River Stories
Anyone who has sat on the riverbank and watched the river flow knows that it is an incredibly complex system of waves, currents, eddies, ripples and, at times, calm pools for reflection. Some rivers crash and others meander. No two rivers are the same and no river is the same from moment to moment. Change is the only constant.
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I have been inspired by my many hours sitting on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River as a child and later as an adult sitting with the Stein River, the Nanaimo River and the Squamish River. The riverbank has offered an opportunity to reflect on where I've been, and set a course for where I'm going. At different times, each river has been a place of insightful reflection, respite from work, an invitation to celebration, solace through grief, deep connection with friends and a source of personal and professional inspiration. My time on the riverbank has catalyzed my professional journey in freshwater advocacy and watershed protection and continues to inform my approach to leadership coaching.
Jennifer Archer, LLB, LLM, CEC
Advisor, Consultant & Certified Executive Coach
I bring over 25 years of experience working in large and small organizations in both the private and non-profit sectors. Building upon a decade of experience as an in-house contracts lawyer, I now combine my years of legal training with an equally strong foundation in collaborative approaches to impact systems change.
Since receiving my Master of Laws in water law and governance, I have been providing strategic and policy advice related to freshwater protection in British Columbia. I have done this work in my capacity as a policy analyst, strategic advisor, convenor, facilitator, moderator, negotiator, and as an executive coach to values-led leaders. My work has included supporting and learning from collaboration between First Nations and Crown governments, funders and stewardship groups. I have also held responsibility for the full cycle of non-profit program development and helped to catalyze two new non-profit entities. Woven throughout all of my water work has been my personal commitment to advance reconciliation and to learn from Indigenous-led and shared governance initiatives. Building relationships, fostering community, uplifting values-led leadership, and advancing new ways of working together has been at the heart of my professional journey.
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