Staff
Stephanie Weizenbach
Executive Director
Stephanie studied environmental and conservation sciences at the University of Alberta. She brings a wealth of experience in environmental stewardship, community engagement, and fostering connections in the environmental non-profit sector. Steph gained hands-on experience rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife with Wild North, while also growing their education pilot project into a wildly successful, permanent program. She also advanced outreach initiatives for the Edmonton and Area Land Trust while working as part of the team to conserve natural areas in the field. Steph spent her first three years with Nature Alberta leading our Nature Network and Nature Kids programs, building our volunteer team, fostering partnerships, and initiating fundraising strategies before taking on the role of Executive Director in 2023. Steph has contagious enthusiasm, innovative energy, and an eagerness to collaborate that is empowering Nature Alberta’s network to connect our community through a love of nature.
Erin McCloskey
Editor-in-Chief
Erin brings three decades of publishing experience to Nature Alberta magazine. She has worked for magazine and book publishers in Canada, the United States, Italy, and New Zealand. She has managed a magazine and written numerous articles for publications including Geographical and New Trail. Erin holds a degree in Environmental Conservation Sciences with a major in conservation biology and management from the University of Alberta. She has worked with wildlife and nature organizations in Alberta and abroad on wildlife and wilderness campaigns, on endangered species expeditions, and as a guide and nature interpreter. Erin’s interest and experience in both natural history and publishing find a perfect fit as Editor-in-Chief for Nature Alberta magazine.
Nick Carter
Nature Kids Coordinator
Nick has been a professional science communicator and naturalist for over a decade. After getting his BSc in biology at the University of Alberta, his experience has included teaching the public about dinosaurs at Jurassic Forest, working as an ornithology lab assistant at the Royal Alberta Museum, leading educational programs at the John Janzen Nature Centre and Muttart Conservatory, running the education department at the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, and co-leading the WILD Outside program in Edmonton with the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Nick has been associated with Nature Alberta since 2021, and his involvement has included leading interpretive nature walks and educational stations, helping with event logistics, writing articles for the magazine, and other various projects. He now brings his extensive knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to the Nature Kids Coordinator role.
Susan May
Communications Director
Susan brings over 20 years of communications expertise to our marketing and outreach efforts, including design of Nature Alberta Magazine and our revamped website. Susan obtained a BA with Distinction in Visual Communications Design from the University of Alberta. A firm believer that non-profits deserve creative as good as — or better than — big businesses, Susan has provided print and digital design and marketing services for numerous not-for profit organizations in the environmental education and advocacy sphere. Susan has been taking her daughter to Nature Alberta’s Family Nature Nights for years and is proud to now be part of the team.
Jason Switner
Managing Editor
Jason has been wordsmithing professionally since 2002. He has a BA in English from the University of Alberta and a Broadcasting Diploma from NAIT, supplemented with professional development courses in editing and proofreading. He was a proofreader at the Edmonton Journal for six years, a creative writer at Rogers Broadcasting Alberta North for five, and has worked with Susan as a dedicated copy writer/editor for over 20 years. Jason enjoys applying his skills to the pages of Nature Alberta Magazine to bring you a publication that is as informative and accurate as it is enjoyable. He also pitches in with our other forward-facing communications, including Nature Kids Guidebooks, social media, and e-news, and has been known to emcee the occasional 50th anniversary celebration.
Join our Team!
We are always in need of volunteers to help run Nature Kids events, write articles for Nature Alberta Magazine, and other ongoing projects. Email naturekids@naturealberta.ca to join the Nature Alberta Volunteer Team and view our Volunteer & Job Board here.