Meet Our Board

Biographies

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.

John Moreland – Board Member

A geologist and entrepreneur with over 40 years experience, John has been a co-founder of several Calgary based junior international oil companies, and is a Past President of the Canadian Global Exploration Forum (CGEF), the Canadian business association for international oil and gas companies. He has a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Glasgow.
From living and working overseas, 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 among all stakeholder groups has been the key to success in all the projects John has been involved with, and The Fig Tree Foundation, particularly the Roundtable, works to optimize that process.

Milton Ortega - Board Member

During the last 15 years, Milton has worked on a variety of projects in the social and policy fields. Milton served as the Executive Director of the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA) for 6 years. Under his leadership, operations of the organization grew and expanded services beyond Alberta to lead to AAISA’s inclusion on settlement efforts on a regional level, and as a recognized voice on the national stage. He currently serves as a board member with Imagine Cities and as a member for Community Grants with the Calgary Foundation, a Project Review Committee Member with DevXchange International. In the past, he shared his expertise with the Canadian Council for Refugees, Immigration Research West, UN Association in Canada (UNAC), Calgary Branch, the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC), Calgary Chapter among others.

Milton holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Universidad San Francisco de Quito, a master’s degree in Public Administration from Portland State University, a certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University, and holds a Charter Professional Manager designation from the Canadian Institute of Management.

Tom Smillie - Treasurer

Tom has over 30 years of financial management experience and more than 15 years as the senior finance executive for several companies including 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.

Tom is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CMA) and graduated from the University of Alberta with a BSc Electrical Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration.

Tom has travelled extensively for work and pleasure and is passionate about helping less fortunate people in impoverished countries.

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.

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.

Our Board of Directors