
The Board of Directors of the Quadra Island Foundation is pleased to report the appointment of Barbara Neff as Executive Director.
Barbara will be responsible for managing the extensive day-to-day operations of the Foundation allowing the board of Quadra Island Foundation to govern and engage in strategic planning. Barbara will be responsible for the planning and execution of events, and fundraising. She will be the first point of contact for the community, stakeholders and donors.
Prior to this, Barbara has held positions of increasing responsibility in large museums and their projects, either as a executive director or as a deputy director in both Switzerland and Germany. During this time, she was a consultant to a number of large foundations and private enterprises as both a professional and volunteer.
Barabara has stated “My focus, besides promoting culture, was on building communities and establishing professional networks. This was done through wide variety of exchange platforms and by collaborating on large projects. I developed exhibitions with artists, craftspeople, and scientists. An expert panel of youth and seniors advised me on the impacts on my projects of ageing of society. I consulted with students and politicians who exchanged views on leisure park design and advised on the developed solutions. With my teams, I selected controversial contemporary topics ranging from the ageing of the society, the increasing obesity in society, and utilization of renewable raw materials as a solution to sustainability. I contrasted the entrenched opinions on these topics with a variety of possible causes and novel solutions. I was able to build new perspectives for a common future on the basis of these findings. This is where I can bring in my expertise and knowledge at the Quadra Island Foundation and its core values: community wellbeing, collaboration, inclusiveness and integrity. My lodestar has been the quote: “We believe it often takes bold and innovative thinking and action to find the imaginative solutions that spark lasting change.” This lodestar also guides me in my private life, that I share with my husband surrounded by the magnificent nature and wonderful people living here on Quadra Island.”
We, the board of directors of the Quadra Island Foundation, are excited to welcome Barabara and look forward to our work together to Make Island Life Better!