Paula Sheppard, President/CEO, St. John’s. Paula Sheppard is a diligent supporter and a fierce advocate for women. She has worked closely with colleagues and all levels of government to support women with the unique barriers they face. As CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs, she gained first-hand knowledge and understanding of the critical importance women have to the social and economic success of our province.
Paula is the vice-chair and founding member of the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada and a member of Gender Equity Network Canada, a Status of Women Canada project. She was also the co-chair of Atlantic Canada Women in Exporting working group from 2011-2012. Paula holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op), Human Resources and Labour Relations from Memorial University.
Photo coming soon
Megan Gullage is a strategic leader with extensive experience in community-based mental health services, housing strategies, inclusion, and peer support development. She brings a strong systems-level perspective, informed by her work across program design, workforce development, and organizational growth within the nonprofit sector.
Megan has contributed to the development and implementation of innovative service models, with particular expertise in peer support frameworks and youth engagement strategies. She has played a key role in shaping programs from concept through to execution, including establishing onboarding structures, defining roles, and supporting the development of emerging peer workforces.
In her advisory capacity, Megan brings a balanced approach that integrates operational insight with strategic oversight. She is known for her ability to assess gaps, identify practical solutions, and support initiatives that are both scalable and responsive to community needs. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration, accountability, and a commitment to inclusive, person-centered systems.
Megan also draws on her lived experience with mental health challenges, which informs her contributions to reducing stigma and strengthening the relevance and accessibility of services. She is committed to advancing approaches that prioritize dignity, empowerment, and meaningful community connection.
Courtney Clarke is a community-focused leader whose work sits at the intersection of gender equity, violence prevention, governance, and economic development. She has spent more than a decade advancing equity in politics and the violence prevention sector, and is currently the Executive Director of the St. John’s Status of Women Council and Women’s Centre.
As National Director of Programs with Equal Voice Canada and through freelance initiatives, she has supported women and gender-diverse candidates across the country through multi- and non-partisan initiatives that equip women, members of BIPOC communities, and individuals without access to traditional political networks to run for office.
Courtney is a three-time elected Director of Newfoundland and Labrador Credit Union (NLCU), where she chairs the Governance Committee. She has also held leadership roles as Chair of Equal Voice NL and Violence Prevention Avalon East, and remains committed to strengthening organizations and building more inclusive communities through board service, mentorship, and advocacy.
Jacqueline (Jackie) Compton-Hobbs lives in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL and is employed with Government of Newfoundland and Labrador with the Department of Justice and Public Safety. Jackie chairs the local Happy Valley-Goose Bay Housing & Homelessness Coalition and is an active member for over 10 years advocating to end Homelessness. Presently she is the Deputy Mayor with the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Jackie is very active in the community and volunteers on several boards/committees.
Vanessa McCarthy, Vice-President, is a lawyer in private practice with Rebecca Redmond MacLean Law Office PLC Inc. in Gander. She completed her Bachelor of Arts and LLB degrees with the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, where she was involved in numerous organizations committed to equality and women’s rights.
Vanessa worked and volunteered for many years with the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre and later the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre. She is actively involved with the Gander Women’s Centre and the Rotary Club of Gander. Vanessa is originally from Grand Falls-Windsor, and has lived in Gander since 2010.
Angie Wilmott is a registered psychologist with 25 years of experience as a school psychologist and counsellor within the K-12 education system. She is a committed advocate for a system that enables all students to reach their unique potential, thereby supporting a future of thriving individuals and communities. She demonstrated a strong voice and leadership for the province’s school counsellors and psychologists during her term as President of the NL Counsellors’ and Psychologists’ Association.
Angie advocates for improved mental health & addictions services, highlighting the critical role of proactive prevention and timely intervention. She has served for five years on the Provincial Mental Health & Addictions Advisory Council and is a member of the Towards Recovery: System Redesign Working Group for Children, Youth and Emerging Adults.
Angie believes women’s issues are family and community issues. Ensuring gender-balanced input is critical in effective decision-making, not only in meeting the needs of a community, but for our ‘community’ to truly thrive. Angie holds a BA (Hons) in Psychology, a B.Ed. and a M.Ed. (School Psychology / School Counselling) from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She is proud to accept this appointment as a member of the Provincial Council on the Status of Women and looks forward to real change that enables our province to fully benefit from gender balanced systems and decision-making.
Raelene Vickers. Without human connection and a strong foundation of empathy, understanding and love change cannot occur. Raelene’s passion for human connection led her to pursue a Bachelors Degree in Social Work in 2014 from Memorial University and a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto in 2018.
Raelene describes herself as a fierce feminist who challenges society’s expectations, and a passionate advocate for gender and sexual diverse populations. Practicing as a front-line social worker for four years, Raelene has experience working with children in care, foster parents, and women experiencing intimate partner violence.
After completing a placement in Patient and Family Engagement at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Raelene has been exploring the use of social work in administrative and policy roles. Recently, Raelene entered the role of Executive Director of Mokami Status of Women Council where she is incorporating strengths based and trauma informed theories into her everyday work.
Born and raised in St. John’s, Michelle Greene is a registered social worker who completed her Bachelors and Masters degrees in social work at Memorial University. Michelle is passionate about helping others attain good mental health. She teaches nationally and internationally with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and was a member of the Canadian Forces National Speaker’s Bureau from 2009 to 2015.
Michelle has spent her 33 year career working with people in the not-for-profit sector empowering those who have experienced trauma, loss and vulnerabilities.