CURRENT
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Kelly Leavesley - 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.
President-Elect - POSITION VACANT
president-elect@tws-mb.com
Taylor Toffan - Past-President
Taylor Toffan works as a Habitat Stewardship Coordinator for Manitoba Habitat Conservancy working to conserve fish and wildlife habitat across Manitoba. Taylor has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies (Honours) at the U of M, and has had the opportunity to work in a variety of difference environmental sectors. Prior to being a Habitat Stewardship Coordinator, Taylor worked at Manitoba Habitat Conservancy as a Grants Associate working with the Conservation Trust, GROW Trust, Wetlands GROW Trust and The Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund (FWEF). Outside of work, Taylor loves all things outdoors, whether it is hunting, fishing, kayaking or (most importantly) chasing storms.
Dev Dave - Secretary
secretary@tws-mb.com
Dev is currently pursuing bachelor’s in environmental sciences, and has been fortunate to have opportunities to engage in various activities that align with his interests.
At the International College of Manitoba, Dev served as a Student Leader Manager, where he was able to support and encourage his peers in their educational journey. Additionally, Dev represented his High School as a Campus Ambassador for IIMUN, India, which allowed him to develop his communication and organizational skills further. Beyond academics, Dev volunteers at science events hosted by the University of Manitoba.
Dev has been recognized through awards such as the Community Engagement Scholarship and was honored twice as an ‘Inspiring student leader’. Dev believes that these accomplishments are a result of the support and opportunities provided to him rather than solely his own efforts.
Outside of his commitments, Dev enjoys exploring his hobby of terrariums, and finding solace in the beauty of nature, and is looking forward to continuing to grow and contribute positively to the wildlife and nature via involvement in TWS.
Dennis Brannen - Treasurer
treasurer@tws-mb.com
Dennis Brannen works as a Wildlife Manager for the Province of Manitoba, Wildlife Branch. Dennis is currently the Acting Section Manager for the Habitat and Species at Risk Section. Dennis is a certified Wildlife Biologist (CWB®) and has an Undergraduate (Honours) and Masters degree from Acadia University in Wildlife Ecology. Dennis has worked for the province over the past 18 years as a Caribou Biologist and currently as the Wildlife Manager in the Eastern Region of Manitoba. Most of Dennis’s career has focused primarily on Species at Risk but has now broadened to include game species where relationship building is just as and even more important for the conservation of species. Outside of work, Dennis enjoys the outdoors and travelling around watching his kid play hockey.
Kathryn Gibb - Member-at-Large co-chair
member-at-large@tws-mb.com
Kathryn is a dedicated environmental professional, passionate about fostering connections between individuals and the natural world through educational initiatives, knowledge sharing, and experiential learning. With an expertise in project management, Kathryn has played a role in developing conservation initiatives and organizing community events that promote environmental awareness. Kathryn brings her experience in conservation, communications and project management to The Wildlife Society!
Kathryn's background encompasses in-depth studies on diverse topics, ranging from investigating pain response in harbour seals to exploring lead toxicity in raptors, and conducting research on migratory bird populations. She is currently a volunteer with Delta Marsh Bird Observatory (DMBO) as a seasonal bird bander, and collaborated with DMBO to introduce a bird banding program with a local wildlife hospital as a main component of her Master’s Practicum. Kathryn is currently the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Manitoba Association of Watersheds and is the Coordinator for the long-standing Manitoba Envirothon program.
Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Geography from Simon Fraser University and a Master’s of Natural Resource Management from the University of Manitoba. Kathryn is looking forward to the opportunity to learn from and contribute to a long-standing network of dedicated wildlife advocates, and seeks to engage with new, curious wildlife society members through innovative, creative pathways.
As a passionate conservationist and bird-watcher, Kathryn plans to engage a new community of Manitobans and offer unique opportunities to engage with their environment, showing people how beautiful and rewarding their natural environment can be.
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. His MSc thesis was on landscape ecology and vertebrate extirpation risk on an industrial forest landbase, and his PhD dissertation studied the evolutionary biogeography and conservation of world pinnipeds. Jeff consults for clients in Government, Inuit organizations, and environmental non-government organizations, 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.
He has conducted extensive field research on Arctic marine mammals, including the beluga whales that summer along the Manitoba coast of Hudson Bay. Jeff's research projects have involved developing community-based monitoring programs, protected areas planning, collecting and interpreting Indigenous knowledge, historical research on marine mammal hunting, assessing marine mammal harvest sustainability, and assessments of potential environmental impacts to marine biota from proposed development projects and Arctic shipping. 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, the TWS Native Peoples Wildlife Management Working Group, and TWS Coastal and Marine Wildlife Working Group.
Northern Rep - POSITION VACANT
northern-rep@tws-mb.com
Christopher Malcolm - Western Rep
western-rep@tws-mb.com
Christopher Malcolm is a Professor at Brandon University in the Department of Geography & Environment, where he has been since 2002. He has degrees from University of Victoria and Memorial University of Newfoundland. His main area of research is human dimensions of wildlife and has done research in Manitoba, British Columbia, and Mexico on management of whale-watching, black bears, yellow rails, artisanal fishing, crocodiles, jaguars, military macaws, and protected areas.
He also dabbles in tourism, ecotourism and recreation, having done research on COVID impacts on youth recreational hockey and the role of rural community museums in Manitoba. Among many service activities, he has served as the Chair of the Douglas Marsh Action Committee, a board member on the Brandon Riverbank Discovery Centre, the BU representative on the Churchill Northern Research Centre board of directors, and as a committee member of the BU Animal Care Committee.
Chris grew up fishing, camping, and hiking in Ontario and tries to give back to his love for nature, particularly wildlife.
Elizabeth Patterson - Grad Student Rep
grad-student-rep@tws-mb.com
Elizabeth recently moved to Manitoba from Ontario to begin her Master's degree at the University of Manitoba. She studies polar bear epigenetics to monitor their long-term well-being in human care. She is a University of Toronto alum and focused her studies on primatology and conservation, alongside finishing two undergraduate theses on eDNA detection of freshwater fishes. She also completed an Ontario Advanced Diploma in Biotechnology, where her passion for combining wildlife conservation and genetics began.
Before beginning her Master's degree, she worked for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and an environmental non-profit. These roles were both lab and field focused, using eDNA to monitor endangered and invasive aquatic species. Her roles in government, non-profit, and academia have provided her with perspective from each industry on how they approach wildlife conservation. With this perspective, she hopes to help inspire other students to get involved in communities such as the Wildlife Society. Elizabeth is also the president of the Biological Sciences Graduate Student Association at the University of Manitoba and hopes this position will help her engage graduate students.
Outside of her academic commitments, Liz likes taking her dog for walks all around Winnipeg, kayaking, and amateur bird watching.
Avital Shalev - Undergrad Student Rep
undergrad-student-rep@tws-mb.com
Avital is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Manitoba pursuing an honours degree in Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Environmental Biology. In her time at university, Avital has had the pleasure of helping with research in the southern Rocky Mountains on the flower Polemonium brandegeei and its pollination networks. She is currently working on her own research projects involving Purple Martin development and avian mediated seed dispersal in the Avian Behaviour and Conservation Lab at the University of Manitoba.
Avital is interested in understanding how plant and animal communities interact, which inspired her to do an honours project. After her final year as an undergraduate student this year, Avital hopes to continue her education in a master’s program. Aside from school, Avital enjoys birding, drawing, hiking, and pressing flowers.
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 is currently working on her honours project, which includes 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. Although she still has two years of study in her undergraduate degree, she 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
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