Athabasca University Governing Council Members - Biographies
 Barry
Walker
Frits Pannekoek
Jody
Hunt
Marilyn
Kane
Ron
Cherlet
Shawn Wasel
Brian
Curial
John Trefanenko
Jill Matthew
William Byrne
Jeffrey Mulligan
Donna Romyn
John
Ollerenshaw
Judi
Malone
Timothy
Nerenz
Karl Low
Sarah Kertcher
Carla Yeaman
Barry
Walker (Chair)
Mr. Barry Walker has been a member of Athabasca University Governing Council (AUGC) since August, 2004 and was appointed as Chair on December 9, 2009. As part of his AUGC duties, Mr. Walker chairs the Executive Committee and also serves as an ex officio member of all standing committees of AUGC. During his tenure as a public member on Governing Council, prior to his appointment as Chair, Mr. Walker served as Chair of the Finance and Audit Committees, and as a member of the Human Resources and Executive Committees of Governing Council.
Mr. Walker is a partner with Peterson Walker LLP and has provided over 40 years of audit, accounting and tax services to a variety of clients. He was admitted to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta (ICAA) in 1971, and was awarded the Fellow of the Chartered Accountants (FCA) in 2005.
Mr. Walker is a strong supporter of Athabasca University and its mission and mandate. As a past student of Athabasca University he has experienced firsthand the benefits of distance learning and has a clear understanding of the student experience.
Between the years of 1980 - 2005, Mr. Walker was also a part-time instructor at Grant MacEwan College in the Accounting, Insurance, Legal Assistant and Management Studies Programs.
Mr. Walker has a long record of involvement with community organizations including the Arthritis Association of Edmonton, Glengarry Child Care Society, Gyro Club of Edmonton, Grant MacEwan Faculty Association, Volunteer Centre of Edmonton, City of Edmonton's Children's Services, and also served as Chair of the Prostate Cancer Golf Tournament (a joint venture between the Gyro Club of Edmonton and the Canadian Cancer Society). Mr. Walker has also been a member of the municipal council of the Summer Village of Mewatha Beach since 1990.
 Dr.
Frits Pannekoek (President)
Dr. Frits Pannekoek became the sixth president of Athabasca University
on June 1, 2005. Dr. Pannekoek's interest in and commitment to Athabasca
University is reflected in 20 years as a tutor and course developer
here. His experience with distance education, blended learning and
the development of innovative learning environments are tremendous
benefits to the University as it completes its transformation to
the on-line environment.
An Albertan, Dr. Pannekoek earned his honours Bachelor of Arts in
1969 and Master of Arts (1970) at the University of Alberta before
completing his Ph.D. (1974) with a dissertation on western Canadian
history and Indigenous peoples at Queen's University.
Prior to joining Athabasca University in an executive capacity,
Dr. Pannekoek had been the Director of Information Resources at
the University of Calgary, with academic appointments in the Faculty
of Communications and Culture and the Department of History. As
Director of Information Resources, he had direct responsibility
for the university library and its five branch libraries, the university
archives, the university press and the Nickle Arts Museum. He has
also been the chair of The Alberta Library, which is a consortium
of more than 300 libraries and the Health Knowledge Network, which
is a health information collective.
Dr. Pannekoek has a substantial reputation as a Canadian historian
for the contributions he has made over the last 30 years with his
academic fields of western Canadian and Métis history, museum and
heritage studies, and information and communications studies. Dr.
Pannekoek's long-standing interest in Aboriginal communities is
reflected in his many publications as well as his participation
in initiatives such as the partnership that led to the interpretive
centre for Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, which is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, and the University of Calgary partnership with Red
Crow College.
Dr. Pannekoek is recognized nationally for his leadership in the
creation of digital resources and the transformation of academic
publishing. He has been involved in the development of the Information
Commons at the University of Calgary, an online resource that supports
the integration of innovative technologies into the learning and
teaching environment. He is also currently a member of the Alberta
SuperNet Research Alliance which is studying the impact of the SuperNet
in Alberta and is regularly called upon to serve as a provincial
and national policy advisor.
