Leadership

Moving our community forward

Our Story

At Glenbow, we are committed to being approachable, inclusive and authentic. We know that memorable encounters with art, culture and history can change lives and inspire amazing things. Our leadership, board members and employees work diligently to provide art experiences that invite new perspectives, spark creativity and move our community forward.

Senior Leadership Team

Led by President & CEO Nicholas R. Bell, our leadership team is committed to the success of the museum, its employees and volunteers, and the Calgary community as a whole. 

Nicholas R. Bell

President & CEO

Originally from Vancouver, Nicholas joined Glenbow in 2019 from his position as Senior Vice President for Curatorial Affairs at Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut. Nicholas launched a formidable exhibitions program during his three years at the preeminent American maritime museum. He previously served as The Fleur and Charles Bresler Curator-in-Charge of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC, where he led the Renwick’s relaunch, increasing attendance from 150,000 annually to one million. In 2023, Nicholas was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of his service to community. Nicholas is an author and editor of over ten books on art, museums, and contemporary culture and offers a proven background in spearheading change and successfully implementing strategic initiatives.

Melanie Kjorlien

VP Engagement & COO

Melanie Kjorlien has held several positions at Glenbow over the last 12 years, including Director of Knowledge Management, VP of Access, Collections and Exhibitions and now COO and VP, Engagement. Throughout her career, Melanie has been motivated by her genuine passion for art and culture and the value they bring to our communities. Melanie’s background has encompassed journalism and media, website and digital project management, curating and teaching. Melanie is an award-winning writer and editor and has edited several publications on various aspects of Canadian art history.

Vincent Mak

VP Strategy & CFO

Vincent Mak joined Glenbow in 2021 and is a CPA, CMA with extensive experience in costing and profitability, finance, and business transformation. Prior to joining to Glenbow, Vince has served in various senior leadership roles, primarily in the transportation sector, most notably as the Director of Internal Costing and Profitability at Canadian Pacific Railway and Head of Finance and Strategy at Swoop Inc. 

Stephanie Pahl

Chief of Staff

Stephanie Pahl joined Glenbow in 2021 as Chief of Staff, leading Glenbow’s people and culture portfolio and acting as strategic partner to the President & CEO and Senior Leadership Team. Stephanie previously held several positions in fundraising and executive leadership at National Music Centre, most notably as Chief of Staff and Senior Director, Administration where she led operations in visitor experience, business development, human resources, and information technology. A graduate of MacEwan University’s Arts & Cultural Management program, Stephanie is Chair of the Alberta Music board of directors and is an active participant and volunteer in arts and culture initiatives in Calgary.

Board of Governors 2023 - 2024

The Glenbow-Alberta Institute, operating as the Glenbow Museum, is governed by a Board of Governors. The Board is comprised of a minimum of 12 governors to a maximum of 24 members, eight of whom are appointed by the Board, two by the Devonian Foundation, and the remaining 13 elected by the members of the Institute. The President and CEO automatically becomes a Governor upon their appointment.

Lori Van Rooijen

Chair

Lori Van Rooijen (Calgary, Alberta) joined Glenbow’s Board in 2015. She is President of Larkspur Consulting Inc. (LCI). Over her 35-year career, Ms. Van Rooijen has been involved in and responsible for city and community building projects totaling over $950 million.

Ms. Van Rooijen specializes in projects that are highly complex, involving stakeholders with diverse views and opinions. In the last 10 years, she has been project director on some of southern Alberta’s most impactful public projects including the YW Hub facility in Inglewood, Sheriff King Site redevelopment, the new Red Crow Community College in Stand Off, Alberta, the Blood Tribe’s 50-year Community Plan, Inn from the Cold’s new Family Hub with HomeSpace, Kainai Board of Education Aahsaopi School, Rundle Academy Capital project Vecova’s Centre for All Abilities and several affordable housing projects. Prior to that, she was involved in several larger public projects including the 2005 renovation of the Alberta Jubilee Auditoria, U of C’s Taylor Family Digital Library, the TELUS Spark, and the Reynolds Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin.

