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.
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.
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.
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.
Geraldine L. Stafford
Board Member
Festival Director, Caribana Ignite Kitchener
Geraldine Stafford is a Senior Manager at Waterloo Regional Police Service with extensive experience in equity, governance, public accountability, and organizational change. Geraldine is deeply committed to her community and is actively involved in initiatives that celebrate and uplift its rich diversity, including her work as Festival Director of Caribana Ignite.
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.
Rob Axiak
Board Member
City Manager, City of Cambridge
Rob Axiak is a municipal executive with over 30 years of experience leading transformation and high-performing teams across Ontario. Now City Manager for Cambridge and formerly CAO of Welland, he is known for his collaborative, forward-thinking leadership.
He has strengthened governance, enhanced community engagement, and built strong partnerships that support community well-being.
Doug Wilson
Board Member
President, Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
Doug is a co-founder and President of Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, a privately-held attraction, education and research facility in Cambridge. A passionate advocate for the important contribution tourism makes to the local economy and to the health and resilience of communities,
Doug has held various directorships and executive positions with Southern Ontario Tourism Organization, Waterloo Region Tourism Marketing Corporation, (Explore Waterloo Region) and Regional Tourism Organization 4
Jeff Willmer
Board Member
Chief Administrative Officer, Township of Wilmot
Jeff Willmer began his municipal career with the Township of Woolwich and joined the City of Kitchener as an urban planner in 1989. He was appointed Director of Planning in 2002 and later served as Chief Administrative Officer until his retirement in 2017.
In 2019, he returned to municipal service as Interim City Manager for the City of Cambridge. Jeff is also a co-founder of A Better Tent City, a community-based initiative supporting people transitioning from homelessness. He currently serves as Chief Administrative Officer for the Township of Wilmot.