Helen Chimirri-Russell
Chair
Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Heritage Trust
Helen has worked in the Arts and Culture sector for the past 25 years, with experience in heritage, museums, arts and cultural tourism. Helen has lived and worked in other countries and provinces, and has called Waterloo Region home since 2017. In her current role as CEO of the Ontario Heritage Trust, Helen is exploring how local heritage assets create a sense of place and local character.
Tracy Van Kalsbeek
Immediate Past Chair
Executive Director, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
Tracy has spent most of her career in leadership positions within the charitable and non profit sector – with a visit to the corporate world.
She is currently the Executive Director of Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest. Tracy is an avid volunteer within the community and sits on many boards and committees.
David Brenneman
Vice Chair
CAO, Township of Woolwich
David is the CAO for the Township of Woolwich and a graduate of the University of Waterloo. He joined the Township of Woolwich in 2007 – in time to be a founding Board member for Explore Waterloo Region. David is actively involved in the KW Community Foundation.
Tim Anderson
Treasurer
CAO, City of Waterloo
Tim is the CAO for the City of Waterloo and a graduate of the University of Guelph. Tim joined the City of Waterloo in 1990 and became CAO in 2010 and the Board of Explore Waterloo Region in the same year.
Joanna Loebach
Secretary
General Manager, St. Jacobs Market District
Joanna is currently the General Manager of the St. Jacobs Market District – that largest tourist attraction in the region. She has over 15 years of experience in operations management working for a large global consumer goods manufacturer and at the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics at Laurier University running an accelerator program for small businesses.
Roly Webster
Board Member
Director of Athletics & Recreation, University of Waterloo
Roly has spent his the past 30 years working in higher education. He is currently the Director of Athletics & Recreation at the University of Waterloo. Roly is also an experienced leader and has volunteered with the KW Community Foundation, the United Way, KidSport, and is also on the Advisory Committee of the EWR Sport Hosting Office.
Brad MacLellan
Board Member
General Manager, The Walper Hotel
Brad is the General Manager of The Walper Hotel – an iconic landmark of the City of Kitchener since 1893, and which sits on a site that has been a social hub for the city ever since 1802.
Brad began his career in hospitality 25 years ago and has since traversed every branch of the profession. With a focus in operations, Brad has experience in travel and tourism, restaurants, and hotels, and brings with him a passion for community and experiences. An avid believer in learning and growing through travel, Brad has previously held board of directors positions with two other tourism associations: Destination Stratford and Discover Miramichi.
Chris Wood
Board Member
General Manager, Region of Waterloo International Airport
Chris Wood landed at the Region of Waterloo International Airport in September of 2009 taking on the role of Airport General Manager. Chris was previously employed by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) for 12 years.
Chris’s aviation career began more than 25 years ago at the Region of Waterloo International Airport where he spent a summer working at the Waterloo-Wellington Flying Club as a ramp attendant. He currently lives with his wife and two teenage children in Ayr, Ontario.
Bob Harris
Board Member
General Manager, Chicopee Tube Park
For close to 20 years, Bob was on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Ski Resorts Association [OSRA], where he was Chair for three years. A past member of EWR’s Board of Directors, Bob has also been on the RTO4 board since its start in 2011 and through Covid. Bob was instrumental in creating the Ski Resort Operations program at Georgian College in 2000.
Currently Bob is the General Manager for Chicopee Tube Park, one the very few standalone Tube Parks that operates year round offering winter tubing and summer zip lining.
Dan Chapman
Board Member
CAO, City of Kitchener
Dan was appointed CAO of the City of Kitchener in September 2017. He joined the city in 2005 as director of financial planning, and was most recently deputy chief administrative officer responsible for finance and corporate services.
David Calder
Board Member
City Manager, City of Cambridge
David Calder is currently the City Manager with the City of Cambridge. Most recently, he served as the Chief Administrative Officer with the Town of Tillsonburg and President of Tillsonburg Hydro Inc.. He was previously General Manager of Corporate Services with the City of Waterloo and Director of Public Access and Council Services/City Clerk with the City of Cambridge. David is a graduate of the Leadership Waterloo Region Program and has also served on the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation Board of Directors. He joined the Explore Waterloo Region Board of Directors in March 2020.
Mathieu Goetzke
Board Member
Acting CAO/Commissioner for Transportation Services, Region of Waterloo
For over 20 years, Mathieu Goetzke has worked in urban planning and design, and transportation, on both sides of the Atlantic. In his native country of France, Mathieu worked with the City of Lille on urban regeneration projects, helping to transform the City. After immigrating to Canada, Mathieu worked as vice-president of planning at Metrolinx to move people on transit across the Greater Toronto area. Mathieu then brought his experience to Region of Waterloo as Transportation Commissioner to help create a more accessible, healthier and safer transportation network and support a growing and dynamic region.
At present, he is acting CAO for the Region.
Greg Clark
Board Member
Acting CAO / Director of Corporate Services/CFO, Township of Wilmot
Greg Clark is currently the Acting CAO / and the Director of Corporate Services/CFO at the Township of Wilmot. Township of Wilmot, a rural municipality within the Region of Waterloo. He currently leads the teams that manage the Townships Finances, Legislative Services and IT Support.
Prior to joining Wilmot he was the Director of Capital Assets and Projects at the City of London, and prior to that he spent over a decade at the City of Guelph in roles leading capital planning and budgeting.
Greg graduated from McMaster University with a Honours Bachelor of Commerce in 1999 and attained his CPA (CMA) designation in 2010.
Pejman Salehi
Board Member
Executive Dean, Conestoga College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Pejman Salehi is the Executive Dean of the School of Applied Computer Science & IT and the School of Creative Industries at Conestoga College. Pejman brings his experience as an academic leader as well as his background in the tech industry. He believes that developing talent in the innovation and creativity sectors will help drive Waterloo Region to a more prosperous and vibrant future.