Renata Aebi, Vice-President

Renata Aebi is Executive Director of St Leonard’s Youth and Family Services.  For over thirty years, Renata has worked within diverse communities to advance the rights and equality of women, children, and youth.  She established one of Vancouver’s award-winning multi-service centres for homeless and at-risk youth and launched a public education campaign in partnership with a major advertising firm that changed the discourse on youth homelessness.

Renata was a presenter on behalf of the Federal Government at the International Summit on Homelessness held in London, England as well as an invited guest to the State Department expert panel meeting held in Washington DC in preparation for Canada/US joint report to the World Congress III against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents (Brazil, 2008). She has contributed to child welfare research on both policy and practice and presented to conferences such as the National Judicial Institute International Instruments and Domestic Law Conference on topics including human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.

Renata was previously nominated for the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for her work in community building.