Our Team
Meet the passionate individuals who drive the creative impact at Creative Community Impact Association. Each member brings a unique perspective and expertise, contributing to our collective mission of fostering inclusive communities and driving positive social change.
Learn how our Board and governance drive CCIA’s mission and impact.
JACQUELYN MICCOLIS (SHE/HER) | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jacquelyn Miccolis is the Founder and Executive Director of the Creative Community Impact Association (CCIA). She leads the organization with a unique blend of strategic vision, entrepreneurial insight, and a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and community-centered arts practice.
As an Italian-Canadian multidisciplinary artist, Jacquelyn’s leadership is rooted in her heritage, where community and intergenerational exchange are lived values rather than abstract ideals. Her story began in a busy studio rather than a boardroom, teaching her early on that creativity is one of our most powerful tools for fostering belonging and shaping equitable futures.
Drawing on her experience as a seasoned entrepreneur and community builder, Jacquelyn founded Sparkles n’ Sawdust Studio, an award-winning brick-and-mortar arts space recognized for its significant community impact. Building on this foundation, she launched Supernova Events, a social enterprise rooted in accessibility and DEIA principles. Her commitment to inclusive design is further reflected in her previous board service with the Nocturne: Art at Night Festival.
Jacquelyn’s leadership is grounded in a diverse academic foundation, including studies in Psychology at Mount Saint Vincent University, where she received an entrance scholarship. She holds diplomas in Office Administration and Community Development, as well as specialized training in inclusive facilitation. Beyond her executive role, she is an experienced keynote speaker and the author of Unfiltered Wisdom: A How-To Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs.
Known for her warmth and integrity, Jacquelyn ensures CCIA remains deeply responsive to the lived experiences of the communities it serves, delivering lasting impact across Canada’s arts and community sectors.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Secretary Position Currently Vacant (Interim Appointment Pending)
JAMES DOUCHER (HE/HIM) | CHAIR
James Doucher is a strategic business leader with over 30 years of experience leading finance organizations across North America. He is currently a Fractional CFO Consultant working with clients in Canada and the United States. After relocating to Halifax in 2024, James quickly immersed himself in the community as a co-organizer of DisruptHR, a member of the TEDx Argyle Street leadership team, and a Connector with Halifax Partnership.
While he admits, with a smirk, that he can’t sing, dance, or paint, James brings a creative mind, empathetic approach, and positive energy to CCIA. He has generously supported causes including children’s cancer organizations, child advocacy, and 2SLGBTQIA+ initiatives. Guided by inclusiveness, gratitude, and hopefulness, James applies these values to both his professional and volunteer work, helping build thriving, welcoming communities.
“Look back and be Grateful; Look ahead and be Hopeful; Look around and be Helpful.” – Paolo Coelho
KIRSTEN BASHIR (SHE/THEY) | TREASURER
Kirsten Bashir is passionate about making the arts accessible to all and believes that creativity, in all its forms and levels, deserves to be celebrated. With more than three years of experience in the financial sector and prior service as a board treasurer, Kirsten brings both professional expertise and a deep commitment to responsible, transparent stewardship to her role with the Creative Community Impact Association.
Based in Halifax, NS, Kirsten was educated at Dalhousie University. Her professional background includes work in finance, administration, and property management, where she has honed her skills in client relations and operations.
Beyond her professional work, she grounds herself in art. From painting, crocheting and knitting, and even making hand-sculpted pet mementos.
NAHOM ASSEFA (HE/HIM) | DIRECTOR
Nahom Assefa is an Ethiopian-Canadian multidisciplinary artist, emerging curator, and writer whose work explores cross-cultural storytelling, belonging, and identity through visual art and community engagement. He is the Founder and Creative Director of Cultured Creative Studio, an independent design studio working with cultural organizations and community-facing clients across Canada, including Atlantic Flamenco, Latispanica Cultural Association, North End Business Association, and Lululemon.
He currently serves as a Curatorial Intern at the Dalhousie Art Gallery under the mentorship of Director/Curator Pamela Edmonds, where he is developing an exhibition on Afro-diasporic presence on Mi'kmaq territory through material culture. His work has been exhibited across Halifax and internationally, including at OFFF Festival 2026 in Barcelona. He has been recognized as a Nocturne Festival 2025 NOISEmaker, a 2025 Atlantic International Film Festival Ambassador, a recipient of the Howl Experience Grant, and the NSCC Immigrant and International Student Experience IMPACT Award.
