Pat led the growth and impact of Alberta Ecotrust for almost 30 years from a one room nonprofit operation in the early years to the robust and significant entity it is now. She was always driven by a vision of the impacts, partnerships and environmental solutions needed for positive, transformative change. Pat knows that Alberta Ecotrust’s role as a catalyst for collaboration across the landscape of charities and nonprofits, governments, and the industry leads to significant impacts and is a powerful tool for co-designed and shared environmental priorities. 

Pat’s key strengths include building and mentoring strong teams and her ability to strategically pivot and adapt to changing external opportunities and challenges. Working closely with her Board, Pat created and implemented a succession strategy over the past several years that included a shared leadership approach. She is confident the new leadership team will soar to great heights and she is very proud of them and the legacy she leaves. 

Pat is also a devout champion of the charitable and nonprofit sector in Canada. Her decades of experience as a leader in local, provincial and national areas of environmental philanthropy, policy and program design have helped position Alberta Ecotrust as both an innovative environmental and climate funder and a unique and collaborative program delivery lead. 

Her passion and respect for the important role of the nonprofit and environmental sectors saw her contribute her knowledge, experience and expertise in a range of advisory and leadership roles. She served as a mentor to many new leaders in the sector and always sought ways to understand and improve the capacity and connectivity of environmental organizations and to include them in broader community initiatives. 

Pat was a founding director of both the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations and Environment Funders Canada, where she served three separate terms as Chair. For many years, she was a member and then Co-Chair of the Leader’s Council for the Alberta Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Initiative, an advisory committee to the Alberta Minister of Culture and Status of Women. Pat currently sits on the national board of the Clean Economy Fund and serves as Chair of the City of Calgary’s Climate Advisory Committee. 

For her leadership and collective contributions to her community, Pat was awarded both the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals. She was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alberta Emerald Foundation. 

Outside of work, she has developed a love of watercolour painting, is an avid gardener and spends a lot of time with her granddaughter, family and friends. She is often found at the end of a long day reading in a quiet, comfy corner.