Norine Ambrose — Cows and Fish

As the Program Manager of Cows and Fish, Norine helps landowners, communities and natural resource professionals recognize the value of riparian areas, and what they can do to maintain these areas as healthy, productive pieces of our landscape.  Her work with community leaders, organisations and agencies who work on watershed and landscape health emphasises sharing lessons learned in effective program delivery.

Norine  has spent a decade overseeing and leading a variety of Cows and Fish research projects. Her experience involves extensive development of new outreach and monitoring tools as well as many written and oral presentations, papers and training. Prior to joining Cows and Fish, she worked on wetland ecology at the University of Alberta. She holds a diploma in Renewable Resources from NAIT and a Bachelor of Science, with Specialization in Zoology related to wildlife conservation, from the University of Alberta.

Jule Asterisk — High Prairie Regional Environmental Action Committee

A Director with the Regional Environmental Action Committee since 1999, Jule became an environmentalist at age 11 upon reading that Lake Erie had caught fire.  In her time at REAC, Jule has produced two educational video productions, "My Life as a Plastic Bottle" (2003), and "My Life as a Tire" (2007).  She has represented the Alberta Environment Network at the Government of Alberta's Waste Management Stakeholder Group, and represented the Canadian Environment Network at the Committee for Environmental Cooperation's review of the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes.  She has presented at conferences including the Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention, and Waste, the Social Context.  Jule is currently working toward the realization of an Alternative Energy Demonstration Project at the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation.

Mark Bennett — Bow River Basin Council

Mark enjoys the privilege of being the Executive Director of the Bow River Basin Council and has held the position for the past 9 years. In this role he is blessed by the opportunity to work with great colleagues, both staff and volunteers. Working with the Council offers both challenges and rewards and is never boring. Mark and his family came to Alberta in 1998 from Winnipeg where he had spent the previous 14 years in Emergency Management, where he learned a great deal about the value of planning and teamwork. These two skills lend themselves well to the operations of the Bow River Basin Council. Mark also learned that the secret to success is to know what you’re doing and to surround yourself with really good people. He has the latter covered and is always working on the former. Mark holds an undergraduate degree in biology from Queen’s University. He has both a Certificate in Public Sector Management and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Manitoba. Mark’s recent studies include the pursuit of an Environmental Management Certificate from the University of Calgary and a Non-Profit Management Certificate from Mount Royal University.

Sangeen Chahal — CIBC

Coming soon.

Cindy Christopher — Imperial Oil *

Cindy has been the manager, environmental policy and planning at Imperial Oil since August 2010.  She works with people from Imperial, ExxonMobil and government as well as other stakeholders, providing strategic support to ensure Imperial is well prepared to address key environmental issues.  Cindy has one daughter and enjoys spending time with her family, good friends, and the members of her church. She pursues a number of outdoor activities including gardening, kayaking, hiking and  canoeing.

Sean Christopher — Total E&P Canada

Sean Christopher is a Corporate Social Responsibility and Stakeholder Relations Advisor with Total E&P Canada.  He is currently working through his MBA at the Haskayne School of Business while with Total.  Before his MBA and work with Total, he worked in market research and obtained a bachelors degree in economics.  Sean is looking forward to learning as much as he can from the unique experience of being a part of the Alberta Ecotrust Grant Review Committee.

Lars De Pauw — Penn West Exploration

Manager, Environment & Reclamation Lars has a Master's in environmental engineering and he was the first environmental hire at Penn West. With Penn West, he has acted as chair for several stewardship task groups for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, including the Benchmarking and Stewardship Redesign working groups.

Growing up in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Lars decided on the promising field of environmental engineering at Guelph University in Ontario. 

Lars has a daughter and a son, and he enyoys spending time with friends, enjoying the outdoors, and coaching community soccer.

Adam Dreidzic — Environmental Law Centre *

Adam received his law degree from the University of Victoria and comes to the Environmental Law Centre from private practice. Adam's major work at the Centre is on the procedural aspect of environmental protection, including public interest standing and access to information. He also contributes to ongoing ELC initiatives on conservation tools and environmental assessment.

Adam holds a B.A. in Anthropology, M.Sc. in Student Services, and worked at specialized schools before becoming a lawyer. Now he applies this background to the ELC's public information and education program.

Adam is a member of Tipi Creek Community Shared Agriculture Farm, the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society, and serves on the board of directors of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton. 

