Where Agriculture and Nature Meet

Bryan Gilvesy, our C.E.O, was the third participant to join the ALUS program and has been raising grass-fed beef with ALUS’ support since 2006. Bryan is a champion for progressive, sustainable farming and ranching, having embraced these methods on his own farm, Y U Ranch. The Y U Ranch has received numerous awards for its contributions to the environment and sustainability, including: (2016) Beef Farmers of Ontario, Environmental Stewardship Award; (2013) Premier’s Leadership Award for Agricultural Innovation; and (2009) International Texas Longhorn Breeder of the Year. Bryan holds a degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University, where he is Executive in Residence for Agriculture and Sustainability. Bryan is based in Tillsonburg, Ontario.

As our Vice-President, Finance and Operations, Lynn Bishop ensures that ALUS runs smoothly all over the country. Lynn has been working in the non-profit sector for over 20 years, notably as the General Manager of ALUS Ontario, a founder and senior staff member at Everdale (Environmental Learning Centre and Organic Farm), the Co-op Coordinator at the West End Food Co-op, as well as a member of the Environmental Advisory Committee of Erin, the Everpure Biodiesel Co-op and the Climate Change Action Group of Erin. She was the winner of the Credit Valley Conservation Award of Excellence in 2010. Lynn holds a Certificate in Co-operative Management from the Schulich School of Business. Lynn is based in Toronto, Ontario.

As Head of Special Projects and Innovation, Mary-Ellen Anderson looks for intersections where technology services and solutions can help ALUS reach its objectives. She aims to help ALUS build unique partnerships with individuals and corporations to develop new strategies that deliver innovative outcomes. A former technology executive, Mary-Ellen served as a Vice President at Microsoft Canada for close to 13 years. Prior to working in technology, Mary-Ellen spent close to two decades working for Canadian public and private broadcasters and began her career as a forester after graduating from Lakehead University with an Honours B.Sc. in Forestry. Passionate about sharing her breadth of experiences and knowledge, she now helps a range of organizations, including ALUS, break new ground in technology and innovation. Mary-Ellen is based in Toronto, Ontario.

Our Western Lead and Budget Director, Rhonda King, works on several ALUS projects, including Alberta Wetland Mitigation and developing the New Acre™ Project in Alberta. Prior to joining ALUS, Rhonda was the Chief Administrative Officer for the County of Vermilion River, where she worked closely with County staff and Alberta Environment to pilot the first Wetland Restoration Agency in rural Alberta and to integrate ALUS Canada into municipal programming. She is a graduate of Business Management from Lakeland College and holds certificates in Local Authority Administration and Local Government Management. Rhonda was raised on a mixed farm in Northern Alberta and is now based in Kiscoty, Alberta.

Nadine is responsible of the development and implementation of our multiplatform strategy for internal and external communications for ALUS and New Acre Project. A digital and communications professional for more than twenty years, Nadine has been at the forefront of the digital transformation of the media industry and of the way we work and communicate. Nadine has held various leadership positions in media as well as at Microsoft and Cirque du Soleil. Before joining ALUS, as a consultant, she has assisted various enterprises and not-for-profit organizations with their internal and external communications and project management needs. Throughout her career, she has been guided by her desire to engage in meaningful work and to create collaborative and inclusive work environments. Nadine is based in Montreal, Quebec.

Casey works to support the administration and management of funding and grant opportunities for ALUS. Casey’s expertise also helps identify funding opportunities at both the national and community level and ensure clear communication between ALUS and our funders. Casey started with ALUS in 2015 as a Program Coordinator and held the position of Eastern Hub Manager prior to moving into her current role. She has a degree in Conservation Biology from The University of Western Ontario, and a Certificate in Ecosystem Restoration from Niagara College. Casey is based in Simcoe, Ontario.

Christine liaises with our community coordinators and serves as a management resource for local ALUS projects throughout Alberta. Christine has extensive reclamation and project-management experience with collaborative research groups working in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region. She has also worked extensively with non-profits, chairing boards for animal rescue and many local events and initiatives. Christine obtained her B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Calgary, where she focused on wildlife conservation and genetics, and holds a Diploma in Animal Sciences. An entrepreneur with her own consulting agency, Christine continues to act as wildlife and biodiversity expert and advocate for First Nations stakeholders in Northern Alberta. Christine is based in Calgary, Alberta.

