Staff

Caroline Schultz – Executive Director

Caroline has directed Ontario Nature’s programs and operations since 2005. Caroline previously served as conservation director for the Canadian Nature Federation for 10 years, leading the organization’s national advocacy, science and stewardship programs. She was also chair of BirdLife International’s Americas regional council, helping to develop and lead a partnership of national member NGOs from more than 17 countries to advance biodiversity conservation throughout the region. Caroline holds an M.Sc. in ecology and a Masters of Management degree in voluntary sector leadership.

Kamilla Molnar – Director of Finance and Administration

Kamilla joined Ontario Nature in December 2013. She grew up in Budapest, Hungary, lived in Rome, Italy and started her career in the hospitality industry before moving to Ontario. She immediately fell in love with the natural beauty of the vast Canadian landscapes. Kamilla is a seasoned accountant with extensive senior management experience. She obtained her designation at the Certified General Accountants of Ontario in 2006 and is an active member of the Canadian Payroll Association. Kamilla is a voluntary board member and treasurer of the Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada. She likes the great outdoors, exploring ancient civilizations and travelling.

Mishelle MacDonald – Executive Assistant

Mishelle joined Ontario Nature in August of 2017. She started volunteering at the age of 11 at the Wild Bird Care Centre in Ottawa and has continued to rescue wildlife ever since. Mishelle studied business management at Algonquin College and continued with a business accounting diploma in 2017. In between school and work, she has camped across nature areas in Canada with her dog – Tasha. An avid traveler, Mishelle has been to over 20 countries. In her spare time, Mishelle cycles around Toronto and brews kombucha. 

Conservation & Education

Anne Bell – Director of Conservation and Education

Anne has been directing Ontario Nature’s conservation and education programs since 2007. She holds a Ph.D. in environmental studies and has almost 20 years of experience working as an environmental educator, researcher and advocate for government and non-profit organizations. Anne loves to go birding, camping, swimming, and skiing and to play hockey with her husband and two young daughters, Kestrel and Castilleja. 

Julee Boan – Boreal Program Manager, Thunder Bay office

Based in our Thunder Bay office, Julee leads our northern programming as our boreal program manager. She works collaboratively with local conservation groups, First Nations, and industry to seek environmentally responsible approaches to economic development in northern Ontario. She completed a Ph.D. in forest sciences with research focused on mitigating the impact of industrial logging on woodland caribou. She is currently sitting on the board of directors for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Canada, and is a member of Ontario’s Forest Carbon Technical Working Group. When she isn’t pounding the pavement advocating for environmental sustainability, she putters at her hobby farm and shares her love of the outdoors in northern Ontario with her son Simon. 

Sarah Hedges – Conservation Partnerships and Education Manager

Sarah joined Ontario Nature in August 2010. In her current role, she oversees the organization’s partnerships with farmers, Indigenous communities and youth. Sarah holds a B.Sc. in environmental science from Queen’s University and has had significant experience working with youth at a summer camp and an outdoor education centre. Sarah spends her free time at family cottages in Gananoque and Bancroft. She also enjoys international travel and dragon boating. 

Tanya Pulfer – Conservation Science Manager

Tanya manages both the citizen science and nature reserves programs. Tanya grew up in a farming family in rural Ontario where she developed a love for the rural landscape and the biodiversity it hosts. She has a joint B.Sc. in environment science and biology, M.Sc. in ecology and B.Ed. focusing on outdoor education. Before joining Ontario Nature in 2013, Tanya worked for several conservation organizations including Florida Marine Research Institute, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Lanark Stewardship Council and the Natural Heritage Information Centre – where she worked on the first Ontario Herpetofauna Summary.

Christine Ambre – Conservation and Education Coordinator

Christine started volunteering for Ontario Nature in spring 2015, then joined the administration team that fall. In her current role, she oversees the Nature Guardians youth program and various conservation projects. Christine grew up with a love of the outdoors and nature, which eventually led her to take a B.Sc. in earth sciences from University of Waterloo. She has extensive experience working with youth at summer camp and volunteering with other environmental non-profits. In her free time, Christine is a part-time video game brand ambassador and promoter who also enjoys exploring the outdoors and learning new technology. 

Emma Horrigan – Conservation Science Coordinator

Emma coordinates the Citizen Science and Nature Reserves programs. Emma holds a M.Sc. in biology and a B.A. specializing in forest conservation from the University of Toronto. She has been involved in a several citizen science research initiatives, including projects focused on turtle road mortality and agricultural pests. Prior to joining Ontario Nature in 2016, Emma worked for the University of Toronto – Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve and at University-Links where she coordinated research in Haliburton County. Besides her passion for ecology, Emma enjoys cross-country skiing, birding and hiking with her dog Mia.