Melanie Ducharme — BP Canada

As part of the Government and Public Affairs Team, Melanie supports BP Canada's natural gas liquids and oil sands businesses. She has been with BP since early 2007. A degree in environmental and conservation science as well as diplomas in journalism and public relations has opened up exciting doors in Melanie's career, one of the highlights of which includes being a published author of eight science textbooks currently being used in schools in both Canada and the United States. Melanie joined Ecotrust's Grant Review Committee in 2008 and is excited to participate in this unique partnership.

Danah Duke — Miistakis Institute for the Rockies

Danah has been the Executive Director of the Miistakis Institute since 2001. She enjoys the diversity her role at Miistakis affords, overseeing projects ranging from wildlife management, sustainable land use, conservation planning, citizen science to facilitating collaborative environmental processes.  Prior to her time at Miistakis,  Danah had the pleasure of researching movement patterns of wolves and cougars in Banff National Park.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from McMaster University and a Master's degree in Environmental Biology and Ecology from the University of Alberta. Danah is a proud (and tired!) mother of two young girls and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.   

Carol Engstrom — Husky Energy

Carol has worked at Husky since 1998. As a professional biologist, Carol is responsible for environmental issues related to oil and gas development in the Eastern Slopes and the oil sands areas. Some of Carol's experience includes managing wildlife issues, conducting environmental assessments and participating in stakeholder consultation. She is an active volunteer with current and past roles including the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists, Ramsay Community Garden and Calgary Stampede. Her son, husband, two cats and a dog live with her in Calgary.

Patricia Etris — Encana

As Encana's Director for Community Involvement, Patricia works with numerous environmental partners, and she brings a depth of knowledge and experience to the Alberta Ecotrust Grant Review Committee table. Prior to working with Encana, Patricia received a M.Sc. degree in Geology from the University of South Carolina, worked in environmental consultation and regulation, and earned an MBA from the University of Calgary with a specialty in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development.  Patricia lives in Calgary with her husband and two amazing teenage daughters.

Rafat Farooqi — FT Services

As the Vice President of Health, Safety, Security and Environment at FT Services, Rafat has been advocating cultural changes to continuously improve employee health, safety and environmental awareness. A mechanical engineer by education, he uses his international experience, analytical and cultural diversity skills to influence a pro-environment culture in the Maintenance and Construction side of the oil industry. He lives in Calgary with his wife and two children. They all actively enjoy off-grid camping and the tranquility of the wilderness.

AnneMarie Feoli-Marson — RBC Foundation

Profile Coming Soon

Leona Gibb — TERA Environmental Consultants

Leona Gibb joined TERA in 1993 and became a Director in 2005. As a Senior Environmental Planner, she has worked on behalf of numerous junior and senior oil and gas companies throughout Alberta as the Project Manager and primary author of Conservation and Reclamation (C&R) Reports for over 90 pipelines.  Her duties include route selection, regulatory strategic planning, government contacts, public and First Nations consultation support, First Nation liaison, consultation with DFO and Transport Canada, environmental impact assessment as well as environmental protection and reclamation planning.

Paul Godman — Cenovus Energy

Paul has worked on a wide range of environmental issues associated with the energy sector. Since 2003, he has managed EnCana's Environmental Innovation Fund, a program that provides financial support for the development of innovative clean energy technologies. He has a B.Sc. in Earth Sciences from the University of Waterloo and an M.Sc. in Water Resources Management from the University of Calgary. He lives in Calgary with his wife and two children and enjoys cycling, skiing and photography.

 

Linda Graf — ConocoPhillips Canada

Linda Graf is the Manager, Environment and Stakeholder Engagement, Canadian Arctic, at ConocoPhillips Canada and has been working with the Environment and Sustainable Development group since 2004. The majority of her work with the company has been on the proposed Parsons Lake natural gas development in the western Canadian Arctic.  It was a natural fit with her previous 17 years of experience living and working in the Arctic.  Ten of those years were spent with the Joint Secretariat - Inuvialuit Renewable Resources Committees providing support related to developments under review through the Inuvialuit Screening and Review Process.  While in the Arctic, Linda also worked as a biologist both privately and for the Government of the Northwest Territories, held the position of Chair and Member of the Inuvik Ducks Unlimited Committee, and was a Volunteer Fire Fighter.  She received her BSc (Biology) degree from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. Linda now lives in Calgary with her husband, Gordon, and two curly-coated retrievers.

