The New Brunswick Women’s Council is an independent advisory body for study and consultation on matters of importance, interest, and concern to women and their substantive equality. The Council is directed by an appointed volunteer membership that includes both organizations and individuals. The work is executed by a small staff team.
The Council’s mandate and structure are set by the New Brunswick Women’s Council Act. The Council has also internally adopted principles and strategic directions.
Objectives of the Council
- To be an independent body that provides advice to the Minister on matters of importance to women and their substantive equality.
- To bring to the attention of government and the public issues of interest and concern to women and their substantive equality.
- To include and engage women of diverse identities, experiences and communities, women’s groups and society in general.
- To be strategic and provide advice on emerging and future issues.
- To represent New Brunswick women.
In delivering on these objectives, the Council may conduct or commission research and publish reports, studies, and recommendations.
Principles
- We practice intersectional feminism, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and inclusion.
- We strive to work towards equity now while aiming to create the conditions for a liberated and just future.
- We aspire to collectively embody and model the world we are working toward, from the personal, relational, to systemic.
- We understand relationships as an opportunity for collaboration, for intervention and change, and for shifting power.
- We work within our capacity and with an ethic of collective care.
- We seek to ensure rigour, impact, and meaningful accountability while being agile and flexible.
Strategic Directions
- Ground our work more deeply in the voices and experiences of women and people who belong to gender minorities.
- Increasingly model our principles, approaches, and ways of working both internally to GNB and externally.
- Support GNB to institutionalize equity-based approaches, both internally (e.g., its internal practices and administrative policies) and in public policy processes (e.g., use of GBA+, consultation practices).
- Continue to focus on responding to consultations, bills, and other public policy emerging from GNB with recommendations and advice.
Staff
Rebecca Ferris
Membership and Governance Coordinator
rebecca.ferris@gnb.ca
Christine Griffin
Senior Researcher and Policy Analyst
council@gnb.ca
Linda Landry
Office Manager
linda.landry@gnb.ca
Beth Lyons
Executive Director
beth.lyons@gnb.ca
Melissa Wah
Public Affairs Strategist
melissa.wah@gnb.ca
Not sure who to contact?
Our general email is council@gnb.ca.