Meet Our Board of Directors

Jonathan is a professional in the learning & leadership development space with experience in multiple sectors, including energy, non-profit, regulatory, and government. Jonathan worked with Suncor Energy for over a decade, and previously served as chief operating officer with the LeadWell Foundation, as vice president of accreditation with the Certified Management Accountants of Alberta, a consultant with the Calgary Centre for Non-Profit Management, a programs officer and Associate, Finance with the Parliamentary Centre in Ottawa, and served as an advisor to the Canadian delegation to the North Atlantic Assembly (subsequently the NATO Parliamentary Assembly).

Since 2010, Jonathan has been CEO, co-founder and co-curator with TEDxCalgary, and has served on a number of local and national boards, including chairing the board of the Canadian Community Leadership Network. Jonathan holds a B.A. (Honours) in Political Science and History from Carleton University, and a Master’s in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs.

Lieutenant-Colonel Martin embarked on his military journey in 1972 serving with the Governor General's Foot Guards in Ottawa. Progressing through various ranks and courses, he transitioned to officer training in 1974 while attending Carleton University and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1977. 
 
Over the years, he undertook progressively challenging logistics roles across different military units and headquarters, showcasing his expertise in both command and staff positions.
Lieutenant-Colonel Martin’s assignments involved commanding Transport, Administration, and Supply units, as well as serving as a quartermaster and logistics operations officer. 

Noteworthy deployments include serving as the 1 PPCLI Quartermaster in Cyprus in 1984 and as the first Canadian G4 in the former Yugoslavia. Lieutenant-Colonel Martin also pursued professional development through courses such as Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff, Advanced Logistics Officers, and Joint Reserve and Staff.
 
Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 2001, he held significant roles such as Commanding Officer of 14 (Calgary) Service Battalion, Deputy Commander of 41 Canadian Brigade Group, and Canadian Forces Liaison Officer for South Alberta until his retirement in 2012. 
 
Beyond his military career, he ventured into education and the private sector, working with the Calgary Board of Education, General Dynamics Canada, and the Corps of Commissionaires. His final employment was as a Business Strategist with The City of Calgary.

Alex is a chartered professional accountant (CPA) and certified general accountant (CGA) with over 15 years of accounting and finance experience in the construction, oil and gas service, banking, and not-for profit fields. He holds a bachelor’s degree in geophysics and geology. He is currently a part of the finance team within the City of Calgary supporting the Recreation business unit.

Chinyere currently works with the Canada Revenue Agency and is a reservist with HMCS Tecumseh. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos and is a Payroll Compliance Practitioner. She is currently pursuing a Professional Masters in Public Administration from Queens University. Chinyere is married to Charles, who is also a reservist, and they have three children.

Glen grew up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and graduated from what is now called Sask. Polytechnic Moose Jaw. An Instrumentation diploma brought him a long career in Steel, Oil & Gas and Petrochemical industries including many successful Industrial projects.

Moving to Alberta with his wife Diane for one of the oil booms in 1977 they have remained in Alberta since that time. Since 1981 he has resided in Red Deer, Alberta.

The family was started in Red Deer with 2 boys and a girl and now 2 grandchildren have been added also in Red Deer.

Glen’s oldest Son Drew joined the RCCS reserves out of Red Deer in 2001 and has served on tours in Goland Heights and Afghanistan. Drew is presently a Master Warrant Officer with the Signal Core in Red Deer.

Although active in many sports over the years Glen has now retired from Martial Arts and plans to stay with some pickle ball and attend the gym every morning he can.

Major Krissy Doner and her two siblings grew up in British Columbia’s (BCs) lower mainland and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (SK). She participated in the Air Cadet Program, competed in Highland dancing, and enjoyed outdoor activities with her family.

Between 1992 and 1996, Major Doner participated in cadet activities at 637 Arrow, Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron (RCACS) in Burnaby, BC and 107 Spitfire, RCACS in Saskatoon, SK. After volunteering with 2293 North Saskatchewan Regiment, Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, she joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as a Cadet Instructor Cadre officer in 1998.

Between 1998 and 2008, Major Doner filled a range of positions in corps and squadrons across the prairies as a part-time member including Cadet Expedition Site staff, Logistics Officer and Directing staff with the Regional Cadet Instructor School. In addition, she attended Cadet Training Centres for 6 years. In 2009, Major Doner earned full-time employment with the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Northwest) as the Area Cadet Officer (Army) in southern Alberta. As a passionate seeker of knowledge, she has insured continued professional development within the CAF and externally.

