Faces of Women in Business

Description

Women in Business Forum
Presents
Faces of Women in Business Panel


Bernadette Fernandes, CEO, The Varanda Network Bernadette is an immigrant by birth and a Saint Johner by choice. Although she graduated from St. Thomas University on a full-tuition scholarship, she also simultaneously took courses at UNB, Concordia, and the Universidad de Zaragoza in Jaca, Spain... her years living in Portugal without her parents had given her a foundation that drew her to, again, various perspectives. During her 19 years at the telephone company working full-time while raising twins, she again went abroad to study a semester towards her Masters degree at the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. She longed for perspective again. After taking an early retirement package from a male-dominated industry, she went on a mission to develop more international perspectives. She took on roles in Guatemala, El Salvador, Ireland, Trinidad & Tobago, worked from France, all the while returning to her mountains and river Douro in Portugal that called her. In 2011, she had settled back in Saint John, and approaching 50 launched her business in International Trade. After wrapping up a 5-year contract with the Province of New Brunswick, she went on a humanitarian mission to Africa, and she now holds the Canadian Office of International Business Development for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Juliana Prestes, Director, Community Technology, IMPART/ Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick
Juliana is originally from Brazil, she arrived in Saint John 7 years ago and has been living on Germain Street since then. Juliana has set a lifetime commitment to service and medicine, she hasn’t taken a full week vacation in 9 years and she has generated and executed several projects in healthcare, technology and social services in our province.
She volunteers with the United Nations, advocating for human diversity, mentoring companies and students addressing inclusion of newcomers/refugees. Juliana approaches health care with a business mindset as optimization of health care dollars and social services highly benefit the most vulnerable individuals. As a young leader, Juliana is the result of several women (and men) mentorship, specially her mother, aunt and grandmother. 

Lily Lynch, Co-Founder, Sankara
Lily Lynch is a recent graduate of the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who has since relocated to Saint John, New Brunswick. At 25, she is a young professional working as a paralegal with a keen interest in business, history and multiculturalism. Being oriented towards projects and work which benefits newcomers, their economic sustainability and integration; she co-founded her social enterprise Sankara in January 2017. Sankara is an online multicultural marketplace to buy and sell authentic cuisines and crafts from independent local Chefs and Artisans. Sankara currently serves Saint John and Fredericton with Chefs and Artisans in each city representing over 12 countries altogether. Patrons can order easily and effortlessly online for delivery, catering services and shipment of handmade crafts. Sankara invites the community to explore the world of multicultural cuisine and crafts.

Angela Campbell, Principal, Touchstone Academy
Angela is a passionate educator and the principal at Touchstone Academy, an independent preschool to grade 5 school in Rothesay. Angela graduated with Distinction from UNB with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education in 2000. Upon graduation, Angela was hired as the first teacher at what was then known as Touchstone Community School. The school was founded by a small group of parents. Within three years, Angela was promoted to be the Head of Academics. Angela moved into the role of principal in 2013. Since becoming principal, the enrollment has more than doubled at the school and it is a flourishing center of academic excellence. Angela is very involved with the school's signature hands-on learning community event, the Amazeatorium. A pursuant to life long learning, Angela will graduate in May from the Management Development Program at UNBF. Angela is also a mother of two boys and they are her greatest joy in life.