The VDRC Welcomes Wendy Cox as Our New Executive Director
The Victoria Disability Resource Centre is pleased to announce that it has a new Executive Director!
The Victoria Disability Resource Centre is pleased to announce that it has a new Executive Director. Wendy Cox, who had previously been Chair of our Board of Directors, took over the position on July 3.
Wendy will be replaced as Chair by the current Vice-Chair of the Board, Lynn Mullally, and a current Director on the Board, Snow Manning-Jones, will take the position of Vice-Chair.
Our new Executive Director is certainly familiar with the world of non-profit organizations serving people with disabilities. While she was Chair of the VDRC, Wendy also held the position of Victoria representative of the Working Together Program for the Burnaby-based Neil Squire Society. The program offers supports for people with disabilities who are seeking employment, through one-on-one career exploration, personalized advice, wage subsidies, access to assistive technology, and more. For this work, her office was located in the premises of the VDRC at 817A Fort Street, so she has first-hand familiarity with the VDRC staff and operations
“The DRC has always had a special place in my heart,” Wendy said. “My everyday values align so closely with the VDRC’s philosophy that it’s hard not to want to be a part of its growth.”
Prior to her position with the Neil Squire Society, she had worked directly for the VDRC for an entire decade – from 2004 to 2014. She started as a part-time employee distributing parking placards, before being she was made a full-time employee after only two weeks. She filled various positions throughout her time at the VDRC, including Information & Referral Officer, Peer-Support leader, and Volunteer Coordinator – sometimes performing multiple jobs at the same time!
Looking towards the future, Wendy had this to say about her new role: “I look forward to being a part of the VDRC’s continued growth. The staff here has some fantastic ideas… and I’m looking forward to working with them to make things happen.”
Lynn Mullally, the incoming chair, is actually returning to the position, having held it for two years before Wendy took the position last year. However, in September, the board will vote to decide who the board will be for the next year.
On the decision to hire Wendy as ED, Lynn made this comment on behalf of the hiring committee: “We love the passion, commitment, and energy that she brings to the disabled community.”