Smera Sukumar – Conservation Science Technician

Smera works on both the citizen science and nature reserves programs. She joined the team in 2016. Smera holds an M.Sc. in Biodiversity & Conservation and a B.Sc. in Zoology. Previous work includes studying cetaceans in Hong Kong and Taiwan and the effects of urbanization on bats in England. Smera is an avid traveller, having travelled to a total of 38 countries world-wide.

Stephanie Muckle – Nature Reserves Technician

Stephanie works on our 25 Nature Reserves. She joined Ontario Nature in the spring of 2016 after graduating from the University of Toronto with a Master of Forest Conservation. Stephanie’s graduate work included studying small mammals in actively logged forests and used geographic information systems to model habitat features. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys hiking and camping. She is especially fond of the eastern chipmunk for its tenacity and fiendish obsession with food.

Bradley McGinn – Conservation Data Technician

Bradley creates digital tools for our citizen science and nature reserves programs. Previously he has worked as an online game developer and independent contractor creating web applications. A graduate from Humber College, Bradley has adapted his 10 years of web programming knowledge to conservation and citizen science. Outside of work Bradley has a passion for surfing and skateboarding.

Jessica Ferguson – Conservation Science Technician

Jessica is a member of the citizen science team, working on the Norfolk Snake Project and citizen science engagement. Jessica has a fish and wildlife technician diploma from Fleming College and a passion for volunteering for such organizations as the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. She has worked on reptile species-at-risk recovery programs and as a wildlife educator. Jessica enjoys wildlife photography, kayaking, and hiking with her dogs.

Amy Whitear – Conservation Science Specialist

Amy works in the citizen science program, focusing on data gaps in the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas. Having joined in 2017, she leads the Norfolk snake project. Amy developed a passion for nature as a child through exploring the temperate rainforest of coastal British Columbia. Amy has a B.Sc. Zoology at the University of Toronto, and an MSc. Zoo Conservation Biology from Plymouth University. She has worked on several endangered species reintroduction and monitoring projects. Amy happily spends her free time hiking, rock climbing and travelling.

Ross Bushnell – Citizen Science Intern

Ross joined Ontario Nature in January 2017 then joined as staff in August working on data for the citizen science and nature reserves programs. Ross became passionate about conservation after exploring the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and since then has dedicated himself to science. He has a B.Sc. in Ecology and Environmental Science from Concordia University. Previously he has studied wildlife corridors, as well as alarm cue response in Atlantic salmon. Ross’s love of nature, hiking and rock climbing has taken him to Southeast Asia, the Galapagos Islands, Korea and the Sierra Nevada’s.

Amanda Layng – Boreal Conservation Intern

Amanda joined Ontario Nature in November 2017 at the Thunder Bay office. She graduated from the University of Guelph with a B.Sc. in Wildlife Biology and Conservation. She has studied landscape effects on bat species’ distributions across Northern Ontario. Amanda also has experience volunteering with wildlife rehabilitation. She enjoys hiking, camping, photography and exploring new places.

Ryan Wolfe – Nature Reserves Intern

Ryan started in 2018, working on the nature reserves program. He is in his final year of study in the H.B.Sc. in the Environmental Science co-op program at McMaster University and will be attaining a minor degree in Biology. Ryan became passionate about nature as a child when exploring the remnant tracts of forest behind his house. He has volunteered much of his time to reptile and amphibian surveys for several organizations, and has previously worked as a species at risk research assistant. During his free time, Ryan enjoys photographing wildlife, hiking and backcountry camping.

Membership and Development

Kirsten Dahl – Director of Development

Kirsten developed a love of nature and the outdoors spending summers at her cottage in Muskoka. She studied sociology at the University of Western Ontario and spent the better part of a decade living in different countries including Peru, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Since returning home, Kirsten has worked in the environmental sector with Greenpeace and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. She loves cross-country skiing in Algonquin Park, cycling through the wilds of Toronto and any chance to explore Ontario Nature’s nature reserves. 

Portia Mohlmann – Member Relations Coordinator – On leave –

Portia joined Ontario Nature in fall 2014. She has a M.ES. from York University, with a concentration in sustainable food systems, and is currently completing a certificate in fundraising and volunteer management at George Brown College. Portia’s previous experience includes researching the effects of environmental contaminants on First Nation’s traditional food systems for Health Canada and fundraising for The Stop Community Food Centre and Daily Bread Food Bank. In her free time, Portia enjoys biking, cooking and exploring the outdoors. Portia is on maternity leave until fall 2018.

