Elder Heather Poitras

Michelle's Bio

Michelle Harris is an environmental educator with over 12 years of experience in her field, and truly loves helping people to connect with outdoors and become inspired to want to protect it. As an Assistant Manager with WILD Outside, Michelle helps this high-school age conservation leadership program run smoothly not only in Alberta, but from Winnipeg to Vancouver as well. When Michelle is not working with this fantastic program, you can find her out kayaking, camping, downhill skiing, and doing citizen science with iNaturalist.

Canadian Wildlife Federation: WILD Outside

Dr.'s Bio

Dr. Kevin Kemball is the Business Development Lead for Forestry and Environmental Sustainability with NAIT Applied Research. In this role Kevin supports project development identifying opportunities and working with researchers and research partners to initiate applied research and training. Kevin is a professional biologist (P.Biol.) in Alberta with a diverse background including degrees in biology, forestry, and ecology.

Areas of practice include ecological impact assessment, analysis, mapping, reclamation of disturbed lands including peatlands, and GHG protocol and project development. Prior to joining NAIT in 2018 Kevin consulted extensively with the oil and gas industry, mining, forestry, and government.

NAIT Applied Research

Colin's Bio

Colin Harris has been immersed in the field of outdoor learning for nearly 15 years. He has been the Director of Outdoor Education at an Ontario-based centre, has instructed canoe trips for Outward Bound Canada and has worked with Indigenous students in the Northwest Territories.

He has been a classroom teacher, has completed a Master’s of Environmental Education and Communication through Royal Roads University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Education Research through the University of Calgary. He is the founder and Executive Director of Take Me Outside and initiated the organization by running across Canada, going into 80 schools across the country and engaging 20,000 students in the conversation of their time spent in front of screens compared to their time spent outside.

Take Me Outside

Dr.'s Bio

As the Professor & Chair of the Renewable Resources Department at the University of Alberta, Dr. Nadir Erbilgin earned his PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 2001, followed by post-doctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, until 2007. After joining the University of Alberta as a Canada Research Chair, Nadir became a full professor in 2017. Nadir’s expertise in forest health, reflected in top-tier publications, conference invitations, Senate testimonies, and substantial funding, spans invasive biology and chemical ecology.

Over the years, Nadine has supervised numerous researchers and students, hosted international scholars, secured grants, and maintained an impactful publication record. Nadir’s service contributions extend to leadership roles, academic committees, and international peer review activities, while his teaching commitments have remained consistent over the past 15 years.

Renewable Resources - University of Alberta