Meet our U-Links Staff
Dr. Andrew Gordon, Director
Andy is our Director and has been in that position since 2021. He holds a B.Sc.F. in Forest Science from the University of New Brunswick and a Ph.D. in Ecosystem Ecology from the University of Alaska. For 32 years, he was a professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph, where he taught and researched in the broad areas of Agroforestry and Forest Ecology. Andy and his family have been associated with the Highlands, Dorset and Algonquin Park since the late 1940’s, and recently relocated here. After working for many years in Agroforestry research and development, Andy has a strong appreciation for sustainable agriculture, locally sourced foods and the impacts of climate change on food production systems. He also has a strong interest in the interaction of aquatic and terrestrial systems and has conducted research on these linkages in and around Haliburton. He is dedicated to finding logical solutions to resource management and societal problems and welcomes input from all sectors. He resides in Minden Hills with his wife and son, who pitches and plays first base for the Muskoka Hornets out of Bracebridge. As a result, he drives Hwy 118 on a regular basis and marvels at the rocks, trees and water that comprise this neck of the woods, and how research can maintain them and the societies that inhabit them.
Andy is our Director and has been in that position since 2021. He holds a B.Sc.F. in Forest Science from the University of New Brunswick and a Ph.D. in Ecosystem Ecology from the University of Alaska. For 32 years, he was a professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph, where he taught and researched in the broad areas of Agroforestry and Forest Ecology. Andy and his family have been associated with the Highlands, Dorset and Algonquin Park since the late 1940’s, and recently relocated here. After working for many years in Agroforestry research and development, Andy has a strong appreciation for sustainable agriculture, locally sourced foods and the impacts of climate change on food production systems. He also has a strong interest in the interaction of aquatic and terrestrial systems and has conducted research on these linkages in and around Haliburton. He is dedicated to finding logical solutions to resource management and societal problems and welcomes input from all sectors. He resides in Minden Hills with his wife and son, who pitches and plays first base for the Muskoka Hornets out of Bracebridge. As a result, he drives Hwy 118 on a regular basis and marvels at the rocks, trees and water that comprise this neck of the woods, and how research can maintain them and the societies that inhabit them.
Daniela Pagliaro, Administration & Logistics Coordinator
Daniela is our Administration and Logistics Coordinator. She helps make U-Links hum along smoothly by providing support for operations, logistics, financial management, and program delivery. Daniela is a long-time resident of Haliburton County and has a lifetime of experience working in a leadership role in the arts and culture sector as well as in social services in rural and First Nations communities. Daniela loves travel and adventure and has recently returned to Canada after living and working in Zhuhai, China. One of her greatest adventures was sailing across the Indian Ocean on a 150 foot sailing vessel with Captain Peter Willcox, legendary Greenpeace captain of the Rainbow Warrior. In her spare time she operates a small-batch, handmade pasta business.
Daniela is our Administration and Logistics Coordinator. She helps make U-Links hum along smoothly by providing support for operations, logistics, financial management, and program delivery. Daniela is a long-time resident of Haliburton County and has a lifetime of experience working in a leadership role in the arts and culture sector as well as in social services in rural and First Nations communities. Daniela loves travel and adventure and has recently returned to Canada after living and working in Zhuhai, China. One of her greatest adventures was sailing across the Indian Ocean on a 150 foot sailing vessel with Captain Peter Willcox, legendary Greenpeace captain of the Rainbow Warrior. In her spare time she operates a small-batch, handmade pasta business.
Frank Figuli, Program Coordinator
Frank Figuli is our Program Coordinator. Holding a Honours Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from the University of Guelph. In his professional career Frank has gained ecological research experience in laboratory and field settings allowing him to gain hands-on knowledge to hone an understanding of natural ecosystems and their intricate workings. Before his post-secondary advancements Frank developed years of hands-on skills within numerous trades including structural welding, machine operating as well as involvement in a family renovation business from his early teenage years. Having a keen interest in the genetic makeup of plants and their role in ecological systems, Frank strives to make a positive impact in environmental preservation, leveraging his diverse background to drive impactful initiatives. Beyond his professional pursuits, Frank finds joy in exploring the great outdoors through hiking trips and fishing on the Great Lakes with his dad.
