Staff
AWA Staff
Christyann Olson B.N., M.Sc.A.
Christyann Olson has been the Executive Director of the Alberta Wilderness Association since 2000. With her roots in the Crowsnest Pass, Christyann has lived in and explored much of Alberta including many of its wild places by foot and occasionally by horse. She received her post secondary education with distinction from the University of Calgary (BN) and the University of Central Michigan (MSA). Her administrative experience has spanned 30 years in middle and senior management and leadership roles. Christyann is a humanitarian, concerned with world health and the health of our environment. Passionate about our society’s responsibility to ensure a wilderness legacy for generations to come, she takes every possible opportunity to enjoy Alberta’s wilderness and share her enthusiasm with others.
Carolyn Campbell B.A., B.Ed., M.A., M.B.A.
Carolyn Campbell is a third generation Calgarian who grew up enjoying the Rocky Mountain wilderness nearby. She received economics bachelor's and master's degrees from Yale University, and worked for three years as an economist at a bank on Wall Street before earning an MBA from University of Western Ontario. She returned to Alberta and worked as a financial analyst in the telecommunications industry and at a university. Then she earned a B.Ed. from the University of Calgary and taught high school social studies and history for nine years. Since 2007 Carolyn has applied all these past pursuits in her work as a Conservation Specialist for AWA. Carolyn's focus is on AWA's wilderness priorities in northeast Alberta and on provincial water issues. She has been a Director of the Alberta Water Council since 2007 and has contributed to watershed planning on the Bow River, Red Deer River and Athabasca River basins. Carolyn has organized conferences and presented on various aspects of headwaters, river, wetlands and groundwater management. Carolyn does a good deal of work at the grassroots community level encouraging well-informed and empowered public participation.
Nigel Douglas B.Sc.
Since 2001, Nigel Douglas has been a Conservation Specialist with Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA). Since completing a Bachelor of Science in Ecology from the University of Lancaster, England, he has dedicated his life to working in the environmental field. He has worked in the UK for a bird conservation charity, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, managing protected areas for birds, people and other wildlife. As Conservation Specialist for AWA, Nigel is responsible for conservation efforts for the Southeast Slopes of Alberta. His tasks include: strategic planning and implementation of projects and campaigns; liaising with local and national organizations, government, and local communities to improve environmental awareness and protection; and promote open and meaningful public and stakeholder participation. In addition, his interest in wildlife issues has focused his attention toward the plight of grizzly bears in Alberta.
Madeline Wilson B.A.
Madeline Wilson joined the AWA team in March 2011 as a Conservation Specialist, after finishing her degree in Environmental Studies and Biology at the University of Victoria. Originally from Calgary, she grew up hiking, skiing and climbing throughout Alberta and British Columbia with family and friends. Madeline is interested in exploring environmentalism as a social justice issue, and promoting stakeholder engagement and informed public consultation surrounding environmental issues. She is excited to return to Alberta with new knowledge and experience, and opportunities to explore the diverse wild lands, spaces and waters of the province. Madeline will be working mainly in the northern and western areas of the province, specifically the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River in the Bighorn Wildland areas.
Diane Mihalcheon
Diane Mihalcheon joined the AWA team as Administrative Associate in May of 2009. A native Albertan born and raised in Medicine Hat, she has a passion for wild things and wild places. Diane came from the healthcare sector having enjoyed a 30 year career in healthcare administration. She is the cheerful voice answering our phones and her work with AWA supports each one of us in countless ways. Her event planning, fund rising and organizational skills have made a significant difference to AWA. Diane's creative flair and incredible skill as a gourmet cook are a delicious bonus!
Sean Nichols B.Sc.
While he never thought he’d be doing this when he moved to Calgary in 2003 to finish his computer science degree, Sean Nichols insists that he loves his new home; both the larger home called Alberta, and more specifically, the AWA. He works mostly on AWA's outreach work - planning the hikes and talks programmes, and of course the big events like the Climb and Run for Wilderness - as well as special projects for the association – database work, graphic design and GIS. But he also appreciates being able to get out of the city whenever he can. Originally from Vancouver, the prairies continue to call for Sean, and seven years later, he still finds them endlessly fascinating, taking every opportunity to hop on his bike for a ramble through the countryside.
Ian Urquhart Ph.d.
Ian Urquhart has taught in the Department of Political Science at the University of Alberta since 1987. In 2007 he was the Fulbright Visiting Research Chair in Canadian Studies at Portland State University. His primary research interest centres on the politics of resource exploitation in the Rocky Mountain West. He is the editor of Assault on the Rockies: Environmental Controversies in Alberta and the co-author of The Last Great Forest: Japanese Multinationals and Alberta's Northern Forests.
