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.

Uche Adiele is an experienced finance and business professional with over nine years of experience focused on business and financial analysis, financial and other kinds of modelling, feasibility studies, strategy and business planning.

Having worked with two of the Big Four professional services firms (PwC & EY) and Johnson & Johnson, Uche currently works with Aurinia Pharmaceuticals in North America as a Financial Planning & Analysis Manager. In addition to this, he is an adjunct Lecturer at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) where he teaches various courses in the Business School.

Uche currently serves as a volunteer mentor with Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CRIEC), where he helps new immigrants to Canada on ways to transition into the work place, and he is a Volunteer mentor with Calgary Black Chambers where he mentors students on career and other life decisions. He is also a board member of Verona townhomes in Calgary.

Joy is the Chief Executive Officer of the Alex Community Health Centre, as well as a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary in the Cumming School of Medicine. She is passionate about advocating for the things that matter most to her, including access to healthcare, a strong public education system, and a strong social sector that is focused on the wellness of all. She spends her career challenging the status quo and loves connecting and working with others who feel the same way.

Joy was elected as a Trustee with the Calgary Board of Education in 2010 and served as Board Chair from 2014-2017. Following public service, Joy worked for the United Way as the Director of Government Relations, working with local non-profits to advocate for good public policy. Joy is Vice-Chair of the Board for the Canadian Association of Community Health Centres, serves as a member on the City of Calgary’s Social and Wellbeing Advisory Committee and the Family, Community and Social Services Committee, and Co-Chairs the Calgary Social Policy Collaborative.

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.

Gerry 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.

Bio coming soon!

Charlene is currently serving her first term as a publicly elected trustee with the CBE, representing Wards 12 & 14 in Southeast Calgary. Her two children attend their local CBE school.

Charlene was born in Calgary and spent her early elementary years in the northeast before moving to an acreage and graduating from Chestermere High School. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Environmental Management from Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alberta. She worked professionally in oilfield reclamation and hazardous waste removal before opening home-based childcare.

Charlene is passionate about the importance of play in communities, natural spaces, and outdoor education. She is active in her community, acting as secretary for her community association  and previously volunteered for parent council and Girl Guides of Canada.  She is proud to have worked with a variety of stakeholders to replace two aging community playgrounds and continues with this work. She is excited to represent Wards 12 & 14 and Calgarians as a whole to strengthen public education and advocate for our students.

Jody leads the development and execution of De Havilland Aircraft of Canada’s internal and external communications, community engagement, and brand marketing strategies. Her previous roles at Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta included focusing on advocating for affordable housing in Alberta and elevating Habitat’s brand position as an affordable home developer. Jody spent 17 years in aviation, leading communications, government affairs and marketing at the Calgary Airport Authority where she spearheaded the corporate reputation team, providing strategic guidance, leading media relations, crisis communications and stakeholder engagement and community relations strategies.

She’s a born and raised Calgarian with degrees from the University of Calgary, graduating with a BA – Communications and the University of Lethbridge graduating with a – BMgmt in Marketing.

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.

Susan is currently serving as a publicly elected Trustee with the CBE, representing the 180,000 Calgarians who live in Ward 8 and Ward 9, in south-central Calgary.

With a BA (Political Science) and an MBA, both from the University of Alberta, Susan has over 20 years of experience with policy analysis, strategic planning, community engagement and fund development. She previously worked at the Government of Alberta, the City of Calgary, and as a consultant in the private and not-for-profit sectors.

A long-time community volunteer, she has served as the Chair of the school council at her children’s school, a Board member with the Marda Loop Communities Association, the President of the Cougar Ridge Residents Association, a member of an Investment Committee with the United Way of Calgary & Area, an accredited Leader with La Leche League Canada, a Board member with the Friends of the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village society, and the Vice-Chair of the Edmonton Transit System Advisory Board.

Susan and her husband, Stephen, have three lovely children who all attend CBE schools—one in high school, one in middle school, and one in elementary.