Jennifer Simard, Executive Director / Ecologist

Ms. Simard graduated from the University of Guelph with a Master of Science degree in 2001 and from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998.  Her most recent responsibility for Mushkegowuk Council involved working with Lands and Resources on establishing the Mushkegowuk Environmental Research Center. MERC was incorporated in May 2005 and significant progress has been accomplished. Ms. Simard has previously worked for environmental non-governmental organizations, Tembec Inc., and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Ms. Simard has also recently completed a Management and Supervision Workshop. As the Executive Director, Ms. Simard is responsible for maintaining relationships with a diverse clientèle, seeking out new opportunities, supervising staff and providing direction on methodologies required to meet the demands of the requested services.

Rose-Ann Ross,  Project Manager

Mrs.Ross's education includes a Business Administration-Accounting major, Secretarial Arts Diploma along with an accounting designation (CAFM) from Aboriginal Financial Officer Association of Canada. She has 20 years experience in the administration and finance field, working with Ministry of Citizenship & Culture, Veteran’s Affairs Canada, private industrial sector as well as many years working with various native organizations in Northern Ontario. She also sits on the Board of Director’s for Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Ontario.     Her most recent responsibility was preparing proposals and business plans, filing documents and maintained records in relation to funding claims. As the Project officer, Rose-Ann will provide   towards the writing of proposals, and working with elders on different aspects of Traditional Ecological Knowledge. 

Cathleen Sutherland, Administrative Assistant

Ms. Sutherland brings experience in the office administration field.  Ms. Sutherland provides administrative support to the Executive Director and other employees. Ms. Sutherland  completed the Northern College Business Administration Accounting program in 2004.  Her main responsibilities include administrative tasks such as incoming/outgoing mail, filing, typing correspondence, Translations between English to Cree languages, directing,assisting with project management, bookkeeping and supporting the MERC staff and assisting staff and Chiefs of Mushkegowuk.

Alex Litvinov,  PhD, Aquatic Biologist

Mr. Litvinov graduated from Astrakhan Technical Institute of Fisheries in Russia.  Mr. Litvinov has previously worked for non-governmental organizations, First Nations, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.  He has international experience in fisheries from Russia, Canada, and the United States. As the Aquatic Biologist, Mr. Litvinov provides a lead role in the impacts of current and future water development, assessing fish habitat, statistical and spatial analysis of data.   Mr. Litvinov   contributes towards the design of field studies, as well as report/proposal writing.