Our Board of Directors

Biographies

Jeff Arsenych  –  Strategic Advisor 

An MBA graduate from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario, Jeff Arsenych has more than 35 years strategic and management experience in the energy and resource development industries.  He is a serial entrepreneur with 8 start-ups under his belt: 4 oil and gas, 3 renewable energy, and 1 tech venture.  He also funded and mentored 4 service companies. He has 15 years experience with domestic and international charities. He has served on 19 boards of directors – 11 of which as chair or lead director. Financial and organisational architecture are his specific areas of expertise.

​He currently is Strategic Advisor to the Fig Tree Foundation, a Canadian registered charity that co-funds great international development with its 53 Roundtable members of like-minded NGOs.

Dr. Sarah Skett – Chairperson

An international development specialist and consultant with over ten years’ experience working in developing communities around the world. Sarah has extensive knowledge with community education initiatives, supporting orphans and vulnerable populations, HIV/AIDS programs, community development initiatives, women’s empowerment groups, and the voluntourism industry. She is passionate about collaborative and sustainable approaches to development, capacity building, and working with communities and local leaders.

​​All three of her degrees are in Geography (Ph.D. University of Calgary; M.A. Queen’s University; B.A. University of Winnipeg).

Paul Gomes – Board Member

Paul began his career in the investment industry in 1993 after studying Economics and Political Science at the University of Calgary.  In 2001, Paul and his wife embarked on a year-long journey around the world that would expose them to some of the crushing poverty and economic inequalities that exist in many developing countries.  

​Paul returned to the investment industry in 2004 with the desire to engage investment professionals in the quest to find new solutions to old problems and to encourage them to use their gifts and skills in order to find those solutions.  In 2007, Paul left the industry again, to spend more time and energy volunteering with the Fig Tree Foundation until assuming the role of Managing Director of the organization in April of 2014.

Iain Stewart – Board Member

Iain is a real estate executive and investor.  He was co-founder and former Co-CEO of Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities Inc. (“Parkbridge”), Canada’s largest owner and operator of land-lease residential and recreational communities, now with over $1.4 billion in assets.  Prior to founding Parkbridge Mr. Stewart was a Vice President at Trizec Corporation.  Mr. Stewart’s real estate experience spans over 30 years. 

Iain currently serves on the Boards of Directors and Audit Committees of Genesis Land Development Corp. and DirectCash Bank and also on the Board of The Fig Tree Foundation.  He is a Chartered Accountant and received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta.  He resides in Calgary, Alberta.

John Moreland – Board Member

A geologist with 35 years experience, John is currently President of Calgary Global Exploration Forum (CGEF) the association for international oil and gas companies.  John has seen at first hand the impact that simple, inexpensive, self-motivated initiatives have achieved, and supports development at the grassroots level.  Effective communication between all stakeholder groups has been the key to success in most, if not all of the projects John has been involved with, and The Fig Tree Foundation, particularly the Roundtable, works to optimize that process.

Tom Smillie - Treasurer

 
Mr. Smillie has 34 years of financial management experience and more than 15 years as the senior finance executive for several companies, including the Construction Products Distribution business unit of Superior Plus, PCC Communications, and Evans Consoles Corporation. As well as performing a wide range of financial roles he has been a corporate officer, served as Secretary to the Board of Directors, and has managed non-financial areas including IT and supply chain management. He has considerable experience in high technology, manufacturing and distribution industries, having held a number of operational and corporate positions.
 
Mr. Smillie holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CMA) professional designation and graduated from the University of Alberta with a BSc Electrical Engineering (1981) and a Masters of Business Administration (1982).
 
Mr. Smillie is supported by his partner of 34 years, Donna, and his two children, Andrea and Mike, who live in BC.

Kathleen Spelliscy - Board Member and Secretary to the Board

 
Ms. Spelliscy is a partner in Calgary law firm Spelliscy, Riddell.  First called to the Alberta bar in 1993, she has 25 years of legal experience with Alberta Department of Justice, Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP, ENMAX, and as an independent counsel.  She was also President/co-owner of Meez Foods Inc. and Director, Regional Operations of FNF Canada.  Ms. Spelliscy brings commercial law expertise combined with practical business management experience.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Calgary.