As an ex-officio member of Governing Council, Dr. Pannekoek serves
on the Executive, Finance, Governance, Human Resources, and Institutional
Advancement Standing Committees; he is also the Chair of the Honorary
Awards Committee.
 Jody
Hunt (Public Member)
Ms. Jody Hunt is a partner with The
Hunt Group where she provides consulting services on a variety of
human resource issues, in particular, employee training and development.
She has worked in the human resource field, in both the public and
private sectors, for over 28 years.
She has taught continuing education courses at The Northern Alberta
Institute of Technology and Grant MacEwan College. A resident of
St. Albert, Ms. Hunt is currently a member of the Alberta Student
Finance Board, a member of the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards
and an active member of Holy Family Catholic Parish.
She served as a trustee on the Greater St. Albert Catholic School
Board for nine years and was a member of the Teacher Certification
Appeal Committee for Alberta Learning. She has a Commerce degree
from the University of Alberta. In 2002, Ms. Hunt received the Queen's
Golden Jubilee Medal for service to the community.
A native Albertan, Ms. Hunt and her husband, Brian, have two adult
children.
Ms. Hunt is serving her second term on Athabasca University Governing
Council. She is also a member of the Honorary Awards and Human Resources
Standing Committees.
 Marilyn
Kane (Vice Chair)
Ms. Marilyn Kane is a senior associate with the Activation Analysis
Group. Throughout her career in management consulting she has focused
on governance, business planning, strategic planning, organizational
issues and cost-benefit analysis. Her consulting projects have led
to successful changes in board governance and policy development
as well as improvements in an organization's ability to communicate
with its internal and external stakeholders.
Ms. Kane is actively involved in her community of Edmonton, Alberta.
She has served as Chair of the Caritas Health Group and Vice-Chair
of the Capital Health Authority. Ms. Kane also continues to act
as a mentor in the University of Alberta's MBA program, of which
she is an alumnus.
Ms. Kane began serving her first term as a public member of Athabasca
University Governing Council in February 2005. She was appointed
Vice Chair on November 2006 where she is a member of the Audit,
Executive, Institutional Advancement and Human Resources Standing
Committees.
 Ron
Cherlet (Public Member)
Mr. Ron Cherlet has been employed by Construction Labour Relations
- Alberta as a labour relations and workplace training & development
specialist since 1990. For more than 30 years he has practiced human
resources management. His work in this area has evolved to providing
leadership for improving the effectiveness and job satisfaction
of people at work while achieving business objectives in a complex
and rapidly changing environment. With a background in construction,
manufacturing, mining and government sectors, Mr. Cherlet brings
a broad range of experience and knowledge to workplace human development
issues and cooperative labour relations practices.
Mr. Cherlet holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University
of North Dakota and a Masters of Business Administration degree
from the University of Alberta with program emphasis on adult learning
and organizational development. He a member of the Association of
Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta
(APEGGA) and is registered as a Certified Human Resources Professional
(CHRP). Mr. Cherlet also serves as a volunteer in community organizations
dedicating many hours to community development.
Mr. Cherlet and his wife Fredda have two children and are proudly
engaged in family life. This is his first term as a public member
of Athabasca University Governing Council, where he serves as Chair
of the Human Resources Standing Committee and in that capacity is
also a member of the Executive Committee.
 Shawn
Wasel (Public Member)
Mr. Shawn Wasel joined Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. (Al-Pac)
in 1992 as a research biologist and played an essential role in
developing the company's ecosystem management program. He is now
director of environmental resources at Al-PAC
Mr. Wasel is an experienced and active director. He is a former
vice-chair of the Albert Emerald Foundation and a board member of
the Canadian Boreal Initiative's Boreal Leadership Council, the
Alberta-Biomonitoring Program and the Forest Products Association
of Canada.
