Read about our Commissioners – the men and women who hear appeals and make decisions.
- Appeals are heard by a panel of at least two Commissioners (and usually three), who then make the decision.
- One of the Commissioners on each panel is the Hearing Chair, who leads the hearing. All Hearing Chairs are Commissioners, but not all Commissioners serve as Hearing Chairs.
- Commissioners are recruited through public competition, selected on the basis of merit, and appointed by the Government of Alberta. Some Commissioners work full-time and some work part-time.
- Review what our commissioners are paid.
Dale Wispinski
Dale Wispinski is the CEO and Chief Appeals Commissioner.
Appointed 1 November 2018: CEO and Chief Appeals Commissioner
Appointed 1 November 2018: Appeals Commissioner
Dale Wispinski is a lawyer who joined the Appeals Commission in 2012, after several years practicing labour and employment law with a national law firm. From 2014-2018, she was the Commission's General Counsel, with responsibility for legal, privacy, knowledge management, training, communications and quality assurance matters, in addition to serving as a member of the Commission's executive team. Dale holds an LL.B. from the University of Alberta (where she continues to serve as a guest lecturer) and a B.A. (Hons) from the University of Calgary. Dale also holds the Certified In-House Counsel (CIC.C) designation from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.
Lynn Parish
Lynn Parish is the Edmonton Vice-Chair and shares responsibility with her counterpart as a deputy chair of the Appeals Commission.
Appointed 3 July 2019: Vice-Chair, Edmonton
Appointed 25 Mar 2010: Appeals Commissioner
Lynn Parish has a background in law having practiced in the United Kingdom and Canada. As a solicitor in England she acted primarily for trade union clients pursuing compensation for workplace accidents. More recently, she has been a member of the City of Edmonton Subdivision and Development Appeal Board for six years, including one year as Chair and member of the Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board. Lynn formerly worked as a Chartered Mediator for Alberta Municipal Affairs and Provincial Court Civil Claims, and as an instructor for the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society and for the Faculty of Law, University of Alberta in Client Interviewing and Counseling. As well, she coaches a law student team to the Canadian Client Consultation Competition. Lynn is an active volunteer with the Edmonton Community Legal Centre and a board member of both the Centre for Public Legal Education and the Rossdale Community League.
Gary Godziuk
Gary Godziuk is the Edmonton Vice-Chair and shares responsibility with his counterpart as a deputy chair of the Appeals Commission.
Appointed 1 May 2021: Vice-Chair, Edmonton
Appointed 1 July 2017: Appeals Commissioner
Gary Godziuk was a commissioned senior officer, branch executive and a member of the Edmonton Police Service for over 28 years. During this time he served in diverse capacities, including operational, command, administration, and management roles within the organization, and externally with the City of Edmonton and Province of Alberta. Additionally, he served as a public and presiding member on multiple quasi-judicial boards for the City of St. Albert and instructed at the Canadian Police College.
HEARING CHAIRS
Grace Brittain
Grace Brittain is a Hearing Chair.
Appointed 1 May 2005: Appeals Commissioner
Grace Brittain has been a Registered Nurse for 37 years, first working in clinical practice (acute care) then moving to senior health care administration positions in both urban and rural facilities in Alberta and BC. She has over 15 years of experience on boards, commissions and tribunals in areas of health and health professions, social care and employee disability management. She provides education, advocacy, and program implementation/evaluation short-term contract services in health care. She has instructed health care aide students and second-year practical nurse students in the area of Mental Health Nursing. Grace has been a volunteer at the Medicine Hat YMCA in the group fitness department for nine years and continues to pursue education in forensics as a personal interest.
Susan Gordon
Susan Gordon is a Hearing Chair.
Appointed 1 May 2003: Appeals Commissioner
Susan Gordon has been involved in quasi-judicial appeal adjudication for over 16 years having served three years as a member of the City of Calgary Assessment Review Board and three years as a member of Alberta Municipal Government Board before joining the Appeals Commission. She received her law degree in 1992. Susan worked as a salesperson in the automotive and real estate industries for over 10 years. She currently serves as the Chair of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), National Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section (2014-2015) and is past Co-Chair, currently Member-at-Large, of the CBA, Alberta South ADR Section.
Shannon Jacobi
Shannon Jacobi is a Hearing Chair.
