Over the past two years, non-profits in Saskatchewan and beyond have welcomed Ivy + Dean into their boardrooms and operations, trusting us to offer our insights and expertise in a way that helps them grow. We have been absolutely blown away by the support from our network and non-profits across the country.
This support has translated to an immense number of requests for services and consultations, and while we desperately want to work with every non-profit that reaches out to us, we’ve been meaningfully considering what sustainable growth for our company looks like.
This is why we’re so excited to announce that Ivy + Dean is appointing our first Chief Operations Officer (COO) and second Principal Consultant.
Risa Payant will be joining us full-time on August 21st 2023 as COO, and will begin working on client projects starting October 1st 2023. For those who know Risa, they will not be surprised to hear that Risa will bring her extensive expertise in operational management to Ivy + Dean. Risa will be focusing on improving and implementing processes to address existing gaps in our client support infrastructure, while also taking on client projects in the arts sector and related to leadership and executive coaching.
If you are an organization looking to hire Risa for a potential project, please contact us at info@ivydeanconsulting.ca to book a slot in her consulting calendar starting in October. For any additional inquiries, please contact our CEO at jacq@ivydeanconsulting.ca.
About Risa
Born and raised in rural Saskatchewan, Risa Payant (she/her) is non-profit professional with over two decades’ experience in the sector, 15 years of which saw her in senior leadership roles. She is passionate about supporting nonprofit peers in developing strategic, sustainable, and just approaches to their work that contribute to strengthening leadership, their organizations, and the communities they serve. Since building a freelance consultancy in 2015, she has worked with diverse nonprofit arts organizations including Curtain Razors, FadaDance, Saskatchewan Filmpool Cooperative, and Listen to Dis’ Community Arts Organization. Her holistic approach to nonprofit health champions progressive governance, team building, crisis management, public and private fund development, public engagement, and programming. This summer, she is thrilled to be joining the team at Ivy + Dean Consulting as the Chief Operations Officer and Principal Consultant.
Risa’s career began as a student at the University of British Columbia where she immersed herself in roles at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, and ArtsStarts in Schools. Upon returning to Treaty 4 territory after completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History and Visual Art, Risa contributed to Saskatchewan’s vibrant arts scene through positions at SK Arts, the Regina Folk Festival, and the MacKenzie Art Gallery. From 2015 to 2022, she served as Executive Director of Common Weal Community Arts, a provincial organization dedicated to socially-engaged practice. During this time she was selected as part of the Year Two Cohort of the Cultural Leadership training program at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. There, she was supported in refining her leadership values and capacities through work with mentors such as Syrus Marcus Ware, Dr. Vanessa Andreotti, Tim Cynova, and Dr. Julian Norris. In 2022, Risa took on a new challenge in the public health sector, seeing Planned Parenthood Regina through a period of rebuilding as their Executive Director. Risa is an active volunteer and oft sought-after board member who has served in executive roles on the Board of Directors of the Saskatchewan Arts Alliance, Lumsden Beach Camp, and Queen City Hub. She is the current Briarpatch Magazine Treasurer and Regina Folk Festival President.
When she’s not working, Risa is a travel-loving, adventure-seeking bibliophile who finds joy in live music, bold colours, and the expansive prairie landscape. She lives in Regina’s Heritage neighbourhood with her wife and children.
Jacq is the CEO & Principal Consultant at i+d. With over 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector, they’re love thinking up creative ways to challenge the norms while still getting things done.
You can usually find Jacq drinking Diet Pepsi and watching something great on Netflix when they’re not working.