Frank Figuli is our Program Coordinator. Holding a Honours Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from the University of Guelph. In his professional career Frank has gained ecological research experience in laboratory and field settings allowing him to gain hands-on knowledge to hone an understanding of natural ecosystems and their intricate workings. Before his post-secondary advancements Frank developed years of hands-on skills within numerous trades including structural welding, machine operating as well as involvement in a family renovation business from his early teenage years. Having a keen interest in the genetic makeup of plants and their role in ecological systems, Frank strives to make a positive impact in environmental preservation, leveraging his diverse background to drive impactful initiatives. Beyond his professional pursuits, Frank finds joy in exploring the great outdoors through hiking trips and fishing on the Great Lakes with his dad.
Jack Scott, Water Quality Coordinator
Jack Scott is our Water Quality Coordinator. He has recently obtained an Honours degree in Ecological Restoration from Trent University, as well as a diploma in Ecological Restoration from Fleming College. As a student, Jack has recently completed a community based research project which proposes potential strategies for a watershed council in the Haliburton Region. Jack has experience working with environmental organizations such as the Windy Pine Conference Centre, where he assists in the day to day operations of the property. In his spare time, Jack enjoys canoeing and hiking when and wherever the opportunity presents itself.
Jack Scott is our Water Quality Coordinator. He has recently obtained an Honours degree in Ecological Restoration from Trent University, as well as a diploma in Ecological Restoration from Fleming College. As a student, Jack has recently completed a community based research project which proposes potential strategies for a watershed council in the Haliburton Region. Jack has experience working with environmental organizations such as the Windy Pine Conference Centre, where he assists in the day to day operations of the property. In his spare time, Jack enjoys canoeing and hiking when and wherever the opportunity presents itself.
Brittany King, Environmental Research Associate
Brittany is our second Environmental Research Associate. Growing up, Brittany spent every summer at her family’s off-grid log cabin in the remote northern community of Pickle Lake, Ontario, where the wilderness is pristine and the fishing is great. This ignited her interest in the outdoors and led her to pursue a career in conservation, where her office is often a lake or river. Since graduating from Trent University with an Honours degree, majoring in biology and forensics, she has worked for multiple organizations completing benthic and fishery surveys, habitat assessments, and laboratory water quality analysis. In her free time, Brittany enjoys horseback riding or flying her Cessna 150.
Brittany is our second Environmental Research Associate. Growing up, Brittany spent every summer at her family’s off-grid log cabin in the remote northern community of Pickle Lake, Ontario, where the wilderness is pristine and the fishing is great. This ignited her interest in the outdoors and led her to pursue a career in conservation, where her office is often a lake or river. Since graduating from Trent University with an Honours degree, majoring in biology and forensics, she has worked for multiple organizations completing benthic and fishery surveys, habitat assessments, and laboratory water quality analysis. In her free time, Brittany enjoys horseback riding or flying her Cessna 150.
Meet Our Management Committee Members
Jim Blake, Co-Chair
Jim is currently the Community Economic Development Consultant for the Haliburton County Development Corporation, Curator of the Haliburton Sculpture Forest, the Program Consultant for the Arts Council ~Haliburton County, and a part-time faculty member at the Fleming College, Haliburton Campus with the Haliburton School of The Arts. Jim is the co-founder and president of the Haliburton County Community Co-operative and co-founder and co-chair of the management committee member of the U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research in Haliburton County. He served as a member of the advisory committee for the Haliburton School of The Arts from 2006 to 2009. In the spring of 2007, Jim was awarded the Fleming College Fellowship in Applied Education. Jim studied fine art at University of Guelph, York University and the New School of Art and exhibited his work as a visual artist from 1976 to 1984. He holds degrees in Psychology and Education from York University.
