Crystal Willie, Canada

As a cultural sector consultant, Crystal Willie works with public and non-profit groups to build sustainable and effective organizations that achieve their missions and serve their communities. She specializes in the areas of project management, policy development, program review, and planning. She serves a broad array of clients, from small arts cooperatives to provincial and municipal government agencies and departments, including the Edmonton Arts and Heritage Councils, Calgary Stampede, Alberta Aviation Museum, Archives Society of Alberta, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, National Music Centre, and the City of Lethbridge.

Crystal holds a Master of Arts from the University of Alberta, a Professional Specialization Certificate in Cultural Heritage Sector Leadership from the University of Victoria, and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Concordia University of Edmonton. Her Masters thesis explored cultural identity and immigrant expressions in community museums, and the ideas of identity, belonging, and multiculturalism continue to influence her consulting practice. She is editor and project manager of the Standard Practices Handbook for Museums, 3rd Edition (2014) and HELP! An Emergency Preparedness Manual for Museums, 2nd Edition (2018). Both publications are used in museum studies programs and sell internationally.

Before starting her company Purple Aspen Inc., Crystal worked for a leading museum professional association and several non-profit or public cultural or community organizations. 

In 2019, Purple Aspen joined forces with Alexandra Hatcher Consulting to create the Hatlie Group, a cultural services and consulting group. Hatlie Group is a collaboratively managed company that works with organizations seeking sustainability, transition, renewal, and stronger relationships with community.

Whether as employee, consultant or volunteer, Crystal is purposeful in her focus on the systems and structures that support building dynamic teams and organizational capacity to achieve positive outcomes for communities.