8 Questions and 2 Imperatives for Sheena Sargeant

.

.

Who are you?
I am the Executive Director of the Vancouver Friends For Life Society, a wellness centre that provides comfort, support and holistic health therapies to individuals living with serious illnesses and who are facing end of life. I am a passionate ‘West Ender’ (it will take an earthquake to get me to move any further away from the perfect blend of ocean, trees and urban rush) and am a Capricorn who only uses her powers for good. I sincerely believe, if put to the test, I would be very happy eating only burritos every day for the rest of my life.

Who is your role model?
There are many famous and noble leaders that I admire. I also witness and experience small moments in the people around me everyday that continue to inspire me to be a better person.

Describe your management style.
I believe in fostering the strengths and beauty in the people around me and in giving credit where credit is due.

What is your biggest professional accomplishment?
Presenting on the success of YouthCO‘s  Hep C youth needle exchange program to delegates from the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, without getting… politely removed… for uttering the term “harm reduction”.

What was your first job?
My first official pay cheque (after the cold, hard cash payments of babysitting and strawberry picking) came at age 13 (don’t tell BC Employment Standards!) from the SAAN retail store in Clearwater, BC. I was a sales clerk, and by the age of 14, was promoted to Manager of Ladies’ Underwear (little did they know…).

What are you reading right now?
I just finished ‘Sub Rosa‘ by Amber Dawn. I am still relaxing in that weightless space of wonderment where you feel your being and perspectives shift and evolve by several more degrees after reading a truly great masterpiece. I am waiting for my next book to find me.

What is the last conference you attended?
The Dining Out For Life International Conference in San Diego last July. Dining Out For Life is an annual event held across North America wherein restaurants in different cities come together to raise money to help support individuals living with HIV/AIDS. This year’s event is happening in Vancouver on Thursday, March 29th, 2012. Next year’s conference is occurring in Nashville, Tennessee, and, yes, I’m going to Graceland.

Tell us one thing about yourself that might surprise people.
I spent two weeks in silence at a Catholic Monastery in Belgium when I was 18 years old.

Blackberry or iPhone?
Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, my Blackberry appears entirely indestructible and my opportunity to purchase an iPhone (out of prudent need vs. pure desire) has not yet been presented to me.

What’s your Internet guilty pleasure?
Netflix, hands down. Bringing entertainment, convenience, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness right to my laptop. Blessed be.

–
Sheena Sargeant is the Executive Director of the Vancouver Friends for Life Society in Vancouver, an organization that serves as a catalyst to enhance the wellness of individuals living with life-threatening illness by providing complementary and alternative health and support services. She brings a strong background in strategic HIV/AIDS leadership, having been the Executive Director of YouthCO AIDS Society, Canada’s only youth-driven organization providing HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C services to young people, from 2004-2007  She also holds an extensive experience in community-based HIV/AIDS work in the areas of both women and youth. In addition to her previous work as Communications Coordinator at Positive Women’s Network, she spent over four years at YouthCO AIDS Society working directly with youth to develop HIV/AIDS prevention education programming at various local, regional and international levels. She has also provided expertise as an independent consultant, working alongside local community-based organizations, universities and the Public Health Agency of Canada to further develop the field of HIV/AIDS community-based research. Currently, Sheena serves on the Board of Directors for Dining Out For Life International. Additionally, over the course of a decade, she has participated as a member of the Ministerial Advisory Council on the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS Canada, advising the Minister of Health on current and emerging HIV/AIDS issues, as well as evaluating and monitoring the Federal Initiative and offering a vision for the long-term. Previous to these volunteer commitments, Sheena also served as co-chair of the British Columbia HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee.