Leadership Team
Director of Supported Independent Living
After graduating from University of Toronto, John was drawn to the lure of the Canadian Rockies where he owned and operated a business in Banff, Lake Louise and Canmore for thirty years. In 2005 the Seigner family moved to Calgary in search of support for their severely autistic son Andrew. John has been working at the Sinneave Family Foundation for the past six years providing navigation support and expertise in the area of supported independent living for families and individuals on the autism spectrum through the Resource Centre, the Aspires Housing Group of Calgary, and the Provincial Housing Advisory Group. John was the Chairman of Tourism Banff, the Canadian Chairman of the Photo Marketing Association and has been a Rotarian for over 25 years.
Director of Professional Practice and Evaluation
Ph.D., R. Psych.
Dr. Shane L. Lynch is the Director of Professional Practice and Evaluation at the Sinneave Family Foundation. In this role, he leads a skilled inter-disciplinary team in delivering service excellence, oversees client service focused measurement and evaluation, and builds out pathways into the community. Specifically, Shane oversees the Launch + Skills Program as well as the Resource Centre and its knowledgeable Ambassadors. Dr. Lynch is a behavioral psychologist specializing in autism, positive behavior supports and self-determination. He has been serving clients with autism, as well as other developmental and behavioural disorders for over 20 years. In 2005, Shane was named a Strategic Training Fellow in Autism Research by the Canadian Institute for Health Research. He has acted as a consultant for those with severe and complex needs to school districts and agencies across Alberta, the Yukon, and Northwest Territories.
Director of Administration and Human Resources
Norm Lepitre has been with The Sinneave Family Foundation since its inception in 2008. He previously worked with Dr. Margaret Clarke and her research team with the Fraser Mustard Chair in Early Childhood Development at the University of Calgary. Norm has spent the past 30 years supporting, guiding and providing fair and compassionate leadership in the area of human resources and administration. Norm wears many hats in his role with Sinneave and he brings expertise, enthusiasm and thoughtful appreciation of the staff and clients he serves. Prior to moving to Alberta, Norm worked at the Naramata Centre for Continuing Education in British Columbia, first as Chef and Food Service Manager, then as Director of Facilities and Finance. Norm is a dedicated and approachable leader who cares deeply for his community — both personally and professionally.
Policy and Privacy Officer
MPA
Amy joined The Sinneave Family Foundation (Sinneave) in 2013 and has served as both Board Secretary and Director of Operations. As Policy and Privacy Officer, she focuses on social policy initiatives designed to build system capacity and supporting Sinneave’s corporate services. A politically astute, creative thinker who loves collaborating with a diverse group, on complex problems, Amy has earned a reputation as someone that “gets things done”. The first ten years of Amy’s career were spent building a successful retail sales and marketing career. In 2005, she shifted her career path from the for-profit sector to the not-for-profit sector by earning a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Victoria. After completing her MPA, Amy spent several years as an Associate with a health care consulting practice. Amy demonstrates her deep connection to her community by volunteering. She is a Red Cross volunteer and recently completed serving as a Director with the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance. In 2005, Amy was one of 8000 Albertans awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal which recognized those whose achievements have benefited their fellow citizens, their community and their province.
Chief Operating Officer
MHS, BN, RN
Barbara brings to the Foundation a depth of knowledge and experience from her career in healthcare leadership and health system consulting. Her experience includes senior clinical and administrative leadership, organizational strategy and governance, as well as program and systems based planning and evaluation. Barbara is respected for her ability to facilitate social innovation addressing complex issues in uncertain environments with meaningful outcomes. Barbara is a thoughtful, collaborative and decisive leader who values open communication, adaptability and accountability. Her keen interest in autism began when she volunteered with a service agency as a high school student, and she has followed the growth of the field with interest throughout her career.
Barbara holds Bachelor of Nursing and Master of Health Studies degrees and is a member of the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta. An active leader in the community, Barbara also currently serves as immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors of Discovery House in Calgary. Discovery House provides integrated residential and community services for abused women and children to enable them to live safely and transition to independence in the community.
Director of Communications
Crystal Jones joined The Sinneave Family Foundation in 2011 with a passion for making a positive impact in the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. She became Director of the Resource Centre in 2013, and in 2015 Crystal’s background and dedication to Sinneave led to a natural shift in her role to Director of Communications, filling a need in the organization. Crystal is responsible for developing communication strategies that help advance Sinneave’s efforts to facilitate broad impact through the sharing of ideas and practices.
Crystal brings over 25 years of experience from her employment, volunteer and professional development activities in the areas of communications and web design, change management, human services, professional sales, education and child development. Crystal holds a Masters Certificate in Professional Communications Management and a degree in Psychology. She is currently a member of the International Association of Business Communicators – Calgary Chapter.
Chief Financial Officer
CPA, CA
Mike started working at the Sinneave Family Foundation in March of 2015. Prior to that he served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Yellowknife Catholic Schools for 13 years and worked in senior financial roles at Stanton Territorial Health Board for almost 10 years.
Mike has served leadership roles in collective bargaining and construction projects. He has led several financial/payroll software implementation projects. He obtained his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary. He obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 1991 after Articling at Vennard Johannesen in Calgary and at MacKay & Partners in Yellowknife. Mike has volunteered in leadership roles for many organizations including: Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Squash NWT, Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation, and St. Patrick’s Parish.
President
MHA, CHE
Tanya brings over 20 years of health leadership experience to the Foundation. Her experience includes leading comprehensive primary care clinics to top operational performance; orchestrating military health services support to current, emergency and contingency operations globally; and directing a multi-national integrated medical unit. As a proactive and accountable leader, her role is to align priorities and implement systems to improve overall organizational performance. Tanya was attracted by the Foundation’s direction and purpose and the opportunity to contribute to making a difference in the lives of individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Tanya holds a Master Degree in Health Administration from the University of British Columbia, and a Graduate Certificate in Health Systems Leadership from Royal Roads University. She is a Certified Healthcare Executive and a decorated 20-year veteran with the Canadian Armed Forces.
Board of Directors
The Sinneave Family Foundation’s (Sinneave) Board of Directors is a committed and highly esteemed group of volunteers from both the public and private sectors. The Board provides strategic direction as well as oversees fiduciary and general governance responsibilities for Sinneave.
CPA, CA, ICD.D
Mr. Lambert has over 30 years of successful Executive and Board Leadership including Strategic Planning, Executive and Board Governance, Enterprise Risk Management and Stakeholder Engagement. His experience includes Executive or Board level experience in public and private companies in various industries. Companies that Mr. Lambert has impacted include: The Calgary Co-op, Canadian Tire, the George Weston Loblaw group (Real Canadian Superstores), Mark’s Work Wearhouse, The Forzani Group (Sport Chek), Parkland Fuel Corporation, Canadian Pacific Railway, Yellow Pages Group, and Premium Brands Inc.
Mr. Lambert currently serves on not for profits boards, including Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured (ARBI) and the City of Calgary’s Audit Committee. He also volunteers with a variety of community organizations.
Joined the Board April 2013.
Rutger Niers graduated high school in 1989 and obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1993 from the University of Alberta. After working in Amsterdam, the Netherlands from 1993 to 1994, Mr. Niers moved to Vancouver, British Columbia to work for HSBC Bank Canada as a Commercial Account Manager. He moved back to Calgary, Alberta in 1998 to specialize in financing for the oil and gas industry. Mr. Niers earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2003.
Mr. Niers joined Pure Energy Services Ltd. in 2004 as part of the senior leadership team. He played a key role in several acquisitions as well as the company’s IPO in 2006. In 2010 Mr. Niers and his family moved to Denver, Colorado to lead the company’s US organization. Pure Energy Services Ltd. was sold in 2012 to FMC Technologies Inc. He moved back to Calgary in 2013 with FMC to lead the North American completion services group. In 2015, the company undertook a major restructuring which left Mr. Niers to lead the Canadian business of FMC. He left the employment of FMC in 2016.
CIM - Board Chair
Garry McCulloch joined Richardson GMP as a partner in 2012. Prior to joining Richardson GMP, Mr. McCulloch spent over ten years with Goodman & Company, Investment Counsel Inc. as a member of their Portfolio Management team. He spent six years building an Investment Counseling operation as Regional Director, Investment Services for a major Canadian financial institution. Mr. McCulloch has also spent time working for a national brokerage firm on both the retail and institutional side engaging with major counseling firms as clients. He brings 25 years of experience with the energy and investment industry and providing investment solutions for private clients, not-for-profit, trusts and foundations.
Mr. McCulloch also invests in the community as an active volunteer. He joined the Board of The Sinneave Family Foundation in 2012, and assumed the role of Chair in 2016. He is currently an executive member and past chair of Special Olympics Calgary. Additionally, he currently serves on the Advisory Council for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. In 2011, under Mr. McCulloch’s leadership as Chair, Special Olympics Calgary won the Mayors Sports Leadership and Excellence Award. He was a member of the inaugural Board of Directors for the Alberta Peloton Association that helped bring the Tour of Alberta, a pro cycling race, to Canada. He has previously worked on the Premiers Advisory Group. He was also actively involved with the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games at Canada Olympic Park. Mr. McCulloch has a number of National coaching certifications, and enjoys volunteering for and coaching various sports.
