Carole Stark, BA, M.Ed. — Executive Director

Carole Stark is an experienced executive director and project manager with a focus on community, land use planning, and natural resource management. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation Administration from the University of Alberta in 1982 and a Master of Education in Adult, Community and Higher Education from the University of Calgary in 2000. After her first degree, Carole worked for six years as a Wilderness Program Director and Outdoor Education Centre Director with the Alberta Forest Service and then for five years as a Program Coordinator for the Resource and Environment Management and Aboriginal Relations Programs at the Banff Centre for Management. In 1995, she became a consultant in adult, community and environmental education, working on project design and implementation with a variety of government agencies and non-profit community, conservation, and international development organizations. Since 2003, Carole has been the Executive Director of the Chinook Institute for Community Stewardship in Canmore, which she developed from its inception as a Canadian program of the U.S.-based Sonoran Institute to an Alberta society and charitable organization. The Institute helps rural communities plan for and manage change in ways that protect the natural landscape and encourages responsible use and stewardship. As a result of her work, Carole has extensive experience with non-profit leadership, fund development, and managing projects and project teams. She has written publications and reports and is a very experienced facilitator and public speaker. Carole's current voluntary activities include being President for the Canadian Mountain Arts Foundation and a representative on the Canmore Trails Advisory Group.

Joe Obad — Associate Director

Joe Obad has extensive experience in both communications and land use issues in Alberta. As former Conservation director with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, he has consulted extensively with stakeholders across southeastern Alberta on land-use issues. He has 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. His policy briefs have significantly altered the practices of both industry and government. As a participant in the Land-Use Framework's Measuring and Evaluation Work Group, Joe brings a track record of connecting land-use science and policy to the LUF process. Joe has bachelors degrees in English and Education.

William Fraser Donahue, B.Sc., PhD, LLB — Special Advisor on Water Policy

Dr. Bill Donahue is an environmental scientist, ecologist, and lawyer. His undergraduate degree was in physics and biology, and in 1990 he obtained a B.Sc. Specialization Certificate in zoology. After a few years as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces (Medical Associate Officer), he returned to the University of Alberta and worked under Dr. David Schindler, Killam Memorial Professor of Ecology, obtaining his doctorate in environmental biology and ecology in 2000. Bill's first post-doctoral work was to help establish a research program on the dynamics of mercury in freshwaters and landscapes at the University of Alberta. He became a consultant in 2002, focusing on environmental and ecological studies. Bill has written or contributed to more than 20 scientific reports and papers, one of the best known being a paper he co-authored with Dr. David Schindler entitled "An Impending Water Crisis in Canada's Western Prairie Provinces," which appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science in 2006. This paper reflects Bill's personal research interest in climate and human-induced changes in water supply in the western Canadian provinces. In 2008, Bill obtained a law degree at the University of Alberta and was called to the Alberta Bar in September 2009. In addition to consulting, Bill has frequently given his time to non-profit organizations, providing data analysis, reviews, or presentations for community and environmental groups on water supply or point-source contamination problems. He has also provided data analysis and interpretation to experts for presentation at public hearings, public talks, and professional meetings.

Julia Ko — Water Policy and Program Coordinator

A Masters of Environment and Resource Studies graduate from the University of Waterloo, Julia's research has focused on international development, land allocation, public participation, and integrated water resource management. Julia worked with the International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage in Beijing as well as with the University of Siegen for a European Commission funded project in Lao People's Democratic Republic and looks forward to bringing her expertise home to Canada. Julia will be addressing issues related to Alberta's water allocation system, Water for Life strategy, and Land-Use Framework. She looks forwards to the challenges ahead and to collaborating with water users of all shapes and sizes to find decisions that will be sustainable.

Carlos R. Garcia — Operations and Program Manager

Carlos is responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day operations of the organization (i.e. institutional / financial management, board and donor relations) operates in a smooth and seamless manner. He also implements priority programs such as our Alberta by Design land use initiative. Most recently, he served as Program Manger for UTSB Research directing the implementation of programs dedicated to the protection of Canadian national parks. His professional experience includes working for organizations such as: The United Nations University for Peace, The Ontario Social Development Council, The SmartWood Program of the Rainforest Alliance and the First Nation Community of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg (Quebec) - on various professional assignments ranging from being an instructor / visiting professor to serving as a principal researcher and assistant director. Carlos holds a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from York University and a master's degree in forest conservation from the University of Toronto.

Liz Courtney, CMA — Accountant

Liz has extensive experience in non-profit accounting, having previously provided her services to Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Southern Alberta Chapter and Volunteer Calgary. Liz volunteers regularly with Scouts Canada. As a participant in CPAWS’ volunteer leader program, Liz helped lead the Tag-a-Tree program in Kananaskis promoting a protected area around Moose Mountain.

Dave Kalbfleisch — Web Architect

Dave maintains Water Matters' online presence via the Water Matters web site and email communications. Dave provides web services to many organizations in the not-for-profit sector. He holds a Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo.