Guidance, governance, and fundraising: meet our Board of Directors.

Board President

Michelle Plach is an Edmonton-based real estate and technology executive with experience in governance, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. She holds a senior leadership role at HonestDoor, where she works at the intersection of real estate, data, and technology to improve transparency and decision-making across the Canadian market. Her work has provided her with broad insight into regulatory environments, market dynamics, and the challenges facing communities and consumers.

Beyond her professional role, Michelle is actively engaged in advocacy and community-focused initiatives, contributing her perspective to efforts that support responsible policy development and industry standards. She is also committed to volunteerism and mentorship, supporting women and youth through local nonprofit organizations.

Vice President

Mandy Kinzel is a lawyer with the Alberta Justice and Solicitor General on the Municipal, Education, Service Alberta Legal Team. She formerly worked in private practice as litigation counsel and was a high school teacher for over 10 years. She volunteers with the Edmonton Community Legal Clinic and was a volunteer with the Center for Victims of Torture in Toronto.

Treasurer

Lisa Nghiem was first introduced to accounting when she started her first semester in business school. Her passion has grown rapidly since then and led her to pursue a CPA designation.

Secretary

Sarah Skett holds a PhD in Geography with a specialization in Community Development and brings over two decades of experience advancing sustainable, inclusive development initiatives. Her work has supported vulnerable populations across sub-Saharan Africa, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, and Indigenous and remote communities in Canada, addressing systemic poverty, gender equity, and capacity building. Following a decade in academia, she transitioned to the private sector, where she continues to work with communities, ensuring alignment with Indigenous rights and long-term sustainability. Sarah has a deep empathy for survivors and a commitment to dismantling the systems that enable human trafficking.

Tim Dooley is a lawyer with Alberta Justice’s Civil Litigation Team. Originally from Ontario, Tim attended university in Ottawa and Kingston before moving to Edmonton in 2017. In his spare time, Tim enjoys a wide variety of sports and outdoor activities, motorcycling in the summer months, and spending time with his family and pets. Tim also volunteers as an Associate Coach with the Special Olympics Edmonton Alpine Ski Program.

Director

Elmer Eashappie is an experienced leader in Indigenous engagement, counsel, education, and cultural implementation, with over 30 years of expertise in project management, advisement, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, facilitation, training, and communication. He is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in all areas of his work.

For more than 25 years, Elmer has worked closely with Elders and Knowledge Keepers, participating in and supporting traditional ceremonies such as Sun Dances, Sweat Lodges, Uiwipi, and Chicken and Horse Dance ceremonies. His approach centers on fostering understanding, humility, and collaboration, while embracing the need to learn, unlearn, and shift perspectives.

Elmer is the recipient of the 2008 Canada’s National Diversity Award – Media and the 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to reconciliation and intercultural understanding across Canada.

Director

Dr. Carolyn Greene holds a PhD in Criminology from the University of Toronto and has taught in the post-secondary sector for over 15 years. Currently, she holds an appointment at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she teaches public safety at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She has an active research program exploring issues in youth justice, policing, experiences and perceptions of the criminal justice system, drugs, and homelessness. As a scholar with lived experience, she is dedicated to conducting research with meaningful impact. In addition to ACT Alberta, she currently serves on the Board of Directors for Pivot Society. 

Director

Tanya Légère is a member of the Nisishawayasihk Cree Nation. She is a Senior Advisor at Indian Oil and Gas Canada where she has responsibility for the departmental priority of First Nation's Assertion of Jurisdiction. She is a strong advocate for supporting First Nations on their path to self-governance. Tanya has had the privilege and honor to work with indigenous communities for nearly two decades. Her background includes: travel, tourism, land, policy, contracts, additions to reserve, engagement, strategy, and reconciliation.

Kate Price is a nonprofit executive with extensive experience in governance, financial oversight, and organizational leadership. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Immigrant Services Calgary, where she leads a diverse team dedicated to helping newcomers build their new chapter in Canada.

Previously, Kate served as Executive Director of ACT and is honoured to now serve as a Board Director and member of the Finance Committee. Her career includes executive leadership roles with The Confluence (formerly Fort Calgary), senior fundraising positions with the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society, and consulting work through Bespoke Social Profit Solutions. She previously served on the Board of the National accessArts Centre, Canada's largest disability arts organization.

Kate holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Commerce from Royal Roads University. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Director

Sanchari Quader is an experienced principal policy planner and GBA+ department lead with 18 years of planning expertise in public policy development and implementation, project management, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, strategic planning and execution, training and development, change management and communications. Work experience and keen interest in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. Deep passion for work related to increasing sense of emotional safety and belonging in the workplace, and applying an equity conscious lens to the development of policies, projects, services and programs that serve the community. Certified leadership coach with over 250 hours of client experience using a modality of therapy embedded in relational psychology, self awareness, and emotional intelligence. Strives to embed curiosity, empathy and compassion into each interaction and seeks to learn, unlearn and grow while shifting perspectives.

Since 2020, Elise Usunier has been a committed member of ACT Alberta’s Board, previously holding the role of Secretary. She holds a Master of Business Administration in International Business from the University of Alberta and played a leadership role in the development of the World Vision Philippines 2021-2023 Strategic Plan in response to at-risk youth and urbanization. She has a passion for innovation and economic development and manages the global export and business development strategy for Edmonton-based, deep technology company, Zero Point Cryogenics. She is an active member of the Edmonton startup and innovation ecosystem and serves on the Board of Directors of the Alberta Motor Association (AMA).