Appointed 1 May 2017: Appeals Commissioner
Shannon Jacobi holds a BSc in Nursing from the University of Alberta and an MSc in Occupational Health and Safety from Columbia Southern University. In addition to more than twenty years' experience as an occupational health nurse, Ms. Jacobi has served as Vice-President of the United Nurses of Alberta Local #15, Alberta Director for the Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals, and President of the Alberta Occupational Health Nurses Association. She has been a clinical associate professor at the University of Alberta, and an instructor in both the occupational health and disability management program at MacEwan University and the occupational health and safety program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). She received the 2017 Award of Excellence from the Canadian Occupational Health Nursing Association.
Jodi Keil
Jodi Keil is a Hearing Chair.
Appointed 1 Sept 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Jodi Keil is a lawyer with over 10 years of experience working with administrative decision makers at all levels of government. She has provided professional support to the Land Compensation Board, Municipal Government Board, Alberta New Home Buyer Protection Board and the City of Edmonton’s Assessment Review Board. Most recently, she was legal counsel for the Alberta Court of Appeal. Jodi is a sessional business law instructor at the University of Alberta School of Business where she teaches introduction to business law, real estate, commercial transactions and the government regulation of business courses. Jodi has a special interest in access to justice. She has been on the board of directors and was executive of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Edmonton and a volunteer at the Edmonton Community Legal Centre. In her spare time, Jodi enjoys spending time with her family and visiting their farm in southern Alberta.
Gregory Kelly
Gregory Kelly is a Hearing Chair.
Appointed 1 July 2017: Appeals Commissioner
Mr. Kelly was previously employed as the Chair of the Review Committee for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Prior to this, he held the positions of Case Manager and Entitlement Officer/Adjudicator in WSCC's Iqaluit office in Nunavut. Since January 2008, Mr. Kelly has been employed as a relief Correctional Youth Officer with the North Slave Young Offenders Facility. He also served several two-year appointments as a Member of the Northwest Territories Social Assistance Appeals Board and as Vice-Chair of the Student Financial Assistance Appeals Board. Mr. Kelly has a Masters in Criminology, a Bachelor of Arts in Law, and most recently, received certificates in Tribunal Administrative Justice and Professional Leadership Development.
Lynn Faulder
Lynn Faulder is a Hearing Chair.
Appointed 1 July 2020: Appeals Commissioner
After 25 years in the health industry, Lynn embarked on career in governance and adjudication. She has developed policies, served on hearing panels, and done monitoring and regulation work for the boards of NorQuest College, the Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission, Northlands, and the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation. Her experience also includes chairing the Edmonton Income Supports/AISH Appeal panel and providing provincial wide training on principles of natural justice, decision making, and decision writing for Alberta Income Support Panels. Lynn has a background in nursing and is a certified Board Director.
Robert Moore
Robert Moore is a Hearing Chair.
Appointed 1 Sept 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Robert Moore was a commissioned officer with 25 years of service in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). He held a variety of operational and management roles in municipal, provincial and federal policing throughout Alberta and at national headquarters in Ottawa. Robert was also an adjudicator in the RCMP's quasi-judicial grievance and appeal regime. Before joining the RCMP, he earned a BComm degree from the University of Calgary and worked in the banking industry.
Robert Reimer
Robert Reimer is a Hearing Chair.
Appointed 25 Mar 2010: Appeals Commissioner
Rob Reimer operated a ranch, along with his spouse Marlene, for 40 years. He served as Trustee with Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools from 1995 until 2010, with 11 years as Chair. He was Vice-Chair of the County of Wetaskiwin Subdivision and Development Appeal Board from 1996 until 2009. Rob was a Co-Chair with Region 9, and later, Region 4, Child and Family Services Authorities from 1998 until 2006. He served as Chair of the Family Supports for Children with Disabilities Appeal Panel from 2006 until 2009 and Chair of the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Appeal Panel from 2006 until 2010. He is also a member of the Municipal Government Board.
Colleen R. Ryan
Colleen Ryan is a Hearing Chair.
Appointed 5 Dec 2012: Appeals Commissioner
Prior to joining the Appeals Commission, Colleen served on the Parole Board of Canada, the Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board, and the College of Dental Technologists of Alberta. She is a member of the Law Society of Alberta, and practiced criminal law and civil litigation during her legal career. She taught law and business administration courses for over 15 years, earning a Masters in Adult Education from the University of Alberta during that time. She holds an LL.B. and a B.Sc. from the University of Alberta and a B.A. (with Distinction) from McGill University.