Irene Milani – Database Coordinator

Irene oversees Ontario Nature’s growing member and donor database. Previously, Irene held various positions at the Waterfront Regeneration Trust, including natural heritage coordinator, project manager and special assistant to the Hon. David Crombie. Irene has a B.A. in urban studies and sociology. 

Vanessa Lupton – Major Gifts Coordinator

Vanessa joined the Ontario Nature team in summer 2017. Having a B.Sc. in biology with a concentration in conservation from Trent University, as well as having a diploma in both journalism and public relations, she has a unique set of skills that pair well with the work that Ontario Nature does. A week-long portage trip in high school sparked Vanessa’s love of being outdoors and enjoying the natural world. In her spare time, Vanessa can be found hiking in the local conservation areas with her dog or volunteering with a local dog rescue. 

Seann Kim – Member Relations Coordinator

Seann joined Ontario Nature in June 2017 to cover a maternity leave. She has a B.A. from the University of Guelph, and is currently studying at Humber College to obtain her certificate in events management. Seann grew up snowboarding, surfing and hiking. She has volunteered and worked with nature and wildlife conservation organizations, and an animal rights agency. Seann gained a deeper appreciation for exploring the Canadian landscape while living in Vancouver. In her spare time, Seann he enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, exercising and cooking. 

Communications and Engagement

John Hassell – Director of Communications and Engagement

John joined Ontario Nature in 2009. Along with his role in communications, he is the editor of ON Nature – Ontario Nature’s award-winning magazine. John has an M.A. in international development studies with research focusing on sustainable, community-based forestry and a B.A. in political science. He has worked in the non-profit sector for more than 15 years. John is a founding director of ReachUp, an ultimate Frisbee charity that promotes healthy lifestyles in under-resourced communities. He enjoys fringe sports, travel, and canoe trips to Ontario’s stunning rivers and lakes. 

Lisa Richardson – Nature Network and Communications Coordinator

Lisa heads up Ontario Nature’s education program and Nature Network of more than 150 local community conservation groups. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto where she earned a B.Sc. in zoology and psychology. Prior to joining Ontario Nature in 2006 as the Volunteer for Nature coordinator, Lisa worked with the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre running their volunteer-based national shoreline cleanup program in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. 

Barbara MacKenzie-Wynia – Regional Nature Network Coordinator

Barbara joined Ontario Nature in 2006 with a focus on Northern, Huronia and Lake Ontario North regions. She is a partner with Krystawyn Environmental Consulting, and owns BMW and Associates. Barbara was the director of communications with Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority for more than 20 years. As a proud farmer’s daughter, she continues to enjoy working with the rural and farming community in building bridges, trust and capacity. Barbara lives in Clearview Township where she enjoys gardening, traveling, and camping with her husband and two sons. 

Jaklynn Nimec – Communications Coordinator

Jaklynn joined Ontario Nature in the spring of 2016 on a communications internship. She holds a B.A. in political science and communications from McMaster University, and a graduate certificate in corporate communications and public relations from Centennial College. In her new role, Jaklynn is responsible for internal communications and coordinates special events such as the Annual Gathering. She works closely with the senior management team and the Board of Directors. An ex-varsity athlete, Jaklynn is a committed Raptor’s fan and in her spare time can be found shooting hoops or exploring the outdoors. 

Noah Cole – Communications Technician

Noah has worked for Ontario Nature since 2011. He supports Ontario Nature’s communication team with web design, programming, online outreach, photo research and the organization’s day-to-day operations. Noah has earned certification in non-profit and voluntary sector management from Ryerson University. Noah obtained his B.A. from the University of Guelph and refined his craft at The Western Academy of Photography. He is a Quetico Foundation trustee and their director of communications. Noah is an accomplished naturalist and loves the great outdoors. 

Danielle Duchin – Communications Intern

Danielle joined Ontario Nature in April 2018, to support ON Nature magazine. Danielle holds a B.A. in English from Acadia University. She joined the Ontario Nature team to complete her publishing certificate program with Centennial College. A Maritime native, Danielle grew up in New Brunswick. She developed a love and respect for nature growing up amongst trees, and on rivers and oceans. When she’s not knitting or cooking, Danielle makes sure to take a walk outside every day, rain or shine.