Staff & Board of Directors

Staff

Allyson Heustis

Executive Director

Allyson comes to us with over 5 years experience managing funding programs and projects with the Foundation for Conservation of Atlantic Salmon. Allyson completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology from St. Francis Xavier University, and a Masters of Science from the University of New Brunswick Fredericton where she studied an invasive insect species in Nova Scotia. She has a passion for outdoor activities and enjoys being active in the community. Allyson enjoys spending free time playing piano, painting, teaching her dog Bonnie new tricks, and taking her two children on outdoor adventures.

Tanya Germaine

Program Coordinator – Restoration

Tanya started with the NWAI as a summer student in 2023, and continued part-time until she started in her current role. She has a background in biolgical sciences, and is currently wrapping up her MSc research on a native plant, elderberry. She enjoys being outside, gardening, spending time with family, and pretty much anything active! Tanya is passionate about restoring and enhancing the natural world, and can’t wait to get valuable experience in the local area with the Nashwaak Watershed.

Adam Lanto

Program Coordinator – Education and Outreach

Adam joins us after being a stay at home parent for the last ten years where he passed on his love of the outdoors to his two children. He received a degree in Hospitality and Tourism specializing in Adventure Tourism from NBCC St. Andrews before completing a Bachelor of Recreation and Sports studies at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. In his spare time, you’ll often see him looking up into the trees trying to spot a bird, walking his Newfypoo, River, or out adventuring with his wife and kids.

Daria Wisniowska

Program Coordinator – Aquatics

Daria Wisniowska Daria joined NWAI as the Aquatics Program Coordinator, which includes her favourite type of work – spending time outdoors around water. She is a Haligonian but has called Fredericton home since 2021. She has spent the past few summers working as a field tech at Belleisle Watershed Coalition, a Nature Interpreter at Ducks Unlimited Fredericton, an Environmental Sample Receiver at a lab, and a field tech at a watershed group in Souris, PEI. She has a BSc in Biology from SMU and is near completing a Masters of Environmental Management from UNB. Daria loves hiking, spotting wildlife, and experiencing new and fun things, and is excited to do all three through this position.

Kate Turner

Program Coordinator – Forest

Kate Turner has a background and interest in ecology, conservation, forestry and water policy. She has an M.Sc. and B.Sc. and has worked for a variety of non-profits as well as for the provincial government of Ontario. Kate lives in Hampton, NB with her husband and 4 children, and leads a number of environmental education initiatives in that community.

Ian Smith

Education and Outreach

Ian Smith is a retired Parks NB Program Manager, Grandfather, Outdoor Educator and Outward Bound Canada Instructor. He loves sharing nature with people of all ages and is a passionate lifelong outdoor educator.

Juan Sanchez

Watershed Technician

Juan Sanchez is a biologist who is passionate about birds and ecological research. He recently joined our team as a watershed technician, where he is supporting our Bank Swallow monitoring efforts and more. Juan obtained his Bachelor of Biological Sciences from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia and his Master of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. He previously worked as a research assistant, studying the population genetics of tropical monkeys. Eager for more outdoor adventures, he transitioned into birds and ecological research during his master’s and worked as a technician with Birds Canada in 2023. Juan enjoys birding (not surprising), spending time with his two siblings, and playing board games in his free time.