Colleen enjoys facilitating learning and has been a mentor/coach in the fields of law, education and athletics. Some of her accomplishments in these fields include receiving a City of Edmonton Citizenship Volunteer Award and earning a Gold Medal in Women's Hockey at the World Masters Games.
Jody Saunders
Jody Saunders is a Hearing Chair.
Appointed 1 Sept 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Jody Saunders joined the Appeals Commission in September 2020. She most recently was tribunal counsel with the Law Society of Alberta, managing the quasi-judicial hearing and appeal process at the professional regulator. Prior to that role, Jody practised administrative law for 16 years at the federal energy regulator working in various positions, including associate general counsel and professional leader, legal. She began her legal career at a small corporate and commercial civil litigation firm in Calgary. Jody obtained her LL.B. from the University of Alberta and received her BA from the University of Calgary.
Patty Whiting
Patty Whiting is a Hearing Chair.
Appointed 1 May 2009: Appeals Commissioner
After several years in the oil and gas sector working for a servicing company, Patty Whiting was appointed to the Board of the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission and also as Chair of the Occupational Health and Safety Council. Patty served as Chair or panel member of many appeals in these roles, as well as advising on matters of policy. She currently serves on two charitable boards and sits as a Chair for the Board of Referees for Employment Insurance Appeals.
Gia K. Wong
Gia K. Wong is a Hearing Chair.
Appointed 1 July 2017: Appeals Commissioner
Gia Wong is a member in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta and worked with the Society as a Formal Complaints Reviewer, Legal Counsel. She has a varied litigation background with a major insurer as in-house counsel. Gia has over 20 years of active litigation and dispute resolution experience, as well as four years of senior management experience. Gia has a diverse work history, which includes the Legislative Assembly Office, Ethics Commissioner's Office, and private legal practice.
COMMISSIONERS
Mohamed Amery
Mohamed Amery is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Mohamed Amery is a lawyer with significant board and governance experience. He practices law at Nerland Lindsey LLP’s Calgary office where he focuses on business litigation matters. In addition to holding a Juris Doctor degree, Mohamed holds a Master of Arts in Economics and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Calgary. He has regularly appeared before all levels of court since being called to the Alberta Bar in 2011. Mohamed currently sits as a member of the Law Enforcement Review Board. A lifelong Calgarian, he has been a member of volunteer boards and committees for several years. Mohamed served as a board director at the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society from 2014 to 2020, including one year as Vice-Chair and the following two years as Chair. He has also served as a volunteer at the Law Society of Alberta for many years, particularly on the Audit and Finance Committee and the Practice Review Committee.
Frank Anderson
Frank Anderson is a Commissioner.
Appointed 1 May 2005: Appeals Commissioner
Frank Anderson began his career as a social worker after receiving his liberal arts degree. After four years, his career shifted to the field of workers' compensation. Frank has 29 years of experience in workers' compensation in various capacities, including experience in an appeals advocacy role. Frank has extensive experience in the appeals system as an employee of the Appeals Commission for 12 years. His most recent appointment prior to becoming a Commissioner, was manager of Work Allocation and Scheduling at the Commission. Frank has seven years of experience conducting successful private sector focus group facilitation and has completed course work in conflict management through the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society.
Marilyn McAvoy
Marilyn McAvoy is a Commissioner.
Appointed 1 Mar 2004: Appeals Commissioner
Marilyn McAvoy has had an extensive career in administrative law. For the last five years she has been a member of the Alberta Land Compensation Board and counsel to the Surface Rights Board. Marilyn began her career with the Federal Department of Justice, and then acted as counsel for the City of Edmonton for 16 years. She has appeared frequently before Alberta Courts and various regulatory boards. Marilyn, an accomplished athlete, enjoys a variety of sports and recently was inducted into the Oshawa Ontario Sports Hall of Fame for the sport of baseball.
Sherryl Basarab
Sherryl Basarab is a Commissioner.