A specialist in wildlife ecology and the effects of industrial land
use, Mr. Wasel earned his Master of Science in zoology from the
University of Alberta in 1995. Born and raised in Edmonton, with
summers spent in the Athabasca area, he now lives with his family
near Athabasca on a ranch at Baptiste Lake.
Mr. Wasel is serving his first term on Governing Council and is
a member of the Finance and Governance Committees.
Brian
Curial (Public Member)
Brian Curial is a partner at the law firm of Miller Thomson LLP with
a regulatory practice focusing on the health industry. He is a senior
member of Miller Thomson's Health Industry Practice Group and serves
as general counsel to a number of professional colleges and associations,
assisting them with organizational and governance matters as well
as their day to day legal affairs.
Prior to his legal career, Mr. Curial worked for over a decade in
the real estate, finance and land development industries. Mr. Curial
has published in legal journals and regularly presents articles on
professions and occupations law. In addition, Mr. Curial is a guest
lecturer who teaches professional responsibility at the University
of Alberta, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation
Medicine.
In addition to his law practice, Mr. Curial is active in his community
and has served as a member on the Governing Boards of numerous not-for-profit
organizations. Mr. Curial is currently also a member of the Board
of Directors of the Skeleton Lake Stewardship Association, a not-for-profit
environmental organization. He served 10 years as a member of the
Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern
Alberta and in 2002 was presented with the Golden Jubilee Medal for
his dedicated volunteer work for the Canadian Council of Better Business
Bureaus.
This is Mr. Curial's first term on Governing Council, where he serves
as Chair of the Governance Committee and is also a member of the Audit,
Finance and Executive Committees.
John Trefanenko (Public Member)
Mr. Trefanenko spent 25 years in the employ of the Provincial Government,
retiring in 1993 as the Regional Manager, Family Support Services
and Services to Persons with Disabilities, St. Paul Regional Consultation
Unit. Upon his retirement, Mr. Trefanenko spent eight years in the
real estate industry.
Mr. Trefanenko is heavily involved in his community. He is currently
the Mayor of St. Paul, where he has served as a member of the municipal
council for more than 20 years. He also serves as a member of the
local Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club and has maintained his membership
in both organizations since the 1970's.
Mr. Trefanenko has served on numerous boards and committees relating
to education, social services and municipal affairs, most recently
contributing to the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, the
Alberta Recycling Management Authority, the Native Adolescent Treatment
Center Advisory Board, and the St. Paul Housing Foundation.
Mr. Trefanenko is currently serving his first term on Athabasca University
Governing Council. He is also a member of the Human Resources and
Institutional Advancement Committees.
Jill Matthew (Public Member)
Jill Matthew is the Senior Vice-President, Strategic Development and
Planning at EPCOR. Prior to joining the Strategic Development and
Planning Team, Jill lead EPCOR's Retail Customer Service and Customer
Service Delivery Solution operations in Alberta and Ontario.
Ms. Matthew graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor
of Commerce degree. She joined the audit staff of Price Waterhouse,
qualified as a Chartered Accountant and subsequently as a Certified
Management Consultant.
Ms. Matthew has instructed financial accounting at the University
of Alberta and for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta.
Her areas of consulting experience and specialization have included
Project Management, Performance Improvement, Change Management, Organizational
Design, Financial Cost Management and Customer Relationship Management.
Ms. Matthew has a long record of involvement in the not-for-profit
sector and actively supports her community. Some of her volunteer
efforts past and present include positions with: Alberta Ballet, Edmonton
Dance Factory Parent Association, Telus World of Science, Strategic
Leadership Forum, Edmonton Chapter Canadian Foundation for Ileitis
and Colitis, Vagonava Dance Society, Canadian Cancer Society and the
Canadian Kidney Foundation.
Ms. Matthew is serving her first term on Athabasca University Governing
Council. She is a member of the Finance and Audit Standing Committees.
