DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS

Brandy Svendson has studied in Brazil, Mexico and Vancouver completing her degree in Anthropology at Simon Fraser University, in Vancouver, Canada. She began her career, in the field of HIV, seven years ago at Youth Community Outreach AIDS Society (YouthCO), Canada’s largest and only youth driven HIV and AIDS Organization. She was the project officer for several projects that focused on support for youth living with HIV, harm reduction, sexual health and HIV education.

Brandy has been invited to present and attend several local, national and international conferences including the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and the Canadian AIDS Society. She represented Canadian youth as the media co-chair for the International AIDS Conference 2006.

In 2007 she was the Youth United to CAP (Canadian African Partnership) AIDS Project Coordinator. The project promoted women’s education, empowerment and sexual self esteem through training, employment and the instigation of micro loans in remote communities in Malawi.

She most recently completed a contract co-founding an organization that works with women in Nigeria, around access to education and arts programming. Her work with all the above mentioned organizations also included development and partner building for the projects and organizations. Brandy has also had the privilege of exploring her creative side as a professional photographer for the last three years.

She is so grateful and excited to be the newest member of the Hope’s Voice team, and is looking forward to bringing her skills to the table and to learn from all the amazing ambassadors, speakers and partners involved with the Hope’s Voice and the DOES HIV LOOK LIKE ME? campaigns.