Appointed 1 July 2017: Appeals Commissioner
Sherryl Basarab is a member of the Law Society of Alberta and the Law Society of British Columbia. Her legal career has focused on labour, employment, and administrative law. She has represented clients in front of many tribunals, including workers' compensation, human rights, labour relations, and employment standards tribunals. Sherryl was also in-house counsel at the BC Labour Relations Board and the Employment Standards Tribunal of BC. She has appeared before the Supreme Court of British Columbia and Court of Appeal on applications for judicial review of tribunal decisions. Sherryl's roles have provided her with extensive experience in administrative proceedings, application of legislation and policy, and decision writing.
Giuseppa Bentivegna
Giuseppa Bentivegna is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Giuseppa Bentivegna is a lawyer who worked for the Alberta Utilities Commission and its predecessor for 19 years. Giuseppa has enjoyed an extensive career in administrative law, including stints in Yellowknife, Toronto, and Halifax before moving to Calgary. She has participated in many hearings during her career as counsel to tribunals. Giuseppa has also served as chair of the Ontario Review Board and as a justice of the peace. She has held management positions within government and worked as a consultant. She started her career in private practice in Montreal.
Gordon Bogstie
Gordon Bogstie is a Commissioner.
Appointed 25 Mar 2010: Appeals Commissioner
Gordon Bogstie worked for Canada Post for over 30 years. He has also been elected to a variety of positions within his Union and has served as a full-time officer in the capacity of Local President and Health and Safety Officer. He has served on the executive of the Calgary and District Labour Council and recently finished a nine-year term on the Board of Referees Tribunal for Employment Insurance.
Denis Boissonneault
Denis Boissonneault is a Commissioner.
Appointed 1 May 2005: Appeals Commissioner
After a short time in retail sales, Denis Boissonneault began his career in workers' compensation. During that time, Denis also obtained several years of post-secondary education in the field of Business Management Studies. For the past 34 years, Denis has worked in various capacities in the workers' compensation system, specifically with vocational rehabilitation, claims review and analysis, as an appeals adjudicator and quality assurance advisor. For the past 20 years, Denis has worked directly with the Appeals Commission in the areas of appeal preparation and management, as well as being a senior policy advisor.
Lori Bonnett
Lori Bonnett is a Commissioner.
Appointed 8 May 2018: Appeals Commissioner
Lori Bonnett received a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Alberta in 1998 and a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall in 2003. Lori has been an active member of the Law Society of Alberta since 1998. Her career has included in-house counsel roles for various sectors of the oil and gas industry over the past 13 years. In these roles, Lori has advised on numerous, complex infrastructure projects, joint ventures, and operational matters. Lori's board experience also includes being a member of the Alberta Transportation Safety Board and the Municipal Government Board.
Lori has been an active member of the volunteer sector in each town/city that she has resided. She served as a member, and then as Chair of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut from 2005 to 2014. Lori has been a volunteer at the Calgary Drop-In Centre since 2010. She currently serves on the Research Ethics Board at SAIT in Calgary.
In her leisure time, Lori spends time with her two young grandsons and enjoys travelling.
Mike Carter
Mike Carter is a Commissioner.
Appointed 8 May 2018: Appeals Commissioner
Mike Carter has been living and working in Alberta his entire life. After graduating from the University of Calgary from the faculty of kinesiology he entered the social work field and worked with young offenders in corrections. He joined the Fire Service in 1999 where he serviced the City of Calgary and worked with the International Association of Fire Fighters. Mike's volunteer interests include: coaching, disaster response, and auxiliary policing.
Christina Clark is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Christina Clark spent over 25 years in executive and leadership roles in the electric utility industry obtaining extensive experience in the areas of planning, operations, and customer service. Christina has a significant understanding of quasi-judicial tribunals from interactions with the Alberta Utilities Commission. Christina is a professional engineer registered in Alberta and has trained as a mediator at the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Alberta. She currently serves on the City of Edmonton Assessment Review Board, as well as on the Board of Appeal of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.
Eugene Dumont
Eugene Dumont is a Commissioner.
Appointed 16 June 2014: Appeals Commissioner
Eugene Dumont has been employed by Canada Safeway for 26 years and has worked in many different roles within the Distribution and Transportation divisions of Edmonton. He began his career with two years in commercial construction, and then worked for a five-year period in the oil sands and pipeline industry.
His role as a labour activist began when he was asked to be shop steward for his warehouse in 1998. This decision led to many successfully completed training courses offered by his union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401. The courses included Shop Steward Level Two, Health and Safety, Public Speaking, Labour Law, Facing Management and Organizing.
