Jess graduated from St. FX University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Human Kinetics with a minor in Biology. She then went on to complete her Masters of Science in OT from Queen's University in Kingston and has been working in various practice settings as an occupational therapist for the last 7 years across 3 provinces. Jess has experience working in acute medicine, neurology, community health, long-term care, pediatrics, and mental health. 

Prior to becoming an OT, Jess had been working with kids in an array of settings for about 10 years in roles like camp counsellor, respite worker, and daycare teacher. She worked as an educator at Cloudberry Forest School in St. John's from 2021-2023 and now sits on their Board of Directors. Jess has always been drawn by the therapeutic properties of nature and became a ConTiGO Approach certified pediatric nature therapist in 2024. She is extremely passionate about neurodiversity-affirming care and making sure kids have agency to develop their confidence and skills in a supported environment. She leads with the philosophy that natural wonder is one of the most important things we can preserve. 

Jess loves a walk in the snow, a good sunset, and the smell from a lilac tree in June. She loves spending her time with her partner and two dogs and adventuring around Newfoundland.