DSocSci Student Biographies
For the past 20 years, Milton has helped individuals and organizations come to grips with a transforming world. Milton helps clients achieve their goals by offering a unique combination of knowledge, insight, and focus. Milton’s leadership and management experience spans many years. Milton is a graduate from the Royal Roads University Master of Arts in Leadership and Training program, a certified coach with the International Coach Federation, and a recipient of the Gold Key Award from the Alberta Hotel Association. A founder of Corporate Edge Coaching™, Milton leads a consulting, coaching, and training practice that is client centered and based on a model that achieves results by promoting changes in behaviour through awareness and application. Milton has spoken to many groups and has a vibrant, adventurous, and interactive presentation style. His current research interests include: leader and leadership development, community-based tourism, and community development.
Varinder Badh
Varinder received a B.A. from Simon Fraser University in Criminology in 1999, and a M.A. from the University of Sheffield in International Criminology in 2003. Since graduating, Varinder has applied her knowledge by working within the criminal justice system, working with various organizations including, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and teaching Criminology courses at several colleges throughout BC. In her current role, Varinder oversees more than 600,000 clients with the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Although Varinder has always wanted to pursue a doctorate the desire has never been stronger. In 2008 her life changed forever when she was robbed of her parents by the negligent acts of another in a motor vehicle crash. Being a survivor and honoring the lives of her parents she has embarked upon research to understand the complexity of “accident-crime” dichotomy in public and legal discourse through the examination of language discourse and the implications of terminology in the relam of motor vehicle incidents. Further, she will explore the implications that this discursive polarity has on law and accountability. Her doctorate is a tribute to her parents.
Nicolle Bourget
Nicolle, PMP, is a Program Manager at TELUS Communications Inc. responsible for the delivery of professional services. Nicolle started as a computer programmer and has held a number of technical and project management positions at TELUS and other companies. Nicolle has a BA (General) and a BA (Classical Studies) from the University of Waterloo as well as a Computer Programmer/Analyst diploma from Georgian College. She completed her Master of Arts Integrated Studies at Athabasca University where she specialized in anthropology and culture. Her Master’s project compared gender interpretation of Bronze Age burial sites and textual references. Nicolle’s other academic interests are varied and include arctic studies, women in technology, work place engagement, and social networking. Nicolle is currently Chair of the Advisory Board for the CIS department of the University of the Fraser Valley, volunteers with girls and women interested in the computer information systems fields, and is working with an internal team in her company to create an Aboriginal Employee Resource Group. Nicolle is currently researching how technology is used in language revitalization efforts to enable effective decision making.
Holly Clermont
Holly is pursuing a Doctorate of Social Sciences to attempt to solve a complex socio-ecological problem, e.g., how do we recover our endangered coastal ecosystems and sustain ourselves in the face of an ever-increasing human population, incessant demands for lands and resources, the continuous spread of invasive species, extensive private land ownership, climate change, etc.? Her project will employ transdisciplinary participatory action research and a variety of systems and social engagement tools to test the efficacy of resilience assessment within the UNESCO biosphere reserve model, to build adaptive capacity for conservation and stewardship of critically imperiled Coastal Douglas fir ecosystems. In addition, it aspires to create a comprehensive strategy to adaptively co-manage these ecosystems in Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve on east-central Vancouver Island. Holly works with three science-based non-profit organizations: Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team, Guardians of Mid-Island Estuaries Society, and the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Foundation. She holds a Diploma in Renewable Resource Management, a BSc in biology, and an MA in Environment and Management. Holly lives in Nanoose Bay, British Columbia and with her supportive husband Tim and wonderful teenage sons Dawson and Jory.
Susan Drouin
Susan is an Associate Director of Nursing for the McGill University Health Centre a tertiary level university hospital grouping with six hospitals. She is responsible for the Women's Health Mission which provides obstetrical and gynecology services. Prior to this position, Susan was a nurse manager for over ten years in pediatric emergency, neonatal intensive care and adult surgical services. Originally from Québec, she obtained her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick. Following a number of years of clinical practice she returned to university to obtain her Masters of Science in Nursing from McGill University and in 2006 she graduated from Royal Roads with a Masters of Arts in Leadership and Training (with a specialization in Healthcare). In addition to her administrative responsibilities, she is an assistant professor (part-time) at McGill University for the School of Nursing and the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology of the Faculty of Medicine.