William Byrne (Public Member)
Dr. Byrne, a native-born Albertan, began his public service as a professional
archaeologist with the National Museums of Canada, focusing on the
prehistory and early history of the Great Plains region of western
North America. This led to a lengthy career with the Alberta provincial
government in a series of increasingly senior positions in the fields
of culture and heritage. Subsequently he was appointed Deputy Minister
of Alberta Advanced Education, where he played an active part in shaping
the current post secondary environment in Alberta.
Dr. Byrne earned his Honours Bachelor of Arts (Archaeology) at the
University of Calgary in 1967, Master of Philosophy (Anthropology/Archaeology)
at Yale University 1970, and his Doctor of Philosophy (Anthropology/Archaeology)
at Yale University 1973. Dr. Byrne also earned a Certificate in the
Senior and Executive Officer Development Program from the Faculty
of Business at the University of Alberta: 1994.
He has been the recipient of a number of past awards including the
Lieutenant Governor's Gold Medal from the University of Calgary: 1967,
The Award of Merit from the Society for Historical Archaeology: 1994,
the Bronze Medal for Innovative Management from the Institute of Public
Administration of Canada: 1994, and the Premier's Award of Excellence:
1995.
Now retired from the Alberta public service, Dr. Byrne is currently
serving his first term as a public member of Athabasca University
Governing Council.
Jeffrey Mulligan (Public Member)
Mr. Mulligan is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Common
Wealth Credit Union with branch offices across North Central Alberta.
Mr. Mulligan is an accomplished senior strategic planner, marketer,
and project manager. His leadership style has been described as passionate,
results focused and people based. Mr. Mulligan is also a respected
motivational and financial industry public speaker.
Mr. Mulligan is actively involved in his community of Lloydminister,
Alberta serving in a volunteer capacity past and present on a number
of community organizations including as Charter President of the Rotary
Club of Lloydminister, Chairman of the Lloydminister Economic Development
Authority, Director of the Canadian Cancer Society, Governor, Alberta
Junior Hockey League and Director, Lloydminister Public Library Foundation.
Mr. Mulligan also serves as a member of the Canadian Credit Union
Central Strategic Steering Committee, the Executive Round Table (Top
25 Canadian Credit Union Chief Executive Officers), the Advisory Council
- Business Faculty at Lakeland College and the CEO Advisory Board
for Creditor Resources Insurance Canada.
Mr. Mulligan is serving is first term on Athabasca University Governing
Council.
Dr.
Donna Romyn (Academic Staff Member)
Donna Romyn is the Dean, Faculty of Health Disciplines at Athabasca University. Dr. Romyn received her Doctorate of Philosophy (Nursing) (1998), Master of Nursing (1991), and Bachelor of Nursing (1974) degrees from the University of Alberta.
Besides contributing her own work for publication, she is generous in sharing her expertise and knowledge by providing peer reviews, mentoring students and faculty, and giving presentations locally and internationally. She also serves her profession as a member of the Alberta Nursing Education Administrators group and is the Chair of the Nursing Advisory Council of Alberta.
Dr. Romyn is currently serving her first term on Athabasca University Governing Council as the Academic Staff Member nominated by Athabasca University Academic Council, and serves as a member on the Finance Committee.
 Mr.
John Ollerenshaw (Academic Staff Member)
John Ollerenshaw is a multimedia course materials editor with Educational
Media Development at Athabasca University. He is also the managing
editor of the academic journal "The Trumpeter",
and has been AU's representative on the Council of the University
of the Arctic and a member of UArctic's Bachelor of Circumpolar
Studies program committee.
Before coming to AU, Mr. Ollerenshaw spent several years in the
private publishing business, including as owner and publisher of
The Athabaskan, a weekly newspaper in Athabasca, and owner
of Athabaskan Press, a small book publishing enterprise.
