Hanif Ladha is the Managing Director at CLS Suites, which provides residential furnished short/long term corporate housing for individuals and families in Calgary and Edmonton. CLS Suites provides relocation services for people moving into Calgary from various industries such as oil & gas, film/movie industry, sports teams, and professionals such as lawyers & accountants. Hanif has years of management experience in the oil and gas industry, and held various senior leadership positions specializing in environmental management, stakeholder relations and regulatory compliance. As a passionate community volunteer and an advocate for education, arts, and youth, he also serves on the Board of Directors of Alberta Theater Projects. Hanif previously served in various volunteer positions as the Member for Settlement Portfolio on the Ismaili Council for Canada, FOCUS Humanitarian Canada, Chairman on the Ismaili Aga Khan Youth & Sports Board and the Aga Khan Education Board, and Aga Khan Foundation Canada. Hanif has an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business from Western University in London, Ontario and is a strong proponent of quality education for all students, he believes in supporting the underprivileged and those in need.

Dr. Richard Sigurdson has spent almost three decades in academic and administrative roles in universities across the country. Immediately prior to his move to Calgary, Sigurdson served as Dean, Faculty of Arts and Acting Provost, University College at the University of Manitoba where he also held the Duff Roblin Professorship of Government. A political scientist by training, Dr. Sigurdson has published on a variety of topics, from the history of political theory to the Charter of Rights in Canada. As an administrator, his focus has been on internationalization, indigenous teaching and learning, and improving the student experience. The son of two public school educators and father of five children (including one currently enrolled in a CBE school), Dr. Sigurdson has a long-standing commitment to public education and promoting its value to the community.

Amanda Field is a senior legal counsel in-house with Suncor, practicing in the areas of offshore and international oil and gas exploration and production. She was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 2006 and the Alberta Bar in 2007, and prior to joining Suncor, was the Lead Legal Counsel, Compliance Officer and Secretary for Equinor Canada Ltd. Amanda has worked in Toronto, New York City and Calgary in private practice with two large national law firms, initially with a practice focused on corporate finance, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. She is also an engaged member of several professional associations, including a past Director of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators. Amanda is a native Calgarian, the daughter of a former CBE high school Principal, and a graduate of the CBE system, having attended the French immersion programs at Chinook Park Elementary School, Bishop Pinkham Junior High School and Western Canada High School. She is, and has been, actively involved in the Calgary community in numerous volunteer capacities with a variety of organizations, including the Alberta Ballet Company, National Music Centre and Calgary Opera. Amanda began volunteering with EducationMatters in 2012 as a member of the Student Award Selection Committee and joined the Board of Governors in 2017. Amanda has held the office of Secretary of EducationMatters, and has chaired the Governance and Leadership Committee, since 2019.

Sean Pollock is a Managing Director in the Project Advisory & Finance group at RBC Capital Markets in Calgary. In his current role, Sean focuses on helping energy infrastructure projects structure and arrange financing across bank, bond and other financing markets. He has worked on projects in the renewables (solar, wind, hydro), LNG, pipeline, power, utilities and petrochemical sectors. Sean began his career with RBC Capital Markets in the Energy Investment Group in Calgary in 2007 after receiving a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University. He feels strongly about ensuring all students are given the best chance possible to succeed in school and in life and that a strong public education system is essential to a strong functioning society. In his free time Sean enjoys spending time with his wife and two young sons.

Tarjinder Bhullar is a strategic advisor and communications professional, driven by the goal of supporting individuals and organizations in sharing their stories and fostering a community in where everyone feels they belong, through respectful, equitable and inclusive practices. Tarjinder’s work experience has been focused on the non-profit and public sector, working with Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary, Immigrant Services Calgary, and The City of Calgary.

She currently serves as the director of the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation, determined to continue Manmeet’s lifelong commitment to serve others, advocate for causes and people that need a voice, and encourage young people to realize that they too can make a difference in today’s world, one step, one story at a time. She believes strongly that the role of a strong and sustainable public school education system cannot be underscored.

Tarjinder also serves as a Senator with the University of Calgary and director with the Women in Need Society.

