Charmian joined Volans with a background in both the private and non-profit sectors. Her last position with The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) provided her with valuable experience working in both the financial services and social impact practice areas. Her project work at BCG included coordinating due diligence on social entrepreneurs for the Schwab Foundation, creating regional economic development strategies using cluster modeling and advising on a multi-stakeholder green technology project. Prior to BCG, Charmian worked as a Fine Art Specialist in the insurance industry.
Charmian has worked closely with many non-profit organizations, where her focus has included strategy and program development. This experience includes working with Business for the Arts, a national association of business leaders who support the arts, and MaRS, a Canadian innovation centre focused on creating economic and social value. While at MaRS, Charmian helped design the initial strategic framework for their social entrepreneurship program, Social Innovation Generation.
Actively volunteering in the community has always been important to Charmian. She was one of the founding members of the United Way's GenNext Cabinet where, as Chair, she managed a large team of volunteers and created a portfolio of initiatives designed to raise its profile amongst young professionals in the community, a concept that is now being rolled out internationally. Charmian has been a member of the Toronto Board of Trade, where she served on the inaugural Community Action Advisory Board, is Past Chair of the Flavelle Foundation and a member of the British Council's TN2020 leadership network. In the UK, she is a member of the newly formed Fellowship Council at the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce).
Charmian graduated with an Honours BA from Queen's University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.