2022 40 Under 40 Winners

Dianna grew the BMO Ride for Cancer peer-to-peer event from 130 participants and $170,000 net raised in its first year (2015) to 1,300 participants and an unprecedented $1.9 million net raised in 2021.

She co-led the Revitalizing Rehab campaign, which became the most accelerated campaign funded in QEII Foundation history, raising $1.8 million net.

She has been a presenter at AHP’s Convene Canada conference, sharing the story of how the BMO Ride for Cancer has become Atlantic Canada’s fastest-growing fundraising event.

Dianna volunteers as an Event Lead for the Bluenose Marathon, Canada’s largest endurance event, which helps drive economic activity and make her community healthier.

Just over 12 years ago, I moved to a new city and took a position in events at a hospital foundation. I didn't quite understand the impact I would have until I saw my hard work and dedication to the events that I organized change people's lives. The time came to move back to Halifax. I took a chance and reached out to the President & CEO at the time of my current organization and told him that I wanted to continue my journey in healthcare philanthropy as part of his organization; six weeks later, I was starting a new position as Special Projects Officer at the QEII Foundation, and the rest is history.

I didn't choose healthcare philanthropy as a career; it chose me. Being in events is exciting and fulfilling, but seeing your events directly impact many people's lives is a different kind of satisfaction. People always ask me why I am still working in events; it's long hours and hard on the body, and I tell them it's because of people like them. Our donors, partners, stakeholders, and most importantly, the patients and their families whose lives we're changing make this career incredibly rewarding. Most people spend a good portion of their career trying to find their passion; I consider myself lucky; I found mine early on in my career. 

In March 2020, we found ourselves in the middle of a global pandemic. Our signature event and Atlantic Canada's largest fundraising event was set to take place in October that year, and every event around us was either going virtual or being canceled. After months of pivot after pivot after pivot, we were ready. We not only executed a safe in-person event, but together we raised a record-breaking 1.3 million net. This was the most exhilarating and rewarding journey in my career to date, but also one that came with significant risk. But as the old saying goes, without great risk, there is no reward. This journey taught me a whole new level of resilience and reinforced the power of community, which is the most rewarding for me.

I have a strong passion for transforming health care for Atlantic Canadians, and I don't consider my work a job as I am living out my passion every day. 

You have a unique opportunity to make an impact. Lead, inspire, take action, and most importantly, never lose sight of the WHY.