Claire Dowden is an Articled Clerk who will be called to the bar and become an associate lawyer with Cox & Palmer’s St. John’s office in June 2024. Heiling from St. John’s, Claire received the University Medal upon graduation from her Bachelor of Arts (Memorial University of Newfoundland) before completing her law degree at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law. When not behind her desk, Claire can often be found “staycationing” around the province, checking out a local restaurant, or watching reality television with her sheepadoodle, Murphy.
Ashley (Ash) Hall is a settler come-from-away, living and working in Katalisk, Ktaqmkuk. He is, when not cutting firewood, engaged in trail and ecosystem restoration projects. Ash holds visual art as a critical component of cultural expression. Everything from petroglyphs to graffiti are personal commentaries on sociocultural ideation, while aggregating as a historical record of perception.
A relatively new member of the VANL board, Ash is looking forward to Year of the Arts and supporting the board with rural and West Coast perspectives.
Luanne Dominix is a visual artist based in Bay Roberts, NL. Her practice explores the intersection of material culture, natural resources, and identity. Her work features symbols and imagery that ask the viewer to explore the inherent beauty and complexity of her province while reflecting on the changing dynamics faced by contemporary Newfoundlanders. Luanne’s work has been exhibited in juried exhibitions across Canada and the United States including with the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour; the Society of Watercolor Artists; and the Federation of Canadian Artists.
Luanne holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (Architecture) from Dalhousie University and a Master of Business Administration from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Nakita Baines is a Senior Manager in the KPMG St. John’s tax practice. Originally from Shoal Cove, NL, Nakita has been living and working in St. John’s since 2008. With over a decade of experience working with a diverse group of clients to understand the financial implications of their business transactions and operations, she has a depth of experience across an array of areas. This includes experience providing tax compliance, planning, and other advisory services to clients from a wide range of sectors including oil and gas, real estate, power and utilities, private equity, and manufacturing and processing. She has completed her in – Depth Tax Program in addition to obtaining her Chartered Professional Accountant designation. Previous board experience includes as a Financial Officer for Team Broken Earth and as the Treasurer for Confederation Building Daycare Centre Co-operative Society Limited. In her personal life Nakita enjoys travelling, spending time with her partner and their three year old dog, Atlas, while always being on the lookout for the next good book to enjoy.