He has served for two years as Elected Vice- President for his Locals Executive Committee, Provincial Chair for their Health and Safety Committee and has been an acting Relief Union Representative for Local 401. Eugene has sat on many types of panels and boards, including Collective Bargaining, Grievance Review, Executive Board and is a volunteer.
Eugene has since completed the Principles of Administrative Justice course through The Foundation of Administrative Justice. His volunteer efforts encompass many labour functions, including the Alberta Federation of Labour, Edmonton and District Labour Council and he has mentored and passed decisions for criminal behaviour on the St. Albert Youth Justice Committee.
Christine S. Enns
Christine Enns is a Commissioner.
Appointed 5 Dec 2012: Appeals Commissioner
Before embarking on her present career, Christine Enns was a professional orchestral musician with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and a music teacher for 14 years. Christine then obtained her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta. She began a career in private practice before joining the Alberta Human Rights Commission as a Human Rights Officer for seven years. Christine presently provides independent legal services for start-up and established clients in the high tech industry regarding intellectual property issues and is a member of the Law Enforcement Review Board reviewing and adjudicating appeals following the investigation of complaints.
Joshua Fernando is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Tiana Field-Ridley is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Tiana Field-Ridley has focused her career on helping individuals by taking a background approach and working within mental health systems, while focusing on how mental health interacts with the law. Tiana is currently working with the Mental Health Commission of Canada as a workplace implementation specialist. She helps to develop and deliver services that support organizations to align with the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.
Previously, Tiana was self-employed as an independent mental health first aid instructor and a communication and conflict management consultant. She has served on the Alberta Mental Health Review Panel and a quasi-judicial decision-making board for the past six years. Through her work with Legal Aid Alberta, Tiana is familiar with issues related to human rights, workers' compensation, and other workplace matters. Tiana is also certified in mediation and conflict resolution, as well as workplace fairness restoration.
Charlie Fisher is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Charlie Fisher is a seasoned professional with years of adjudicative experience. He has a 30-year history of involvement in labour relations, occupational health and safety, workers' compensation, and long term disability appeal hearings throughout western Canada. Charlie has received specific training from the Alberta Foundation of Administrative Justice.
He is currently a board member with the Government of Alberta Long Term Disability Income (LTDI) Second Level Appeal Board for Bargaining Unit Employees, as well as a board member and a hearing chair with the Government of Alberta LTDI Second Level Appeal Board for Management, opted out and excluded employees. He is also a former panel member and a hearing chair for the Government of Alberta Children's Services Appeal Board.
Charlie has served as a panel member on the Millard Centre Symposium on Chronic Pain, the Alberta Workers' Compensation Policy and Service Review Committee, and has twice represented the Alberta Industry Task Force on the Alberta Appeals Commissioner Selection Committee. He has acquired a thorough understanding of interpreting legislation, policies, regulations, and medical evidence within the context of administrative justice.
His volunteer experience includes serving as a hearing chair on the St. Albert Community Justice Committee, a director with the St. Albert Minor Hockey Association, a team manager with the St. Albert Raiders Bantam AAA Hockey Team, and a coach with the Calgary, Saskatoon, Thunder Bay, and St. Albert Minor Hockey and Baseball Associations.
Donna Gilman
Donna Gilman is a Commissioner.
Appointed 1 July 2017: Appeals Commissioner
Donna Gilman has had a diverse career in both the public and private sectors, including working as a Manager, Human Resources Specialist, Policy Officer, Educator, and as a Claims Officer for the Workers' Compensation Boards of Alberta and Saskatchewan. She worked extensively with employees, employers, and business owners while serving as Director of Maintenance Enforcement for Saskatchewan Justice and as Manager of Collections for the Consumer Taxation Branch of British Columbia. She has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and is also a trained mediator. Donna began working as a tribunal panel member in 2014, serving on panels for Alberta Community and Social Services and the Alberta Transportation Safety Board prior to joining the Appeals Commission in 2017
Gibson Glavin is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Gibson Glavin served with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for over 31 years. During his policing career, he held the senior positions of executive assistant to the senior deputy commissioner at the RCMP headquarters in Ottawa, Aid-de-Camp for the Lieutenant Government of Alberta, Officer in Charge of both strategic communications, as well as provincial support services for the Alberta RCMP. He was also a commander of both the RCMP's special tactical operations unit and the Behavioural Sciences Group in Alberta. He has 12 years of experience as a tribunal adjudicator and a chair under federal and provincial legislation. He holds a Communications degree and an Advanced Certificate in Police Leadership, and he is a qualified arbitrator.