Patricia is proudly serving her first term on the Board of Trustees serving Wards 6 & 7. Patricia brings a broad perspective to the role of Trustee. She is a former teacher, having taught in Edmonton and Calgary-area public schools. She is also an instructor at the University of Calgary’s Werklund School of Education. Patricia holds a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) degree and a Masters of Education (Science) degree, both from the University of Alberta. Patricia is also an active community volunteer and CBE parent.

Patricia believes that a strong, inclusive public education system benefits everyone and that all children deserve access to excellent educational programming. Cities and communities are safer, more productive, and resilient when all students receive high-quality education and are wholly supported. Patricia looks forward to working collaboratively with her fellow trustees, parents, citizens of Calgary, and all stakeholders to continue to advance our world-class education system, the Calgary Board of Education.

Originally from Edmonton, Patricia and her husband Paul have lived in Calgary for almost 25 years and raised their three children (and cats) here. She is an avid sports mom, reader, and gardener. In her downtime, Patricia enjoys travelling and being outdoors in our beautiful city or unwinding at the lake.

Matt Boudreau is currently a Senior Consultant in Financial Planning with IG Wealth Management providing holistic financial planning for business owners and professional families. He has spent the past 16 years in the Financial Service Industry, the past 9 of those years have been in leading teams (1-40 people) and this drives out his passion for complex problem solving, coaching, and developing others. He grew up in New Brunswick, has a Finance and General Business degree from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, and he and his family have chosen Calgary as home for the past 15 years.

Prior to Matt’s banking career he spent 5 years as a teacher in both the public school system in New Brunswick as well as privately in South Korea. He has a passion for education, travel, helping those less fortunate, and bringing the best to the local Calgary community. He has extensive experience in non-profit fundraising and a desire to continuously improve the lives of all those in his community.

Matt is also the co-owner of Five’21 Roasters – a local coffee roasting company which uses much of its’ profits to put back into the community in Calgary through various giving campaigns. Allowing him to align his business acumen and personal/business financial planning to better navigate complex problem solving.

Gerry Burger-Martindale has been a member of EducationMatters Student Awards Selection Committee and Grants Committee since 2009. Gerry actively participates in various EducationMatter functions and events held by schools who have been provided with grants and student awards. She was previously involved in school activities during her daughter’s 13 years within the Calgary Board of Education (CBE). Her positions range from President and Key Communicator within school councils, to leading a city-wide parent advocacy group (that work closely with CBE and Alberta Education), to organizing several Municipal Trustee election forums. She has over 30 years’ experience at the Calgary Public Library and is currently the Central Library’s Senior Transition Lead. In 2001, her passion in education and literacy led her to volunteer within a high school library in South Africa, and in 2007 she and her family worked on an elementary school library project in Tanzania. This is Gerry’s 10th year volunteering with EducationMatters, and she continues to play an active role in advocating the vision and mission of this organization.

Mike Shaikh is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants. He is a Director of various private, public and not-for-profit organizations including a Board Member for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation as well as a past Chair of Calgary Police Commission. As an entrepreneur and businessman, Mike is aligned with the goals of EducationMatters in ensuring students succeed in school and are ready for adult life.

Nikhil Sonpal, the CEO of Mobility Quotient, leads a dynamic digital agency headquartered in Calgary. With a strong background as a serial entrepreneur, he immerses himself in the day-to-day operations, diligently managing geographically dispersed teams. Leveraging his expertise as a seasoned software architect, he drives his team to deliver exceptional mobile app solutions for both Canadian and international markets. As a devoted father of two, he strongly advocates for equal access to high-quality public education, irrespective of socio-economic backgrounds.

Mélanie Sortland is the Manager of Community Initiatives & Events at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and has over 15 years of experience in marketing, communications, project management, community engagement and fund development. She previously worked at Canadian Pacific as the Director of Community Investment, Sponsorships & Events. Since 2018, Mélanie is also the founder and owner of XO Ice Cream & Waffles. Born and raised in France, and a mom of two children, she is a long-time believer that education is the fundamental precondition for strong societies and understands the value of having the best public education system possible in Calgary.