Staff

Executive Director – LeighAnn Williams-Jones

Responsibilities: I am responsible for administering the activities of the Board and carrying out the decisions of the Board in accordance with the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, Board policies and public service human resources standards. I supervise GRRB staff and research, management and education programs conducted or funded by the Board. I maintain the Board’s budget and expenditures. More importantly, I work very closely with the Renewable Resource Councils and I am committed to building strong relationships that follow Gwich’in values, work to strengthen Gwich’in participation and promote the use of traditional knowledge to help inform decision-making on matters related to wildlife, fish, forest, habitat and environment.

Biography:  I was born and raised in Louis Trichardt, South Africa.  I moved to Montreal during the ice storm of 1997/1998 at age 13.  While living in Montreal, I received a Master of Science Degree from McGill University in Geography, specializing in glaciology and soil chemistry as it relates to active layer pedogenic processes. I also received a Bachelor of Agriculture and Environmental Science Degree from McGill University, specializing in land surface processes and environmental change, as well as a Bachelor of Political Science and Economics Degree. It was during my Master’s Degree that I not only fell in love with the North, but also my current spouse, who was the Park Ranger at the time, Paden Lennie.

Shortly after completing my Master’s Degree, I moved to Lethbridge, Alberta, where I worked for the Alberta Government as a Compliance Officer for two years, followed by three years as the Senior Soils and Contaminated Sites Specialist for the South Saskatchewan Region.  I moved permanently to Inuvik in 2017 with my spouse and we have three beautiful girls.  During my time in Inuvik, I worked for the Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC) as their Transboundary Specialist (2018-2019), the Inuvialuit Water Board as their Regulatory Specialist and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation as their Clean Energy Coordinator.  Before joining the GRRB, I had the fortunate opportunity to work again for GTC as their Manager of Lands and Resources (2021-2023).  During my time with GTC, the Lands and Resources Department hosted the Regional Renewable Resource Council Workshop, co-led the 2023 Caribou Summit, facilitated the revision of the Gwich’in Harvester Assistance Program and spearheaded the Community-Based Monitoring Program, which is slated to expand into a fully self-sustaining Guardianship Program by 2025.

The most enjoyment I received while working for the GTC was my close working relationship with the four Gwich’in communities, more specifically the community leaders, Designated Gwich’in Organizations, Renewable Resources Councils and community Participants. I was also fortunate to work closely with several co-management boards, including the GRRB. While working with the GRRB staff, I grew to really admire the inclusive and adaptive approaches the Board has taken to managing the conservation and protection of wildlife across the Gwich’in Settlement Region, especially in the context of an integrated co-management framework and the cooperative relationship that is fostered by this approach.  I am very excited to be part of the GRRB team.

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Fisheries Biologist – Michael Berry

Responsibilities:  The Fisheries Biologist works closely with the Renewable Resource Councils (RRCs) to manage fish and their habitats, as well as the impacts of human activity on these ecosystems within the Gwich’in Settlement Area. This includes conducting and supporting research on fish populations, fish behavior, and fish health, and using this information to support conservation, restoration and management plans.  I am also responsible for providing technical support to the Board on fish-related matters, helping to increase public awareness about the importance of fish and their habitats and working with community RRCs, scientists and stakeholders to develop policies and management strategies to protect these resources.

Biography: I am originally from the town of Napanee in Southern Ontario, where I grew up spending much of my time with family camping and fishing — some of my fondest childhood memories. The idea of leaving home to explore new places excited me, which led me to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, where I earned a BSc in Natural Resource Management. After graduating, I moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where I worked for municipal parks for a year before beginning my Master’s Degree in Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University.

It was through this graduate work that I first came to Inuvik to work in partnership with the community as part of ongoing Dolly Varden management. My thesis work examines the effectiveness of different harvest strategies when evaluated through community-based objectives and values. It was during my trips to the region that I started to fall in love with the Delta and the community here.

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Species at Risk Biologist – Alissa Sallans

Responsibilities: I am a liaison between the Community Renewable Resource Councils, the GNWT Conference of Management Authorities (CMA), Species at Risk Committee (SARC) and Federal Species at Risk Advisory Committee (SARAC). In the Gwich’in Settlement Region, I coordinate Species at Risk management projects, impact monitoring and field studies in cooperation with multi-stakeholder groups and transboundary wildlife management teams.

Biography: Hello! My name is Alissa Sallans, I grew up in Southern Ontario but have called Inuvik home for the past three years. I am thrilled to be starting with the GRRB as the new Species at Risk Biologist. I have worked in international, federal, and provincial conservation spaces, and look forward to working across the Gwich’in Settlement Area to ensure that local knowledge is incorporated into species at risk management plans. When I am not in the office you will find me out on the ski trails in the winter and out boating in the summer!

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Wildlife Biologist – Steve Andersen

Responsibilities: I work closely with the Renewable Resource Councils to manage the wildlife and birds of the Gwich’in Settlement Area. This includes developing management plans, conducting population surveys, holding community consultations, representing the GRRB on management boards and working with visiting researchers.

Biography: I grew up on the family farm near Grande Prairie, Alberta. From a young age my parents took me hiking and camping, so I learned an appreciation for the land early on. When I went to university, I studied environmental sciences, earning a BSc in conservation biology. I went on to work on wildlife projects in areas as diverse as the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, the forests of New Brunswick and the Ts’udé Nilįné Tuyeta protected area near Fort Good Hope. In 2020 I was hired by the GRRB as their Stakeholder Liaison and a year later I moved into my current role of Wildlife Biologist. I love working here, especially the opportunities I’m given to learn from harvesters and Elders, do fieldwork with community members and spend time on the land.

Please check out the Wildlife section of the website for more information on our current projects.

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Gwich’in Knowledge Advisor – Arlyn Charlie

Responsibilities: I am responsible for projects related to Gwich’in Knowledge and ensuring that the GRRB, Gwich’in Land Use Planning Board (GLUPB) and researchers engage with Gwich’in Knowledge in a manner that honours Gwich’in ways of knowing. Additionally, I serve as the liaison between the GRRB, GLUPB and the Department of Culture and Heritage through connected projects.

Biography: Drin gwiinzii, I am from Teetł’it Zheh. I am the grandson of Charlie and Mary Snowshoe and Johnny and Jane Charlie Sr. Over the years, through fishing upon the Teetł’it Gwinjik in the summer and hunting atop the mountains in the fall, I have been able to appreciate not only culture and language, but also the importance of our traditional homelands.

Trained as an artist, in 2021 I completed a writing program with Simon Fraser University and have since published written works in both fiction and nonfiction. I tend to use my skills in photography and writing to capture Gwich’in relationships with the land through cultural and traditional practices.

Over the last four and a half years, I have worked for the Gwich’in Tribal Council’s Department of Culture and Heritage as their Culture and Heritage Coordinator. My focus during this time was on material development, but I also built partnerships with Gwich’in Knowledge Holders over the years through on the land programming and research projects. These have helped shape my understanding of Gwich’in Knowledge and methodology. I remain invested in Gwich’in Knowledge research and in using my skills to continue preserving and protecting our information for future generations.

Today, I am a student at the University of Victoria, with an interest in psychology, Indigenous studies and philosophy. I find myself interested in exploring Indigenous epistemology, ontology and traditional ways of governance.

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Finance and Administration Coordinator – Paul Schab

Responsibilities:  I provide financial and administrative support for the GRRB.

Biography: I am a Gwich’in participant who was born and raised in Inuvik. I went to school and graduated here in Inuvik. My mother is Evelyn DeBastien, my Jijji is Dick Bullock and my Jijuu is Marka Bullock from Tsiigehtchic.  I worked for Stanton’s Ltd for five years, all through high school and after graduating. Prior to joining the GRRB, I worked for the Gwich’in Tribal Council as a casual administrator. While in that position, I heard that the GRRB was hiring. I applied and joined the GRRB team in February 2024.

I am a very resourceful person and have a very strong motivational drive. I am constantly growing and learning and developing and taking things to a new level. I am happy to be working for the Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board.

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Forest Ecologist – Ziyu Shao

Responsibilities: A shared position between the GRRB and the Gwich’in Land Use Planning Board (GLUPB), the purpose of this position is a focus on forest management and consideration of the ecological integrity of the region that applies to each Board’s mandate within the integrated resource management system under the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (GCLCA).

To achieve this, I will be supporting the GRRB and the GLUPB to improve awareness of forestry management, forest ecosystems and biodiversity in the GSA through increased communication, meetings and management plans.  I will also be responsible for administering forestry management programs and research projects for the Gwich’in Settlement Area (GSA), providing technical advice for co-management partners and the public and identifying needed research projects.

Biography: I am originally from China and am a descendant of the Oroqen people, sometimes called “the people of the reindeer.” I earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Alberta, where I developed a strong interest in plant physiology, forest health and climate change ecology. During my time at university, I examined how environmental stress affects forest pests and pathogens.

I moved to Inuvik in 2026 to join the GRRB and the GLUPB as Forest Ecologist. I am excited to learn from Gwich’in communities while contributing to the sustainable management of forests in the GSA.

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Environmental Coordinator – Maya Townend

Responsibilities: To bridge science and community knowledge by managing the review of regulatory applications, research licenses and other requests for GRRB advice or data. In addition, this position is responsible for managing the ongoing collection of harvest data, research interests and other community observations to contribute to management planning processes.

Biography: I was born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area, about an hour north of the city. Growing up, I had a profound love for nature, animals, and the outdoors. When it was time to decide what program to take in school, I knew I wanted to pursue my passion for the natural world. I earned a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, majoring in Geography and Environmental Management. In my last year, I had the opportunity to attend a 2-week Arctic field course, which sparked my love for the North. After my undergraduate degree, I moved out west to pursue my Master of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University, which brought me to Inuvik.

My graduate research focused on Traditional Knowledge surrounding Dolly Varden char in the Gwich’in Settlement Area and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. I worked closely with Harvesters, Elders, Knowledge Holders, and community members to document environmental changes in the region, changes to Dolly Varden habitat, and challenges harvesters face regarding fishery access and availability. During my time spent in Inuvik and the surrounding communities, I fell in love with the Western Arctic. I’m so excited to continue to work with the communities and people I’ve grown close with.

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