Jacquie Gilson
Raised in a suburb of Toronto,Jacquie couldn’t wait to get away and explore the natural world. At 17 she went to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay and studied Geography and Outdoor Recreation. While there she met Neil and they married in 1983. They moved to Calgary and started careers and a family and now have two beautiful grown daughters. Jacquie has worked as a seasonal Park Interpreter in Banff, Chief Park Interpreter in Fish Creek Provincial Park, and for 18 years as founding Executive Director of the Cross Conservation Area, a small nonprofit protected area. She completed her graduate work in 2006 through the University of Calgary’s Interdisciplinary Degree Program. Her thesis focused on ecosystem-based management and dialogic stakeholder theory in protected areas. Jacquie and her family recently moved to Canmore for a change in scenery and lifestyle. She lately accepted a position as Interpretation Coordinator for Parks Canada for the Lake Louise area, plus Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. She is excited to be undertaking her doctorate at Royal Roads University and looks forward to exploring environmental education for sustainability in the parks setting.
Meagan Hamilton
Meagan grew up in the small town of St. George near Hamilton, Ontario. She recieved her bachelors degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, while working as a part-time Environmental Educator for five years with the local conservation authority. After finishing her undergraduate degree Meagan went to live and teach English in South Korea for almost four years. She then returned home to study Resources Officer Management Technology at Malaspina College and then entered the Royal Roads masters program in Environmental Education and Communication. As a part of her masters research, Meagan helped to build a community-based native plant nursery and ecological restoration business at Six Nations of the Grand River, which is her Mother's Native community. After three years with the business, Meagan returned to East Asia to teach English, this time in Japan. Following her first DSocSci residency here at Royal Roads, Meagan will return to her home in Ontario to begin work on her dissertation. Meagan's research interests include First Nations Governance, languages and culture, as well as East Asian studies.
Cheryl Heykoop
Cheryl is a child rights and protection consultant and advisor with the International Institute for Child Rights and Development (IICRD), Department for Global Studies, University of Victoria. She has nearly eight years experience working with disadvantaged children around the globe in Sierra Leone, Timor Leste, Uganda, Brazil and Thailand. In various capacities, Cheryl has worked with an array of organizations, including UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, Save the Children, Right to Play, the Liu Institute for Global Issues, Plan International, and various governments and academic institutions, to help support and strengthen the rights and well-being of children. Cheryl's research interests particularly include: child participation, children affected by conflict, transitional justice, and exploring the role of local governments and communities to support and protect children. Her doctoral research builds on her expertise on children and transitional justice, specifically exploring children’s participation in formal truth commissions and how the individual statement taking process impacts the rights and well-being of children. She also holds a Master of Science in Humanitarian Studies from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool University and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science from Guelph University. In addition to her doctoral research, Cheryl is also working with IICRD, RRU and the international child rights learning community to develop an interdisciplinary, laddered, approach to child rights and protection education. In her spare time, Cheryl hopes to cycle across Canada; continue to nurture her passion for nature, humanity, exploration, and travel; and learn more about photography and guitar.
Debora Linehan
Deborah's work has been primarily in leadership roles within the financial industry. Currently she holds the position of Regional Vice President, RBC Royal Bank. She has also been active in many community organizations and boards. You could characterize her as a lifelong learner. She has several industry related certifications in addition to a Certified Management Consultant designation. She completed her MBA in Executive Management at RRU and Executive Leadership program at Ivey Business School. Currently, Debora has enrolled in the interdisciplinary Doctorate of Social Science program at RRU. Her research interests include ethnic standpoints, leadership, cultural studies, Institutional Ethnography and phenomenography. Her dissertation topic is about Intercultural leadership, specifically, from the Chinese Canadian standpoint. She will be examining the relationship between ethnic identity, leadership and organizational power.
Sharon McIntyre
Sharon is a marketing consultant and university lecturer (Assistant Professor, Marketing) based in Calgary, Alberta. Specializing in high-tech industry marketing and branding strategy, she also researches, writes and speaks about the influence location and surroundings have on the creativity and innovation processes of successful marketing-driven entrepreneurs. Sharon has shared her passion for marketing, communications and creativity with global corporations, start-up enterprises, public sector organizations, and students for 20+ years. She has held senior marketing positions and consulted in a variety of domains including B2B software, oil and gas technologies, housing, telecommunications, publishing, and the arts. Sharon has lived and worked internationally, communicates in English and French, and holds dual Canadian and Irish (EU) citizenship. She contributes regularly online as Shazz or Shazz Mack.