Jim is currently the Community Economic Development Consultant for the Haliburton County Development Corporation, Curator of the Haliburton Sculpture Forest, the Program Consultant for the Arts Council ~Haliburton County, and a part-time faculty member at the Fleming College, Haliburton Campus with the Haliburton School of The Arts. Jim is the co-founder and president of the Haliburton County Community Co-operative and co-founder and co-chair of the management committee member of the U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research in Haliburton County. He served as a member of the advisory committee for the Haliburton School of The Arts from 2006 to 2009. In the spring of 2007, Jim was awarded the Fleming College Fellowship in Applied Education. Jim studied fine art at University of Guelph, York University and the New School of Art and exhibited his work as a visual artist from 1976 to 1984. He holds degrees in Psychology and Education from York University.
Jim Prince, Co-Chair
Jim Prince has been a regular visitor to Haliburton for the past 30 years and has owned a family cottage on Kennisis Lake for the past 20 years. Jim is currently the Vice President, Stewardship Director and Sailing Coordinator for the Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association and was instrumental in developing and implementing The KLCOA Lake Plan. Jim has taken an active interest in preserving the health of the Kennisis Lakes and water sheds with a focus on community education in the areas of water quality testing, healthy septic systems, maintaining natural shorelines and shoreline restoration. Jim spent most of his working career in the electric utility business and currently operates an engineering consulting company and supports Canadian electric utilities in the area of regulatory compliance for plant inspections.
Jim Prince has been a regular visitor to Haliburton for the past 30 years and has owned a family cottage on Kennisis Lake for the past 20 years. Jim is currently the Vice President, Stewardship Director and Sailing Coordinator for the Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association and was instrumental in developing and implementing The KLCOA Lake Plan. Jim has taken an active interest in preserving the health of the Kennisis Lakes and water sheds with a focus on community education in the areas of water quality testing, healthy septic systems, maintaining natural shorelines and shoreline restoration. Jim spent most of his working career in the electric utility business and currently operates an engineering consulting company and supports Canadian electric utilities in the area of regulatory compliance for plant inspections.
Tom Whillans
Tom has been a member of the U-Links Management Committee since its inception. Between 1989 and 2003 with John Wadland, he created the Haliburton Bioregional Project -- a senior Trent University course that served as the foundation for U-Links. Since 1983, Tom was a professor at Trent, spending nine of those years as Chair of the Environmental and Resource Science/Studies Program, and was involved for 10 years in the development of an Ecuadorian/Andean network on integrated watershed management. Tom is now a professor emeritus, but continues to work on community-based engagement with wetlands and fisheries, ecological restoration, and Great Lakes environmental management.
Tom has been a member of the U-Links Management Committee since its inception. Between 1989 and 2003 with John Wadland, he created the Haliburton Bioregional Project -- a senior Trent University course that served as the foundation for U-Links. Since 1983, Tom was a professor at Trent, spending nine of those years as Chair of the Environmental and Resource Science/Studies Program, and was involved for 10 years in the development of an Ecuadorian/Andean network on integrated watershed management. Tom is now a professor emeritus, but continues to work on community-based engagement with wetlands and fisheries, ecological restoration, and Great Lakes environmental management.
