Meet The LeadHER Mentors

Mentor: Watch or listen to her podcast!

Cheryl Whiskeyjack

Cheryl is the executive director of the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, where she has worked in various roles since close to its inception in 1994. She oversees 26 different programs and services that connect Indigenous clients to the city around them, helping them build skills and resilience.

Cheryl currently serves as board chair of the Canadian Accreditation Council of Human Services, vice-chair of the Align Association of Community Services and as a board member of PolicyWise for Children and Families. She has contributed to the work of EndPovertyEdmonton since its inception and serves on their Board of Directors, and she recently finished a four-year term on the table for the National Advisory Council on Poverty. She acts as a mentor for the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations Executive Director Mentorship program and represents Bent Arrow through C5, a collaborative partnership of five non-profits using innovative engagement in vulnerable neighbourhoods.

In 2021, Cheryl received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Alberta, was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary Foundation and bestowed with a Daughter of the Year Award. A proud Anishinaabe Kwe from the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Reserve on Manitoulin Island in Ontario, she calls herself a settler here in Treaty 6 Territory where she has built miyo pimatisiwin (a good life) when her family moved and settled here in 1979.

Mentor: Watch or listen to her podcast!

Bree Claude

Bree was appointed CEO of Civida in December 2025 after a successful tenure as interim CEO. She first joined Civida in 2022 as Vice President, Customer Experience and Community Partnerships. Bree brings over two decades of public service leadership. She has held Director and Executive Director positions with the government of Alberta in the Ministries of Seniors and Housing (as Executive Director of Policy, Planning and Legislative Services), Children’s Services, Human Services and Innovation and Advanced Education, and was as the Director of Family and Community Services with Strathcona County where she and her team worked closely with social sector partners to create multiple community-level changes and initiatives. Bree has extensive experience in strategic planning, community engagement, social policy and evaluation, and is passionate about engaging system leaders, citizens and staff teams to create solutions for the challenges we are facing as a community with a particular focus on changing conditions for those living on the margins. Bree has a degree in political science, a master of science in human ecology and is a social sciences doctoral candidate with Royal Roads University. As part of her doctoral work, she is currently studying how system relationships and leadership approaches influence affordable housing outcomes within Canadian municipalities.

​

​

​
 

Mentor: Watch or listen to her podcast!

Sue McCoy

Sue McCoy is a highly skilled development professional and has worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations over the past 25 years. Currently, Sue is employed as VP of Philanthropy with the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation, one of Canada’s largest children’s hospital foundations. She oversees a highly skilled team securing over $50 million a year in donations. Prior to the Stollery, Sue worked at KCI as a fundraising consultant. During her tenor with KCI, Sue worked on a variety of capital campaign projects across the country, securing over $300 million in donations. Sue has held many volunteer positions in the community including roles on the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Business and Professional Women and the Glenora Community League Board of Trustees. Sue holds an M.A. in Sociology from Carleton University in Ottawa, a diploma in Fundraising Management from MacEwan University and is a Certified Fundraising Executive.

Mentor: Watch or listen to her podcast!

Erum Afsar

I'm the current Executive Director for the Alberta Association of Architects. I have board governance and regulatory experience. I have been a two-term Municipal Councilor for Kananaskis Improvement District. I have my Institute of Corporate Directors Directors Designation (ICD.D). I am on the REACH Edmonton Board and YWCA National.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Mentor:  Watch or listen to her podcast!

Holly Hallborg

Holly Hallborg is a special projects manager, focusing on human trafficking and domestic violence-related initiatives, and has worked at REACH Edmonton since its inception 16 years ago. In her early days at REACH she focused primarily on youth initiatives, including addictions prevention and youth engagement in community safety and well-being. In 2012, she began managing the WrapED youth gang prevention initiative, before transitioning into a senior leadership role in 2019. Since then, she has worked closely with the REACH team on community safety and well-being initiatives in the areas of Out of School Time programming, youth gang prevention and 24/7 crisis diversion. Over the last three years, she has been dedicated to human trafficking initiatives, including coordination of the Provincial Human Trafficking Network, supporting the implementation of the Alberta Centre to End Trafficking in Persons, and the Safer Way Out project. She continues to be a part of the REACH leadership team, contributing to the operational and strategic direction of the organization. In 2022, she received her Master of Arts in community development from the University of Victoria, and was recently selected as the Community Changemaker for the 2026 YWCA Women of Distinction awards.

Mentor:  Watch or listen to her podcast!

Erin Rutherford

I was first elected to Council in October 2021, and this second term continues to be an immense honour to serve the more than 94,000 people that call Ward Anirniq home. My work is grounded in unwavering commitments to honesty, accessibility, and serving our ward with clarity and care. I'm passionate about building a strong, connected, and sustainable community. This has shaped my education and career in public engagement, social planning and community development. With over 20 years experience in public service, I’ve worked hard with and for communities. I take great pride in advocating for the things that make our communities great, embracing our diversity, and celebrating our collective strengths. Engaging with residents in respectful and transparent conversations is something I really enjoy. I want to make sure that as your Councillor, I’m a bridge between policy and people, making decisions based on facts and lived experience.

Mentor:  Watch or listen to her podcast!

Marlene Orr

Marlene Orr is a member of the Beaver Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 territory. A recipient many awards including the Bissell Centre’s Innovation Award, an Esquao Award, a Homeward Trust ROOPH award, Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and an Aboriginal Role Model Award for Justice; Marlene has extensive experience in organizational implementation of transformational cultural practices in programs which address issues of offender reintegration, housing vulnerable people and wellness. In the past she has chaired the Alberta Indigenous Community Security and Policing Committee. Marlene currently sits on the Parole Board of Canada’s Chairperson’s National Indigenous Circle, is President of the National Indigenous Section 81 Healing Lodge Coalition and is Chief Executive Officer of Native Counselling Services of Alberta Marlene works to ensure Indigenous trauma is understood and addressed in programs of healing that are built on a foundation of values, culture and ceremony of Indigenous people.