Major Doner studied Kinesiology and Education at the University of Saskatchewan and spent her early career working in the fitness and outdoor industries.

Major Doner is an outdoor enthusiast who is actively involved with her local community in Airdrie, Alberta and enjoys quality time with her family.

As a senior lawyer, Tom, in drawing on proven leadership and strategic planning capabilities, provides broad based legal advisory services on a variety of resource-based projects with a national and international perspective. 

Tom is active in the community, sitting on boards for not-for-profit organizations, has coached hockey at the Junior level and with Hockey Canada coaching high performance hockey development camps provincially, and has instructed hockey with the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary. Tom is also a certified outdoor alpine instructor and is active in mountaineering participating in alpine and ice climbs in the Canadian Cordillera, Alaska, and Karakoram.  A former commissioned officer of the Canadian Armed Forces, outdoor specialist for specific army units, and as a former pilot has assisted in delivering Power Pilot Training for air cadets.  

Kate is an award-winning business leader, formally recognized as one of Alberta’s Top 100 Outstanding Citizens. Corporately, she led the public affairs departments of two leading North America energy companies. As an entrepreneur, her company launched 650 small and medium-sized businesses and created small business training programs to help Veterans and persons with disabilities become self sufficient through self employment. Kate’s highly acclaimed ‘tactics for success’ work search program helped 3,500 unemployed management and professionals find jobs. She has provided expertise to hundreds of diverse clients across the province and worked as a consultant and project manager on seven Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A community builder, Kate has served as a director on 18 non-profits and three for-profit boards, including the Calgary Stampede where she was appointed its liaison to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Kate is a Founder of Arts Commons, the Jubilee Auditoria Foundation, and the Calgary Winter and First Night Festivals. In support of community initiatives, she has helped raise $150 million for iconic facilities in Calgary and Edmonton, secured $5 million in sponsorships, and $3 million ‘in-kind’ donations.

Kate is the recipient of many honors and awards such as The Canadian Armed Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service, the YWCA ‘She Who Dares’ Award recognizing her significant impact on the City of Calgary, the Alberta Small Business Award of Distinction, and a Vancouver 2010, Integrated Joint Security Forces Leadership Award. Kate holds an MBA, is a ‘Fellow’ Certified Management Consultant, a lifetime champion of the CAF, and an entrepreneur with western values.

Lieutenant Colonel Sealy-Thompson joined the British Army in 1984 and after completing his officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1986.

He spent his early career as a combat engineer commander in UK, Germany and Northern Ireland, qualifying as an Army Diver, Diving Supervisor, Weapons and Explosive Search Advisor and Parachutist.

As a Major he completed an extended period with a specialist intelligence organisation in Northern Ireland, before serving as a staff officer in the UK’s Ist Armoured Division Headquarters. He commanded an Armoured Engineer Squadron in Germany; including tours in Poland, Kenya and Northern Ireland. Post command, he served as the Principal Engineer Training Officer at the British Army’s Training Unit at CFB Suffield.

Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2004, he assumed responsibility for coordinating the British Army’s engineering operations in Iraq, before commanding at the British Army’s Combat Engineer School. This included leading training teams to Cyprus, Nigeria, Kenya and Colombia. He attended the Australian Advanced Command and Staff Course, where he was awarded the Governor General of Australia’s Sword, as the best student in his year.

Posted to Paris, he planned and coordinated the European Union’s military deployment to Central Africa, before commanding the Army’s Adventurous Training Group and subsequently the British Garrison in Kabul, Afghanistan. His last job before retirement from the British Army was as Commander of the UK’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation, responsible for the training estate in Canada and Belize.

Having gained Canadian citizenship, Lieutenant Colonel Sealy-Thompson joined the Army Reserve in December 2017 in the rank of Major as the Officer Commanding 33 Engineer Squadron, based in Calgary. He completed a short-term training team deployment to Morocco in 2018. He was appointed as the CFLC LO in September 2019 in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and subsequently appointed Deputy Commander 41 Canadian Brigade Group in September 2022.

Lieutenant Colonel Sealy-Thompson has completed 11 operational tours of duty, including the Falkland Islands, five tours of Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Chad, Central African Republic, Columbia, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded commendations by the Queen for his service in Northern Ireland and by the Head of the Canadian Forces for his service in Afghanistan. He holds a post graduate diploma in Defence Studies, an MA in Strategy and Management and an MBA. He is member of the City and Guilds Institute and the Institution of Royal Engineers.

In his civilian employment he works for ATCO as the General Manager for their USA operations. He resides in the Foothills with his wife Lesley and their teenage children Alexandra and James.