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Bob Carter
Bob Carter is the Mayor of Minden Hills and lives on Lake Kashagawigamog. Bob serves on the Board of the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Housing Corporation and chairs the Housing Task Force and Planning & Development Committee in Minden. Bob volunteers with HHHS as a driver and with Meals on Wheels. He is a Director of the Lake Kashagawigamog Organization. Bob graduated in Computer Science and Business Administration and studied at Concordia University and McGill University in Montreal. Most of his working career was spent as a Chief Information Officer for various multi-national organizations across a number of industries. Since moving to Minden, Bob’s focus has been on the health of our lakes and the creation of affordable housing in our community. |
Eric Sager
Eric Sager is a professor in the Ecological Restoration Program, a jointly administered program between the School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences at Fleming College and the Trent School of the Environment. Eric is also an adjunct professor in the Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate program where his research interests are largely related to understanding the response of plant communities to environmental disturbances. Eric is also interested in management tools that can be used to mitigate the impacts of disturbance to ecosystems from a restoration or remediation perspective. He is quite involved with projects focused on the ecology and management of aquatic plants, restoration of tall- grass prairies, and revegetation of historical mine sites in the North. Eric has a strong belief in working on research questions that have applications beyond the academic community and have partnered with government agencies, citizen groups, private landowners, and environmental consultants. Eric is also the Manager of Trent's field station, the James McLean Oliver Ecological Centre, which is located in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes region on the shores of Pigeon Lake and is where he lives with his family.
Eric Sager is a professor in the Ecological Restoration Program, a jointly administered program between the School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences at Fleming College and the Trent School of the Environment. Eric is also an adjunct professor in the Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate program where his research interests are largely related to understanding the response of plant communities to environmental disturbances. Eric is also interested in management tools that can be used to mitigate the impacts of disturbance to ecosystems from a restoration or remediation perspective. He is quite involved with projects focused on the ecology and management of aquatic plants, restoration of tall- grass prairies, and revegetation of historical mine sites in the North. Eric has a strong belief in working on research questions that have applications beyond the academic community and have partnered with government agencies, citizen groups, private landowners, and environmental consultants. Eric is also the Manager of Trent's field station, the James McLean Oliver Ecological Centre, which is located in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes region on the shores of Pigeon Lake and is where he lives with his family.
Peter Dilworth
Mr. Peter Dilworth is a retired telecom executive with more than 30 years of experience working in finance and various corporate roles at Bell and Bell Aliant. In his last position, as VP – Finance and Chief Procurement Officer at Bell Aliant, he was accountable for Procurement and Supply Chain, Regulatory Finance, Real Estate, Payroll, Environment and Corporate Sustainability. He has significant background in Engineering Economics, costing and leading business case analysis. Peter graduated from Trent University in 1984 with an Honours B.Sc. in Economics and then went on to earn a M.A. from the University of Guelph. Peter has considerable board and governance experience. He just completed two terms on the Trent Board of Governors, where he chaired the Audit Committee and was Vice Chair of the Finance & Property Committee. He also served on the boards for Northwestel, the Bell Pensioners Group, and the Peterborough Innovation Cluster, where again he chaired their respective Audit Committees. Peter is a member of the Woodlands and Waterways Ecowatch Steering Committee as well as the President of his cottage association, the Miskwabi Area Community Association (MACA). Now that he is retired from his working career; Mr. Dilworth believes it is time to give back to our community.
Mr. Peter Dilworth is a retired telecom executive with more than 30 years of experience working in finance and various corporate roles at Bell and Bell Aliant. In his last position, as VP – Finance and Chief Procurement Officer at Bell Aliant, he was accountable for Procurement and Supply Chain, Regulatory Finance, Real Estate, Payroll, Environment and Corporate Sustainability. He has significant background in Engineering Economics, costing and leading business case analysis. Peter graduated from Trent University in 1984 with an Honours B.Sc. in Economics and then went on to earn a M.A. from the University of Guelph. Peter has considerable board and governance experience. He just completed two terms on the Trent Board of Governors, where he chaired the Audit Committee and was Vice Chair of the Finance & Property Committee. He also served on the boards for Northwestel, the Bell Pensioners Group, and the Peterborough Innovation Cluster, where again he chaired their respective Audit Committees. Peter is a member of the Woodlands and Waterways Ecowatch Steering Committee as well as the President of his cottage association, the Miskwabi Area Community Association (MACA). Now that he is retired from his working career; Mr. Dilworth believes it is time to give back to our community.
