Board of Directors

After a 37-year career in education, Hugh has joined his daughter in the flower business. For 12 years he was a Municipal politician where he took a leadership role setting up the Ghost Access Management Plan and was actively involved in regional water issues. He is presently the Chairman of the Upper Bow Basin Cumulative Effects study group and a Director of the Action For Agriculture.

Matt is an ecologist interested in applying a systems dynamics approach to communicate land use concepts and develop pragmatic solutions to natural resource management challenges. Over the past ten years, Matt has developed and applied simulation tools to explore the future effects of land use in a variety of landscapes. Recent projects have focused on applying ALCES to inform the development of land-use plans that appropriately balance ecological and socioeconomic objectives. Matt is also an ecologist for the Canadian Boreal Initiative and has a Masters of Science in Conservation Biology from the University of Alberta.

Jennifer Janzen joined the ALCES group in 2008 as the project coordinator for Alberta Tomorrow, a web-based educational land-use simulator. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Land Use & Environmental Studies and Biology, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan. She has worked for various government and non-profit organizations as a plant ecologist and educator in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Crystal is a retired Assistant Deputy Minister with the Government of Alberta after having served the public for more than 28 years. In 2021, she started her second career providing advisory and management consulting services primarily related to land-use planning and policy development. She was the Executive Director of the Land Use Secretariat, leading major regional planning efforts in Alberta.

Leanne is a co-founder and Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Cygnet Energy Ltd. She has over 25 years of experience negotiating and executing strategic corporate M&A, exploration, joint venture, and commercial agreements within Western Canada. She supports building an environmentally responsible sustainable energy business that prioritizes mutual socioeconomic engagement with Rights Holders and the community.

Toby is the chief executive officer and co-founder of Corporate Knights. He spearheaded the first global ranking of the world’s 100 most sustainable corporations in 2005, and in 2007 coined the term 'clean capitalism.' He has been published in the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Globe and Mail and is a regular guest speaker on CBC.

Kara is an elementary school teacher in Cochrane, Alberta. She holds a master's degree in environmental education and communication and has a passion for getting kids outside, learning in and from the natural world. Her master’s thesis focused on how time spent in nature influences well-being in young people.

Michael is a Team Lead and Specialist within the Environment and Regulatory department at Cenovus Energy Inc. He supports regulatory applications and compliance and provides subject matter expertise in land and biodiversity. With a background in forestry, soil science, and rural development, Michael has worked in both the forest and energy sectors for three decades.

Tansi! Aba Wathtech! Oki! Shawna was born and raised in the Rocky Mountains in Invermere, BC. As a proud Métis woman, mother, and teacher, she believes that Truth must come before Reconciliation. Shawna earned her Bachelor of Arts and Education degrees from the University of Lethbridge, majoring in French with a minor in Native American Studies.

Dr. Brad Stelfox established Forem Technologies and the ALCES Group in 1995 and is the architect and developer of the ALCES model. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary, focusing on the interface between human land uses and regional landscapes. Brad has received multiple awards for his contributions to land use sustainability.