Board Member and Member, Long Term Planning Committee
Joan E. Siff is a well-known consumer advocate and attorney. Ms. Siff began her advocacy career in 1991 as an Assistant District Attorney for Norfolk County, Massachusetts. In 1992, Ms. Siff joined the Boston law firm of Swartz & Swartz for eight years as a litigation attorney specializing in cases involving children’s injuries. During this time, Ms. Siff was a spokesperson for W.A.T.C.H., Inc. (World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc.), a non-profit organization that raises awareness about child safety. In 2002, as a Director of W.A.T.C.H., Ms. Siff became responsible for the overall daily operations of the organization. She produces the nationally recognized, annual “Ten Worst Toy” conference for W.A.T.C.H. Ms. Siff also created and produced a second annual conference for W.A.T.C.H. relating to summer safety. W.A.T.C.H.’s summer safety conference, hosted by Franciscan’s Hospital for Children (FHFC) for the last seven years, has gained national recognition in both television and print media. Some of the local and national media that has covered the conference include ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, WBZ, and The Associated Press. Ms. Siff has also appeared on many national and regional television and radio networks and has been quoted in numerous publications with regard to her work as a consumer safety advocate. Joan Siff’s media and speaking appearances include: Fox News Live, LawLive (FATV), CNN Radio Atlanta, NECN, The Michael Smerconish Morning Drive Radio Program (Philadelphia), CJP Tsedaka Family and Friends, The Brimmer and May School, and many others. Ms. Siff is a board member of Franciscan’s Hospital for Children (FHFC) and the Women’s Division of CJP. She is an Admissions Host and an Annual Fund Committee member for the Winsor School, the Secretary of the PA for the Brimmer and May School, and a member of the C.L.A.D. Committee (the annual fundraiser) for FHFC for the seventh consecutive year. Ms. Siff was formerly a board member for Boston Aid to the Blind (now Greater Boston Aid to the Blind), a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association (now the American Association for Justice), among numerous other associations. After graduating cum laude from Tufts University, Ms. Siff earned a J.D. at Boston University School of Law and a M.S. at the Boston University School of Mass Communications. Ms. Siff is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts, New York and Washington D.C