Heritage Lower St. Lawrence will commemorate World AIDS Day in Rimouski with a presentation by professional photographer Joan Sullivan , a newly-arrived Anglophone based in Saint-Valérien-de-Rimouski who has spent much of the past 15 years in Africa working on HIV/AIDS. She will come at this presentation from a fascinating viewpoint, «Through the lens: 15 years as an AIDS foot soldier in Africa.»

And while the bulk of her presentation focuses on her awardwinning photography, Sullivan also has ‘hands-on’ experience as an aid worker. Much of her time overseas involved providing technical advice to governments and communitybased organizations to strengthen HIV prevention programs.

Sullivan completed a Master’s of Public Health from Harvard University. That training was followed by overseas postings in Bangladesh, India, Malawi, Rwanda, Niger, Mali, Ivory Coast and Botswana. Sullivan’s journey has led her to work with refugees, migrant workers and children orphaned by AIDS.

She has worked with a variety of international organizations including the United Nations, the World Bank, CARE International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Her photos have been published by Reuters, TIME Magazine, the National Geographic Traveler Calendar, and most recently by Random House on the front cover of the latest book by Alexander McCall Smith, «Tea Time for the Traditionally Built.»

«I will present some of the current statistics about the pandemic and describe key elements of the global response, but the heart of the lecture will be personal,» says Sullivan, «I want to share my observations, my hopes and my fears for the continent...and what better way to do that than with colour photographs.»

Time permitting, Sullivan will also discuss her decision to change careers and pursue organic farming in the Lower St. Lawrence.

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