Paul Thomas, Chair: Currently the Duff Roblin Professor of Government at the University of Manitoba, Paul Thomas has taught there since 1969. He holds a BA and MA from the University of Manitoba and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. Thomas is an author and his current research is in leadership in the public sector. He has been a consultant to both the federal and provincial governments and has been on several previous royal commissions and task forces.
Mayor R.S. "Bud" Oliver: Born and raised in Selkirk, Oliver is the chair of the International Coalition for Land and Water Stewardship in the Red River Basin. He is also vice-chair of the Red River Basin Board. Elected to the Selkirk city council in 1978, he is now serving his sixth consecutive term as mayor. He has also been a member of the Selkirk and Area Planning District Board since 1979 and has served as its chair for 14 years. He is a past president and life member of the Manitoba Association of Urban Municipalities.
Mayor Robert (Bob) Stefaniuk: Born and raised in Selkirk, Stefaniuk has been mayor of the Rural Municipality of Ritchot for six years. He served in the Royal Canadian Navy for three years. He has a BA in economics and history and a certificate from the Canadian Institute of Management. He serves on several other boards and committees.
Deputy Mayor Lillian Thomas is currently deputy mayor of Winnipeg, and has been a Winnipeg city councillor for the Elmwood ward since 1989. Thomas has a BA in sociology from Lakehead University and an MA from the University of Manitoba. She has been a member of numerous boards and committees including the Winnipeg Art Gallery board, Winnipeg Council Committee on Planning and Community Services, International Coalition for Land and Water Stewardship - Red River Basin, Manitoba Association of Urban Municipalities, River-bank Management Committee, Waste Minimization Committee, Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Committee, Winnipeg Regional Implementation Team and numerous others.
Nick Carter: Carter served as deputy minister of natural resources with the Manitoba government from 1979 to 1987. Prior to 1979, he also served as deputy minister of northern affairs for the Manitoba government and deputy minister of environment for the Saskatchewan government. He is past chair of the Manitoba Environment Council and also past chair of the Manitoba Hazardous Waste Management Corporation. He was most recently a member of the Manitoba Livestock Stewardship Panel.
Cathy Auld: Currently the director of donor relations and corporate secretary for the Winnipeg Foundation, she holds a BA from the University of Winnipeg and a master of city planning degree from the University of Manitoba. She developed a Youth Philanthropy program for Winnipeg high school students and is the former program manager of the Winnipeg Core Area Initiative. She is also a member of several boards and community groups and has served as a member of the Manitoba Municipal Board.
Eleanor Thompson: Born and raised on a farm near Emerson, Manitoba, she is the founder/director of the Urban Circle Training Centre. She has also been a researcher with the Canadian Museum of Civilization and was the co- founder/director of the Maskwa Project - Rural Centre for Alternate Technologies. She has been a member of several boards and committees such as the Manitoba Law Foundation and is a founding executive board member of the Community Education Development Agency (CEDA), among others.
