Justice Delmar Perras, (ret.) Chair

Justice Perras received his law degree from the University of Saskatchewan. He worked in Saskatchewan in private practice and as a Crown Prosecutor. He was Director of Public Prosecutions in Saskatchewan from 1976 to 1983. Justice Perras jointed the Alberta Public Service in 1983 as Assistant Deputy Minister (Criminal) with the Alberta Attorney General. From 1984 to 1989, he was Deputy Attorney General of Alberta. Justice Perras was then appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench in Alberta, a position he held until 2006. He has been recognized by the provincial and federal governments for his exemplary contributions to his community, province, and country. Justice Perras is the recipient of the Alberta Centennial Medal and the Golden Jubilee Medal.

Alan J. Kennedy Board Member

Alan Kennedy has a B.Sc. from the University of Alberta in Zoology specializing in wildlife ecology, a M.Sc. in land reclamation concentrating in soil science and plant productivity and a Ph.D. in environmental science focusing on environmental assessment and land remediation.  Dr. Kennedy started his career with the Canadian Wildlife Service in 1978 and then joined Imperial Oil as an Environmental Scientist specializing in land reclamation.  He has worked for Imperial Oil in various capacities.

Jim Barlishen Board Member

Jim Barlishen is an economist with a natural resources management and civil engineering background. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering and a Masters of Science in Natural Resources Management. Mr. Barlishen served Alberta Environment for several years as a senior economist in the Water Resources Management area. He also served Alberta Transportation as a Director in the Environmental Section of Civil Projects. Prior to coming to the Alberta Government, Mr. Barlishen worked for the department of Economic Development in the Northwest Territories. More recently he has worked as a consultant on the evaluation of water storage alternatives in the Milk River Basin in affiliation with two consulting firms.
 
 

Alex G. MacWilliam Board Member

Alex MacWilliam is a lawyer and partner with the law firm of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP and has practiced environmental law for the past 20 years. He has appeared before a wide variety of administrative tribunals, including the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board and the Natural Resources Conservation Board. He has extensive experience in dealing with environmental approvals, 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 and 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..
 
 

Dan Johnson Board Member

Dan Johnson is currently a Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Lethbridge, and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) for Sustainable Grassland Ecosystems. He holds a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Saskatchewan, a M.Sc. in soil ecology and a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of British Columbia (Institute of Resource Ecology). Dr. Johnson's current research is based on the ecology and sustainable use of grassland ecosystems. His area of specific expertise is in environmentally sustainable agriculture and land management, reduction of toxins as chemical pesticides, and coexistence of wildlife, wildlands and development, and methods of forecasting and analysis of environmental and experimental data. Dr. Johnson has conducted environmental and agricultural research in Alberta for over 25 years, and also in Africa, Southeast Asia and China. Before taking his current academic position, Dr. Johnson worked as a senior research scientist for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
 
 

Eric McAvity Board Member

Eric McAvity is a lawyer and has practiced law in Alberta since 1973, mainly in civil and commercial litigation. His practice has focused on mediation as a primary practice area since January 2006. In 1996, Mr. McAvity was appointed Queen's Counsel. He has appeared at all levels of the Court of Alberta and before numerous administrative tribunals including the Natural Resources Conservation Board in the Three Sister's Resort Wind Valley application and the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board. Mr. McAvity 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 also served as Chair of the Canmore Municipal Planning Commission, an adjudicative body. 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 is currently active as 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. As well, he is a member of the Bow Corridor Ethics Committee working with health care professionals and community volunteers to respond to ethical issues arising in the local health region.
 
 

A.J. Fox Board Member

A.J. Fox is a lawyer and partner in the firm of Fox Wakefield, 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.
 
 

Gordon Thompson Board Member

Gordon Thompson holds a B.Sc. (Honors), and graduate training in Environmental Engineering from the University of Alberta. He is a member of the Alberta Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists (APEGGA) and is a member and Past Chairman of the Western Canada Water Environment Association. For over a decade, Mr. Thompson served as General Manager of the Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission where he managed all the technical, financial, and administrative activities of the regional wastewater transmission and treatment system serving 200,000 people. He has also worked for the City of Edmonton as a Drainage Network Superintendent where he directed the operation and maintenance of Edmonton's sanitary, combined, and storm sewer systems, and as Chief Sanitation Engineer where he was responsible for the planning, design, budgeting, and construction of capital projects for wastewater treatment and solid waste management. Mr. Thompson is currently Technical Coordinator with the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance where he provides technical support for the development of an integrated watershed management plan.
 
 

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 Alberta Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists (APEGGA), 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.
 
 

David Evans Board Member

David Evans is a Geochemist, and is currently a senior partner with a 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 a trained mediator and practices dispute resolution for environmental and resource development. He is a member of the Alberta Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists (APEGGA) and the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society. With APEGGA, Dr. Evans sits on and chairs tribunals on behalf of the Discipline Committee.
 
 

Christine Macken Board Member

Christine Macken is a consultant providing project management and mediation services to clients including the Alberta Water Council, Clean Air Strategic Alliance, Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, and Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Ms. Macken previously worked as a senior advisor with the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board and as a senior manager with the Alberta Clean Air Strategic Alliance. She is a member of and instructor for the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society.
 
 

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.

Debra Makaryshyn Administrative Assistant

Debra Makaryshyn is an Administrative Assistant with the Board.  Debra provides administrative support to the Board’s Registrar of Appeals.  She has experience in the criminal justice area of the Alberta Government and is a graduate of the Legal Assistant Program at the Red Deer College.
 
 

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.
 
 

Theresa Ulvestad Receptionist

Theresa Ulvestad is the Board's receptionist. Ms. Ulvestad has a wide variety of office experience from the private sector. Theresa is responsible for general office support.