Leadership and Board of Directors
CCASA Leadership
Danielle Aubry, Executive Director
Danielle Aubry began her career in anti-violence work 26 years ago as a volunteer and progressed to a variety of positions including educator, shelter worker, and therapist. She is the Executive Director at CCASA, and founded the agency in her home in 1994. Her work in establishing CCASA as a stable presence in the community earned her national recognition in 1998 when she was awarded one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 leadership and management awards.
Danielle holds both a Bachelor and Master’s degree in social work from the University of Calgary, with a Master’s focus on management, community development, organizations and policy. Her Master’s thesis specifically explored the potential of collaboration between social service agencies. In 2007 she was awarded a Muttart Foundation Fellowship Grant to further her study into forms of consolidation for not-for-profit organizations.
Danielle has been heavily involved in the creation and development of Connect Family and Sexual Abuse Network www.connectnetwork.ca . She is a member of the Connect Strategic Planning Committee, and believes Connect is a vital collaboration to provide a complete range of services for the people of Calgary and area affected by family and sexual violence.
CCASA Board of Directors
The members of CCASA’s Board of Directors are elected from and by the agency’s membership. The Board of Directors consists of 5-6 elected individuals who work closely with CCASA’s Executive Director and leadership team (but are not involved in the day to day work of the agency) to establish the strategic direction of the agency so to ensure the strongest service and program delivery for our community members and CCASA clients and accountability and ongoing growth for the organization
Tanya Clarke – President
Tanya Clarke received a Bachelor of Social Sciences Degree, with a Concentration in Criminology from the University of Ottawa in 1994. Tanya felt her career was best directed in the Law field and received her LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1997. She then went on to complete her articling year at the Calgary Crown Prosecutors’ Office from 1997 – 1998 and became a Crown Prosecutor with Alberta Justice from 1998 – 2003. Today Tanya spends her time devoted to the upbringing of her family, and is heavily involved in the school community. She is the co-chair of the Royal Oak School Council and sits on the Royal Oak School Fundraising Society.
Leigh Anne Sturmy – Vice President
Leigh Anne Sturmy provides a variety of valuation-related services. She has valuation experience working with both public and private companies across many industries relating to mergers and acquisitions, diverstitures, purchase-price allocations, intangible assets, income tax reorganizations and other financial reporting services. Leigh Anne joined the Valuation & Business Modelling Group in 2007. Before joining the Group, Leigh Anne worked in Ernst & Young’s audit practice for six years in both Halifax and Calgary. She holds her CA and Chartered Business Valuator designations as well as a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Saint Francis Xavier University.
Deniece Kennedy – Treasurer
Deniece Kennedy is a chartered accountant with seventeen years of progressive management experience focused on accounting, finance, tax and corporate strategy. Deniece is currently the Senior Director, Business Intelligence and Special Projects with the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation where she is responsible for financial modelling, strategic analysis and special projects such as CalgaryNext. Previously, Deniece was employed by Deloitte, the Government of Alberta, and BDO Dunwoody where her focus was corporate income tax in the energy sector.
Arleigh Vasconcellos – Secretary
Arleigh Vasconcellos has volunteered for various organisations for the past 15 years including but not limited to; Whistler Adaptive Ski Program, Calgary Women’s Emergency Centre, The Kerby Centre, and the University of Ottawa Career Centre. She brings her expertise from the PR, communications and marketing sector. She currently runs her own PR firm and has a BA in communications.
Sherry MacDonald – Director
Sherry MacDonald has been a CCASA Board of Directors member since 2007. Sherry is currently the Vice President – Finance, at Big Country Energy Services, a Western Canadian oil and gas services company. Previously, Sherry was employed at Ernst & Young LLP as a Senior Manager in their Assurance and Audit Services group and has a combined 11 years experience in public accounting. She earned her BBA (accounting) and a BIS (information systems) from Saint Francis Xavier University and is a Chartered Accountant.
Dr. Janne A. Holmgren – Director
Dr. Janne A. Holmgren is tenured faculty in the Department of Justice Studies and the Director of the Centre for Criminology and Justice Research at Mount Royal University. Originally studying molecular biology, Dr. Holmgren decided to combine criminology and science which led to her interest in forensic science and the use of forensic technology in the courts. Dr. Holmgren’s research focus is on DNA evidence and the evolution of this technology in the criminal justice system. In addition, Dr. Holmgren is a consultant to defence lawyers on issues related to DNA evidence. Dr. Holmgren prefers a multi-method research approach, using both statistical analysis and qualitative interviews. Of newest interest is the MAOA genotyping initiatives around the world and research related to nurturing child development and the implications of maltreatment of children.
Ken Merritt – Director
Ken and his family have enjoyed an active lifestyle in Calgary for the past 27 years and are committed to helping build healthier and stronger communities. Ken holds a Bachelor of Science (Business Administration) and a Masters of Business Administration degree. He has a passion for the Energy business, and his professional life has included direct work experience with industry leaders and 6 successful organizations over his 30 year career. Ten of these years have been spent as an Executive Officer with large, publicly traded Energy midstream companies. Ken is currently Vice President, Business Development at AltaGas Ltd., one of Canada’s largest and most successful Energy midstream companies. Ken’s interests include sports (shinny hockey with friends, golf, and Shotokan karate), travel, yard work, and enjoying long family walks with their dog Charlie.
Sarah Jesberger – Director
Sarah Jesberger is a new member of the CCASA board and this is her first board position. Sarah graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 2008 and has been a Chartered Accountant since 2010. Sarah currently works in the Treasury group of a pipeline company and previously worked in audit and assurance for PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
Desmond (Des) Biss – Director
Desmond Biss holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree with a Major in Marketing and is a certified Change Management practitioner. He has lead a versatile career in Oil & Gas operations, Marketing Communications, and in Telecom leadership roles focused on enhancing customer experience through continuous improvement and effective change strategy. He is presently establishing himself as a consultant to aid organizations in growing value by addressing the people side of change and by promoting adoption and usage of change solutions.
At both a professional and personal level, Desmond is driven and passionate about growth, learning, and positive change. As someone who was impacted by child sexual abuse, he recognized opportunity through his own healing journey to change the context in which we as a society respond to child sexual abuse. Des is committed to growing the general awareness of the dedicated support and healing resources that are available for men and women alike.
