Patricia Jones – President and CEO
Patricia Jones (MSW, BSW) is President and CEO of Calgary Homeless Foundation. Following 27 years with Catholic Family Service, Patricia is known for her reverence for anyone experiencing vulnerability and as a well-respected leader in the human service sector. Her passion sparks courageous conversations that lead to innovative solutions that help people break the cycle of vulnerability.
Patricia’s background is in social work with a clinical specialty. She has stewarded many innovative programs throughout her tenure, including one of the first evidence-based programs in Canada serving teen fathers, and the use of technology to ensure counseling is barrier-free and coordinated amongst organizations. She is client-focused and believes that effective collaboration is critical to ensuring effective and humane service.
Bodil (Bo) Masterson – Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement
Bo has worked across the globe to design and lead community-based programs and complex strategic initiatives, as well as develop and manage diverse stakeholder relationships. Internationally, Bo designed and built child protection programs with Burmese refugees in Thailand, spearheaded the provincial expansion of programs in Southern Thailand and South Sudan, and led the government and stakeholder relations for new organizational initiatives in various countries.
In Calgary, Bo brought her strategic vision to life in the Community Hubs Initiative – a large multi-stakeholder effort to develop six community hubs across Calgary. More recently, she has led the Women’s Centre of Calgary through key times of transition, increasing partnerships and collaboration to enhance strategic impact, and build towards a sustainable future.
During her time at the Women’s Centre, she has come face to face with the impacts of homelessness on those who experience it, and the community at large. She has become a passionate advocate for the importance of this work from a prevention and intervention perspective, as well as recognizing the intersectionality’s at play.
Jessica Cope Williams – Vice President, Community Impact
Jessica’s journey in the helping profession began as a teenager when she volunteered on a youth crisis line in her home city of Calgary. On this foundation, Jessica’s built a career that puts human connection at the heart of transformation.
For nearly 20 years, Jessica worked with Kindred Connections Society – starting out as a social work practicum student and concluding as CEO in 2024. In every role at Kindred, Jessica focused on advancing partnerships that create a more responsive and holistic system of care. Through her experience leading numerous collaborative initiatives, Jessica came to see collaboration as an act of courage, allowing us to surrender certainty, control, and ego to meaningfully address complex challenges.
Jessica brings her trademark optimism and tenacity to the fight against homelessness as VP of Community Impact with Calgary Homeless Foundation. She endeavors to deepen relationships with community partners, funded agencies, Indigenous allies, and all levels of government – and contribute to innovative solutions that create a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.
Owen Wright – Interim Co-Vice President, Finance & Operations
Owen is a purpose-driven leader with over 20 years of experience in project management, change leadership, and strategic operations. He has a proven ability to navigate complex challenges, build strong cross-functional partnerships, and align teams toward common goals. Owen’s leadership fosters trust, accountability, and a shared sense of purpose within his teams.
He believes that true leadership is rooted in cultivating a culture of collaboration and accountability. Owen is deeply committed to his work, and this dedication extends beyond his professional career. He has volunteered with individuals experiencing homelessness in India and Tanzania and served as a mentor with the Big Brothers program. Passionate about fostering innovation, Owen is focused on helping strengthen CHF’s ability to create meaningful, long-term impact.
Jenessa Blanchet – Interim Co-Vice President, Finance & Operations
With a CPA, CMA designation and over 20 years of experience in finance and operations Jenessa is committed to driving positive change and supporting purpose-driven initiatives through strategic leadership and innovative solutions. Starting her career on the west coast with Lafarge North America she later transitioned through the oil and gas and hospitality industries in Controller roles, overseeing finance, business planning, and human resources.
Additionally, Jenessa served for three years as the Board Chair of Big Hill Haven, which provides emergency shelter, outreach and education for those experiencing or impacted by domestic violence in Cochrane, Alberta and surrounding areas, during which time, she played a key role in bringing on the organization’s first Executive Director and leading the development of a new strategic plan.
Joining the Calgary Homeless Foundation as Controller in 2021 and later moving into the role of Director, Finance and Operations Jenessa is passionate about organizational and operational storytelling maintaining that whenever you are communicating specialized information to people you MUST be a good storyteller – even when it’s about financials.
