CURRENT
EXECUTIVE TEAM
President - POSITION VACANT
president@tws-mb.com
President-Elect - POSITION VACANT
president-elect@tws-mb.com
Kelly Leavesley - Past-President
president@tws-mb.com
Kelly graduated from the University of Manitoba with BSc (Hons.) and MSc degrees in Zoology. Her MSc thesis investigated the natural history and thermal relations of a population of Western Hognose Snakes in the Spruce Woods area of western Manitoba.
Kelly’s career in natural resources spanned 35+ years with the Manitoba Provincial government, beginning as a Spruce Woods Park Interpreter in 1985, then moving to eastern Manitoba where she held the positions of Assistant Parks Manager, Regional Lands Manager, and then Eastern Region Wildlife Manager, a position she held for 17 years until retiring in 2021.
These different positions exposed Kelly to numerous groups with an interest/stake in natural resources, which fostered an understanding of their diverse perspectives, opinions and knowledge, and appreciation of how people from different backgrounds can contribute to wildlife management. Kelly participated in numerous wildlife monitoring, biology and management projects for moose, elk, wolves and woodland caribou, many of which included stakeholder involvement and collaboration with academia. Kelly’s scope of work also included wildlife mitigation for proposed and existing developments, research and monitoring funding proposals, environmental reviews, policy and regulatory reviews and big game outfitter allocations. Much of Kelly’s wildlife career involved relationship-building with indigenous people, through information sharing sessions with First Nation leaderships, their Advisory Committees and Stewardship Boards, and informal meetings with community members.
Harry Telfer - Secretary
secretary@tws-mb.com
Harry is a recent graduate of the University of Manitoba with a B.Sc. in Biology. Through his coursework, he has explored habitat and ecosystem function and management, as well as quantitative methods. Harry currently works for the Manitoba Wildlife Branch as a Resource Technician, performing surveys for species at risk and habitat maintenance activities in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. Harry has previously worked for the Wildlife Branch as a Land Stewardship Technician, involved in the administration of wildlife lands in Manitoba. Outside of academic and professional responsibilities, Harry is an avid drummer and frequently performs gigs around Winnipeg.
David Letain - Treasurer
treasurer@tws-mb.com
David is an undergraduate student at the University of Manitoba, completing a biology degree with a focus on ecology and evolution. He will be spending the summer working on his honour’s project by doing field work near Churchill, Manitoba. His project is looking at how fox dens affect the local animal abundance in the northern forest.
David enjoys learning about ecological interactions, animal diversity, and the history of life. He is excited to be involved in a community that supports conservation in our province, and to gain skills to support his future schooling and career.
Member-at-Large - POSITION VACANT
member-at-large@tws-mb.com
Jeff Higdon - Member-at-Large co-chair
member-at-large-co-chair@tws-mb.com
Jeff is an independent wildlife biologist based in Winnipeg. He has BSc and MSc degrees from the University of New Brunswick and a PhD from the University of Manitoba. Jeff consults for clients in Government, Inuit organizations, environmental non-government organizations, academic research groups, and legal firms, mainly in Arctic regions, but has also worked with First Nations in northern Manitoba. He is also employed as a seasonal ecotourism guide in Churchill, leading beluga whale, polar bear, and aurora borealis viewing tours. Jeff has published over 60 peer-reviewed scientific papers, book chapters and technical reports.
He has served TWS in multiple capacities, including representing the Canadian Section on the Wildlife Publication Award and Caesar Kleberg Award for Excellence in Applied Wildlife Research committees. Jeff is also a member of the MB Chapter Conservation Affairs Committee (and current co-chair), the TWS Native Peoples Wildlife Management Working Group, and the TWS Coastal and Marine Wildlife Working Group.
Lynnae Martin - Northern Rep
northern-rep@tws-mb.com
Lynnae is a provincial wildlife biologist for Manitoba’s Northwest Region, based out of The Pas. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Winnipeg, where she was also involved with The Wildlife Society as a student chapter president. She later earned her Master’s degree through the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Manitoba.
She has been with the Province of Manitoba for just over a year, before that she worked in consulting. She spends most of her time outdoors with interests in hunting, fishing, and trapping, and how these activities contribute to and support wildlife conservation.
