2020 OLTA Digital Gathering – “Courageous Land Conservation”

Harvey Locke, Harvey Locke Conservation Inc.

Dr. Harvey Locke is the Co-founder and Strategic Advisor, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. Dr. Harvey Locke is one of the world’s leading experts on parks, wilderness and large landscape conservation (harveylocke.com). He has worked closely with many land trusts on many transactions to create ecological corridors in the Yellowstone to Yukon region of Canada and the US. He served on the board of The Nature Conservancy’s Montana Chapter for six years. He knows the Ontario landscape well. Globally, Dr. Locke chairs the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Beyond the Aichi Targets Task Force (naturebeyond2020.com) and is co-author of the IUCN’s global ecological connectivity guidelines. He lives in Banff National Park.

Julia Baird, Brock University

Julia Baird is an Assistant Professor in the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre and the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies at Brock University, and holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Human Dimensions of Water Resources and Water Resilience. Julia is a sustainability scientist, which means that her research is purpose driven – she aims to find solutions to real-world problems. Her research interests focus on how we can improve our decision-making processes related to ecosystems for better outcomes, using resilience as a lens for her work. She is also interested in the potential of individuals and their actions to have impacts at larger scales and the role of their mindsets on this potential for change.

Antoin Diamond, Bruce Trail Conservancy

Originally from the UK, Antoin Diamond was introduced to land conservation and hiking at an early age. Now a professional land use planner in Ontario, Antoin is also VP of Land Acquisitions at the Bruce Trail Conservancy Through her 14 years tenure, Antoin has gained substantial experience in landowner relations, real estate transactions and land use planning policies and legislation needed to implement the numerous securement options available to landowners. Antoin’s experience and expertise has taken her to an international stage where she has delivered presentations and workshops to land trusts and trail organizations in South Korea, Lebanon and the UK on this subject.  Antoin holds an honours degree in Geography and Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Analysis from the University of Guelph. Antoin lives in Guelph, Ontario with her husband and family.

Bob Barnett, Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy

Bob Barnett continues to practice as an architect. After 10 years with the Bruce Trail as a volunteer, he and a few others, in 1997, decided to start a new land trust to protect the whole escarpment ecosystem. This has now grown to 183 reserves from Caledon to western Manitoulin and from Goderich to Mattawa, primarily along the Huron shore. This 60 square kilometer area protects 62 species of conservation concern. As executive director, Bob helps EBC conserve a new reserve every month or so.

Jessica Burns, Wildlife Habitat Canada

Jessica Burns is the Grant Administrator, Land Trusts Conservation Fund. Jessica has a passion for nature and a spirit for collaboration. She holds a BA in Sociology from Queen’s University and has over 10 years of extensive executive administration experience across private, government and non-profit organizations. Prior to joining WHC, Jessica spent five years with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority working in Integrated Watershed Management.

Tanya Clark, The Couchiching Conservancy

Tanya Clark is the Development Coordinator at The Couchiching Conservancy. Her role focuses on connecting with and engaging supporters to help protect the land and waters of the Lake Couchiching region. She is most proud of her work with the Gosling Foundation to expand the Passport to Nature program across Canada with other environmental organizations. She has a BA in Business Administration from Lakehead University and is a graduate of the Fundraising and Resource Development Program from Georgian College. When not at work, Tanya spends her time walking her dog Charlie, cycling and playing in the water. Tanya was the recipient of the OLTA Emerging Land Trust Leader in 2019.

Jane Gilbert, Nature Conservancy of Canada

Jane is the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) chief storyteller. This was a natural extension of her previous career as an award-winning science journalist and television producer.

Jane joined in 2008, keen to share NCC’s great stories with many more Canadians.

Before working with NCC Jane spent 10 years with the Discovery Channel as co-host and senior producer of the programs @discovery.ca and Daily Planet. Jane was the creative force behind the kids’ science-adventure series, Sci-Q, for which she received a Gemini nomination. Prior to Discovery Channel, Jane was an anchor and producer working for Canada’s leading newsrooms, including CBC National and Newsworld, Global-TV and CJOH Ottawa.

Jane holds a degree in journalism and law from Carleton University in Ottawa and a masters degree from the University of Toronto in the history and philosophy of science and technology.

She is an active volunteer with Carleton University, as president of the Alumni Association.

Jane is based in the Toronto area, where she lives with her husband and two children and encourages them to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of our natural world.

Michelle Kanter, Carolinian Canada Coalition

Michelle Kanter is Executive Director of Carolinian Canada. She has worked in wildlife research and conservation for 35 years from the Arctic to Australia. She lives in the Carolinian Zone where she enjoys working with local to global partners to grow a green future, together.