Dawn Leonard has been committed to helping vulnerable children, youth and families to overcome challenges and find success for over 20 years in our community. She has worked for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary since 2001, and led a variety of programs and initiatives ranging from residential and foster care supports to education, employment, and Aboriginal initiatives. Ms. Leonard has also worked with children and youth at the Society for Treatment of Autism, as both a frontline caseworker as well as a residential supervisor. Her studies in psychology and her drive to level the playing field has led her to create innovative solutions to prepare children and youth for success in educational and vocational settings. Ms. Leonard previously served on the Calgary Fetal Alcohol Network Board and is the Chief Development Officer at her organization.
William Karny joined the Board having been part of The Sinneave Family Foundation’s Family Advisory Network (FAN) since its inception. Mr. Karny is a retired educator, commercial property manager and president of the Harland Sanders Foundation (USA). He has a granddaughter with autism.
LLM, PhD
Dr. Ian Holloway has been Dean of Law at the University of Calgary since 2011. Prior to this, Dr. Holloway served as dean at the University of Western Ontario and an associate dean at the Australian National University. Over the years, he has also held appointments at Cambridge and the National University of Singapore. He is a graduate of Dalhousie University, the University of California at Berkeley and the Australian National University.
Before beginning his academic career, Dr. Holloway spent a number of years in private practice in Halifax. He also served as the law clerk to the chief justice of the Federal Court of Appeal.
Dr. Holloway is a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association and the American Law Institute. He is currently a Trustee of both the Law School Admission Council and the NALP Foundation. He also serves as a Governor of the Southern Alberta Division of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires.
In 2013-14, Dr. Holloway served as a team leader for the Canadian Bar Association’s Futures project. In 2015, he was appointed to the Security Intelligence Review Committee, and made a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada.
Beyond the legal sphere, Ian served for twenty-five years in the Royal Canadian and Royal Australian Navies.
PhD
Dr. Andrew Hakin has been Vice-president Academic and Provost for the University of Lethbridge since July 2007. After completing his doctoral work in physical chemistry at the University of Leicester, England, Dr. Hakin joined the University of Alberta in 1987 as a post-doctoral fellow. He joined the University of Lethbridge in 1989 as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, was promoted to associate professor in 1994 and to full professor in 2003. His research program is in the area thermodynamics; his focus is on the volumetric and calorimetric properties of aqueous solutions.
In 2000, Dr. Hakin received the University of Lethbridge Distinguished Teacher Award and was recognized by faculty members and students alike for his approachability, high standards and ability to demonstrate how theoretical concepts apply to real-world applications. In 2003 he received the Stig Sunner Award, awarded by the Calorimetry Conference, in recognition of his research and other contributions to the field of thermochemistry.
CPA, CA
Roby Brar is an experienced strategic finance professional having held the position of Director of Finance & Administration in the real estate and health care sectors. He began his career at KPMG in Corporate Audit and worked with clients from several industries including Agriculture, Oil & Gas, Retail and Technology. Roby is active in the volunteer community and involved with many initiatives focused on education and poverty alleviation.
Mr. Brar is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) as a member of CPA Alberta. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary. Roby has also completed the Governance Essential Program through the Institute of Corporate Directors.
MBA, ICD.D
Ms. Beloin possesses 30 years of experience in banking and finance. Currently, she is the Director of Client Relations and Communications for Alberta Pensions Services Corporation. She is also a Member of the Women's Executive Network of Canada. Ms. Beloin has instructed business and leadership courses for NAIT and MacEwan University, and holds an MBA and a Certificate in Strategic Analytics from Queen's University. She is also certified in Change Management and Lean Systems.
Ms. Beloin enjoys spending time with her nephew who has Asperger syndrome.
Committee Members
No committee members at this time.
Honorary Board Members
OC, AOE, FCA
Richard F. Haskayne, OC, AOE, FCA, is University of Calgary Board Chair Emeritus. He was Chairman of TransCanada Corporation (1998–2005), Fording Inc. (2001–2003), NOVA Corporation (1992–1998), TransAlta Corporation (1996–1998), and MacMillan Bloedel (1996–1999). Prior to 1992, Mr. Haskayne was chairman, president and CEO of Interhome Energy Inc., (IPL and Home Oil). Before joining Home Oil as president and CEO in 1982, he spent more than 20 years with Hudson’s Bay Oil and Gas, including serving as president since 1980.