Elizabeth Teleki
Elizabeth Teleki has held the role of COO at Park Place Financial since 2016. During her tenure she has overseen the growth of the business moving from a small team of 10 in one centralized location, to a team of 50 with multiple locations across the province. Her position also has her focus on fiduciary oversight, strategic plan development and execution as well as the governance structure with the partnership team. Elizabeth has a deep-rooted passion for entrepreneurship. Having grown up with parents who ran a family business she saw first hand the grit, dedication and hours required to drive a small business, as well as the sacrifices people have to make along the way to create something they are proud of. Elizabeth has combined her education and practical experiences to help forge new pathways to learning at her alma mater, as well as helping to develop entrepreneurship skills and experiences with youth and adults. In her time at Peterborough Economic Development she helped over 200 business owners achieve financing, start or expand their businesses. She was also a founder of Startup Peterborough which culminated in Venture North, an entrepreneurship hub in the region. An avid traveller, Elizabeth has travelled across Canada, biking from Niagara to Cape Breton, lived abroad in France and Japan, and visited South and Central America.
Elizabeth Teleki has held the role of COO at Park Place Financial since 2016. During her tenure she has overseen the growth of the business moving from a small team of 10 in one centralized location, to a team of 50 with multiple locations across the province. Her position also has her focus on fiduciary oversight, strategic plan development and execution as well as the governance structure with the partnership team. Elizabeth has a deep-rooted passion for entrepreneurship. Having grown up with parents who ran a family business she saw first hand the grit, dedication and hours required to drive a small business, as well as the sacrifices people have to make along the way to create something they are proud of. Elizabeth has combined her education and practical experiences to help forge new pathways to learning at her alma mater, as well as helping to develop entrepreneurship skills and experiences with youth and adults. In her time at Peterborough Economic Development she helped over 200 business owners achieve financing, start or expand their businesses. She was also a founder of Startup Peterborough which culminated in Venture North, an entrepreneurship hub in the region. An avid traveller, Elizabeth has travelled across Canada, biking from Niagara to Cape Breton, lived abroad in France and Japan, and visited South and Central America.
Carol Greenwood
Carol fell in love with the Haliburton Highlands over 30 years ago when she first bought vacant lakefront property. Following many years of camping and living in a bunkie, she and her husband eventually had their home built using as many local materials as possible. They have lived here full time since 2017. Carol holds a B.Sc. in Nutrition and Food Science from MacDonald College of McGill University and a M.Sc. and PhD in Nutrition from the University of Toronto. Carol pursued an academic career at the University of Toronto where her research interests focused on the relationship between diet and brain health. During the later part of her career, she worked with a multidisciplinary team studying the relationships amongst lifestyle, brain function and dementia prevention. Her research interests included seniors both living in the community and in long term care. She is currently a professor emeritus of nutritional science at the University of Toronto and senior scientist emeritus at the Roman Research Institute at Baycrest. Carol has a severe case of wanderlust and enjoys travel, especially in southeast Asia. Nevertheless, she is happiest enjoying the richness and wilderness of the Highlands with friends and family.
Carol fell in love with the Haliburton Highlands over 30 years ago when she first bought vacant lakefront property. Following many years of camping and living in a bunkie, she and her husband eventually had their home built using as many local materials as possible. They have lived here full time since 2017. Carol holds a B.Sc. in Nutrition and Food Science from MacDonald College of McGill University and a M.Sc. and PhD in Nutrition from the University of Toronto. Carol pursued an academic career at the University of Toronto where her research interests focused on the relationship between diet and brain health. During the later part of her career, she worked with a multidisciplinary team studying the relationships amongst lifestyle, brain function and dementia prevention. Her research interests included seniors both living in the community and in long term care. She is currently a professor emeritus of nutritional science at the University of Toronto and senior scientist emeritus at the Roman Research Institute at Baycrest. Carol has a severe case of wanderlust and enjoys travel, especially in southeast Asia. Nevertheless, she is happiest enjoying the richness and wilderness of the Highlands with friends and family.