Alex MacWilliam Chair

Mr. MacWilliam is a lawyer and partner with the law firm of Dentons Canada LLP (formerly Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP) and has practiced environmental law for the past 25 years. He leads the firm's Canadian Environment and Climate Change Practice Groups. He has appeared before a wide variety of administrative tribunals, including the Alberta Energy Regulator (and its predecessor the Energy Resources Conservation Board) and the Natural Resources Conservation Board. He has extensive experience in dealing with environmental approvals, climate change issues, resolution of contaminated land disputes, water issues, brownfield developments and intensive livestock operations. He is a member of the Canadian Centre for Environmental Arbitration and Mediation and the Environment Committee of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. He is a frequent presenter on environmental issues to various seminars and conferences in Canada and the United States. Mr. MacWilliam has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta and the Federal Court of Canada. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Calgary and an LL.B. from the University of British Columbia and was called to the Alberta Bar in 1986.
 
 

Brenda Ballachey Board Member

Dr. Ballachey's expertise is in wildlife biology, toxicology, genetics, and animal sciences. Dr. Ballachey received a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Animal Sciences from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. in Animal Breeding from Oregon State University. She did post-doctoral studies at South Dakota State University and then worked as a staff officer at the National Research Council in Washington, DC. Dr. Ballachey participated in projects on a variety of species throughout Alaska and the north Pacific. The major focus of her work for the past two decades has been on acute and chronic effects of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill on sea otters and near shore communities to identify and understand long-term population and ecosystem level effects of petroleum contaminants. She recently retired from the U.S. Geological Survey, but retained emeritus status and continues her involvement in several ongoing research projects in Alaska while continuing to manage the family ranch near Millarville, Alberta.

Meg Barker Board Member

Ms. Barker is a regulatory compliance professional and a professional geologist with extensive experience relating to energy regulation, resource development, environmental stewardship, and land use planning, having worked for over 25 years with independent quasi-judicial regulatory boards, administrative tribunals, and government agencies in the energy and resource industries across western Canada. Ms. Barker's career in the regulatory compliance field has included establishing and leading corporate-wide regulatory and compliance assurance departments at three large independent oil and gas companies. She has advised companies, within and outside the energy industry, on how to manage activities to meet the expectations of regulators and stakeholders and ensure compliance by developing a culture of accountability and integrity and supporting a culture of safety, environmental stewardship, and a regard for stakeholders. Ms. Barker has served as a member and Vice Chair of the City of Calgary's Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, is a rural landowner, acts as a community representative, and has been an active participant on a variety of City of Calgary land use planning and policy development issues. She holds a B.Sc. (Honours) in Geology from the University of Manitoba. Ms. Barker is currently the Manager of Compliance Assurance at Devon Canada.

David Evans Board Member

Dr. Evans is a Geochemist and is currently a retired senior partner with a project risk management consulting practice that specializes in oil sands, heavy oil, pipeline, mining, transportation and major infrastructure projects. He received his B.Sc. (Chemistry and Geology) from the University of British Columbia and his Ph.D. (Applied Geochemistry) from the Royal School of Mines, University of London. Dr. Evans was engaged in the mineral exploration and development industry, where he is credited with the discovery of major mineral deposits in Montana and British Columbia. He has worked extensively throughout the western United States and was involved in the development, re-development and environmental management design for gold mines in Nevada. Dr. Evans is an experienced mediator and practices dispute resolution for construction, environmental and resource development. He is a Life Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) and an Associate Member of the Dispute Resolution Institute of Alberta (ADRIA). With APEGA, Dr. Evans is presently Chair of the Discipline Committee and sits on and chairs tribunals on behalf of the Committee. In 2015, he received Fellowship Designation from Engineers Canada (FEC) Hon. and from Geoscience Canada (FGS).
 
 

A.J. Fox Board Member

Ms. Fox is a lawyer and partner in the firm of Fox, Wakefield and Scholter, a general practice firm in which she has emphasized estate, criminal and family law serving rural Alberta and Saskatchewan. Ms. Fox has extensive training in mediation and interest-based negotiation, completing numerous courses and programs. She brings these skills into her legal practice where she emphasizes alternative dispute resolution including mediation, interest-based negotiation and the collaborative model for dispute resolution. Ms. Fox has experience appearing before both administrative and judicial bodies in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Australia.
 
 

Eric McAvity Board Member

Mr. McAvity practiced law in Alberta from 1973 to 2012, focusing mainly on civil and commercial litigation. He was appointed Queen's Counsel 1996. Since January 2006, his practice focused primarily on mediation, and since 2012 his practice is limited to mediation work only. He has significant practical experience in many adjudicative settings and a strong knowledge of administrative law and the operation of administrative boards and tribunals. He has served as a director of the Legal Aid Society of Alberta, serving as both a Vice Chair and Chair, where he reported regularly to the Attorney General and Law Society of Alberta. In addition, Mr. McAvity has served as Chair of the Canmore Municipal Planning Commission, an adjudicative body, and was a member of the Board of Directors for the ADR Institute of Alberta (formerly the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society). He has contributed to the publication of a number of position papers dealing with Legal Aid and access to justice issues that have been accepted as policy by the Canadian Bar Association and has also served as a member of the Canadian Bar Association's National Council. Mr. McAvity has also acted on numerous community organizations and was a Director of the not for profit Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley Society, an organization devoted to enhancing environmental integrity in the Bow River Watershed. In addition, he was a member of the Bow Corridor Ethics Committee that works with health care professionals and community volunteers to respond to ethical issues arising in the local health region.
 
