Governance

WBWRI Management Team

Meet the Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors provides guidance, oversight, and strategic direction to ensure our work remains grounded in our mission: to support evidence-based conservation and research in the Wood Buffalo region. These community and industry leaders bring diverse knowledge in science, knowledge systems, policy, and non-profit governance.

Kenneth (Ken) Foster

President

Kenneth (Ken) Foster

President

Ken is an experienced environmental scientist with over 40 years' experience in consulting, government, industry, and university positions. He has lived and worked in the Fort McMurray area for over 20 years and is passionate about conservation and contributing to the scientific community to advance understanding of conservation methods.

To all projects, Ken brings a focus on meeting regulatory policy requirements using scientific principles and knowledge.

Christine Godwin

Treasurer

Christine Godwin

Treasurer

Christine is a professional wildlife biologist and project manager with over 30 years’ experience in managing and conducting wildlife studies, including for sensitive species and species at risk.

Her specialties include both bird and bat capture and handling, as well as the use of automated recording equipment (ARUs and wildlife cameras), and the analysis of wildlife monitoring data.

Having lived and worked in Fort McMurray for over 20 years, Christine has contributed extensively to the scientific community through the delivery of songbird population monitoring programs.

She is passionate about expanding public awareness of the importance of conservation and uses her considerable experience volunteering for multiple conservation programs and delivering education and awareness sessions to the public.

Cheryll Godwin-Abel

Secretary

Cheryll Godwin-Abel

Secretary

Cheryll is a professional engineer with over 34 years' experience. She has worked across Canada, up to Yellowknife and the diamond mines in our North, over to underground mining in the Australian outback, and back again. Her last project was in the potash industry, a product used to boost crop yields, where her focus was on collaborating with underground equipment manufacturers in innovative designs, increased automation, and in implementing fleets of battery electric vehicles, for greater safety and sustainability in mining.

Knowing how critical bird and bat populations are to global food security, and to the health of our world, Cheryll is excited to direct her experience and passion to wildlife conservation through the WBWRI.

Chris Wellwood

Director

Chris Wellwood

Director

As a child Chris dreamt of being a goshawk hunting in the forest but settled for a job as a biologist.

Now Chris is Calgary based with over 20 years’ experience working in various parts of Canada with the past 15 in the Wood Buffalo region. His work is driven by a commitment to achieving the best possible reclamation outcomes, with the end goal of restoring land to indigenous communities and younger generations in a way we can take pride in.

Greater understanding of breeding bird habitat selection in the boreal forest has proven to be very important in both reclamation design and monitoring. Chris is excited to be working with the WBWRI and being part of a team serving both the residents and wildlife of Wood Buffalo.

Gerald (Jerry) Abel

Director

Gerald (Jerry) Abel

Director

Jerry has over 40 years’ experience in industry, spanning operations, maintenance and engineering management, major project delivery and economic investment, in Canada and internationally. He spent a number of years at a mine in Papua New Guinea where his passion for conservation was stoked by the amazing tropical birds that often visited the mine.

Jerry’s time in industry is especially marked by his drive for inclusion and diversity in his teams and creating opportunities for development. He is excited to use his considerable experience and passion for diversity and conservation to contribute to the WBWRI’s success.

Emily Munro

Director

Emily Munro

Director

Emily has had a lifelong passion for wildlife and the natural world, inspired by childhood road trips spent counting red-tailed hawks with her father. She has lived and worked in Fort McMurray for more than a decade and has spent the past five years as a Wildlife Program Coordinator in the oil sands, specializing in avian wildlife management and monitoring.

Emily holds education in Wildlife and Forestry Conservation, Animal Sciences, and Avian Biology. She is eager to apply her knowledge and continue developing her skills through the WBWRI while contributing to wildlife research, monitoring, and data collection that support meaningful conservation initiatives.

As a member of a growing organization dedicated to wildlife stewardship, Emily is excited to continue supporting the WBWRI's mission. She also hopes to one day contribute to the establishment of a wildlife rehabilitation centre in the Wood Buffalo region, helping to expand local opportunities for wildlife care and conservation.

Nicole McCann

Director

Nicole McCann

Director

Nicole is an upbeat and motivated individual ready to bring her energy and focus to the WBWRI’s mission of sharing passion for the natural world as well as supporting wildlife monitoring and research.

After graduating with a BSc degree in Ecology & Conservation Biology with a minor in Geography, she moved to Fort McMurray to pursue a life-long goal of working with wildlife. Nicole dreamt of a future involving field work: making observations, collecting and interpreting data, and supporting sustainability efforts.

Today, her expertise stems from several years of working in the environmental monitoring sector with emphasis on wildlife surveying and air quality sampling. This is rounded by her personal interest in birdwatching, facilitating recreational activities, and seeking opportunities to advance her knowledge and skills in environmental settings.

Nicole's experiences, knowledge and curiosity for ecological conservation motivate her in improving her understanding of wildlife interactions within their habitats and geographical ranges. These qualities demonstrate her ability to contribute and collaborate with any environmental team in a positive manner.

Organization Transparency

Transparency is the foundation of our integrity as a non-profit organization. We are dedicated to providing clear, accurate, and timely information about how we operate and the impact of our work. We hold ourselves accountable to our donors, partners, and the communities we serve — ensuring that every contribution is used responsibly and makes a measurable difference.

Bylaws & Governance Policies

WBWRI Organization Bylaws

AGM Minutes

Institute Policies

AGM Minutes 2024

Support WBWRI

Board & Sponsorship Inquiries

Interested in becoming a sponsor or joining the board of directors?

[email protected]

Funding & Sponsorship

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from Hammerstone Infrastructure Materials Ltd., who has provided funding for our Institute for a second year.

For information on sponsorship and funding opportunities, please contact us using the form above.

Governance

WBWRI Management Team

Meet the Board of Directors

Kenneth (Ken) Foster

Christine Godwin

Cheryll Godwin-Abel

Chris Wellwood

Gerald (Jerry) Abel

Emily Munro

Nicole McCann

Organization Transparency

Bylaws & Governance Policies

AGM Minutes

Support WBWRI

Board & Sponsorship Inquiries

Funding & Sponsorship

Get Involved Today

Projects

Organization

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