Mr. Haskayne is an Officer of the Order of Canada. He has received the Canadian Business Leader Award and Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. The Haskayne Chair in Accounting at University of Calgary was announced in 2001 and in 2002 the Faculty of Management was renamed the Haskayne School of Business. In 2004, Richard Haskayne was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship. In 2006, he was honoured with Alberta’s highest award, the Alberta Order of Excellence (AOE). Dick and Lois Haskayne have been awarded the Generosity of Spirit Award for Philanthropy.
Previous Board Members
2014 - 2016
2009 - 2015
2016 - 2019
LLB
Edward Wooldridge is a Calgary based corporate lawyer with over 17 years of experience who currently acts as legal counsel to Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, one of Canada’s largest national law firms. Mr. Wooldridge regularly acts for public and private corporations of all sizes helping to address their specific legal needs as a trusted advisor. He currently serves as lead counsel for a number of prominent Canadian and foreign based clients in a number of industries. Mr. Wooldridge earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Economics at the University of Western Ontario in 1991, followed by his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Calgary in 1998.
Mr. Wooldridge has previously sat on a number of private corporate boards as well as on the boards of a variety of charitable and not-for-profit organizations. He remains actively involved in numerous local schools and charitable organizations which educate and enrich the lives of children with autism.
2017-2018
CPA
Don Ross was born in Belleville, Ontario and moved to Calgary in 1962. He graduated from the University of Calgary in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science. Mr. Ross was admitted to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1974 and received the Certified Professional Accountant designation in 2015. He has taken several of the Institute of Corporate Director courses and various educational workshops while serving on several Boards and committees. He has also served both as an officer and a director of several publicly listed intermediate oil and gas companies.
Mr. Ross “retired” in 2004 but has continued to serve on several for profit and not for profit boards where, among other things, he provides his expertise in business, governance, finance, enterprise risk management and investment. He is currently an honorary member of Calgary Rotary Challenger Park Society and Special Olympics, Calgary, and serves on the Boards of Alcove Addiction Recovery for Women Society, the Alberta Motor Association, the Renfrew Educational Services Foundation and the Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation. Mr. Ross is actively involved in Rotary and serves on the World Community Services Committee (co-ordinating projects in Cambodia and Liberia) and the Rotary Stay in School Steering Committee (where he mentors two students). He enjoys reading, exercise, golf and hanging out at the lake, but mostly he enjoys travelling with Lynn, his beautiful wife of 37 years.
MSW, PhD
Dr. Gayla Rogers is a recently retired Professor from the University of Calgary where she served as Provost Fellow for the past 4 years, and Dean of the Faculty of Social Work for 12 years.
Dr. Rogers is well published with numerous books, book chapters, journal articles and conference presentations in areas such as leadership, strategic planning and social work education. Additional areas of expertise include child welfare, family violence, homelessness, poverty and diversity. Dr. Rogers has held federally funded research grants and, on a consulting basis, informed social work programs in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Over the years Dr. Rogers has served on a number of boards locally and nationally, and currently serves on the Child & Family Services Council for Quality Assurance, and the boards of the Alberta Centre for Child, Family & Community Research, and Wood’s Homes.
Recent honours include: Woman of Influence (Calgary) by Deloitte; Woman of Vision by Global TV/Calgary YWCA; Distinguished Alumni Award; induction into the Order of the University of Calgary; and 2014 Lecture of a Lifetime (University of Calgary).
2012 - 2018
PEng, EMBA
Fauzia Lalani is an award-winning business leader who leads the Services group of Field Logistics at Suncor Energy Inc. Prior to joining Suncor she served as an executive consultant, assisting multinational companies in strategic and business planning. From 2004 to 2007, Ms. Lalani was vice-president of national service fulfillment at TELUS Corporation; before joining TELUS, she served as president and CEO of Aquila Networks Canada, an industry-leading utility provider. Ms. Lalani also spent seven years with TransAlta Corporation, a power generation and wholesale marketing company. During her career at TransAlta she served as director of several areas, including sales and marketing, deregulation, design engineering and construction, and mass market and retail services.
Active in numerous national and community organizations, Ms. Lalani serves on the boards of the Canada Revenue Agency and the Workers’ Compensation Board of Alberta. Ms. Lalani also previously served on the boards of STARS Air Ambulance (as a board director) and the Calgary YMCA (as chair of the Board Nominating and Governance Committee). Ms. Lalani is a recipient of the 50 Key Women in Energy Award—Leadership Category, and the Stevie International Business Award—Best Support Team Category.
Ms. Lalani earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of Alberta and is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario’s Western Executive Program.