Margot Hervieux — Peace Parkland Naturalists

Margot is a naturalist living and working in Grande Prairie. Actively involved in conservation and natural history in Alberta for the past three decades, Margot currently works as an interpreter for provincial parks. As part of her ongoing effort to promote the natural history of the Peace region, she has produced guidebooks for two local natural areas and writes a weekly nature column for the Peace Country Sun. Margot has served on the grant review committee of Alberta Ecotrust for nine years.

Brian Ilnicki — Land Stewardship Centre of Canada

Coming Soon

Michael Ireton — Green Calgary *

Michael grew up in Fredericton, NB, where his family had solar hot water panels on their home and his dad started a municipal recycling program in the 1970s. He has also lived, worked, and/or attended university in Switzerland, Austria, Halifax, Kingston, Ottawa, Saint John, Toronto, Berkeley (California) and Ithaca (New York) before settling in Calgary in 2004. With his wife, Joni Carroll (who has a degree in architecture), Michael designed and built the first two single-family homes in Calgary to achieve Platinum certification through the Built Green™ Canada rating program. Michael & Joni live in one of them with their two sons, Callum and Duncan. Michael has also been a LEED® Accredited Professional since 2005, helped develop the LEED® Canada for Homes rating program and introductory workshop, and has consulted on single- and multi-family residential projects pursuing LEED® certification. He was also a member of the imagineCALGARY Social Systems Working Group and participated in several Plan It Calgary workshops. He has been very actively engaged with both the Inglewood and South Calgary Community Associations, serving as Executive Director of the latter immediately prior to joining Green Calgary.

 

 

Laura Jeffreys — Greater Edmonton Alliance

Biography coming soon

Klaus Jericho — Southern Alberta Group for the Environment

Klaus graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1962. After completing post-graduate training in veterinary pathology, he worked for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and later for Health Canada. He has been retired for eight years, but he still has a keen interest in how the world works and the impact we have on it. He is trying to make his small contribution to make us walk more gently on this earth.

Nikki Kaehne — Alliance Pipeline

Equipped with a biology and environmental engineering background, Nikki headed east from Vancouver to work at Alliance. As part of the Environment Team, she has a wide range of responsibilities, including implementation of the Environmental Management System and coordination of environment-related regulatory approvals for construction and operations in Canada. In addition to her participation on Alliance's Corporate Community Investment Committee, she also began representing the company on the Alberta Ecotrust Grant Review Committee in May 2006. Being involved with Alberta Ecotrust's Grant Program has been an inspiring opportunity to witness and encourage environmental stewardship at the grassroots level.

Bob Kruchten — Red Deer River Naturalists

 

 

 

 

Shawna Mattison — Pembina Pipeline Corporation

Shawna Mattison is the Manager of Health, Safety, and Environment at Pembina Pipeline Corporation. She has been active in the environmental field for more than 20 years. Her environmental interests include fish habitat conservation and restoration, protection of native prairie, and the restoration and protection of green space within urban areas.

 

Leroy McKinnon — TAQA NORTH Ltd.

Leroy McKinnon is the Senior Associate, Public Relations and Corporate Communications, for TAQA NORTH in Calgary. He is also part of the organization's Community Investment Team and has been an active member of the Ecotrust Grant Review Committee since 2010. Prior to joining TAQA, Leroy worked in the Hockey World for 12 years with the Canadian Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Hockey Canada in media relations, marketing, sponsorships and event management. Leroy has a BA degree from St. Francis Xaxier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Originally from St.. Augustine River, a remote town on Quebec's Lower North Shore. Leroy and his wife, Twyla, have two young children, Audrey and Jack..

Kathryn Milne — Nexen Inc.*

Growing up in the Bow Valley, Kathryn developed tremendous respect and awe for the environment, as well as a keen interest in how people can minimize their environmental footprint. These influences shaped her education choices, volunteer activities, and career in the environmental field. Kathryn's formal education includes a Bachelor of Science in animal biology from the University of British Columbia and a Masters of Environmental Design from the University of Calgary. She connected with Alberta Ecotrust Foundation through her company, Nexen, where she works as an environmental analyst in upstream oil and gas. Kathryn enjoys being exposed to a plethora of worthwhile environmental projects and meeting the dedicated people behind them. Kathryn is also a volunteer member of Bow Valley WildSmart and the Bighorn Corridor Environment Committee (BCEC).