Lynnae’s involvement with TWS during her undergrad was a very positive experience and provided valuable opportunities to network and connect with like‑minded professionals. She is serving on the Executive to re‑engage with TWS, strengthen northern representation, and support students and early‑career professionals as they begin their careers in wildlife biology.
Western Rep - POSITION VACANT
western-rep@tws-mb.com
Avital Shalev - Grad Student Rep
grad-student-rep@tws-mb.com
Avital is currently working on her MSc degree at the University of Manitoba. She will be working with seabirds in Newfoundland and Labrador to try and better understand how nestling development is impacted by ecological factors. She previously completed her BSc (Hons.) degree at the University of Manitoba and completed an honours project on Purple Martin nestling development and survival in relation to timing mismatch with prey availability. In her time at university, Avital has also had the pleasure of helping with research in the southern Rocky Mountains on the flower Polemonium brandegeei and its pollination networks.
Last year Avital had the privilege to serve as the undergraduate student representative on the Manitoba chapter of The Wildlife Society’s executive board. Seeing the community and passion from all the members inspired her to continue her time on the executive board as she transitioned from her undergraduate degree to her MSc degree.
Avital is interested in understanding how animal communities interact and how they are affected by our changing global climate. Aside from school, Avital enjoys birding, photography, hiking, and pressing flowers.
Undergrad Student Rep - POSITION VACANT
undergrad-student-rep@tws-mb.com
Autumn Neufeld - Undergrad Student Rep Co-chair
undergrad-student-rep-co-chair@tws-mb.com
Autumn is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Manitoba pursuing her Bachelor of Science (Honours) with a concentration in Ecology and Environmental Biology. Autumn has been a part of the Behavioural, Ecological and Evolutionary Research lab at the University of Manitoba for two years, and has spent two summers on a nature reserve in South Africa studying the Cape ground squirrels. Autumn recently completed her honours project, which included testing the Cape ground squirrels’ cognitive abilities with puzzle boxes.
Autumn’s interests lie in animal behaviour, particularly an animal's response to novel objects and conditions in their environment. Autumn is currently finishing the last year of her undergraduate degree, and is planning on continuing her education by completing a master’s and PhD program in the future. When she’s not in the field, you can find her with a matcha latte, hunting through the thrift store for her next sewing project.
PAST
EXECUTIVE TEAMS
2025/26
President - Kelly Leavesley
President-Elect - vacant
Past President - vacant
Secretary - Dev Dave
Treasurer - Dennis Brannen
Member-at-Large Co-chairs - Kathryn Gibb, Jeff Higdon
Northern Rep - vacant
Western Rep - Christopher Malcolm
Grad Student Rep - Elizabeth Patterson
Undergrad Student Rep Co-chairs - Avital Shalev, Autumn Neufeld
2024/25
President - Taylor Toffan
President-Elect - Kelly Leavesley
Past President - vacant
Secretary - Dev Dave
Treasurer - Tracy Maconachie
Member-at-Large - Kathryn Gibb
Northern Rep - Janine Wilmot
Western Rep - Christopher Malcolm
Grad Student Rep - vacant
Undergrad Student Rep - Hannah Woodhouse
2023/24
President - Taylor Toffan
President-Elect - vacant
Past President - Melanie Dubois
Secretary - Nathan Bridges
Treasurer - Tracy Maconachie
Member-at-Large - Collin Armstrong
Northern Rep - Janine Wilmot
Western Rep - vacant
Grad Student Rep - Holly Gamblin
Undergrad Student Rep - Taylor Galvin
2022/2023
President - Melanie Dubois
President-Elect - Tracy Maconachie
Past President - Justine Josephson-Laidlaw
Secretary - Nathan Bridges
Acting Treasurer - Tracy Maconachie
Member at Large - Brandice Bator
Northern Rep - vacant
Western Rep - Jack Claussen
Grad Student Rep - Holly Gamblin
Undergrad Student Rep - Amanda Hopcraft
2021/2022
President - Melanie Dubois
President-Elect - Tracy Maconachie
Past President - Justine Josephson-Laidlaw
Secretary - Sukhmanpreet Grewal
Treasurer - Alyssa Reimer
Member at Large - Hannah Martin
Northern Rep - Ryan Shewchuk
Western Rep - Jack Claussen
Grad Student Rep - Vacant
Undergrad Student Rep - Aditya Gandhi
2020/2021
President - Justine Josephson-Laidlaw
President-Elect - Melanie Dubois
Past President - Brian Kiss
Secretary - Emily Thoroski
Treasurer - Alyssa Reimer
Member at Large - Hannah Martin
Northern Rep - Ryan Shewchuk
Western Rep - Allison Kraus-Danielsen
Grad Student Rep - William Dowie
Undergrad Student Rep - Katrina Wilcox
2019/2020
President - Michel Leclaire
President Elect - Justine Josephson Laidlaw
Past President - Michel Leclaire
Secretary/Treasurer - Emily Thoroski
Member at Large - Kathryn Yarchuk
Northern Rep - Ryan Shewchuk
Western Rep - Allison Kraus-Danielsen
Grad Student Rep - Cody Carlyle
Undergrad Student Rep - Hannah Martin
2018/2019
President - Michel Leclaire
President Elect - Justine Josephson Laidlaw
Past President - Brian Kiss
Secretary - Elise Couillard
Treasurer - Emily Thoroski
Member at Large - Megan Dudenhoeffer
Northern Rep - Christa Dubesky
Western Rep - Melanie Dubois
Grad Student Rep - Jessica Lang
Undergrad Student Rep - Kathryn Yarchuk
2017/2018
President - Brian Kiss
President Elect - Michel Leclaire
Past President - C-Jae Breiter
Secretary/Treasurer - Laura Burns
Member at Large - Agnes Pelletier
Member at Large - Peter Tarleton
Northern Rep - Christa Dubesky
Western Rep - Melanie Dubois
Grad Student Rep - Amelie Roberto-Charron
Undergrad Student Rep - Dominik Simard
2016/2017
President - C-Jae Breiter
President Elect - Brian Kiss/Serge Scrafield
Past President - Stephen Petersen
Secretary/Treasurer - Laura Burns/Alana Wilcox
Member at Large - Agnes Pelletier
Member at Large - Michelle Ewacha
Northern Rep - Karlyn McFadyen
Western Rep (non-voting) - Melanie Dubois
Grad Student Rep - Amelie Roberto-Charron
Undergrad Student Rep - Eric Melvin
2015/2016
President - Stephen Petersen
President Elect - C-Jae Breiter
Past President - Dennis Brannen
Secretary/Treasurer - Rosemary Dohan
Member at Large - Meagan Hainstock
Member at Large - Daniel Dupont
Northern Rep - Maria Arlt
Grad Student Rep - Michelle Ewacha
Undergrad Student Rep - Cassandra Clayton
2014/2015
President - Dennis Brannen
President Elect - Stephen Petersen
Past President - Rob Officer
Secretary/Treasurer - C-Jae Breiter
Member at Large - Rosemary Dohan
Northern Rep - David Raitt
Grad Student Rep - Marika Olynyk
Undergrad Student Rep - Laura Kiernan
2013/2014
President - Rob Officer
President Elect - Dennis Brannen
Past President - Erin McCance
Secretary/Treasurer - C-Jae Breiter
Member at Large - Tim Sallows
Northern Rep - David Raitt
Grad Student Rep - Allyson Menzies
Undergrad Student Rep - Karlyn McFadyen
2012/2013
President - Rob Officer
President Elect - vacant
Past President - Erin McCance
Secretary/Treasurer - Marianne Schutz
Member at Large - Tim Sallows
Northern Rep - Shaun Greer
Grad Student Rep - Brian Kiss
Undergrad Student Rep - Jenna Black
2011/2012
President - Erin McCance
President Elect - Fiona Scurrah
Past President - Jonathan Wiens
Secretary/Treasurer - Dale Wrubleski
Member at Large - Chris Smith
Member at Large - Marianne Schutz
Grad Student Rep - Robert Officer
Undergrad Student Rep - Lauren Hayhurst
2010/2011
President - Jonathan Wiens
President Elect - Erin McCance
Past President - David Walker
Secretary/Treasurer - Dale Wrubleski
Member at Large - Jennifer Ruch
Member at Large - Chris Smith
Member at Large - Lauren Hayhurst
Student Rep - Marianne Schutz
2009/2010
President - David Walker
President Elect - Jonathan Wiens
Past President - Garth Ball