Paige liaises with our community coordinators and serves as a management resource for local ALUS projects throughout Saskatchewan and Manitoba. She has been involved with ALUS since 2012 when she came on board as the Program Coordinator for the first ALUS pilot program launched in Saskatchewan, and has also worked with a number of not-for-profit watershed organizations. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) from the University of Saskatchewan with a minor in Soil Science. Paige is based in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Jennifer liaises with our community coordinators and serves as a management resource for local ALUS projects throughout Eastern Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Jennifer has experience in the municipal and private sectors. Her experience has primarily been in the environmental field, where she focused on urban forestry and contaminated soils and groundwater. She also has experience in the construction industry. Jennifer obtained her B.Sc. in Environmental Sciences at Concordia University in Montreal. Jennifer is located in Montérégie, Quebec. 

Karen supports ALUS Coordinators in Alberta as well as Hub Managers from across Canada, and is also acting as program coordinator for ALUS Lacombe, Flagstaff and Vulcan. Karen is from Central Alberta and has spent her career in the Alberta agriculture sector. She has specific experience in the non-profit area particularly with the development of the organic grain sector where she applied her skills in program delivery and fund development. Karen also offers a background in agricultural lending and admits to enjoying budgets and ag finance. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSc) with a specialty in Agricultural Economics. Karen is based in Clive, Alberta.

Kirsten works to support ALUS’ community reporting and program evaluation efforts. She has experience working in rural stewardship across sectors, from academia to industry, focusing on agriculture and water quality in the Great lakes region. Previously, Kirsten also worked in the ag space as a Crop Specialist at AGRIS Co-operative. She brings project management, reporting and knowledge mobilization experience to ALUS from her time coordinating the Lake Futures project at the University of Waterloo. Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science from the University of Guelph, and a Master of Science in Geography from the University of Waterloo. Kirsten is based in Sarnia, Ontario.

Koral holds a deep commitment to community-led conservation. Her experiences in this field across Ontario and before that in Scotland, Cambodia and Zimbabwe, are what drew her to ALUS. As the Partnerships Manager with ALUS, Koral will work to build effective networks to support the ALUS mission of building place-based projects to serve communities and the environment. Koral’s understanding of the connection between respectful community interaction and transformative approaches to environmental conservation previously led her to join the board of directors of the Global Institute of Forest Therapy (GIFT) and to become certified as a Regenerative Practitioner. Koral is based in Hamilton, Ontario.

Calantha funnels her passion for words and the wild outdoors into crafting creative content and behaviour change marketing strategy to inspire on-the-ground action for environmental resilience and social good. Prior to joining ALUS, she worked for an Ontario conservation authority developing and delivering private land stewardship marketing and outreach strategies. She’s also owned her own artisan bakery and has been involved in supporting and promoting local culinary and agri-tourism initiatives. When not deep in the words, you’ll find her deep in the woods running trails. Calantha is currently based in Wellington County, Ontario. 

An avid environmentalist, Firas holds the conservation of nature as a driving moral force. His studies have taken him across Canada, and as far as the Ecuadorean Rainforest, where he witnessed firsthand the value of community-driven conservation in at-risk areas. As Program Manager for New Acre Project,  he aims to build meaningful connections with organizations looking to impart some good on the planet. He enjoys being outdoors in any capacity including camping, cycling, and swimming.  Khalifeh is base in Toronto, Ontario.

Emma is an Environmental Anthropologist who studied wetland landscapes. Fieldwork for her master’s thesis took place in the marshes of Norfolk County, Ontario. Emma believes in the power of collaboration and community action. She has experience working in wildlife research and outreach. When not biking or reading, Emma can be found outdoors exploring the infinite wonders of the natural world. In her role with ALUS, Emma wants to promote the work of  communities and farmers. Emma is currently based in Montreal, Quebec.

Rebecca liaises with community coordinators and serves as a management resource for local ALUS projects in Ontario. Rebecca has experience in the agricultural and environmental non-profit sectors, most recently in the development and implementation of grasslands restoration programming at the provincial level. She obtained a B.Sc. in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems from Trent University. Outside of her work with ALUS, Rebecca can be found wandering the trails of Norfolk County with her family, introducing her toddler to the beauty of living in the Carolinian life zone.  Rebecca is based in Port Rowan, Ontario.