OUR TEAM
Our Board
Karen Lynch, Chair
Karen is a respected community and civic leader. Karen’s forte is creating and nurturing networks of people. Graduating with a degree in Economics, she served in senior positions in communications before following her passion for community volunteerism and political engagement. In 2012, Karen received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her dedication to non-profit sector leadership.
Barrett Westerlund, Vice Chair
Barrett is the co-parent of a child with a developmental disability who accessed our program support early in his life. Now 16 years old and in grade 11, he’s positively thriving at home, at school, and elsewhere in the community. Board leadership provides an opportunity to both celebrate Jake’s belonging and support other families similarly realize their “best selves” unique to their life journey, for none are alone on this walk taken together.
Debbie Couch, Treasurer
Debbie Couch is foremost a people person. Debbie has applied her professional accounting designation across numerous industries to arrive in an HR Director of Pension and Benefits role where she created an innovative pension plan that garnered corporate accolades, and national interest. She has volunteered her expertise for nearly 24 years with corporate, not-profit and humanitarian boards.
Sandy Thompson-Hodgetts, Secretary
Sandy is an associate professor, an occupational therapist, and director of the Supporting Kids Inclusion and Participation Lab in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. She has a long-term interest in the wellbeing and inclusion of children who experience disability and their families, including participation in their communities. Sandy has heard accolades of GRIT and is delighted to be engaged with the board.
Jane Reid, Director
Jane is a Senior Organizational Change Management and Communications professional with 25+ years of experience. She has worked with both public and private sector organizations at the executive, director, and manager level, developing and implementing change management and communications strategies.
Andy Akle, Director
Andy is and has always had the entrepreneurial spirit. Andy’s current role is a Certified Financial Planner with IG Wealth Management. Andy is married with three children, one of whom was a part of our program. Giving back to the community is a guiding principle that Andy leans on.
Shelby Engelking, Director
Shelby is a HR Coordinator at Sherritt International. She was introduced to us in 2021 through the Leadership Certificate Program at the Alberta School of Business. During her time on the board, Shelby was a Student Director and served as a member of the Executive Director Evaluations Committee. Shelby has always had a passion for diversity and inclusion, and she is delighted to be serving on the board.
Kaiser Bhat, Director
Kaiser is a dedicated advocate for inclusive workplaces and a committed educator, bringing over a decade of experience in education and support for diverse learners. Currently in his role as an Operations Manager and Job Coach at Technology North, he works closely with individuals on the autism spectrum, overseeing digital services teams and providing tailored support to enhance productivity and integration within professional roles. With a Master's in TESOL and a Cambridge CELTA certification, his background in language teaching spans several countries and diverse student populations, which has equipped him with a nuanced understanding of effective communication and inclusive learning environments.
Freddie Martinez, Director
Freddie is the Director of Information Systems and CI&TO with Morgan Construction and Environmental. Freddie is a visionary and success-driven Senior Executive offering 20+ years of experience in transformational leadership, enterprise architecture, business transformation, and business continuity. Freddie is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Woman Building Futures and has served on multiple boards such as the National CIO Association, CIO Association Edmonton Chapter, Canadian Cloud Council, Senior Assisted Transportation Servers (SATS), and LIFT Drive Happiness.
Sheila Harrison, Director
Sheila Harrison is an accomplished executive leader with over 20 years of diverse experience spanning government, non-profit, and industry sectors. She is well known for her strategic and creative vision and effective leadership. Sheila has driven transformative initiatives that foster organizational growth and high-performing teams. Her expertise encompasses strategic planning, policy development, project management, governance and community development.
Dr. Joni Turville, Director
An award-winning teacher and scholar, Joni now dedicates her expertise to consulting, coaching, university instructing, and guiding forest bathing experiences. Her passion has always been helping others learn, grow, and thrive. Throughout her career, she has focused on creating inclusive spaces and fostering success for all. With decades of experience on both non-profit and for-profit boards—as a staff member collaborating with boards of governors and as a board member herself—Joni is excited to support our program.
Ed Wong, Director
Ed and his two teenage daughters are proudly Edmonton born and raised. A passion of Ed’s is his love of sport and the life values it instills. Ed is a firm believer that the mentorship of competitive youth athletics helps prepare our next generation's foundations and builds stronger communities. Ed dedicates his time serving various charitable and professional organizations in voluntary capacities. Ed has accumulated over 30 years of experience mostly in the financial sector, distinguished by a broad and diverse range of director and leadership roles as a strategic change enabler and builder of both businesses and teams. His career has spanned expertise in hospitality, finance, retail distribution, corporate projects, and wealth management. Ed maintains several investment management designations and has a University of Alberta Economics degree.
Salmana Rao, Director
Salmana holds an Economics degree from the University of Alberta and is currently employed with Castle Rock Research Corporation, an educational publishing company. She is thrilled to be joining Kids Included as a Board Member, supporting inclusive opportunities for children. She is a dedicated professional and community advocate, Salmana is also the proud mother of five, balancing her career with a strong commitment to family and service.
Our Leadership
Amber Mack, CEO
Amber is a Speech-Language Pathologist by training and has spent the last 10 years in progressive leadership positions in the health and human services sectors. Working across rural, urban, and community settings, Amber is tireless in supporting systems to work together to improve family experiences and child outcomes.
With a deep commitment to building equitable environments for children with disabilities, Amber is heartened to return to Kids Included in this leadership role to continue the necessary work of building inclusive communities.
Candice Quinlan, Director of Operations
With over 20 years of experience supporting children with disabilities and their families, Candice leads our operations with a strong belief in family-centered, inclusive programming. As a long-time advocate for meaningful inclusion, she is passionate about guiding teams to build on the strengths of families and educators so all children can thrive in natural settings. She believes that inclusion is not one-size-fits-all—and that every child has the right to reach their fullest potential through play, everyday routines, and supportive relationships. Candice is committed to upholding Kids Included’s mission and values through collaborative leadership and continuous learning.
Christina Cameron, HR Manager
Christina is a Human Resources Professional with over 20 years of experience in leading HR initiatives and driving organizational success. As the HR Manager at Kids Included, Christina is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that is equitable and celebrates each person’s strengths and abilities. She is passionate about continuous improvement and making Kids Included an employer of choice, recognizing that the organization’s greatest asset is its people. Through collaborative conversations, respect, celebrating diversity and inclusivity, people and ideas will evolve and grow.
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Alison Rinas, Manager, ICC Program
With 30 years of experience in early learning, Alison has supported children, families, and educators in a wide range of roles, including child care licensing, family child care, pedagogical coaching, and program coordination and management across rural and urban communities. She is deeply committed to creating inclusive learning environments that promote the well-being of all children, families, and educators. Alison believes that every person deserves to feel a sense of belonging and to see their identities, cultures, abilities, and experiences reflected in the community and learning environments around them.
Jackie Cromie, Finance Manager
Jackie has worked in non-profits for over 30 years in a variety of finance roles, and became the Finance Manager at Kids Included in 2017. She is passionate about equity and inclusion for all, contributing to the organization’s mission by ensuring we stay financially responsible, stable, and sustainable. Seeing how Kids Included changes the lives of children, families, and communities keeps Jackie excited about her work.
Marilyn Armstrong, Manager, ASaP Program
Marilyn has worked with young children and their families in a variety of settings for over 30 years. She believes strongly in children’s right to participate and play in high-quality, inclusive early learning environments that are responsive to families’ unique needs. In her role as the manager of the ASaP program, she leads a team that supports early learning programs across Alberta in creating those inclusive, responsive learning environments. Marilyn also previously led the Connecting Canada project at Kids Included, supporting leadership development and long-term cultivation of inclusive practices in early learning and child care settings across Canada.
Twyla Bruce, Manager, ECS Program
Twyla has worked for Kids Included for over 30 years. In all of the various roles she has held during that time, including her current position as manager of the Early Childhood Services Program, her passion and dedication to the organization’s core values have inspired the families she serves and the teams she leads. Twyla has a strong sense of community, enjoys new learning, and is passionate about inclusive living. She is a firm believer that all children are capable learners, and harnessing the power of teamwork to support families and children has been a defining strength of her career.
Kimberly Horricks, Co-Manager, ECS Program
Kimberly brings over 25 years of experience in education, including 20 years as an elementary classroom teacher—14 of those devoted to kindergarten. She has also served as Director of the ECS PUF program at Community Options (CPE), following previous leadership roles as Assistant Director and Coordinating Teacher. She is deeply committed to showing up for children and families with intention, empathy, and a strong belief in their potential.
Stephanie Jones, Office Manager
Stephanie is a laser-focused, innovative, and collaborative office manager who brings more than 25 years of experience to her role. She holds credentials in web application development, CSS/HTML, and early childhood development. As a talented problem solver and trusted “go to” person, with a penchant for quality and detail, Stephanie goes the extra mile in keeping the Kids Included office and technology systems running smoothly so we can fulfill our mission.
Emily Keating, Communications Manager
Emily is a national award-winning writer and communications strategist with over 15 years of experience in non-profit and for-profit communications roles. As the Communications Manager at Kids Included, she shines a spotlight on the organization’s work to show that inclusion is both achievable and vital – not just for individual children and families, but for the broader communities in which they live and touch others’ lives in turn. Passionately motivated by her own experience of disability and the diverse experiences of others in the disability community, Emily finds her greatest satisfaction in storytelling that advances understanding, reduces fear and judgment, and illustrates what is possible when every child is welcomed and valued.