Fiona has been delivering communications-related training to groups and individuals for over 25 years in the public, private, not-for-profit and academic sectors. She comes from a family committed to life-long learning; where dinner conversations often included encyclopaedias and reference texts brought to the table to support someone's position on a controversial topic.
 
Always interested in sharing knowledge, Fiona started in Education at the University of Manitoba. She was encouraged to seek a Fine Arts Degree in Theatre and accomplished that at the University of Victoria in 1983. She spent seven years teaching and coaching in the theatre, before the need for a stable income took her into the public sector where she discovered a love and talent for using computer technology.
 
She spent fifteen years in the public-sector, first as a Library Technician in the Government Information Technology Library and then as a Communication Manager with a web-technology focus. Through this work, Fiona interacted with all levels of staff on a daily basis. She participated in numerous committees and delivered many workshops to help employees integrate technology into their communication practices.

She gained a solid understanding of how large organizations operate, and insights into how miscommunications in the workplace are a common cause for missed opportunities and stalled projects.
 
Seeing an opportunity to contribute to smoother communications in the workplace, Fiona enrolled in Royal Roads first MA in Applied Communications program in 2003. She graduated in 2005; was the Founder's Award recipient; and, started her own communications consulting practice.
 
Her primary focus is interpersonal communications in the workplace. Her approach to teaching and coaching is that “one size does not fit all”; that learning is an individual experience that can be shared with others to accomplish shared goals. She works from the premise that when people understand how and why misunderstandings occur, they can participate in developing strategies, goals and tactics to overcome them and move forward with less stress and more fun.
 
Fiona loves to lead from the side, and steps-up to leadership roles when she sees an opportunity to make valuable contributions to organizations. She is currently the Roaring Women Vice-President of Operations and the Regional Director for Vancouver Island; the President of Jewish Family Services Vancouver Island; and, a volunteer teacher in the Chabad Hebrew School.
 
She lives in Royal Oak with her husband, two dogs and three birds. You can read more about her company at www.princeheron.com