Board Members
Emily Kolodychuk
After completing her environmental science degree through the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta, Emily joined Strathcona County as an environmental analyst. Some of her projects include managing the Conservation Easement and Environmental Management Programs. She is currently working towards her Professional Biologist designation. Before working municipally, she delved into the conservation sector, working with ACA, DUC and NCC. She is looking forward to getting more involved with EALT. She is passionate about conservation work and is excited to join EALT Board with her municipal perspective to help protect the incredible diversity of landscapes for future generations. In her spare time, Emily enjoys putzing around in her garden and exploring her neighbourhood’s natural areas with her dog Lupin.
Rebecca Goodenough, Vice President
Rebecca Goodenough is a Registered Professional Planner who specializes in the field of heritage conservation planning. She has worked in the private sector and for local and provincial governments. She currently manages the Historic Places Research and Designation Program with Alberta Culture. Rebecca has degrees in Political Science from the University of Alberta and Rural and Northern Community Planning from the University of Northern BC, as well as a Professional Specialization Certificate in Heritage Conservation Planning from the University of Victoria. Rebecca is a keen advocate for the efficient use of land and for diverse, equitable and ecologically resilient communities.
Laurie Scott, Treasurer
Laurie has been working in the real estate and finance sectors in Edmonton for many years. He is a Business graduate from the U of A majoring in finance and economics. He has worked in Edmonton region as a developer for the last twenty years, and prior to that was with Canada Mortgage and Housing, working in Real Estate, Social Housing and Market Analysis.
Currently, Laurie is working with the Katz Group working on projects in the downtown core. He has been active in the development industry through memberships in the Urban Development Institute, the Canadian Home Builders, and BILD Alberta. He is also on the board of the Edmonton Community Development Corporation working on non-profit housing, the Edmonton Real Estate Advisory Committee, and the Edmonton Area Land Trust. He is married and has two sons.
Rudy Zacharias, Secretary
Rudy Zacharias is a communications professional with an established background in strategic planning; public relations and marketing; stakeholder and government relations; advocacy; and policy development. A graduate of Red River College’s Creative Communications program in Winnipeg, Rudy works extensively in both not-for-profit and public sectors. He is a trustee on the Spruce Grove Public Library Board and volunteers with Special Olympics, Hope Mission and various performing arts groups. With a lifelong passion for the environment, Rudy spends as much time as possible exploring the Great Outdoors. He believes everybody has a shared responsibility to steward our natural places for all generations.
Sandra Meidinger
Sandra is a senior biologist with over 19 years of experience in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem assessment, environmental impact assessment, impact mitigation planning, regulatory management, and environmental monitoring. She has significant experience collaborating with provincial and federal agencies, as well as with developers, private property owners, and municipal governments. Sandra manages a team of environmental professionals for a private consulting firm and is responsible for maintaining and developing client relationships, communicating on all aspects of project needs, and ensuring quality control of project deliverables and proposals. She is looking forward to applying her knowledge from private consulting and learning from other professionals on the EALT Board.
Hendrik Kruger
Hendrik practices law in Edmonton as member of a regulatory prosecutions unit. In his original home of South Africa, his barrister practice included environmental law, assisting pro-conservation interest groups. He has experience as a litigator in class action pro bono environmental disputes, assisting local communities in protecting their natural environment. Hendrik is an executive director on the board of the Edmonton Nature Club, and represents the ENC on the EALT board. His love of the outdoors and recognition of the need for balanced urban development enthuses and informs his commitment to embrace the complex challenges faced by the EALT.
Kristyn Mayner
Kristyn Mayner is a wetland ecologist and avid naturalist living and working in Edmonton, Alberta. She is passionate about raising awareness Edmonton's of natural areas, their biodiversity and the importance of wetland ecosystems in particular for contributing vital ecosystem services to our communities. She holds an MSc degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences and has applied this knowledge to various roles in environmental consulting, academia, regulatory oversight and non-profit organizations across Canada. Registered as a Professional Biologist, she currently works as a Science Communication Specialist in the Office of the Chief Scientist. She also volunteers with the Alberta Native Plant Council and the Stewards of Alberta's Protected Areas Society, aligning her knowledge and skills with like-minded organizations wherever she can.
Don Philippon
Donald (Don) J. Philippon PhD, FCCHL Don and his wife, Rose, are retired and live on an acreage in the Glory Hills area west of Edmonton. Dr. Philippon is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. He holds a B.A., B.Ed. M.A and a PhD and a Fellowship in health leadership Don served in several leadership roles in Saskatchewan and Alberta including Deputy Minister of Alberta Health, Vice-President in Capital Health for the University, Royal Alexandra and Glenrose Hospitals.. Don has a wide range of interests. He has strong interest in outdoor activities and the environment. . He and his wife, Rose have developed an off the grid cabin on an island on Lac La Ronge. He is also very interested in woodworking, building projects and the community skating rink he has developed.
Liza Piper
Liza Piper is a professor of history at the University of Alberta who specializes in Canadian environmental history. Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Liza enjoys spending time outdoors in any season. The author of two books, Liza’s research and teaching looks at histories of resource exploitation, environmental protection, and relationships between the environment and health in western and northern Canada. Liza is also enthusiastic about experiential and land-based learning. They have been involved in a land-based learning course in Teetł'it Zheh (Fort McPherson, NT), and have organized field courses in the Rocky Mountain national parks. Liza is active in the American Society for Environmental History and in interdisciplinary mountain studies, with a current research project on industrial activity in the Rocky Mountains and foothills.
Jorden Laskosky
Jorden is a soil scientist with nearly 15 years of experience. His background is heavily based pre-disturbance soil survey for oil sands operators, pipelines, and municipalities. Jorden is highly skilled in soil taxonomy, soil mapping, interpreting soils data, and land reclamation.In 2021, Jorden shifted his focus to the mine closure sphere. While related to land reclamation, mine closure is considers numerous disciplines and takes a holistic approach to land restoration. This experience has allowed him to grow his knowledge in several disciplines including geotechnical engineering, geochemistry, and water quality.Jorden has an insatiable thirst for knowledge, thrives in a collaborative environment, and is keen to conserve lands in the Edmonton Area. He hopes to create a land use mosaic that will serve central Alberta for years to come.
Tina Thomas
Tina Thomas is the Chief Executive Officer at the Edmonton Community Foundation – the fourth largest community foundation in Canada and the largest non-governmental funder in Edmonton, distributing over $30M into the community annually. Prior to ECF she spent over 13 years at Edmonton Public Library, where she was responsible for innovative new services and led an award-winning rebranding. Tina holds an executive MBA from Queen's University, a CPA-CMA accounting designation, a Master's in Library Information Science from the University of Alabama and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta. She was an Edify Magazine Top 40 Under 40, Library Journal Magazine Mover and Shaker and IABC Edmonton Communicator of the Year.
