Board of Directors

Carolinian Canada Coalition is a federally incorporated charity. The Board includes 9-18 Directors with a balance of Individual and Group membership classes representing diverse interests and sectors. Directors may be elected by members or appointed by the Board until the next Annual General Meeting.

Elections are held at the Annual General Meeting. Written and seconded nominations from members in good standing should be forwarded to admin@carolinian.org 30 days prior to Annual Meeting.

Updated January 2023

Carolinian Canada Coalition Board of Directors

Board Groups

Nature Conservancy of Canada Ontario Parks Forests Ontario Ontario Invasive Plant Council Conservation Ontario Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association

Officers

Chair – Dawn Bazely
Vice-Chair – Mari Veliz
Treasurer – Chris Turner

Directors

	Dawn Bazely Dawn Bazely is a Professor in the Department of Biology, in the Faculty of Science and has served as the Director at York’s Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability since 2006. She will be stepping down in June 2014 after 4 terms totaling 7 years. Professor Bazely studies plant-animal interactions, from temperate to arctic regions, along with associated research areas, including invasive species, climate change impacts, forest dynamics, and fungal endophytes of grasses. She has done fieldwork in Scotland, England, Scandinavia, Newfoundland, on Hudson Bay, and throughout Ontario. Her publications number over 80 journal articles, chapters, and books and according to Google Scholar, her work has been cited more than 1660 times. Dawn has taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses in plant ecology, biological science, population biology, ecology and evolution, and ecosystem health. Her background is as varied as her interests: B.Sc. in Biogeography and Environmental Studies, M.Sc. in Botany and Ph.D. in Zoology. Her research on the effects of deer grazing and browsing in Carolinian forests in southern Ontario has engaged with students, landowners, government and NGOs including Ontario Parks, Parks Canada, Conservation Authorities, Carolinian Canada and First Nations communities. Her book with UBC Professor Emerita, Judith Myers: Ecology and Control of Introduced Plants: Evaluating and responding to invasive plants (2003) was recognized by the American Library Association as a Notable Title.
	Mari Veliz Mari Veliz is the Healthy Watershed Supervisor at the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), where she has worked since 2000. The ABCA is a watershed management agency with a 2400 km2 area of jurisdiction along the south-east shore of Lake Huron. Ms. Veliz has supervised the water quality and bio-monitoring program since 2002. She also develops and implements community-based watershed plans. Currently, she is working with local, provincial and federal partners to evaluate agricultural best management practices. Ms. Veliz has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo and a Masters of Science from the University of Alberta.
	Chris Turner Chris Turner is an experienced financial leader with a broad range of skills and abilities. He has functioned at the CFO level in the Healthcare sector prior to his appointment as the Director of Finance and Administration at the Wilfrid Laurier University Students' Union. His accomplishments vary from improving organizational financial stability to leading organizational change initiatives. Chris's education includes a CMA designation, an MBA from McMaster University, and an Honours degree in Biology from the University of Waterloo. Chris lives in Baden Ontario.
	Andrea Klymko, Restoration Programs Manager Andrea has over 18 years of experience in collaboratively managing and delivering regional and province-wide stewardship outreach and conservation programming in both non-profit and government capacities. Andrea was with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority as Program Manager for the Shoreline Naturalization Program and with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry as Partnership Specialist, Program and Partnership Specialist and Administrator of the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program.
	Chris Hummel Chris is an environmental lawyer at the law firm, Gowling WLG LLP. He represents municipalities, businesses, Indigenous and community organizations on a wide range of matters in the areas of environmental, land-use planning, energy, Indigenous and northern law. Chris graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science (B Sc) in Biology and Anthropology and a Bachelor of Education (B Ed). He taught high school in Toronto and Cambridge Bay, Nunavut before attending Osgoode Hall Law School and graduating with a joint degree in law (JD) and Environmental Studies (MES). As a law student, he worked at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association in Iqaluit, Nunavut. He is learning French and Inuktitut.
	Brandon Doxtator Brandon Doxtator is a bear clan member from the Oneida Nation of the Thames. Brandon currently sits on the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians (AIAI) Youth Council, as well as working for the Oneida Nation as the Environment and Consultation Coordinator. In 2016, Brandon served a two year term as an Elected Councillor for the Oneida Nation of the Thames, and ever since has been passionate about working with youth, and protecting and enhancing critical habitat within Southwestern Ontario. Through his school, professional and life experiences, Brandon is always interested in talking about Anthropology, History, Indigenous issues, Treaty and Inherent rights and Consultation practices and protocols.
	Kristen Bernard Kristen graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2006, Environment and Resources Studies and from Niagara College’s Ecosystem Restoration program in 2007. Kristen started her career in southern Saskatchewan working for Parks Canada in Grasslands National Park as a species at risk technician and later on as the Project Coordinator for the Frenchman Wood River Weed Management Area and Education Coordinator for the Prairie Conservation Action Plan. Kristen moved back to Ontario in 2009 to join the Norfolk Alternative Land Use Service project where she worked with farmers and private landowners to implement on farm stewardship projects in Norfolk County. Kristen began working for NCC May 2011 as an Administrative Officer, Executive Assistant and Relationship Manager and began her current role with NCC as a Program Manager for Southwestern Ontario in 2014.
	Dr. Michael John Michael John retired in May 2018 from his positions as Division Head, Medical Microbiology at London Health Sciences Centre and Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University. Michael has worked as a Health professional on numerous local, Provincial and Federal Committees. Growing up in South Africa, Michael developed a love of nature. He has been a member of the Dorchester Millpond Committee since 1997 and has worked on habitat restoration, tree planting and turtle rescue for many years, learning from partnerships with UTRCA and Carolinian Canada members. He is also a member of The Nature Conservancy, Thames Talbot Land trust and World Wildlife Fund. Michael's interests include: Nature Macro-Photography, Hiking, Kayaking, bird-watching, adventure travel with his wife and retirement time with his 2-year old granddaughter.