Hazel Postma is the Associate Vice President External Relations at Douglas College, British Columbia. Before venturing into the work of external relations, Hazel was executive director of Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation in Port Moody, BC and prior to that spent 20 years working as an editor, journalist and free-lance writer on daily and weekly newspapers throughout British Columbia.

She has a lifelong interest in human rights and has been a supporter and volunteer fieldworker with Amnesty International Canada for 25 years. She brings a passion for freedom of speech to HRI as well as an extensive background in communications and marketing. In her professional and volunteer capacity, she frequently gives presentations and workshops on topics ranging from human rights to fund-raising. At Douglas College, Hazel brings an external perspective to the Senior Management Team of which she is a part. She works to ensure that the College is responsive to the community’s needs and connects College programs to community businesses and organizations. As well, she has responsibility for the Douglas College Foundation and the Alumni Association.

Hazel brought Living Library to Canada, extending the concept of libraries to include borrowing people with expertise instead of – or as well as – books. Living Library began in Denmark as a way of breaking down stereotypes and can now be found in scores of countries, as well as across Canada at public and post-secondary libraries.