CO-CHAIR

Jaime joined the CWAV Board team in 2019 with a desire to meet passionate women and directly serve her community. With a background in multi-unit management and high-level change leadership, she joined at the perfect time as the Society navigated tremendous growth. Jaime’s position as District Manager with Starbucks Coffee Canada allows her to bring extensive experience and business acumen to build and sustain healthy foundations as the Society executes new strategic plans. Prior to joining CWAV, Jaime led numerous initiatives, from actively participating in Pride networks to developing food donation initiatives in different markets, that created community partnerships and focused on empowering and uplifting the most vulnerable. Outside work, Jaime enjoys exploring various bodies of water around the island with her family and is an avid amateur potter. Her passion for empowering women in business continually drives her dedication to CWAV as it uplifts and removes barriers for women impacted by acts of violence.

CO-CHAIR

Emily Peiffer (she/her) joined the CWAV Board of Directors in 2024. As a lawyer, Emily is both an advocate for justice and someone who finds joy in drafting super-detailed policies, procedures, and contracts. As a settler in these lands, she is committed to amplifying the voices of Indigenous people and communities whenever possible. As a mom to two small kids, Emily looks for ways to bring about a more just, fair, and livable future for coming generations. One of these days, she will have individual hobbies again, but for now Emily and her family are happiest being outside and being in the water. It is such a privilege to be able to contribute to the extraordinary team at CWAV, where the organization's vision, mission, and values are rooted in human dignity and true service to the community.  

TREASURER

Jaime, Treasurer at Cowichan Women Against Violence Society (CWAV), joined the team in June of 2023. With a background in accounting and business, and distinguished as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), she brings knowledge of all things numbered. She is committed to her work and helping to make a difference in the community. She was born and raised in the Cowichan Valley and is proud to call this place home. She is currently a partner at Palmer Leslie Chartered Professional Accountants here in the Cowichan Valley. When not working or volunteering, Jaime enjoys spending time with her extended family or touring any number of the beautiful vineyards that the Cowichan Valley has to offer.

SECRETARY

Ashley Nicole Gimbel is a mom of 3 of settler heritage who has the privilege to live and work in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. She has committed her professional work to child welfare and child serving systems in B.C and looks forward to supporting CWAV as a board member in their incredible work serving women and families.

DIRECTOR

Kate has been a member of the Cowichan Women Against Violence (CWAV) Society Board of Directors since 2022. Originally from Vancouver Island, Kate is an award-winning communications leader who has worked with top-tier educational institutions, government entities, the private sector, and non-profits in Canada, the Middle East, and beyond. She is the principal and founder of Chandler Communications, a strategic brand and communications consultancy. With a deep belief in the power of education and working in partnership towards a better future, Kate was drawn to the transformative impact of CWAV’s programs supporting change, choice, growth, and a safer, more inclusive community for all. As a board director, she is honoured to play a role in advancing CWAV’s role and capacity to support vulnerable women and children across the Cowichan Valley. Outside of her work, Kate can often be found on the tennis court or in nature with her husband and dogs, Thabo and Sitka.

DIRECTOR

Alanna (she/her) joined the Board of Directors of the Cowichan Women Against Violence Society in the summer of 2026. She brings a strong background in operations, leadership, and community-focused work through her role as Director of Operations with the Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC. Alanna is of mixed European descent, most notably Ukrainian, British, Swedish, and Norwegian, and grew up in the Cowichan Valley. Committed to fostering safe, healthy, and inclusive communities, Alanna is honoured to contribute her time, experience, and perspective to the CWAV Board. She is grateful for the opportunity to support the important work of creating a caring community where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued.

DIRECTOR

Elena Pennell (she/her) joined the Cowichan Women Against Violence Board of Directors in September of 2026.  She is a Sr. Policy Analyst with the Union of BC Indian Chiefs focusing on the rights of First Nations Women and Girls. Her work is dedicated to the advancement of First Nations title and rights, preventing gender-based violence, and the MMIWG2S+ crisis.  Elena is also a member of the Indian Act Sex Discrimination Working Group and the Coalition on MMIWG2S+. Elena is grateful to live in the territory of the Quw'utsun Nation and enjoys spending time with her family on the ocean, trails and in the garden growing veggies, herbs and flowers.  

DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR

​Carol Nolan joined Cowichan Women Against Violence (CWAV) Society as a Director in the summer of 2026 and is deeply honoured to serve on the board. Drawing on her academic foundation in criminology and sociology from Vancouver Island University and her healthcare experience at Cowichan District Hospital, Carol brings a trauma-informed perspective to community safety, health, and advocacy. Outside of her work and board service, Carol is an avid lifelong learner who enjoys unwinding with knitting and exploring new hobbies. She remains committed to fostering safe, inclusive spaces and accessible resources for women and families across the Cowichan Valley.

DIRECTOR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Nora Livingstone brings international experience to this regionally important agency. Growing up in West Germany, Nora was an army daughter who never spent more than a few years in one house. Living across Canada and then in England and Europe as an adult, she never got over the travel bug. Also seeded as a child was her deep sense of justice. A self-proclaimed Feminist before she could spell the word, Nora volunteered with local gender-based agencies and environmental protection organizations every time she moved to a new town. Seeing the value and real change that is brought by community groups, Nora was set up for a life of service. Spending time as an animal rescue volunteer in New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Nora was able to gain valuable perspective on emergency response and incident command. Through her degree in Cultural Anthropology and Environmental Resource Studies from Trent University, Nora was able to focus her curious mind into a double major that thought about the natural world as much as the cultural tapestry around her. 

Spending considerable time in Nepal, East Africa and Central America in her professional years meant Nora was able to take part in and learn from a number of diverse-visioned but always community-based agencies and mission-driven organizations. From forestry to community/One Health projects, anti-trafficking to Nature-Based Solutions education, refugee support to mountaineering guiding, Nora will be the first to say she has a diverse set of skills!

Nora became a professional volunteer coordinator at one of Canada's busiest wildlife rehabilitation centres and learned the importance of trusting your team, quick decision-making and creative thinking. In 2011, Nora co-founded a certified B Corp that helps match volunteers with community-based animal conservation and welfare programs around the world. Since the founding of her B Corp, she has visited more than 50 countries and has worked with thousands of volunteers, while also winning awards for this social enterprise- the first travel based certified B Corps in Canada. Coining the term "Consent Based Travel", Nora spent the pandemic guest-lecturing at universities and giving Keynotes about the importance of an Anti-Racist, Intersectional Feminist and ultimately more justice-focused model of travel.  She recently has worked closer to home at a boutique biological consulting company that focuses on capacity-building projects throughout the Quw'utsun Nation. 

Nora is a joiner at heart and serves on different boards and steering committees like the Nature Canada - Women For Nature Mentorship Program, Gap Year Association Fair Trade Travel Policy Committee, Julia Coey Memorial Foundation as a founding board member and Cowichan Wheel Collective as a founder and gravel bike leader. She was on the CWAV Board of Directors for 3 years and served as Co-Chair for 1 year before taking on the privilege of becoming Executive Director. 

Nora will take every opportunity she can to talk about how endlessly proud she is of the CWAV team and remind everyone that monthly donations are extremely helpful. 

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

FINANCE DIRECTOR

FACILITIES AND HR ADMINISTRATOR

Jacquelyn brings over a decade of non-profit experience with a heartfelt dedication to empowering the lives of marginalized individuals. As a military veteran with a background in international humanitarian law, Jacquelyn's passion for preventing gender-based violence is both a professional and personal dedication.

Having thrived in diverse teams globally, she not only believes that 'life is a team sport' but also champions authentic collaboration with individuals and community partners. Beyond her professional endeavours, Jacquelyn draws love and inspiration from her family, fueling her commitment to genuine growth, resilience, and authentic healing within our community.

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER