Who Are We?
The Alberta Graduate Provincial Advocacy Council represents the interests of graduate students from the Comprehensive Academic Research Institutions in the province to the provincial government.
The organization was incorporated in March 2015 in order to provide an effective way to advocate on behalf of graduate students to the provincial government as well as to act as an information sharing body for the members.
The Graduate Students’ Associations from Athabasca University, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge each have equal representation on ab-GPAC’s Board of Directors and are responsible for representing their respective student body’s interests on the Council.
Executive Board 2017-2018
Willem Klumpenhouwer
Chair, 2017-2018
Willem is a PhD Candidate in Transportation at the Schulich School of Engineering.
Willem received his Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Theoretical Physics from the University of Guelph in 2013, graduating on the Dean's Honours List. During his time at Guelph, he worked with the team responsible for the APXS instrument currently on board the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity and the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity.
Since then, Willem has turned his interest and analytical thinking to transportation, working first as a Rail Traffic Controller for CP Rail before starting his graduate program at the University of Calgary under Dr. S.C. Wirasinghe. He is a strong believer in the need for clearer thinking about how people move in cities and is an advocate for walking, cycling, and transit oriented projects in Calgary. He has spoken at city council several times and writes frequently about making Calgary a better place to live on his editorial website Spur the New West. He has also been commissioned to write for CBC and makes radio appearances to discuss transportation issues in Calgary on CJSW as well as QR770 with Danielle Smith.
For fun, Willem volunteers as an actor and backstage improviser at Calgary's Loose Moose Theatre. He has performed in productions of Snow White and Several Dwarves (as a dwarf) and Elves and the Shoemaker (as an elf). When you meet him, the irony of these roles will become clear.
Willem is excited to serve the graduate students of the University of Calgary in his role as Vice President External for 2017/2018.
Babak Soltannia
Vice-Chair, 2017-2018
Babak Soltannia is a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on fabrication and characterization of high-performance smart membranes for water purification and desalination.
Originally from Iran, Babak became a Canadian permanent resident in 2013. Prior to this, he had the opportunity to experience other cultures by living in four different countries — the USA, Finland, Iran, and the USSR. He speaks fluent Russian and Persian, and basic French. In his leisure time, Babak loves collecting stamps and gardening.
While serving as President of the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Students' Association (MEGSA) for 2015-2016, he secured support and funding from both internal and external stakeholders to create partnerships that allowed MEGSA to host over 30 events, with more than 250 attendees, comprising a mixture of academic, professional development, and social activities. Babak has also served as a committee member on the 2016 Shell Enhanced Learning Fund Selection Committee, the 2017 Alberta Student Leadership Summit Advisory Committee, the 2016 Vargo Teaching Chair Selection Committee, and the Mechanical Engineering Chair Selection Committee. During 2017-2018, Babak serves graduate students of the University of Alberta, as president of the Graduate Students’ Association, to alleviate graduate students’ concerns, and elevate their personal and academic experiences.
Elizabeth (Betty) Wanjiru
Treasurer, 2017-2018
Stay tuned!
Lindsey McNena
Secretary, 2017-2018
Lindsay McNena is a Master of Counselling student at Athabasca University, and Vice President – External with the Athabasca University Graduate Students’ Association (AUGSA). She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Athabasca University in 2013, obtaining a double major in psychology and English with Distinction. Lindsay was previously a Faculty of Health Sciences representative on AUGSA’s council, and is currently serving as the Secretary for ab-GPAC and Chair of the Graduate Committee for the Canadian Alliance of Students’ Associations.
After graduating in 2013, Lindsay began working with at-risk youth at a residential group home in central Alberta. In the fall of 2017, she is excited to be moving on to a practicum placement in addictions and mental health. Lindsay’s research interests are focused around the concurrent relationship of addictions and mental health, and integrating a biopsychosocial approach to working with clients. In her spare time, Lindsay enjoys reading mystery novels and attending concerts with her partner, Jesse. She also looks forward to trips back to Guelph, Ontario to visit her family and friends. Lindsay is very excited to see what opportunities her roles with student government and advocacy bring in 2017-2018.