Founding Visionary Team
Ian Curtin M.T.C., Hon. B. Comm., DipC: Project Director
Ian currently serves as Project Director for the Inner Activist Project and is a core faculty member of the Haven Institute, a Canadian residential training centre on the leading edge of personal and professional development. He is also President of IC Possibilities Consulting Inc., a Victoria based company specializing in facilitating organizational dialogues. He offers the right combination of understanding and meeting organizational requirements, balancing the needs and priorities of multiple stakeholders, and deftly navigating the group dynamics that are an integral part of any human initiative. He loves people and brings his compassion for his own frailties and those of others to every situation.
Ian currently serves as Project Director for the Inner Activist Project and is a core faculty member of the Haven Institute, a Canadian residential training centre on the leading edge of personal and professional development. He is also President of IC Possibilities Consulting Inc., a Victoria based company specializing in facilitating organizational dialogues. He offers the right combination of understanding and meeting organizational requirements, balancing the needs and priorities of multiple stakeholders, and deftly navigating the group dynamics that are an integral part of any human initiative. He loves people and brings his compassion for his own frailties and those of others to every situation.
Brad Jarvis BA, MA: Founder, Funder and Steering Committee member
Brad holds an MA in moral, social and political philosophy. His involvement in advocacy and activism goes back to the early ’80s, when he worked for three years in the Ottawa office of a registered charity. Currently, he combines being the president of an investment firm with a passionate interest in personal development and its implications for social action. He has pursued personal development at the Haven Institute, with trainings in Nonviolent Communication (NVC), with Learning as Leadership and through other modalities. In all aspects of his life, Brad continues to cultivate his compassion, inner strength, authenticity, integrity and his desire to be of service to others. He has contributed time, energy and money to establishing the Inner Activist with the goal of furthering social change. He pursues this goal by helping the social change agent to align two parts of his or her life: the inner life (intellectually, emotionally and spiritually); and, his or her work. Brad is the co-founder of Cardiff Place, a Cohousing Community in Victoria.
Brad holds an MA in moral, social and political philosophy. His involvement in advocacy and activism goes back to the early ’80s, when he worked for three years in the Ottawa office of a registered charity. Currently, he combines being the president of an investment firm with a passionate interest in personal development and its implications for social action. He has pursued personal development at the Haven Institute, with trainings in Nonviolent Communication (NVC), with Learning as Leadership and through other modalities. In all aspects of his life, Brad continues to cultivate his compassion, inner strength, authenticity, integrity and his desire to be of service to others. He has contributed time, energy and money to establishing the Inner Activist with the goal of furthering social change. He pursues this goal by helping the social change agent to align two parts of his or her life: the inner life (intellectually, emotionally and spiritually); and, his or her work. Brad is the co-founder of Cardiff Place, a Cohousing Community in Victoria.
Frank Quinby M.A., Dip. C.: Steering Committee member
Frank has pursued his interests though a variety of career paths, including university research in artificial intelligence, managing the band Solid Comfort and co-owning an ocean going sailboat manufacturing business including hands-on building and selling yachts. For eight years he co-owned an investor relations firm representing small publicly traded companies. In his mid thirties he decided to do his personal psychological work, attending counselling and many styles of groups, making a profound reconnection with himself and deepening his relationships with those around him. Along the way he earned a Diploma in Counseling at The Haven and an MA in counseling psychology at Antioch University. For 28 years Frank has led a variety of groups facilitating personal growth and lifestyle education. Most recently, he’s been deeply interested in Nonviolent Communication, a challenging interpersonal spiritual practice. Having experienced the joys of achievement and the disorientation of burnout, Frank is committed to sustainable social contribution. He says, “As steering committee chair I’m focused on the integrity of our organization, our personal manifestation of compassion and caring for self and others. In the long term I think our vision to wed personal development with social action can have far-reaching influence in the way social change is conducted. It has the potential to impact those outside the strictly social activist arena, including young people and anyone who is interested in life-serving action in the world.”
Frank has pursued his interests though a variety of career paths, including university research in artificial intelligence, managing the band Solid Comfort and co-owning an ocean going sailboat manufacturing business including hands-on building and selling yachts. For eight years he co-owned an investor relations firm representing small publicly traded companies. In his mid thirties he decided to do his personal psychological work, attending counselling and many styles of groups, making a profound reconnection with himself and deepening his relationships with those around him. Along the way he earned a Diploma in Counseling at The Haven and an MA in counseling psychology at Antioch University. For 28 years Frank has led a variety of groups facilitating personal growth and lifestyle education. Most recently, he’s been deeply interested in Nonviolent Communication, a challenging interpersonal spiritual practice. Having experienced the joys of achievement and the disorientation of burnout, Frank is committed to sustainable social contribution. He says, “As steering committee chair I’m focused on the integrity of our organization, our personal manifestation of compassion and caring for self and others. In the long term I think our vision to wed personal development with social action can have far-reaching influence in the way social change is conducted. It has the potential to impact those outside the strictly social activist arena, including young people and anyone who is interested in life-serving action in the world.”
Karen Stephens: Executive Coordinator
Karen is Executive Coordinator for the Contact Project. Her background encompasses marketing, sales, training and counseling. For 15 years she was owner and manager of a business that assisted hundreds of socially marginalized people overcome issues and barriers to employment. She believes strongly in community contribution and has served as a board member and/or volunteer for several organizations. Karen has a keen interest and commitment to her own and others’ personal growth and education. She is dedicated to learning and is studying at the Haven Institute as a Senior Intern. She believes in transforming the world by encouraging human potential and self-reliance, one person at a time.
Karen is Executive Coordinator for the Contact Project. Her background encompasses marketing, sales, training and counseling. For 15 years she was owner and manager of a business that assisted hundreds of socially marginalized people overcome issues and barriers to employment. She believes strongly in community contribution and has served as a board member and/or volunteer for several organizations. Karen has a keen interest and commitment to her own and others’ personal growth and education. She is dedicated to learning and is studying at the Haven Institute as a Senior Intern. She believes in transforming the world by encouraging human potential and self-reliance, one person at a time.