Inside Education is governed by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors representing a diversity of industry, government, education, community and conservation perspectives — valuable and necessary for quality bias-balanced education. Members share their expertise, leadership and enthusiasm with us by providing direction and guidance for the Society’s vision, mission and goals. Allow us to introduce them to you…
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We are thrilled to introduce David as the new President & Chair of the Inside Education Board of Directors. People still talk about the presentations David gives for our Teacher Professional Development programs! Once, after noticing a bit of an energy lag prior to another indoor presentation on a sunny day, David gathered all the teachers and challenged them to look at multiple perspectives by changing their perspective with “let’s go outside!” We first met David through his work in wind energy, and his current role with AltaLink continues to provide us insight into an important Inside Education topic area of electricity.
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Our past-Prez Patricia led Inside Education from 2011-2015 – four incredible years! In real life, Patricia is Manager of Industry Relations, Mining Relations at Alberta Energy Regulator. We first met Patricia at an Inside Education strategic planning session. We knew that anyone that can be that enthusiastic about Mission and Vision Statements would be a friend for life!
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Nadine is delighting in her role as ‘Past’ President, having served as President for the previous 412 years….Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but she has provided incredible leadership to our Society through many fruitful years. Her day job sees her as Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for Devon Canada.
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Our newest Director is Darlene Crowell. Darlene’s day job is as Vice President, Market Communications, and Engagement for Energy Efficiency Alberta. Darlene has a diverse background both in the energy sector and the education world, having worked for several energy companies and as Associate VP for the University of Calgary. We’re delighted to welcome Darlene and are pretty sure our Executive Director is trying to have as many Nova Scotians as possible on the Board!
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A former President of our Society, Alex is our longest-serving Director. He’s definitely one of the leaders in forest education in western Canada. In addition to speaking to innumerable teacher forest education professional development programs, Alex co-chaired both Alberta-based ForestEDWest Conferences and has provided expert advice in all our forest education programs. His real job is forest education as well – Alex is an Instructor in the University of Alberta’s Department of Renewable Resources.
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Meet our newest addition to the Inside Education Board of Directors, Rob Harris. We have known Rob for many years through his role at Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, leading the environmental education team at that Department. In his daily life Rob and his family live on property that his family has farmed for four generations! As he says, this has helped sew the seeds from which his passion for the land, the environment and for education have grown. We are delighted to welcome Rob aBOARD (get it?)
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If Alberta nominated a “Mr. Water,” there is a very good chance David Hill would be awarded this distinction. From his days working in the world of irrigation farming to his role at Alberta Innovates supporting water research across the province and now to his new role at the University of Lethbridge, David has been a champion for water education. David’s water expertise has been invaluable to Inside Education’s water education programming. If you ever have a chance to see his water pictures from around the world…do it!
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Neil teaches biology, math, science and agriculture at Morinville Community High School. Neil is a veteran of many of Inside Education’s adventures, including an oil sands and agriculture professional development program, he’s come with us on A+ for Energy adventures, and as one of Alberta’s leaders in ag-education, really helped us launch our own agriculture education programs in 2016. Neil’s vast experience and background includes two terms as a City Councillor for the City of St. Albert! Welcome aboard Neil!
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It can be said that the ‘roots’ of Inside Education natural resources education programming are in forest education (we couldn’t resist). Janet is part of a fourth-generation, family-owned Alberta forest company in her work as Communications Director at Millar Western Forest Products. In addition to being a champion of projects like our Huestis Demonstration Forest Education Program, Janet also serves as the Board Liaison to Inside Education’s Communications Committee.
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When he’s not traveling coastal and alpine terrains with his family (tugging along their groovy little Boler trailer) or sitting on a number of NFP Boards, Gary squeezes in some time to be the Principal of Otago Consulting and Executive Director of both West Central Airshed Society and the Alberta Capital Airshed. It’s a little embarrassing that we got tired just typing that, let alone leading all those great organizations! Welcome and thank you Gary!
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Mike has been involved with Inside Education since 2016 when he first participated in a provincial youth summit. He enjoyed participation in subsequent water and energy youth summits put on by Inside Education that he was thrilled at the initiation to join the Board of Directors in May 2019. Mike has a passion sustainable industrial development and natural resources, and helping youth, including his four children, understand tradeoffs around energy, water, and food from a sustainability perspective. Mike works with various private sectors including agriculture, oil and gas, oil sands, power production, and forestry.
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Laura has 23 years of experience in engineering and team leadership in the oil and gas, durables and non-durable manufacturing. Laura has worked at Pembina Pipeline Corporation since 2011 in a variety of roles recently transitioning from Vice President of External Affairs to Vice President Oil Sands and Heavy Oil. For 6 years, she held a Board member position on a not-for-profit organization, Women Building Futures, which prepares women for economically prosperous careers in industries where women have historically been under-represented. Laura believes in the power of higher education and supporting learning and development to help enhance peoples careers, their lives and open up possibilities for new lines of thinking.
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Although new to the Inside Education board Jessica has been actively involved with environmental education for over a decade, with both the program development and funding lense. A lifelong love for nature led her to pursue a degree in Environmental Science which she has utilized in careers with non-profits, government, and industry, including her current role as Community Connector with ENMAX. Jessica also volunteers as President of the Beddington Heights Community Association, where she continues to gain valuable insight experience on non-profit boards. In her spare time, she spends time gardening and exploring outdoors with her husband and two beautiful children
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Originally from Newfoundland. Helen has always had a love of science and desire to work with complex learners. She is a proud mom of two boys and has worked hard to instill the love of learning into her children and all of her students. Helen has been involved with Inside Education for many years and has participated in a variety of Inside Education programs with her students and colleagues – Gener8, Navig8, Water in a World for 7 Billion, and A+ for Energy. She is a strong supported of A+ for Energy and Inside Education Programming and is honoured to be a part of the Inside Education team. Currently, she is a Principal at Louise Dean School, a high school for pregnant and parenting teens.