Mr. Ollerenshaw is a student at AU, starting in 1980 and continues
to take courses from time to time. He is and has been active in
the community, serving in many roles from president of the Athabasca
Chamber of Commerce to teaching the Chess Club at the local high
school. He lives with his wife, Vivian, on an acreage just west
of Athabasca.
Mr. Ollerenshaw is currently serving his first term on Athabasca
University Governing Council as the Academic Staff Member nominated
by the Academic Staff Association and sits on the Governance Committee.
 Judi
Malone (Tutor Member)
Judi Malone is passionate about distance education and Athabasca
University and was the 2005 recipient of the President's Award
for Tutoring and Mentoring Excellence. She has enjoyed teaching
for AU at Blue Quills College and tutoring a broad range of distance
students in psychology and in women's studies.
Ms. Malone works as a psychologist practicing feminist-existential
therapy in a rural private practice and for Health Canada in Frog
Lake First Nation. Ms. Malone is both an active lifelong learner
and volunteer. Within the psychological community, she is on provincial
and national boards and committees and as a journal reviewer. She
is also an active volunteer in her home community of St. Paul, Alberta.
Ms. Malone's areas of expertise are rural practice, ethics in counselling
women, and having fun while raising her two daughters.
In 1997 Ms. Malone was an AU student and she began tutoring the
same course in 2000. She is actively awaiting AU's offering of a
PsyD program and the return to being a student. Ms. Malone is currently
serving her first term on Athabasca University Governing Council
as the tutor representative. She is also a member of the Honorary
Awards Committee and Institutional Advancement Committee.
 Dr.
Timothy
Nerenz (Alumnus Member)
Dr. Timothy Nerenz is the Executive Vice President
for Oldenburg Group Incorporated, a global supplier of engineered
heavy equipment used in the mining, logging, and national defense
industries. He has served in executive positions in operations,
marketing, accounting, IT and contract administration.
Actively involved in his community Merrimac, Wisconsin, Dr. Nerenz
serves as the National Security Industrial Policy advisor to the
Board of Directors of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,
is a member of the advisory board of the Kentucky Export Council
and numerous trade and professional associations.
Dr. Nerenz received both his AGDM and MBA degrees from Athabasca
University. He served as the alumni representative on the CIM Advisory
Board for two years and he is now serving his first term as the
alumni representative on Athabasca University Governing Council
and is a member of the Institutional Advancement Standing Committee.
Dr. Nerenz is also an advisor for the MBA project management program.
Dr. Nerenz recently finished his doctoral studies at Northcentral
University which, when combined with all his other commitments,
left little time for his other hobbies of golf, reading, music,
motorcycles, and sports. Tim and his wife, Joanne,are empty nesters
who are impatiently waiting for grandchildren.
Karl Low (Undergraduate Student Member)
Mr. Karl Low is serving his first term on Governing Council as a student member. Mr. Low was elected as President of Athabasca University Students’ Union in April, 2008 and prior to his election to this position, served as Vice President External/Student Affairs from 2007-2008, and Vice President Finance and Administration from 2004-2007.
Mr. Low has been a student of Athabasca University since 1999 and is working towards his Bachelor of Arts, English degree.
Sarah Kertcher (Undergraduate Student Member)
Ms. Sarah Kertcher is serving her first term on Governing Council as a student member. Ms. Kertcher was first elected to AUSU Student Council in March, 2006 and is currently serving her second term in that capacity. She has been serving in the position of Vice President Finance and Administration since April, 2008.
Ms. Kertcher has been a student of Athabasca University since 2004 and is currently working towards her Bachelor of Management (Marketing Major).
Vacant (Graduate Student Member)
Carla Yeaman (Nonacademic Staff Member)
Carla Yeaman is an Undergraduate Program Advisor for the School of Business at Athabasca University, and is also an AU student, working towards her Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations.
Carla is serving her first term on Athabasca University Governing Council as the member of the non-academic staff of Athabasca University nominated by the non-academic staff, and serves as a member on the Institutional Advancement and Honorary Awards Committees.
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Last updated February 2, 2010
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