Kerry Kennedy

Coastal Education Technician

Lake Huron Coastal Centre

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Kerry combines her background in education with her passion for the environment to support the delivery of the Coastal Conservation Youth Corps program.  She earned a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and a graduate certificate in Ecosystem Restoration at Niagara College.  Kerry lives in Niagara where she works with the District of Niagara Outdoor Education Centres and the Niagara Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada, and volunteers as president of the Niagara Falls Nature Club.  Spending as much time as she can on the shores of Lake Huron, Kerry is passionate about dune restoration and invasive species management. She also rarely passes up an opportunity to pick up stray plastics from the beach. In addition to these pastimes, she enjoys rowing and cross-country skiing. 

Alyssa Bourassa

Coastal Stewardship Technician 

Lake Huron Coastal Centre

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As Coastal Stewardship Technician with the Lake Huron Coastal Centre, Alyssa coordinates the Coast Watchers Community Science program, Microplastic Awareness Project, and beach cleanups.  Alyssa earned her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability from Dalhousie University. It was her passion for water and the environment that brought her to Nova Scotia where she spent time enjoying and learning about the Atlantic coastal environment. There, she was an intern at World Wildlife Fund and worked with Halifax-based environmental organizations on multiple school projects. While Alyssa was in high school, she completed a co-op at the Lake Huron Coastal Centre and she is excited to be back working in her hometown of Goderich on beautiful Lake Huron.

Samantha Nellis

Water Program Director

Huron Pines

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Samantha Nellis is the Water Program Director at Huron Pines, a conservation non-profit working to conserve and enhance Northern Michigan’s natural resources to ensure healthy water, protected places and vibrant communities. Samantha also serves as the Michigan Project Team lead for the Lake Huron Forever initiative where she works with Michigan coastal communities to develop programs that reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality.

Patrick Donnelly

Coastal Science & Stewardship Advisor

Lake Huron Coastal Centre

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As the co-founder of the Lake Huron Coastal Centre, Pat has worked in water management and coastal zone stewardship for over 35 years. This has included experience in provincial, municipal, conservation authority and private consulting as well as working in both riverine and Great Lakes ecosystems. He currently serves as the Manager, Watersheds and Climate Change for the City of London. His experience as a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and a Registered Professional Planner with a Masters of Science Degree provides a wide range of tools and knowledge to the benefit of the shoreline projects and community initiatives. His skill in communicating complex issues and principles to a wide audience including cottagers, urbanites, government officials, council members and interest groups has successfully steered many projects. He has a keen interest in climate change adaptation and assisting municipalities through the transition that is required.

Mark Mattson

Founder and President

Lake Ontario Waterkeeper / Swim Drink Fish

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Mark is one of Canada’s most seasoned environmental lawyers and the founder of several water charities, including Swim Drink Fish. In addition to being Swim Drink Fish’s President, he is the Waterkeeper for Lake Ontario, a water quality advisor to the International Joint Commission, a board member for the US-based Waterkeeper Alliance, and a member of Ontario’s Great Lakes Guardians Council. Mark’s watermark is the St. Lawrence River.

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Dr. Mary-Louise Byrne

Professor, PGeo, Geography and Environmental Studies; Chair Geography and Environmental Studies

Wilfrid Laurier University

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Dr. Mary-Louise Byrne is a coastal geomorphologist researching Great Lakes beaches and dunes for over 30 years. She is a Professor in Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University and a Professional Geoscientist.  Focusing on applications for coastal management in parks, her research concentrates on beach and dune interactions and restoration of impacted coastal environments.  Most of her current research is in the Great Lakes in both Ontario Parks (Pinery Provincial Park) and Parks Canada (Point Pelee) locations.  Dr. Byrne has a wide range of experience in administrative service to the University and to the external community.  In addition to her Board and Senate experience on campus, she was Financial Director for Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences from 2011 to April of 2016 and Treasurer for the Canadian Association of Geographers from 2005 to 2011.  In those positions she was responsible for the development and reconciliation of budgets for each of these national associations. 

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Kiersten McCutcheon

Coastal Data Scientist

Niagara Coastal

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Kiersten is the project coordinator for Niagara Coastal's Visual Assessment Survey Tool (VAST). Her role primarily focusses on developing data collection and analytical tools and engaging community members across the Great Lakes in the VAST initiative.

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Becky Adams

Environmental Research Assistant

B.M. Ross and Associates Limited

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In 2018, Becky Adams graduated from the University of Guelph with a major in Marine and Freshwater Biology. Since then, she has worked for multiple companies monitoring aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. Currently, she works at B.M. Ross and Associates Limited as an Environmental Research Assistant. She completes natural heritage background reviews, aquatic habitat assessments and completes fish and mussel salvages at construction sites.

Emily Febrey

Stewardship Communications Technician

St. Clair Region Conservation Authority

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As Stewardship Communications Technician for St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, Emily works to effect change in landowner stewardship and land use in target watersheds by increasing awareness and landowner engagement of the importance of water quality, habitat, and soil conservation through public events and various media to reach landowners where they are at.

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Pat Prodanovic

Coastal Engineer

TRUE Consulting

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Pat is a coastal engineer with 16 years of consulting engineering experience along the Great Lakes. He has been involved in various coastal and riverine studies, ranging from small (single individual assessments) to medium (large commercial and residential developments) and very large (multi-year, complex, federal-level) assignments. Additionally, Pat has expertise in performing various numerical modeling studies, utilizing state-of-the-art numerical solvers to support coastal projects.

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Kristina Lee

Director

Ontario Friends of St. Clair River

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Kris Lee is the Canadian Co-chair for the St. Clair River Area of Concern BPAC, community co-chair of the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project and serves as a director on the Ontario Friends of St. Clair River. She is passionate about environmental impacts on human health and biodiversity of the Great Lakes watershed.

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Pete Zuzek, P.Geo.

Zuzek Inc.

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Pete received his Bachelor and Master of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, specializing in coastal geomorphology and geology.  He is a Certified Floodplain Manager and a Professional Geoscientist.  Pete has 30 years of consulting experience managing multi-disciplinary investigations across the Great Lakes and world’s coastal regions.

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Katrina Krievins

Aquatic Conservation Programs Manager

Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere

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Katrina is the Aquatic Conservation Programs Manager with the Georgian Bay Biosphere and has been with the organization since 2016. In her time with GBB, she has played a key role with the State of the Bay program, gathering research about water, wetlands, fisheries, and habitats in this unique landscape, and sharing it with people who care about Georgian Bay.

Abigail Ertel

Community Program Director

Huron Pines

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Born and raised in New Brunswick, Canada, Abby joined Huron Pines in 2010 and currently leads all aspects of their community programming. She joined the Huron Pines staff as Watershed Project Manager and eventually led the Kirtland’s Warbler Initiative. Abby graduated from Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick then earned her Master of Arts in Geography and Certificate in Conservation Biology from Ohio University. Abby resides in Grayling with her husband and two daughters.

Anna Soleski

Environmental Planner / Regulations Officer

Maitland Valley Conservation Authority

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Gregory Ford

Swim Drink Fish

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Jennifer Stephens

General Manager / Secretary - Treasurer 

Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority

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Frank Burrows

Manager, Parks

Town of Saugeen Shores

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Daniel King

Regulations Coordinator and Provincial Offences Officer

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority

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Esme Batten

Nature Conservancy of Canada

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