Announcing Vanessa Paesani as the New Executive Director of the Pond-Deshpande Centre
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Vanessa Paesani as the new Executive Director of the Pond-Deshpande Centre (PDC), effective December 9th. With more than 15 years of experience in social impact and organizational transformation, Vanessa brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to guide PDC into its next phase of growth and innovation.
A Natural Fit for Leadership
Vanessa has been an integral part of the PDC community for the past six years, serving in various leadership roles, including Director of Entrepreneurship & Advisory Services and Director of NouVENTURES. During this time, she has played a key role in advancing PDC’s mission to support and grow New Brunswick’s social enterprise ecosystem.
Her leadership has been defined by a deep passion for systems change and a commitment to equitable economic growth—values that resonate strongly with PDC’s core mission. Vanessa’s work has included mentoring over 100 social-purpose organizations, leading the WIN-VC program to increase women’s access to venture capital, and contributing to the growth of the social enterprise sector through Social Enterprise NB. Under her guidance, the PDC has seen substantial progress in fostering social entrepreneurship and advancing the “just economy” pillar of its strategic plan.
A Transition and a Legacy of Innovation
Vanessa succeeds Katie Davey, who will be transitioning to a new role with the Government of New Brunswick as Principal Secretary to the Premier. Katie’s tenure at PDC has been marked by significant milestones, including the launch of PDC’s first strategic plan and the revival of the GovMaker Conference, a key event for advancing open government and digital innovation. Katie’s entrepreneurial spirit and vision have led the PDC through a period of rapid growth, and her leadership will continue to impact New Brunswick’s policy and innovation landscape as she steps into her new role.
As Katie moves on to her exciting new position, we thank her for the immense contributions she has made to PDC and the community. Her legacy of innovative thinking and bold leadership has paved the way for Vanessa’s continued success.
A Vision for the Future
Vanessa’s vast experience in the community impact sector—which includes consulting, leadership coaching, and supporting transformative change—positions her uniquely to continue building on PDC’s success. Over the years, she has helped raise millions of dollars for social initiatives, facilitated leadership transitions, and created platforms for systemic transformation, working with executives, teachers, and early childhood educators.
Her coaching certifications, including the Hello Seven framework for underrepresented entrepreneurs and Investor Q&A Certified Trainer status, further enhance her ability to guide social enterprises and entrepreneurs in raising capital and scaling their impact.
In addition to her work at PDC, Vanessa has served on the board of Venture for Canada, a national charity focused on increasing access to entrepreneurship, where she has held leadership roles for over eight years. Her deep commitment to nature conservation and entrepreneurship also shines through her work with the Fundy Trail Parkway, helping transition it from a non-profit to a provincial park under Parks NB.
Looking Ahead
As we move into this new chapter with Vanessa at the helm, we are excited for the opportunity to expand our reach and impact within New Brunswick and beyond. Vanessa’s vision and expertise will play a crucial role in elevating the Pond-Deshpande Centre’s work, fostering innovative solutions, and continuing our efforts to build a more just and sustainable economy.
We invite you to share your thoughts with us: What are the most pressing systemic challenges you see, and how can we work together to address them? Vanessa is eager to engage with our community and can be reached at vanessa.paesani@unb.ca.
Please join us in congratulating Vanessa on this exciting new role. We look forward to the incredible things we will accomplish together in the coming years!