Meet Sara-Jane Brocklehurst with Arete Initiative

Meet Sara-Jane with Arete Initiative, an organization who are leaders in the art of guiding people and their organizations towards achieving greater passion and purpose. 

Having joined Arete Initiative in the spring of 2021, Sara-Jane is passionate and focused on projects, interim management and civic engagement and has played a significant role for clients during periods of transition and change. 

As the Administrative Champion and Event Manifester with Arete Initiative, Sara-Jane’s focus is to ensure efficient and effective administrative systems for all things Arete that will assist everyone who works with the organization to get the job done.  As an Event Manifester, it is her goal to assist in the events that Arete hosts or guides, so that they run smoothly and participants' concerns or questions are adequately addressed.

“I love the innovative approach that Arete takes to traditional roles and functions.  I have always been interested in doing things differently and have never liked the hierarchical structure of traditional organizations - this is where Arete is different,”  said Sara-Jane, “I am still getting to know Arete and its partner clients but what I see so far enforces my belief that there are different ways to do something that still results in exceptional outcomes.”

In her spare time you can find Sara-Jane hiking, sailing, kayaking, exploring, writing, singing and painting.  She says she also “loves learning about everything and anything!” and is a big movie buff!   She loves nature, animals, the heavenly aroma of some roses, history and castles.  She is stimulated by exploration and travel, learning new languages and meeting interesting and exciting people.

Sara-Jane and her significant other, Phil, met in the UK in 2013 while she was living there. They moved back to Canada in 2017, and today split their time between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island.  Last fall they bought a sailboat, which she said has been a wonderful escape especially during the pandemic. 

When asked about the things that she feared most, Sara-Jane said she feared ignorance and propaganda, and how much the world has come to rely on consumerism and economic growth as its mantra to the detriment of the destruction of the earth.

A strong woman drawn to other strong women, Sara-Jane, like one of her heroes, Eckhart Tolle, admires and values the power of awareness and presence and believes that we all need to become more conscious if we are going to make the necessary changes to save the earth.  

Reading recommendations from Sara-Jane:
Lately her favourite book is Any Known Blood by Canadian author Lawrence Hill.  It is compelling and informative.  Although it is a fictional story, it reflects the struggles and difficulties black individuals have encountered in the US and Canada and specifically when they enter into a biracial relationship.  “Lawrence is an exceptional writer and all of his books so far that I have read are compelling,” said Sara-Jane.

Arete Initiative