Michael Humphreys is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Michael Humphreys worked as a lawyer in the United Kingdom, almost exclusively on behalf of members of trade unions, pursuing claims for damages for accidents at work, industrial disease, breaches of employment rights, and human rights violations. In 2000, he was appointed to sit as a part-time chair of employment tribunals. In 2007, he came to Canada and obtained a position as an appeals advisor on workers' compensation claims. Previously, he worked for the Health Sciences Association of Alberta as a labour relations officer providing assistance to members of the union.
Michael is a keen grandfather, photographer, and a soccer fan.
Vesna Kavaz is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Vesna Kavaz has been involved in quasi-judicial appeal adjudication since May 2016, when she was appointed to five Community and Social Services Appeal Panels. She has heard appeals for Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, Income and Employment Supports, Persons with Developmental Disabilities, and Family Support for Children with Disabilities benefits. She is experienced in administrative proceedings, interpretation and application of legislation, decision-making, and decision writing. Previously, Vesna worked at NorQuest College, Athabasca University, and several agencies and schools. She has taught English as a Second Language classes to adults from four continents and 25 countries, and was involved in adult literacy program development and delivery. Vesna holds credentials from Simon Fraser University and the University of Zagreb.
Kevin Kelly is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Kevin Kelly is a lawyer and chartered arbitrator in Calgary, and has practised in many areas, including insurance, real property, estate planning and administration, business law, and dispute resolution. He has appeared in all levels of court in Alberta and the Federal Court of Canada. Kevin has specialized in dispute resolution training in negotiation, conflict management, mediation, arbitration, and administrative tribunals. He regularly acts as a mediator, arbitrator, and a facilitator for board meetings and multi-stakeholder groups. Kevin has designed and facilitated law and negotiation courses for SAIT, and is a facilitator and assessor with the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education's Alberta Bar Admission Program. Presently, Kevin serves on other quasi-judicial tribunals, both as a chair and an adjudication panel member.
Todd Laycock
Todd Laycock is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Todd Laycock is an industrial security professional employed with the oil sands industry in northern Alberta. Prior to this, he was a member of the Edmonton Police Service, working in a variety of capacities over the course of his 25-year career.
Todd has previous experience with adjudicative boards, having served on the Assessment Review Board for the City of St. Albert and the Mental Health Review Panel Roster in Alberta. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree, as well as several professional designations in the security field. Todd has also instructed at the Canadian Police College in Ottawa.
Allan Mah
Allan Mah is a Commissioner.
Appointed 16 June 2014: Appeals Commissioner
Allan Mah is a real estate professional with extensive experience in real estate, management, development, real estate laws and mortgage financing. He was the Director of Real Estate & Parking Services for the University of Alberta, managing real estate investments, and parking and transportation services. He was also Property Manager with the City of Edmonton managing commercial leasing and properties. Allan has been a lecturer at the University of Alberta, Edmonton and Red Deer Real Estate Boards, Building, Owners and Managers Association, Real Estate Institute of Chicago, Alberta Real Association Real Estate Agents and Brokers Licensing and the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association.
Allan is involved in many community services, including the Board of Trustees University Hospital Foundation. He is currently serving as Vice- President of ASSIST Community Services, Vice-President of Chinatown Multilevel Care Foundation, Hong Lok Care Centre Management Board, NAIT Board of Governors, Vice-President of Toi Shan Society and Mah Socieity of Edmonton. Allan has extensive experience as facilitator and consultant to many non-profit organizations in strategic and succession planning and board governance. He is the President of his own consulting business.
Jerry McKenna
Jerry McKenna is a Commissioner.
Appointed 25 Mar 2010: Appeals Commissioner
Jerry McKenna worked for over 30 years as a lawyer with the Alberta Justice Department in the Civil Law Branch. During this time he practiced in both solicitor and advocacy positions. His practice included the giving of advice to, and appearing before, a number of administrative tribunals, in the areas of expropriation, education and policing law, and had many appearances before the courts in Alberta. He was most recently involved in the planning and development of large infrastructure projects throughout the province. Jerry has served in volunteer positions in a number of social service, health and community development agencies in Edmonton.
