Arlene is a social worker who was for sixteen years the Executive Director of Family Services of the North Shore. She has been active as a volunteer in many civic organizations including the Vancouver Foundation, the Jewish Community Federation of Greater Vancouver, the Vancouver Police Board, Temple Sholom Synagogue and Saint James Music Academy.

Arlene served as Chair of the Board of the Vancouver Opera Association, Chair of the Vancouver Opera Foundation, and as Chair of the Steering Committee of the 2007 Canadian Arts Summit.

Arlene believes that all the arts are essential to the vitality of the community and she is honoured to be given an opportunity to contribute to the vision of Ballet BC.