Joanna Hausen is an experienced development professional eager to explore the intersections of international public policy with environmental justice, social innovation and local economic development. She received a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in International Development [Honours] at the University of Waterloo with a Diploma of Environmental Assessment in 2018. During this time, she engaged with the social entrepreneurship community through personal environmental business ventures and professional research opportunities. For her undergraduate internship, Joanna worked at the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry researching corporate social responsibility for fiber and construction supply chains.

Since graduating, Joanna worked with the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada and the Mongolian National Co-operative Association on the INVEST Co-op Mongolia Project funded by GAC. She worked mainly on the strategic planning of the implementing NGOs which preceded amendments to the Co-operative Law of Mongolia and the resulting federal development plan for co-operatives. As well, she provided ongoing and post-project monitoring and evaluation support for the project and consultancy for the International Co-operative Alliance. Joanna’s experiences executing Canada’s international development plan at the project-level led to her interest in examining project evaluation and funding/resource decisions for large government, multilateral, and independent donor institutions.

Joanna is passionate about the co-operative business model for economic empowerment and inclusion. In Canada, Joanna is a member of the Executive Team of the Canadian Emerging Co-operators Committee, an advisory committee to Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada representing the youth perspective. She is the Chair of the Impact Committee which is responsible for the Emerging Co-operators Education Fund and evaluating the impact of development opportunities for youth.

While at BSIA, Joanna hopes to cultivate skills in evidence-based policy in the intersecting fields of environmental, economic and foreign policy, including government international development policy and spending. She enjoys any opportunity for networking and collaboration!