2008 - 2018
LLB
A native Calgarian, Mr. Kelly studied at the University of Alberta, obtaining his B.A. in 1954 and his L.L.B. in 1957. He began his law career with Ward Patterson, Dingle, Patterson and Waite in 1957 and practiced with that firm’s successors until his retirement on January 1, 2001 when the firm, then named McNiven Kelly, merged with Miles Davison LLP — where Mr. Kelly continues to serve as counsel.
Mr. Kelly’s practice has focused on the corporate/commercial and estates areas, including the restructuring of some of Canada’s largest corporations. His business activities have included numerous real estate developments and serving as a director of public and private corporations.
FCA, ICD.D
Kay Best is currently a Corporate Director at Canadian Natural Resources Limited, Superior Plus Corporation, AltaGas Ltd., Wawanesa Insurance and Aston Hill Financial. Previously, Ms. Best was the Executive Vice-President, Risk Management and Chief Financial Officer of the Calgary Health Region and was named the interim CFO of Alberta Health Services, which was formed by the integration of all Alberta health regions. Ms. Best, a Chartered Accountant (CA), was a partner with Ernst & Young LLP in Calgary where she worked for nineteen years, the last ten as a Corporate Audit Partner.
Ms. Best is an active member of the volunteer community having served in a number of positions with the United Way of Calgary, including a term as Chair of the Board of Directors. As well, she has held several positions with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta, including serving as an elected representative on the Institute’s Governing Council. Currently, Ms. Best serves on the Board of Directors of the Calgary Foundation and she is also a member of the Audit Committee of the Calgary Stampede, a director of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and is a member of the Audit Committee of the University of Calgary.
2007 - 2009
Mr. Sinneave began his career with Eecol Electric in Regina, Saskatchewan where he worked for many years before becoming owner, president and CEO. Mr. Sinneave remained active in the company, until his passing on September 4th, 2009. He had a great passion for people and was very involved in his community. In 2007, Mr. Sinneave began the Sinneave Family Foundation, to help individuals and families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Sinneave Professional Practice Team
M. Sc., BCBA
Sue Larke has a Master's Degree in Clinical Neuropsychology, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She provided positive behavioral and transition supports to children, youth and families impacted by autism spectrum for more than 20 years, and has delivered service in schools, clinics and in private family homes. Sue has taught Positive Behavior Supports to family, schools, and administrators in Alberta and BC, and provides supervision to aspiring Behavior Analysts. Sue was a foster parent for adolescent girls with complex behaviors for more than 10 years, and regards the learning and growth achieved during that time as one of the most impactful in her career.
Ph.D., R. Psych.
Dr. Shane L. Lynch is the Director of Professional Practice and Evaluation at the Sinneave Family Foundation. In this role, he leads a skilled inter-disciplinary team in delivering service excellence, oversees client service focused measurement and evaluation, and builds out pathways into the community. Specifically, Shane oversees the Launch + Skills Program as well as the Resource Centre and its knowledgeable Ambassadors. Dr. Lynch is a behavioral psychologist specializing in autism, positive behavior supports and self-determination. He has been serving individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as other developmental and behavioral disorders for over 20 years. In 2005, Shane was named a Strategic Training Fellow in Autism Research by the Canadian Institute for Health Research. He has acted as a consultant for those with severe and complex needs to school districts and agencies across Alberta, the Yukon, and Northwest Territories.
BScOT, MC
Teunisje is a Registered Occupational Therapist and a Canadian Certified Counsellor. She has over 20 years of experience working with individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. When meeting with clients, she utilizes a strengths-based approach to help them create realistic goals and action plans towards better functioning in their daily life. Teunisje also has training and experience with developmental and sensory processing differences; mindfulness; mental health; and motor, cognitive and visual-perceptual skills. She works with her clients to improve their ability to face their challenges.
MC, R.Psych.
Michael Barrett is a Registered Psychologist and a Doctoral Student in Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta. Mike has more than 20 years of experience in the field of adolescent and adult mental health, and brings extensive knowledge in understanding stress, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, self-confidence, and transition planning to his role. As a member of the Sinneave Family Foundation since 2012, he has been instrumental in the delivery of a number of key initiatives including the Launch, PEERS®, Worktopia, and Beast Mode programs to support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Using client-focused and strength-based approaches, Mike enjoys working to teach social, relationship, and life skills to support clients in becoming more independent, self-sufficient, physically active, and gainfully employed.
Sinneave Resource Centre and Launch Programs Team
This group of dedicated and autism knowledgeable individuals encompasses:
- Launch Program Coordinator
- Resource Centre Ambassadors
- Skills Coaches
- Transition Specialists
