Governance

Leona Staples is the co-owner/operator of the Jungle Farm. She was a member of Olds College’s Board of Governors in 2006-12 and was appointed as the Board Chair in May 2017. She is an active member of the Innisfail Growers’ Cooperative, which focuses on producing food for farmers’ markets. Leona has served as chair of the school parent council, as a member and treasurer of the Calgary Farmers’ Market Association, and with various other community organizations.

Leona has a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics.

Stuart Cullum is an executive leader with experience in private industry as well as the finance, post-secondary and not-for-profit sectors. He joined Olds College in November, 2016 and was appointed as President and CEO on July 1, 2017.

Stuart brings an interesting mix of industry, innovation, and government relations experience. 

Stuart also farmed commercially in the Three Hills, Alberta area until 2009 and remains engaged in the agriculture industry. Stuart has served on numerous boards and committees, mainly within the agriculture, post-secondary and innovation and technology sectors. 

Gordon Cove has been on the board since 2018 and serves on the Audit Committee. He has more than 30 years experience in the food industry. He is the past president of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA). He was a director on the Alberta Financial Services Corporation and the Red Deer and District Community Foundation. He was a past chair of the Sub-Division and Development Appeal Board. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science from the University of Alberta.

Meghan Dear has been on the board since 2018 and serves on the Board Effectiveness Committee. She is the CEO and president of Localize, an internationally recognized agrifood data company. Prior, she was a manager of food programmes and Ghana Ministry of Food and Agriculture Liaison with Engineers Without Borders and a researcher with the Alberta Research Council. Ms. Dear is a professional biologist and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management from the University of Alberta.

Ms. Marnie DesJardins has been an Instructional Assistant with Olds College’s Bachelor of Applied Science - Agribusiness since its inception in 2001. Ms. DesJardins was previously the Lead Hand with Olds College Grounds.

She holds a Horticulture diploma in Landscape Design, a trade certificate in Landscape Gardening, and a Bachelor of Applied Horticulture Technology degree from Olds College.

Mabel Hamilton is the owner/operator of Belvin Angus, a purebred Angus operation. She currently serves as a board member on the Red Deer County AG Service Board. Ms. Hamilton is a past member of the Industry Government Advisory Council for Traceability, and a past Chair of the Alberta Cattle Breeders Association. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Calgary.

Competencies required for members of The Board of Governors of Olds College include the core competencies of leadership and governance, and preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Ms. Hamilton was directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.

Anita Heuver is the owner and manager of Eagle Lake Nurseries. She is a past-president of Landscape Alberta and is the National Growers Chair on the Board of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association. She is a board member of the Canadian Nursery Certification Institute and the Western Nursery Grower Group. She was a member of the Olds College Horticulture Program Advisory Committee and the Vineland Stakeholder Advisory Committee.

Anita has an associate diploma in horticulture and is a Journeyman Landscape Gardener.

Ceili Konschuk is excited to engage in the role of SAOC Representative to the Board of Governors. This is an opportunity to contribute to the on-going progress of Old’s College, she is looking forward to being the voice for the students on and off campus. Currently, Ceili is an Open Studies Student, and is looking forward to continuing her studies in the field of Agricultural Management in fall of 2021. Growing up on a mixed grain and livestock operation has provided many opportunities to learn and experience the daily challenges one is faced with. Leading her to develop problem solving skills and to use the resources present to get the job done. Setting her sights on farming for the future with her family is her focus.

4-H has been an important part of Ceili’s growing love of agriculture, providing the opportunity to become a confident speaker, time manager along with animal husbandry skills. Her proudest moment was winning Grand Champion Market Lamb in 2018 with her home-grown lamb from her own breeding stock. Ceili has established a flock of 25 pure bred Southdown sheep, she enjoys working with her sheep and sharing knowledge. Ceili has been a long-time volunteer with the Calgary Stampede Sheep Committee giving her opportunities to speak with dignitaries from all levels of government, school age children and families. These interactions allow her to share her knowledge of sheep and the agricultural industry. Ceili is looking forward to working towards “Transforming agriculture for a better world”, with the Board of Governors and SAOC.

Donna Maxwell sits on Olds College’s Board of Governors and serves on its Teachers’ Discipline Review Committee. A retired lawyer, she has appeared before the Alberta Provincial Courts and the Court of Queen’s Bench and appeal bodies in the workers’ compensation system, the Hospital Privileges Appeal Board, the Child Welfare Appeal Board and the Mental Health Appeal Committee. She has served on several boards, including the Calgary Science School Board.

Donna has a bachelor of science in nursing and a bachelor of laws.

Paul McLauchlin is a Sr Aboriginal Advisor/Sr Biologist with Environmental Leadership Matters. He has been the Reeve of Ponoka County since 2013. He is the Director of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, Chair of Rimoka Foundation, & Chair of Battle Lake Synergy Group. He holds a MBA in Finance from the University of Leicester and a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology/Animal Biology from the UofC. He is a Chartered Manager and earned his certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership from the Chartered Management Institute of the UK.

Competencies required for members of The Board of Governors of Olds College include the core competencies of leadership, and governance as well as preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. McLauchlin was directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.

Mr. Ted Menzies is a former federal Cabinet Minister and former President and Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Canada. He was appointed as Federal Minister of State for Finance and The Queen's Privy Council for Canada. He is a former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.

Competencies required for members of The Board of Governors of Olds College include the core competencies of leadership, and governance as well as preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. Menzies was directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.

Andrew Thun is the incoming President of the Students’ Association of Olds College (SAOC) and will take full ownership of the office on April 1st 2021. Andrew is currently finishing a post diploma certificate in agricultural studies and will enter into the 3rd year of the Bachelors of Applied Science in Agribusiness this fall. He’s always been passionate about the outdoors, a feeling cultivated during his youth spending summers on family farms. This passion drove him to pursue skills in hunting, fishing, and archery. A strong advocate for environmental stewardship and ethical hunting, he pursued a diploma in Natural Resource Compliance and spent a season as a Conservation Officer with the Government of Saskatchewan. He is now taking his skills in conflict resolution and public relations into the political sphere through student advocacy. As a student himself, he understands the difficulty of trying to navigate an educational career during this unprecedented time.

He believes that now more then ever, we need to rally as a community behind one another to ensure each student is provided with the skills they need to be successful in their careers and their life. He is excited about taking on the challenges of being the SAOC President and recognizes that success in this role requires open communication with the student body, providing them avenues to vocalize their needs and working with the college to provide the services guaranteeing their success.

Mr. Keith Smyth is an instructor with Olds College and the Vice President of Professional Affairs at the Alberta Colleges and Institutes Faculty Association. He served as Chair of the Academic Council, President and Vice President of the Olds College Faculty Association, as well as grievance, ethics and professional practices committees. He holds an Agricultural Mechanics and Equipment/Machine Technology diploma from Lethbridge College and a Masters of Organizational Leadership degree from Royal Roads University.

Jennifer Wood is a partner with Grey Owl Investments and also co-operates her family cattle ranch. She is a recipient of the Women of Distinction Award, Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the University of Alberta Alumni Horizon Award. She is Chair of the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, a member of Waskesiu Seasonal Residents Association Board and serves as on the Waskesiu Community Council working with Parks Canada.

Jennifer is a professional agrologist and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Business Management from the University of Alberta.