Brian Parai
Brian is a Canadian Foreign Service Officer currently living in Jerusalem where he has worked with the Canadian Forces contingent to the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) team (in Jerusalem) and the Canadian International Development Agency (in Ramallah). Parai has held a number of positions within Foreign Affairs Canada, including as Senior Mediation and Peace Negotiations Officer (2006-08) and Desk Officer for both Regional Security and Peacekeeping (2000-03). He has served at the Canadian Embassy in Paris (2010), on Canada’s delegation to the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament (2003-06), and at the Canadian Liaison Office to the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) (2001). Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Parai worked on various conflict resolution projects, including as an Associate of International Dispute Resolution Associates, on a joint environmentally-focused initiative with the Negotiation Roundtable at Harvard Business School (1998-99). He has also worked as a consultant for the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (2000-01). Parai holds an M.A. in Dispute Resolution (MADR) from the University of Victoria (2000) and a B.A. (Political Science) from the University of Calgary (1995). He is currently enrolled as a doctoral student at Royal Roads University, where his studies are focused on global governance and the leadership and organization of collective problem solving.
Peter Robinson
There is a certain synergy in pursuing a doctor of social sciences focused on environmental issues while also leading an environmental organization. Each aspect of this relationship interacts with the other in ways that would not be possible if pursued on their own. But there is more to this picture than the current affiliation. Peter brings a series of historical experiences, both professional and academic, to his present roles. His first career was as a Park Ranger, during which time he completed a diploma in Fish and Wildlife Management. After this he worked at BC Housing, working his way to the position of CEO. Concurrently Peter completed a degree in Geography and a post baccalaureate diploma in Community Economic Development. Subsequently he became the CEO of Mountain Equipment Co-op, and most recently the CEO of the David Suzuki Foundation. This is a journey of formal work and education. Peter has also worked with the Canadian Red Cross in a volunteer capacity, a commitment that now spans over 20 years. This experience, focused on disaster and human security field work, includes monitoring prisons in Rwanda, managing a prison-monitoring program for detained asylum seekers in British Columbia, and disaster relief operations in a number of regions and contexts around the world. These experiences in turn led him to complete a Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Management at Royal Roads.The final aspect of his experience deals with governance issues. Peter has served on a number of Boards, recently as the Chair and Chancellor of Royal Roads University, and currently on the Board of Governors of the Canadian Red Cross Society. Peter's focus in pursuing all of these experiences is to understand what he sees – and hopefully apply that understanding to all that he does.
Edgar Schmidt
Edgar lives near Edmonton with his wife and family. He is an educator and has had a wide range of teaching experiences before becoming an administrator. Currently, he is the Superintendent of the Edmonton Public School Board, a progressive, urban school district. The primary goal of his work is to improve student achievement, engagement, and high school completion. Edgar is interested in the intersection of research and practice as it relates to social structures, institutional discourse, organizational development, leadership, and student engagement. His current research focuses on critical analysis of discourse regarding school based "wrap-around services" for students and families, particularly for those who need professional supports. Where does this discourse come from, how is it legitimated and how does it help?
Amy Tucker
Amy is a Lecturer in the School of Business and Economics, at Thompson Rivers University (TRU), located in Kamloops, British Columbia. She also holds a faculty appointment in the Faculty of Human, Social and Education Development and the Open Learning Division. Amy's educational background is in leadership, political science, public administration, adult education, and business. Her current research interests are in institutional history and ethnography, sustainable development, organizational development, learning organizations, leadership, ethics and e-Learning. She is also on TRU's Green Committee, Academic Integrity Committee, International Advisory Board, and Student’s First Year Experience. Amy enjoys most outdoor activities, reading, travelling, history, culture, and photography.
Barbara Waruszynski
Barbara received a B.A. (1988) and M.A. (1990) from Concordia University in Montreal (Quebec) in Sociology, focusing on organizational stress theory/research, applications and preventive management. Barbara has been working as a defense scientist for the past 15 years, specializing in organizational psycho-social research (namely, knowledge management, collaboration, team performance and work team strategies). Currently, she is the Special Assistant to the Chief Scientist within Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC) Ottawa with the Department of National Defense. In addition to providing assistance to the Chief Scientist, she is currently responsible for leading, planning, and performing R&D on the application of collaborative work team strategies from a psycho-social/human factors perspective for advancing collaboration practices across the defense community. As a Doctoral student with Royal Roads University, she is specializing in Values-Based Leadership in Science and Technology, focusing on developing a values-based leadership collaboration model and framework that will enable more effective collaboration practices within the federal S&T community. Barbara has given numerous presentations, authored many papers, and is currently writing a book on work team strategies. She is also an artist, specializing in portraitures, historical buildings, landscapes and animals.