She was recently honored with an Indigenous name – Pii’Takii (Eagle Woman) by Kainai Elders for her contribution to and work on the Blood Reserve.

I am excited about our ability to shift the fundamental purpose and future of museums across the country and beyond. Museums are seen by many as colonial institutions, often telling stories of only one part of our society. Our communities are so much more than this. I believe that with Glenbow Reimagined, we will be able to create new connections with our audiences. We’re building more spaces for active dialogue and display; spaces that will foster understanding and truth. Ultimately, we are building a more inclusive environment that values the stories and learnings of so many more members of our diverse community.

Patricia Phillips

Co-Vice Chair & Campaign Co-Chair

Patricia Phillips (Calgary, Alberta) joined Glenbow’s Board in 2019 and currently serves as the Chair of the Development Committee. She is CEO of PBA Land & Development. While she has worked in various industries from finance to energy, she remains a developer at heart with a passion for creating communities and connecting people to make space for dreams.

I see Glenbow as both a mirror and a light to our great city. A mirror, in that its relative youth gives it a distinctive energy and dynamism and sense of potential. A light, in that it has a special place in our hearts and minds; Glenbow has the ability to offer us new ways to experience not simply art but a rediscovery of our self, our culture, history, and community. Glenbow adds an extraordinary cultural vibrancy to Calgary as a world class Canadian cultural centre. I am committed to executing on Glenbow’s innovative expansion and programming.

John R. Whelan

Co-Vice Chair & Chair, Project Oversight Committee

John R. Whelan (Calgary, Alberta) joined Glenbow’s Board in 2020. Mr. Whelan is currently Senior Vice President, Conventional and Heavy Oil at Exxon Mobil, and was most recently Vice President, Heavy Oil at Exxon Mobil, and Senior Vice President, Imperial Oil, leading Imperial’s Upstream oil and gas organization. A professional engineer with 30+ years of oil and gas experience, Mr. Whelan has extensive experience and expertise in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, project management, business planning and stakeholder management.

This is an exciting time for Glenbow. Arts and culture is an important part of a strong society and I am excited about the role Glenbow will play as a vibrant and open cultural institution contributing to economic diversification, public dialogue and indigenous reconciliation. In particular, our vision of radical access for all really inspires me. I am honoured to work with such a dedicated, capable and diverse leadership team and Board. I look forward to using my industry experience to contribute in any way I can.

Read John R. Whelan’s full bio

Daniel J. Brant

Governor

Daniel J. Brant (Tyendinaga Territory, Ontario) Joined Glenbow’s Board in 2021. Mr. Brant is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte in southern Ontario. He lives and works in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, the ninth largest First Nation in Canada. He was formerly CEO of the Assembly of First Nations, the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA), and the Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation. He has been involved in both government and private sector around Indigenous governance, policy and development and has a long history of working with First Nations and has been in over 300 First Nations communities over his career. He has worked with Indigenous youth issues and co-founded the Young Entrepreneurs Symposium, (YES) an annual event that is dedicated to supporting leadership development for Indigenous youth. Similarly, he is supporting a youth oriented non-profit, Outside Looking In, participating as a Board member. He is a patron of Indigenous arts and has supported Indigenous expression in a number of cultural forms.

Kara Brennan

Governor

Kara Brennan (Calgary, AB) Kara is an Executive Director with a 25-year career in KPMG’s Audit practice. She is also a Certified Interior Decorator. Her career at KPMG has evolved into a unique audit quality role. She currently plays a key position in supporting the Calgary Audit group by developing and delivering training implementing KPMG’s audit methodology and supporting the group’s Professional Practice Partners regarding risk management and regulatory matters. She is a subject matter expert on internal control over financial reporting (ICOFR), covering both manual and automated controls.

George Brookman

Governor

George Brookman (Calgary, AB) George Brookman is the principal shareholder of West Canadian Digital Imaging which he acquired in 1984 after a successful career in Real Estate Development with Manulife and ATCO. He is a significant community contributor through a wide range of charitable and not for profit endeavors and major fundraising projects. He is Past President of both the Calgary Stampede and The Rotary Club of Calgary and numerous public, private and not for profit boards including the Chair of Dean’s Circle for the University of Calgary Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Landscape.

Chris Chan

Governor

Chris Chan (Calgary, Alberta) joined Glenbow’s Board in 2017. He is President of W. Chan Investments Ltd. managing a broad retail and real estate portfolio. He has 35+ years experience in national food service and hospitality as well as developing commercial properties across Canada.

Glenbow is a wonderful and important institution; I joined the Board because I wanted to help give back to a city that has been so great to me and my family. I feel privileged to be part of the group that will be able to re-shape what Glenbow will be for decades. This effort is driven by the incredible leadership and vision of our CEO Nicholas Bell, as well as the support, knowledge, expertise and hard work of The Board of Governors and the Glenbow team.

Ken Fetherstonhaugh

Chair, Audit/Investment Committee

Ken Fetherstonhaugh (Winnipeg, Manitoba) joined Glenbow’s board in 2015 and currently serves as Chair of the Audit/Investment Committee. He is Vice President and Managing Director – Prairies, RBC Phillips, Hager & North Investment Counsel Inc. Ken’s career spans 20+ years in financial services all based in the Prairies, with a blend of executive/strategic leadership and specialized client focused roles across corporate finance, credit risk management and private wealth.

One can sum up the opportunity ahead of us in our foundational belief that “Art is for Everyone.” It is more than just renovating our building – the most visible of the changes we are making at the Glenbow. Rather, the biggest opportunity for us is to engage in having the important discussions about what a truly open, inclusive and equitable Glenbow can mean for our community, in Calgary and the rest of Canada.

Ryan R. Green

Chair, Collections & Access Committee

Ryan Green (Calgary, Alberta) joined the Board in 2020 and is Chair of the Collections & Access Committee. Mr. Green is the president and owner of Masters Gallery Ltd. He has over 20 years of experience as a dealer of Canadian historical, post war and contemporary art with a specialty in Group of Seven and mid-century Quebec Abstraction.

Allison Hakomaki

Governor

Allison Hakomaki (Calgary, Alberta) joined Glenbow’s Board in 2023. Allison is an experienced banking executive with more than 25 years of experience in commercial and corporate banking, strategy and leadership. Most recently she was the Senior Vice President and Head of Prairies for BMO’s Commercial Bank where she was accountable for the management of all of the Commercial Bank’s lines of business, products, and services for the Prairies region (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). Allison joined BMO in 1997 as a Commercial Account Manager trainee in Toronto and progressed through various roles in Commercial Banking, Headquarters and Corporate Finance. In May 2012, she was appointed District Vice President, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and then Atlantic Canada Regional Vice President, Commercial Bank, Canada in August 2013.
Allison holds an MBA from Queen’s University, is a Chartered Professional Accountant and earned an undergraduate degree in business from Wilfrid Laurier University. Passionate about the community, Allison has held a number of volunteer positions with Rotary, Canadian Women’s Foundation, Stampede and the United Way of Calgary and Area.

Kathryn Heath

Co-Chair, Governance

Kathryn Heath (Calgary, Alberta) joined Glenbow’s Board in 2015 and currently serves as Co-Chair, Governance Committee. She is a retired corporate lawyer with 30 years of counsel and executive experience in domestic and international companies in the private and public sectors.

I’m excited about our programs for innovative exhibitions. We are creating experiences that bring our collections to life and appeal to diverse interests, and that reflect our community. All this will soon take place in a beautifully reimagined building that will function as a gathering and learning place and a cultural hub.

Dr. Catherine Hoppers

Governor

Dr. Catherine Odora Hoppers (Gulu, Uganda) joined Glenbow’s Board in 2021.
Dr. Hoppers is a Ugandan scholar and policy specialist on international development, education, disarmament, peace, and human security. She led the task team that drafted the Indigenous knowledge systems policy that impacted sector ministries, science councils and universities in post-Apartheid South Africa. She is founder and director of Global Institute for Applied Governance in Science, Knowledge Systems and Innovations and an expert for UNESCO, UN Department of Disarmament Affairs, World Economic Forum, and World Intellectual Property Organization.

Dr. Leroy Little Bear

Governor

Dr. Leroy Little Bear (Lethbridge, Alberta) joined Glenbow’s Board in 2021. Dr. Little Bear is an Elder of the Blood Tribe (Kainai First Nation) in Lethbridge, Alberta where he was born and raised and currently lives. He is a lawyer and educator interested in the advancement of North American Indigenous knowledge as an academic discipline. He founded the Native American Studies Program at Harvard University, and is the longtime leader of the Native American Studies Program at the University of Lethbridge. His work with the United Nations helped to establish a working group on Indigenous populations that originated the concept and initial draft of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He previously served on the board of the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Zai Mamdani

Governor

Zai Mamdani (Calgary, Alberta) joined Glenbow’s Board in 2019. She is a trusted leader and relationship builder in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Her most recent role has been providing leadership and guidance at Strategic Group, a company she co-founded, in support of the organization’s vision for community partnerships and corporate sponsorships.

What excites me most about Glenbow’s future is the plan to renovate and re-imagine the building as a national and international icon. Glenbow has an amazing collection, and the new spaces will allow us to really showcase our artistic and cultural history, as well as our heritage. Glenbow will attract world renowned artists and exhibitions right here in Calgary.

Zach Parston

Governor

Zach Parston (Calgary, AB) Zach is an Advisory Partner at KPMG, where he specializes in the development of major and complex infrastructure projects and has a focus on energy transformation and economic development. Zach has advised executive leadership and corporate boards on governance of capital programs, including energy clients, major utilities, and public institutions in Calgary and across Canada. His areas of expertise include project governance and delivery, capital prioritization, asset decarbonization, and organizational management, all underpinned by a strong understanding of commercial and risk management.

Heather Shaw

Governor

Heather Shaw (Calgary, Alberta) joined Glenbow’s Board in 2022. Ms. Shaw is the Executive Chair of Corus Entertainment and has held the position since its inception in September 1999. Ms. Shaw holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta and an MBA from the Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario. Ms. Shaw is a Director of several private companies and past Director of Shaw Communications Inc. and Shawcor Ltd. Ms. Shaw is a Director of Shaw Family Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded in 1970.  Ms. Shaw is the founder and Managing Director of The Shawana Foundation, a Calgary-based philanthropic organization.

Jean Teillet

Co-Chair, Governance

Jean Teillet (Vancouver, British Columbia) joined Glenbow’s Board in 2021 and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Governance Committee. Ms. Teillet is a member of the Métis Nation and the great grandniece of Louis Riel. She is a lawyer, author and lecturer who has focused her career on changing and influencing Indigenous rights, women’s rights, and human rights. She has appeared in landmark Indigenous rights cases before the Supreme Court of Canada and was Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Indigenous Bar Association of Canada. Jean’s early career was deeply rooted in the arts – acting, choreographing, dancing, producing, and directing for theatre. Her book The North-West is Our Mother was on The Globe and Mail’s top 100 books of 2019 and won the Carol Shield’s Winnipeg Book Award and the Manitoba Day Award.

Glenbow Ambassadors

Glenbow Ambassadors assist with the business associated with a Board committee and are invited to sit on the committee by the committee Chair.

Jim McLeod

Project Oversight Committee, Campaign Committee, and Collections & Access Committee

Eileen Stan

Project Oversight Committee

Holly Wennerstrom

Campaign Committee

Standards and Ethics

The Board of Governors is committed to the highest standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct its duties and responsibilities. The Board will foster an environment where all Directors, officers, employees and volunteers of Glenbow can report violations or questionable conduct, which is suspected to be unethical, dishonest or fraudulent without retribution if the report is made honestly and in good faith.

Glenbow’s Whistleblower Policy states that Glenbow employees and volunteers can anonymously forward concerns/complaints to a confidential email address received by the Chair of the Audit Committee. The procedures outlined in the Whistleblower Policy document are intended to ensure that any such complaints and concerns are promptly and effectively addressed.

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