Secretary/Treasurer - Dale Wrubleski
Member at Large - Erin McCance
Member at Large - Chris Smith
Member at Large - Lauren Hayhurst
Student Rep - Jennifer Ruch
2008/2009
President - Garth Ball
President Elect - David Walker
Past President - Derek Kroeker
Secretary/Treasurer - Dale Wrubleski
Member at Large - Grant Wiseman
Member at Large - Erin McCance
Student Representative - Sarah McEwan
2007/2008
President - Derek Kroeker
President Elect - Garth Ball
Past President - Dale Wrubleski
Secretary/Tresurer - Leanne Wyenberg
Member at Large - Loriena Bernier
Student Representative - Jonathan Wiens
2006/2007
President - Dale Wrubleski
President Elect - Derek Kroeker
Past President - Karla Guyn
Secretary/Treasurer - Leanne Wyenberg
Member at Large - Marc Schuster
Student Representative - Jonathan Wiens
2005/2006
President - Karla Guyn
President Elect - Dale Wrubleski
Past President - Alex Miller
Secretary/Treasurer - Monica Reid
Member at Large - Marc Schuster
Student Representative - Pat Bergen
2004/2005
President - Alex Miller
President Elect - Karla Guyn
Past President - Rick Riewe
Secretary/Treasurer - Monica Reid
Member at Large - Garth Ball
Student Representative - Pat Bergen
2003/2004
President - Rick Riewe
President Elect - Alex Miller
Past President - Don Sexton
Secretary/Treasurer - Jacey Scott
Member at Large - Garth Ball
Student Representative - Derek Kroeker
2002/2003
President - Don Sexton
President Elect - Rick Riewe
Past President - Cory Lindgren
Secretary/Treasurer - Lisa Matsuba
Member at Large - Jacey Scott
Member at Large - Neil Mochnacz
Student Representative - Alex Miller
2001-2002
President - Don Sexton
President Elect - Vacant
Past President - Cory Lindgren
Secretary/Treasurer - Tanys Uhmann
Member at Large - James Froese
Member at Large - James Hood
Student Representative - Neil Mochnacz
2000-2001
President - Cory Lindgren
President Elect - Shane Roersma
Past President - Rhian Christie
Secretary/Treasurer - Tanys Uhmann
Member at Large - Dale Hutchison
Member at Large - Rich Davis
Student Representative - Neil Mochnacz
1999-2000
President - Rhian Christie
President Elect - Cory Lindgren
Past President - Bob Emery
Secretary/Treasurer - Tanys Uhmann
Member at Large - Dale Hutchison
Member at Large - Rich Davis
Student Representative - Shane Roersma
1998-1999
President - Bob Emery
President Elect - Rhian Christie
Past President - Jim Fisher
Secretary/Treasurer - Tanys Uhmann
Member at Large - Jackie Dixon
Member at Large - Melanie Dubois
Student Representative - Christian Hagen
1997-1998
President - Jim Fisher
1996-1997
President - Bruce Pollard
President Elect - Diane Bell
Past President - Cheryl Nielsen
Secretary/Treasurer - Jim Fisher
Member at Large - Glenn McMaster
Member at Large - Ron Bazin
Student Representative - Tanys Uhmann
1995-1996
President - Cheryl Nielsen
1994-1995
President - Dave Howerter
1993-1994
President - Dan Chranowski
President Elect - Dave Howerter
Past President - Robert Gill
Secretary/Treasurer - Dean Berezanski
Member at Large - Mike Etches
Student Representative - Diane Bell
1992-1993
Robert (Bob) Gill
1991-1992
Barry Jansen
1990-1991
President - Barry Jansen
President Elect - Vacant
Past President - Mark Mattson
Secretary/Treasurer - Ulrike Schneider
Member at Large - Dean Berezanski
Student Representative - Robert Gill
1989-1990
President - Mark Mattson
1988-1989
President - Ken DeSmet
1987-1988
President - Valerie Sutton/
Richard (Dick) Stardom
1986-1987
President - Rick Baydack
1985-1986
President - Jack Dubois
1984-1985
President - Kent Whaley
1983-1984
President - William (Bill) Koonz
1982-1983
President - Barry Verbiwski
1981-1982
President - Larry Bidlake
1980-1981
President - Wayne Cowan
1979-1980
President - Ron Larche
1978-1979
President - Bruce Batt
1977-1978
President - Merlin Shoesmith
1976-1977
President - Robert (Bob) Jones
1975-1976
President - Eugene Bossenmaier
1974-1975
President - Brian Ransom