Karen L. Whonnock
Karen is a member of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation and has been a member of the Law Society of BC since 2000. Currently she practices family and criminal law in northern BC. Karen received her Masters of Laws in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall, York University in 2003. She received her law degree, a Juris Doctor, from the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, in 1999. Her doctoral research will evaluate the New Westminster First Nations Court. Currently, there are no other aboriginal courts in BC other than the New Westminster First Nations Court. Karen worked as a tribal court judge on reserve in Washington State for four years, presiding over criminal, family and civil matters and brings that experience to her research.
Phil Cady
Phil is an Associate Faculty member at RRU teaching in the MA in Leadership program. After completing his Bachelor of Social Work Degree at the University of Calgary, Phil served as a Social Work Officer in the Canadian Forces. In 1996 he became the first student to enter into the MA in Leadership and Training at RRU and has been an active RRU contributor for 15 years. In addition to teaching and MA project supervision responsibilities, Phil is also President of Cognitive Leadership Strategies West, a nimble leadership and organizational development practice, serving clients across sectors throughout the world. Phil enjoys leading action research projects, large group facilitation and leadership development initiatives. His doctoral research interest is related to making complexity science more accessible for strategic leadership decision making in system transformation. Phil lives in beautiful North Saanich on Vancouver Island where he also enjoys a busy family life with three young children under the age of six.
Carla Funk
Carla is Project Development Manager with First Peoples’ Heritage, Language and Culture Council, Brentwood Bay, B.C. She has lived and worked in Ethiopia (1985-1986) managing a program feeding hundreds of thousands of refugees, and in Zimbabwe (1988-1992) on food security and education related projects. She has also worked in Switzerland (1992-1997) for a private family foundation committed to supporting education for poverty-stricken populations of southern Africa and eastern Europe. Her recent efforts have been in B.C. raising resources to support environmental efforts, health research, the arts, children and families and First Nations initiatives. Carla studied at the University of Manitoba earning both a degree (1982) and masters (1985) from the Faculty of Agriculture studying plant genetics and agronomy. She has served on several Boards and currently sits on the Boards of the Canadian Association of Gift Planning and Ravens Trust. Having worked with some of the world’s wealthiest people on behalf of some of the world’s most impoverished individuals provides a unique perspective and skill set that informs her proposed research. Her focus is on private giving and the impact that wealthy philanthropic leaders have on development aid. In particular Carla will examine strategic alliances among global philanthropic leaders and agents of social change to provide insight into the dynamics of how overseas development work is changing at the hands of private funders.
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Michael Lickers
Michael is a well-known Mohawk educator from Six Nations. Executive Director and Founder of the Ghost River Rediscovery program, Michael has over 25 years of experience in outdoor education and leadership development. With a background in the military, Michael’s work with youth has included addictions counselling, corrections, treatment foster care, court work, outdoor program development and community youth work. Michael has a Masters in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University (2006) and teaches at the University of Calgary’s International Indigenous Studies program. Michael is author of “Urban Aboriginal Leadership: The Delicate Dance Between Two Worlds”, and has published articles on youth leadership, international youth programs, and community development. Michael participated in the 2008 Governor General’s Leadership program, and continues to strive and understand the complexities and balance of leadership from an Indigenous perspective. Michael presents and has worked around the globe in various Indigenous communities, and is now excited about the path ahead, a focused and Indigenous perspective on youth leadership development.
Janet Mangera
Janet has an MA (Sociology) from University of Nairobi, and a BA (Sociology) from Egerton University. She is a program management and emergency humanitarian coordination specialist with 10 years’ experience working with development / humanitarian organizations and is currently Programs Director for a National NGO (Water and Development), based in Nairobi, Kenya. Before that, she worked as the Director of Caritas Kenya from 2005-2009. Caritas Kenya is a Development and Relief Agency of the Catholic Church. Her research is on Rainwater Harvesting with a focus on establishing how rain water potential in Kenya can be tapped to help the country increase resilience to climate change impacts especially in the area of food security.
