About Cobray Consulting

Joanie is an Occupational Health & Safety professional with a wide range of experiences that expand over 15+ years. Her experience includes oil & gas, residential/industrial construction, OHS Law enforcement, Municipal Government operations and Federal Government agencies. She is a Certified Health & Safety Consultant, Gold Seal Certified Construction Safety, Certified Safety Specialist (BC Construction Safety Alliance), NCSO (AB Construction Safety Association), a certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor with the Canadian Mental Health Association and holds an OHS diploma.

Joanie spent 3 years in the Canadian Navy to start off her career journey as a Naval Combat Information Operator. In 2017, as an OHS Peace Officer for the Province of Alberta, she helped introduce the province’s new OHS Legislative requirements and was part of the province’s first Mental Health Bullying/Harassment and Potentially Serious Incidents team, which included inspecting over 300 various employers throughout the Province.

In 2019 Joanie moved to Vancouver Island and became the Capital City of BC’s first Safety Advisor for their Public Works division, helping ensure compliance among various trades and implementing the Cities Health and Safety program from a ground up approach.

In September 2023 Joanie won top 25 under 40 Canadian OHS Professional of the Year.

She has traveled to close to 30 countries, & loves hiking with her chocolate lab Lilly and her new rescue dog Sam, from Mexico. She is Newfoundland born & raised, currently living & exploring beautiful Vancouver Island. She is known to work collaboratively to successfully build solid relationships and enjoys using creativity to solve challenges – no matter how big or small.

The world of mediation and conflict resolution isn’t something to shy away from! With a degree in International and Development Studies, complemented by certificates in Mediation, Negotiation and Human Resource Management, Kess believes there are many more options than we think there are available to us to manage conflict. Since 2013, Kess immersed herself in diverse conflict scenarios, specializing in workplace conflict resolution, including individual, team, and labour/management disputes.

Her expertise extends to various settings—stratas, landlord-tenant conflicts, contractor/contracted relationships, and family disputes. As a seasoned mediator, she adapts her approach to the unique complexities of each situation, drawing on complex experiences to guide parties toward resolution and pave the way for a harmonious future.

With over a decade in Human Resources, Kess brings a wealth of knowledge to navigate the intricacies of employment and conflict. Her mission is to not only have parties find a resolution but also acquire the skills to navigate future conflicts independently.