Deanna is deeply concerned about the environment and climate change and is interested in understanding how climate change will affect nature and how nature can help mitigate its effects and protect us from its impacts. Deanna is also interested in community and citizen climate action, and her thesis, which she is currently working on, combines these two interests.
Prior to enrolling with Royal Roads, Deanna led several departments within the Facilities Department at Vancouver Island Health Authority. She headed up the energy efficiency, sustainability, and climate action efforts for the organization as it pertained to new and existing buildings. This included initiating carbon reporting, emissions reduction, and climate adaptation efforts. While in this role she also chaired the Provincial Environmental Technical Team, was on the working group for the development of the Climate Resilience Guidelines for BC Health Facility Planning & Design and sat on the Board of Directors for the BC Green Building Council.
As an Energy System Technologist, she has spent 20 years in the building design field.