Tina Northwest
Tina grew up and went to school in a Northern Indigenous community. She was fortunate to experience a traditional way of life. The importance and need to further her education came when she attended residential school. She obtained a Social Work Degree from the University of Calgary and began her work within the Samson Cree Nation community in the area of Children Services. Tina’s role as an advocate now extends into the community and to its nation member’s. She currently has a Masters of Arts in Leadership and Administration through Gonzaga University and is enrolled in an Aboriginal Management and Leadership Certificate through the Banff Centre. Her work and experience will continue as a consultant while working towards receiving a Doctorate Degree.
Kobby Owusu
Kobby is a proud father of two beautiful children - a girl and a boy - and together with his wife, they are located in Victoria, BC. Originally from the Ghana-on the west coast of Africa, Kobby received both his BComm and MBA from University of Northern, focussing on Privatization of Crown Corporations and State Owned Enterprise in Canada. He worked in the private sector for a while before moving to the public sector. Currently, Kobby works in the BC public Service as a Director of Client Services with Shared Services BC (SSBC) within the Ministry of Citizens Services and Open Government. His work involves strategically partnering with the Executive Directors, Directors, senior management, and managers as executive liaison between Client Services and Shared Services BC divisions to create, communicate and execute sustainable corporate initiatives. He is responsible for leading and optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the client services branch which functions through solutions based strategies, planning, shaping existing policy guidelines and change management. Kobby is also a sessional instructor at Camosun College where he teaches Advanced Business Strategy (a fourth year course) and Introduction to Canadian Business (a first year course). Kobby’s dissertation research focuses on strategic management in the public sector in the twenty-first century. His research takes an introspective view of strategic management from an historical and contemporary perspective.
Wendy Richardson
Wendy’s passion for helping vulnerable youth overcome challenges in their lives has led her to pursuing a Doctorate of Social Sciences at RRU. In particular, she is interested in exploring whether young people with FASD can improve their brain function through the use of technology. For the past 21 years, Wendy has worked for The John Howard Society of North Island (JHSNI), an agency that serves youth and families in several Vancouver Island communities. Wendy became JHSNI’s Executive Director in 2007. To meet the daily demands of her position she draws on her background in information technology, accounting, and human resources as well as her deep commitment to social issues. Wendy was born in Cornwall, England and immigrated to Canada in 1985. She received the Intuit Canada Award for Management Information Systems while enrolled in the CGA program and went on to complete her MBA in Executive Management, Leadership, at RRU in 2009. Wendy lives on Quadra Island with her husband, Robin. She has three grown children and three granddaughters.
Jason Steeves
During his 23 year career with the Canadian Armed Forces Jason has lived and worked across Canada and overseas. Trained as an Armour Officer, Jason’s early career focused on operations where he practiced and taught reconnaissance tactics. For the past ten years his career has focused on security policy and international conflict management. Jason has had the good fortune to serve with the United Nations in Bosnia and in Lebanon, and most recently he has returned to Canada after four years in Nairobi, Kenya where he was the Head of Research at the International Peace Support Training Centre. Jason’s research will take a critical approach to international conflict management in general and United Nations Peacekeeping Operations more specifically. In doing so he hopes to contribute to the body of theory related to conflict management and to develop policy recommendations that may improve the efficiency and effectiveness of future peacekeeping efforts. Jason is married to Patricia and they have four children: Madeline, Benjamin, Patrick and Isobel. His hobbies include trekking, kayaking, martial arts, cooking and classical music.
Karen Taylor
Karen is currently serving as a post-secondary academic advisor and program administrator. In addition to working in the field of education, Karen also has many and varied years of experience in areas of psychological services, libraries, domestic and research animal care, wildlife rehabilitation and various community services. Karen began her formal post-secondary studies at Grande Prairie Regional College in the department of Forestry & Agriculture. She later completed an Animal Health Science Technology diploma from Fairview College/NAIT, and a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Alberta. Her interdisciplinary master’s degree (psychology and theology) was earned through St. Andrew’s College (University of Saskatchewan). Current interests include narrative transformation: the impact of personal and cultural story, psychological and sociological script and schema, cosmologies and personal identity, culture and communication, language and communication, environmental knowledge, awareness and impact, and the mind-brain interface.
Theresia Williams
Theresia is an adult educator committed to social development and engagement in both community and work settings. Theresia teaches for two universities and is involved in a variety of research and educational development projects in Canada in both the private and public sectors. She has published and consulted extensively in areas of transformative learning, human relations, adult education, community and place attachment, workplace learning, ethics, and community engagement. Theresia lives in Alberta with her family, two dogs and a very active social conscience. Theresia's doctoral research will focus on children and their work/labour in Western Canada.
