seniors and Elders remain in their own homes and communities. This synergy will play an important part in helping us reach our shared goals.” (Yukon Government, Aging in Place Action Plan, Executive Summary, p. 5).

    For current information on the Yukon Government’s Aging in Place Strategies visit: Home | Yukon.ca

  • DECODE is led by the UNESCO Co-Chairs in Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education (Dr. Budd Hall of the University of Victoria, and Dr. Rajesh Tandon of the Participatory Research in Asia Society). Open source working papers, storymaps, and peer learning opportunities were created to support efforts related to the co‑construction, decolonisation, and transformation of knowledge by strengthening community‑ and/or Indigenous‑led participatory research, which produced locally actionable knowledge, and expanded calls for the transformation of research funding perspectives and systems. To explore the DECODE Knowledge Project is greater depth visit www.unescochair-cbrsr.org/decode/casestudy/

  • CanAssist’s vision is to foster a world without barriers where all people of all abilities can meaningfully participate and belong. With changes to previous funding streams, this community-based organization needed to diversify its funding streams and generate new partnerships to continue to support its mission. For more information on the services the organization now provides visit: www.CanAssist.ca/what-we-do

“Partnership-building requires persistence, vision, and a willingness to invest in relationships whose impact unfolds over time. Jessica brought exactly that approach. She helped plant seeds that will continue to grow and support our work and the communities we serve.

Jessica, thank you for the energy, thoughtfulness, and strategic perspectives you brought to our work together.”
— C. Cortes, UVic

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