 

Susan McRory Board Member

Ms. McRory is a lawyer with McRory Law Office where she specializes in regulatory law. Prior to entering private practice, Ms. McRory was a provincial Crown Prosecutor for 31 years. For the last 20 years, she was the Chief Environmental Prosecutor responsible for all environmental prosecutions. Ms. McRory also worked with industry, government agencies, and public interest groups to develop the Creative Sentencing Project, which results in offenders being held accountable for their actions and improving practices on an industry wide basis. She provides lectures to the public, industry, academia, and legal colleagues on preventing environmental offences and how to deal with environmental legislation in the court system.
 
 

Anjum Mullick Board Member

Ms. Mullick is an environmental engineer whose area of focus has been in contaminated site assessment and remediation in the oil and gas industry. She has a M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Alberta and a B.A.Sc. in Civil Engineering for the University of Waterloo. Currently, she is the Director of Oil Sands Closure and Reclamation at Advisian/Worley Parsons and recently has been developing and managing oil sands mine reclamation and closure projects, specifically focused on tailings pond reclamation. She has been involved with the management and execution of Site Specific Environmental Liability Assessments for large upstream oil and gas operators and other industrial clients. She also led the development and implementation of a diversity program at her employer, focusing on the advancement of women within the firm. As a former member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta Environmental Committee, Ms. Mullick has worked with both industry stakeholders and government organizations to develop environmental policy and guidelines. Ms. Mullick was also a member of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers' Canadian Engineering Qualifications Board Environment and Sustainability Committee to develop a National Practice Guideline on Environmental Site Remediation.
 
 

Chris Powter Board Member

Mr. Powter is a biologist with 35 years of experience in environmental management. He previously spent 29 years with Alberta Environment in various capacities, including the development of regulatory policies and procedures and reclamation and remediation programs and legislation. Mr. Powter worked at the University of Alberta managing an oil sands environmental research program and currently operates an environmental consulting firm. He has a M.Sc. in Plant Ecology and a B.Sc. (Honours) in Ecology from the University of Guelph. Mr. Powter has experience as a regulatory decision-maker whose decisions have been appealed to the Board.
 
 

Nick Tywoniuk Board Member

Nick Tywoniuk is a Civil Engineer who currently operates his own consulting business that provides environmental, engineering, and mediation and arbitration services. He has a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering (General) from the University of Alberta, a M.Sc. in Civil Engineering (Water Resources) from the University of Saskatchewan and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Water Resources) from the University of Ottawa. He is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA), the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society, and ADR Institute of Canada. He has worked with Environment Canada and Public Works and Government Services Canada and recently has also worked internationally, in Eastern Europe and Pacific Rim countries. Dr. Tywoniuk is a chartered arbitrator and chartered mediator, and has participated in the mediation programs of the Alberta Civil Courts, the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, and Alberta Municipal Affairs.
 
 

Gilbert Van Nes General Counsel and Settlement Officer

Gilbert Van Nes serves as the Board's General Counsel and Settlement Officer.  Mr. Van Nes provides advice to the Board as well as coordinates the Board's alternative dispute resolution activities.  Mr. Van Nes has been a lawyer with the Government of Alberta since 1992. His employment history includes that of an Environmental Prosecutor with the Special Prosecutions Branch of Alberta Justice.  Mr. Van Nes' experience includes seven years with the Environmental Law Section of Alberta Justice serving his main clients in the Departments of Environment, Infrastructure, and Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.  While with the Environmental Law Section, Mr. Van Nes assisted in drafting legislation such as the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and the Water Act, developed enforcement programs, appeared before the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, and joint Natural Resources Conservation Board/Canadian Environmental Assessment Act panels.  Mr. Van Nes graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in April 1991 and was admitted to the Bar in July 1992. Mr. Van Nes also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a certificate in Conflict Management from the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society.

Marian Fluker Associate Counsel

Marian Fluker is the Associate Counsel with the Board.  Marian provides legal and scientific research for the Board.  In 1998, she completed her Masters of Science degree from the University of Alberta in Land Reclamation and Remediation.  In 2000, Marian completed her law degree at the University of Alberta and articled at the Environmental Appeals Board in Edmonton and at Martinson & Harder in Olds, Alberta.  She was called to the Alberta Bar in October 2001.

Denise Black Board Secretary

Denise Black is the Board Secretary.  Reporting to the Chairman and General Counsel, the Board Secretary is responsible for the overall operations of the Board.  Ms. Black has served the provincial government since 1981 commencing with the Solicitor General’s.  She has held various operational and corporate positions in Alberta Justice prior to joining the Environmental Appeals Board in 1996. 

Valerie Myrmo Registrar of Appeals

Valerie Myrmo is the Board's Registrar of Appeals. Valerie is responsible for the administration of the appeals that come before the Board, coordinating appeal proceedings, monitoring the flow of documentation, and providing information and assistance to participants and the Board throughout the appeal process. She has worked with the Government of Alberta since 1994, at Municipal Services, the Law Enforcement Review Board and Correctional Services, and has been with the Environmental Appeals Board since 1999.

Jennie Delaney Administrative Assistant

Jennie Delaney is an Administrative Assistant with the Board. Jennie carries out an array of functions in support of the Board related to the general administration of the Board and appeals that are filed with the Board. After studying Fine Arts at the University of Alberta and Art at the University of Calgary, she has been employed with the provincial government and in the private sector, performing a variety of administrative, financial and marketing functions.
 
 

Candice Mah Administrative Assistant

Candice Mah is an Administrative Assistant with the Board. Candice provides support to the Registrar of Appeals, the Board Secretary and the Board's General Counsel. Her primary responsibility is providing support for the processing of appeals. She has worked with the Government of Alberta since 2009 for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program and the Appeals Secretariat, and joined the Environmental Appeals Board in January 2015.