Joe Obad — Water Matters

Joe Obad brings extensive experience in land use issues and communications to the Alberta Ecotrust grant review table. Focusing on the connection between land-use science and policy, he has written a number of policy briefs that have significantly altered the practices of both industry and government.  As former Conservation director with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society,  Joe consulted extensively with stakeholders across southeastern Alberta on a variety of land-use topics, and worked to educate the public on science and land-use as project manager for initiatives such as Selected Ecological Resources of Alberta's Castle Carbondale and the Exploring the Castle Hiking Guidebook published by Rocky Mountain books.  More recently, in his work with Water Matters, he has co-authored  Source of Opportunity: A Blueprint for Source Water Protection in Southern Alberta. Joe has bachelor degrees in English and Education.

Leah Orr — Environmental Law Centre *

Leah graduated from Grant MacEwan College's Bachelor of Applied Communications in Professional Writing program. Prior to joining the Environmental Law Centre she was the Outreach Coordinator at the Alberta Public Interest Research Group and volunteered with numerous student and community groups. She is also a freelance writer with publication credits related to a broad range of social and environmental justice issues.

Angela Perry — Peace Parkland Naturalists

Aside from working as a Land Use Officer for Alberta Parks, Angela Perry has been a member of the Peace Parkland Naturalists Club for two years and is currently the group's program coordinator. With a biology and education degree, she brings experience in both disciplines - as an environmental educator and a wildlife biologist for an environmental consulting company - to the Ecotrust Grant Review Committee.  She lives in Grande Prairie, where she takes every opportunity to enjoy the Northern clime through hiking, photography, fishing and other modes of exploring.  She is excited to be involved with Alberta Ecotrust and to represent Northern Alberta at the committee table.

Chuck Priestley — Nature Alberta

Chuck is a biologist with 11 years of academic and professional work experience for a variety of industry clients, government agencies, non-government organizations and environmental consulting companies.

Chuck has worked as a biologist, environmental educator, grant review committee member, and public speaker with organizations in the non-profit sector such as Alberta Conservation Association, Bird Studies Canada, Federation of Alberta Naturalists, Nature Canada and University of Alberta.

Jeff Reading — Alberta Council for Environmental Education

Jeff Reading is an environmental specialist with the City of Calgary's Ecological Footprint Team. He has been an environmental and outdoor educator for close to thirty years, working as a teacher, consultant and program specialist with the Calgary Board of Education. Jeff has served on numerous boards, including the Global, Environmental and Outdoor Education Council of the Alberta Teachers Association, the Association For Experiential Education, and the Safety Committee for Outward Bound Canada. His wife, Shelagh, and their children David and Meghan share a love of international travel and exploring natural environments together. Jeff has been an active member of the Alberta Ecotrust grant review committee since 1994 with a two-year hiatus in 2002-2003.

Amit Saxena — Devon Canada Corporation

Formally trained as a wildlife research biologist, Amit specializes in managing natural resource and biodiversity issues for Devon. Amit's expertise is primarily with large carnivores, including grizzly bears, black bears and wolves – he has even worked on special assignment with tigers in India, but he has also written conservation plans for songbirds and tiny endangered orchids. Prior to joining Devon in 2007, Amit spent the past 15 years working as a wildlife biologist for Parks Canada, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and several environmental consulting firms. Amit has a B.Sc. in forest ecology from the University of Alberta and a M.Sc. in conservation biology from Arizona State University. He joined Alberta Ecotrust's Grant Review Committee in 2008. Born in Edmonton, Amit now lives in Calgary with his wife and young daughter.

Chris Severson-Baker — Pembina Institute *

Chris' primary responsibility is to ensure the Pembina Institute has the right people, resources, and internal systems it needs to carry out its strategic plan. Since joining the Institute in 1996 his focus has been - and continues to be - on reducing the health and environmental impacts of oil and gas, the oilsands and power generation in Alberta. He is currently a member of the board of Alberta's Clean Air Strategic Alliance and represents the Institute in a variety of multi-stakeholder forums. Prior to assuming his current position, Chris oversaw the Institute's Policy Group, which undertakes research and advocacy to advance sustainable energy solutions in Canada in the areas of climate change, renewable energy/energy efficiency, oilsands and transportation.  Chris holds a BSc in Environmental and Conservation Science from the University of Alberta, and a Master of Arts in Environment and Management  from Royal Roads University.

