Jessica Ball, M.P.H., Ph.D.
School of Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria

Jessica is the Principal Investigator on projects in the Early Childhood Development Intercultural Partnerships program. She is also Coordinator of First Nations Partnership Programs - a two-year diploma program in early childhood education and youth care, delivered in communities through partnerships with Indigenous communities and post-secondary institutions in western Canada.

Jessica has worked extensively in innovative programs to protect cultural diversity and support development of community-based services to promote optimal child health and development. A Canadian of Irish-English ancestry, Jessica completed her undergraduate work at UBC and her graduate work in clinical psychology and international health planning at the University of California at Berkelely. She spent 12 years in Southeast Asia as a consultant to community agencies and government ministries at all levels of education; in research to inform youth policy and national programming; and in community mental health. Jessica's publications and presentations nationally and internationally have described this work, particularly the applications of local Indigenous knowledge in early childhood development and community-based health services, and in professional education and training programs.