Nahom holds certificates in Creative Art Criticism & Writing and Public Speaking for Artists & Curators from NODE Center for Curatorial Studies, and a Business Administration Diploma from Nova Scotia Community College, a combination that informs his belief that creativity and sustainable practice are not in conflict.
He brings a commitment to collaborative, community-informed work to the CCIA board, grounded in his conviction that art, approached with honesty and curiosity, has the power to bridge difference and build genuine belonging.
📧 nahom@creativecommunityimpact.ca
AUDRA MCCREESH (SHE/HER) | DIRECTOR
Audra McCreesh is a passionate business developer, HR strategist, and equity champion with over two decades of experience supporting inclusive workforce growth across Atlantic Canada and beyond. As the Founder and Senior Consultant of HR & IDEA Hub, she partners with businesses, governments, and communities to build innovative strategies rooted in equity, inclusion, and real-world results.
Audra is widely known as the driving force behind DisruptHR Halifax, a bold event series challenging the status quo in how we work, lead, and build workplace culture. She also specializes in Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) policy, helping defense contractors and their supply chains unlock economic development opportunities through meaningful Indigenous and community partnerships.
Deeply committed to systems-level impact, Audra applies her insight and energy to shaping vibrant, creative futures for all. Whether she’s delivering training on psychological health and safety or connecting entrepreneurs to defense sector opportunities, Audra leads with empathy, imagination, and a relentless belief in the power of inclusive innovation.
HEATHER WHITE BRITTAIN (SHE/HER) | DIRECTOR
Heather White Brittain is a seasoned arts leader with deep expertise in community engagement and strategic development within the cultural sector. She is the Development Director at the Imperial Theatre and has held senior fundraising roles with the YMCA of Greater Saint John and the Saint John Arts Centre, where she led major capital campaigns and community-driven initiatives.
An active contributor to the regional cultural landscape, Heather has also worked as an arts columnist and advocate, supporting dialogue around the value of arts and culture in Atlantic Canada. She divides her time between Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick, bringing a thoughtful cross-regional perspective to her leadership.
Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Saint Vincent University and is passionate about advancing the role of the arts in community development and social connection.
COLLEEN FAUSTINO SMALL (SHE/HER) | DIRECTOR
Colleen Fausino Small is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Occupational Health Nurse with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare, wellness, and workplace safety. She has always been driven by a passion for helping others and seeking creative ways to improve herself and the world around her.
Colleen has held leadership roles at Irving Shipbuilding, the Workers’ Compensation Board, and the Mentor Clinic, and brings a deep understanding of systems-level care, client advocacy, and community well-being. She is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Counselling at Acadia University.
A certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and yoga teacher-in-training, Colleen blends strategic thinking with mindfulness and empathy. Her work is rooted in whole-person wellness, collaboration, and a belief in the transformative power of creativity and connection.
She brings to the board a unique perspective that bridges healthcare leadership with values-driven innovation, community care, and personal expression.
KARLEE CAMPBELL (SHE/HER) | DIRECTOR
Karlee Campbell, based in Rockland, Ontario, is an experienced and creative people leader with a diverse background spanning sales, marketing, nonprofit organizations, and the digital sector. She is highly skilled in relationship building, problem-solving, career development, and conflict resolution, and brings a thoughtful, empathetic approach to leadership. As a queer woman in leadership, Karlee is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and contributing fresh perspectives to important conversations.
Karlee is one of our board members located outside Nova Scotia, reflecting our goal to expand the organization’s reach and impact across Canada.
An entrepreneur at heart, Karlee previously owned and operated a women’s self-defense boxing gym, where her work as both owner and coach reinforced the importance of courage, resilience, and community. She is also the author of All My Loves, a queer poetry collection that celebrates authenticity and creative expression.
Today, Karlee channels her passion for empathetic, truth-driven leadership into empowering others to live authentically. She believes that empathy, compassion, and inclusion are essential to shaping workplaces and communities where all people can thrive.
Interested in getting involved?