Meet the ACEE Board

Tanya Doran is the chair of ACEE. She served on the Alberta Premier's Panel on Energy Efficiency in 2016, and is Sustainability lead for Stantec in Alberta.  She has spent her career championing sustainable building design and seeking synergies between 'green buildings' and occupant behaviour.  From  her first role at an electric utility provider to her recent senior roles consulting for large national organizations and the electric transmission council in Edmonton, Tanya has seen the evolution of sustainable design practice across Western Canada.

Brad Clute believes that business, when done ethically, can be a powerful tool for positive change in the community - and he’s dedicated to proving it. Brad was appointed Executive Director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Southern Alberta Chapter in January of 2020. Prior to this, he was Mountain Equipment Co-op’s Regional Sustainability and Community Investment Coordinator for Western Canada, and under his leadership MEC sustainability programs won numerous awards. MEC's sustainability and community investment programs are an example of how businesses can both prosper and have a positive impact on the community and the planet. Brad was president of the Calgary Area Outdoor Council, and also completed a term on the steering committee for Calgary’s Community Economic Development Network. 

Melissa Easton has been teaching Math, Science and Outdoor Education at Arbour Lake School (Calgary Board of Education) for a decade.  She is passionate about getting students outside, and ​works with fellow teachers to connect their curriculum with real life scenarios in the outdoors. Melissa has partnered with CAWST, Alberta Parks, the Mayors Expo, CPAWS, Inside Education, and ​MindFuel among others to increase her students​'​ opportunities. She is an outdoor enthusiast in her personal life and enjoys helping students build a love for exploring and protecting nature.

Dr. Jim Sandercock is the inaugural Chair of the Alternative Energy diploma program at NAIT. The two-year diploma program prepares highly qualified personnel who design and assemble renewable energy systems such as solar PV, energy efficiency measures such as geothermal, and conservation measures through energy auditing and energy management planning. Curriculum also explores the production of energy and liquid biofuels from waste and agricultural products. Jim has worked with other parts of NAIT to create solar upgrading courses for electricians and engineers in Alberta and Cuba. He holds a PhD in Microbiology and Biotechnology from the University of Alberta.

Tim Weis has been an Industrial Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta since 2017. His work has focused on renewable energy development in Canada with a particular interest in wind energy as well as remote community wind-diesel hybrid applications. Prior to joining the University of Alberta, he spent much of his career focused the interactions of technology, policy and business for renewable energy, including working for the Pembina Institute, the Canadian Wind Energy Association and an advisor to Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Through the Centre for Applied Business Research in Energy and the Environment (CABREE) in the School of Business, his research focuses on the evolution of Alberta’s electricity market price impacts and policy modelling as it transitions off of coal to an increasing role for renewable energy and energy storage, wind energy.

As a member of the Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) team, Jennifer is committed to enabling the adoption of clean technology and promoting innovation throughout the Alberta economy. She is committed to supporting the equitable transition to a clean economy. It’s a challenging journey but with risk also comes opportunity and the ability to influence change. The bulk of her career has been focussed on managing climate risk in the industrial sector and advising on public statements surrounding sustainability metrics. Currently with ERA her focus is on enabling clean technology innovative to further Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reductions and supporting the development of ERA calls for projects.  Jennifer is very excited to join the ACEE Board to support their significant work to advance environmental education in children and youth.

Lesley Margetak is a grade 2 teacher at Horace Allen School in Coleman where she has established an Eco Club. She also began a multi-year project developing "Peaks to Prairies Outdoor Learning Environment,” which embraces place-based learning, forest school ethos and expanding boundaries to foster student responsibility and stewardship through regular connections with nature! Lesley is co-chair, along with the LRSD Associate Superintendent, of the Professional Development Council in Livingstone Range School Division and attends the provincial ATA PD leadership workshops as the representative of Livingstone Range local ATA.  She is often raving about a program or session that she learned about through ACEE! She currently serves as Chair of the Crowsnest Pass Community Swimming Pool Board and previously served on the Friends of the Frank Slide Interpretive Center Board.