Connie Simmons — Athabasca Watershed Council

Connie has over 25 years experience in community and watershed stewardship, environmental education and conservation initiatives.   She worked with the Alberta Forest Service in outdoor and environmental youth programs for many years, and was co-founder of the Athabasca Bioregional Society, a grassroots watershed stewardship/sustainable community group in the upper Athabasca River watershed (Hinton, AB).   She helped initiate the multi-stakeholder Hardisty Creek Restoration Project, and as a watershed steward  participated on the 'Initiator's Group' of the Athabasca Watershed Council (AWC-WPAC),  the tenth Watershed Planning and Advisory Council created under Alberta's Water For Life Strategy.  Connie was hired as Executive Director for the AWC-WPAC in May 2010, and continues to work for the ecological health of the Athabasca watershed, vibrant communities and an environmentally sustainable economy.    

Connie has a Bachelor of Physical Education (Outdoor and Environmental Education, U of A); and a Ph.D. (Dept. of Renewable Resources, U of A) in conservation history and environmental philosophy/ethics.   She enjoys outdoor activities of all kinds, and has two sons who motivate her to work for a sustainable future.

Jason Smith — TERA Environmental Consultants

Jason K. Smith is a Senior Environmental Planner and Director at TERA Environmental Consultants in Calgary and has worked in the environmental consulting industry for 10 years. He specializes in National Energy Board-regulated pipeline projects and has managed numerous environmental assessments for work in Western Canada. He has served as project manager on several provincially and federally-regulated pipelines, including high profile projects like the Georgia Strait Crossing Pipeline Project and TMX - Anchor Loop Project.

Neil Symington — Suncor Energy Foundation

Neil is responsible for Suncor's sustainable development and environmental reporting. He works with the socially responsible investment community and provides support on greenhouse gas policy development. Prior to joining Suncor, he worked on policy and issues management with respect to climate change, land-use and boreal habitat protection, and participated in multi-stakeholder groups including the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Trading Pilot and the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy's Boreal Forest Task Force.

He volunteered to represent the Suncor Energy Foundation on the Alberta Ecotrust Grant Review committee because he is passionate about supporting local action on environmental issues. My interest in the outdoors led me to previous careers as a naval officer, trekking guide and whale watching pilot. He continues to pursue his outdoor passions through climbing, sea kayaking, trekking and snowboarding.

Anne-Marie Syslak — Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Southern Alberta *

Anne-Marie Syslak, Acting Executive Director of the Southern Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, joined the organization's Education Team in the summer of 2004 and took on the role of Acting Executive Director in November 2009. Anne-Marie has worked in the environmental education field for the past sixteen years and enjoys teaching about nature and ecological issues through her creative lessons. She has a B.Sc, a B.Ed, and a M.Sc. in Environmental Education. Anne-Marie loves to travel, flirts with art and music, and is often found playing in the mountains. Originally from the prairies, Anne-Marie has a particular passion for plants and wildflowers. When she's not howling like a wolf with her daughter, you might find her on the trail going ga-ga over a glacier-lily!

Gareth Thomson — Alberta Council for Environmental Education

Gareth Thomson is executive director of ACEE and has twenty years experience in environmental education, working first for the Government of Alberta and then as the first education director of CPAWS – Calgary/Banff. Gareth currently serves as a judge for the Alberta Emerald Awards, has been a board member of several key environmental education groups and grantmaking foundations, served on Canmore's municipal Town Council, and taught at an International Baccalaureate high school. Gareth has an engineering degree, an M.Sc. in environmental geology, and is a certified teacher. He has been honoured by a lifetime achievement award from the Global Environmental and Outdoor Education Council (GEOEC) of the Alberta Teachers Association, and the 2008 Outstanding Individual (non-profit) award from the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM). A proud father of two children, Gareth can still occasionally be sighted on the hiking trails around Canmore.

TransAlta - Not represented — TransAlta

TransAlta does not currently have a representative on the Grant Review Committee

Peter Zimmerman — ConocoPhillips Canada

Peter Zimmerman is currently the Manager of the Environment, Regulatory, and Stakeholder Engagement oilsands group. Peter has over 30 years of broad experience in the upstream oil and gas industry before joining Conocophillips in July 2008.  

Peter has managed a wide variety of projects and sustainability issues, at both the operational and strategic planning level.  This includes environmental impact assessment & management planning, environmental auditing & management systems, climate change and energy efficiency, biodiversity conservation, life cycle assessment, liability management, remediation and reclamation, and stakeholder engagement.  This has included working with various Aboriginal communities and many special interest groups.

Peter is an active member of the conservation community.  He has been a long time member of CPAWS, including a term as a National Trustee, and also represented several ENGOS on the Alberta Grizzly Bear Recovery Team.  He holds a Master's degree in Environmental Design from the University of Calgary.  Peter and his wife Dianne live in Calgary with their daughter Grace.