David Melney
David Melney is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Dave Melney began his career in policing in 1981 after graduating from MacEwan University. In 1991, Dave left policing to pursue a career with the Government of Alberta where he served as a provincial prosecutor with Alberta Justice, as a hearing adjudicator with the Solicitor General of Alberta adjudicating inmate disciplinary hearings, and as a tenancy dispute officer with Service Alberta. Since retiring from the Government of Alberta, Dave has also been a member of the Attendance Board with Alberta Education conducting hearings with students who have chronic attendance issues. Dave was also the previous president of the Alberta Provincial Prosecutor Association.
Dave was a volunteer hockey, baseball, and basketball coach. He is also the previous president of the Edmonton Youth Basketball Association.
Michael Necula
Michael Necula is a Commissioner.
Appointed 1 July 2017: Appeals Commissioner
Michael Necula has spent his labour relations career in labour management, mediation of collective bargaining disputes, facilitation, contract negotiation, labour relations consulting, and alternate dispute resolution in both the public and private sectors across Canada. His public sector experience includes 14 years of providing mediation services to public sector unions and employers in the education, health care, and essential services sectors. Through his roles in alternative dispute resolution and board member arbitration committees, Michael's accumulated experience provides him with a far ranging knowledge of labour relations and a skillset in dispute resolution.
Paul Paquette
Paul Paquette is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Paul Paquette has served on various boards and committees as a chair and a board member.
His board member experience includes sitting on the Assessment Review Board in Strathcona County, the Child Care Licensing Review Board, and the Bargaining Unit Long Term Disability Income Continuance Second Level Appeal Board.
Paul's past experience also includes consulting and representing injured individuals appealing disability claims.
Gary Peckham
Gary Peckham is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Gary Peckham retired from the Alberta Public Service after 34 years of service, including management roles. His experience includes being chair of the Alberta Debtors' Assistance Board, a statute administrator for various pieces of legislation, and a director of the Service Alberta Contact Centre. He has served as a public member on the Alberta Transportation Safety Board and has been a member of the Strathcona Subdivision and Development Appeal Board for nine years. Gary also holds an Arbitration Certificate with the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society.
Gary enjoys travelling and he is an avid photographer.
Carol Read
Carol Read is a Commissioner.
Appointed 5 Dec 2012: Appeals Commissioner
Carol Read worked at Canada Post for 35 years during which time she held various elected positions with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, including local President. For 14 years Carol was the local Grievance Officer.
Carol has experience in an appeal tribunal setting through her role as a member on the Employment Insurance Board of Referees. She has a Bachelor of General Studies degree, supplemented by a Labour Studies Certificate from the Labour College of Canada.
Jamie Tiessen
Jamie Tiessen is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Throughout Jamie Tiessen's 23-year career in media and broadcasting, he has operated radio stations and broadcast networks in the Calgary area and held positions as an executive, director, chairperson, and consultant. His public service career includes over 15 years as a municipal councillor for the Town of Okotoks and the Kananaskis Improvement District. He has also served on tribunals for several Government of Alberta ministries, including human services, health, transportation, labour, and municipal affairs. He is currently chair of the Alberta Elevating Devices and Amusement Rides Safety Association.
Jamie enjoys travelling and spending time with his puppy, Ace. He is also a baseball umpire in Calgary and southern Alberta.
Rohit Verma
Rohit Verma is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
Rohit Verma is a lawyer with diverse work experience in both Alberta and internationally. He received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta, Master of Laws from the University of London, and has qualified as a mediator at the London School of Mediation.
He has been employed as a Workers' Compensation Board appeals advisor and legal counsel at the City of Calgary, Real Estate Council of Alberta, and the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund. Rohit has also worked at the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, and he has taught law courses in the School of Business at SAIT.
In his spare time, Rohit enjoys travelling and nature photography.
Miles Weatherall is a Commissioner.
Appointed 14 October 2020: Appeals Commissioner
After a 38-year career with the Alberta Public Service, Miles Weatherall became a senior management consultant who works with business leaders and their teams. He is also a professional project manager, a certified change management consultant, and an executive coach. Miles has extensive experience in quasi-judicial roles and is currently a member of the Municipal Government Board and the Alberta Mental Health Review Panel Roster. Miles holds a Bachelor of Administration degree with a concentration in public administration with distinction and is a Master of Business Administration candidate at Athabasca University.
