Board Members
& Committees

Almost 20 years of experience in environmental research, consulting, and regulatory compliance has provided Anne with a broad perspective into many aspects of the mining industry and other industrial sectors. Collaborations with regulators, industry stakeholders, and community groups are all part of a typical day in her current role as Senior Environmental Scientist with Cameco Corporation in Saskatoon.

Anne started as the Secretary of WIM/WiN-SK in 2012 and has served in the Chair role since 2013. She is committed to raising awareness and promoting activities for women to participate and advance in the mining and nuclear sectors and is proud to be a part of an industry that focuses on safety and strong environmental performance. Anne is actively involved on a variety of committees and currently serves on the Board of Women in Nuclear Canada.

Anne Gent's LinkedIn

Amber Doney is a Project Geologist with Orano and partner in a private consulting company. Amber has over 10 years of mining experience in exploration, primarily working in the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan and Thelon Basin in Nunavut. She has a BASc. in Geology from the University of Saskatchewan and a MBA from Edwards School of Business. Amber is also a Board member of the Saskatchewan Environmental Industry and Managers Association.

Amber Doney's LinkedIn

Sarah Kolla-Empey, CPA, CA is a Financial Planner with Brian Mallard and Associates. Sarah has over 10 years of experience helping clients navigate the complex world of tax and establishing financial plans. Sarah spent over 10 years of her career in public accounting, working with KPMG LLP where she helped private, public and non-profit organizations to provide tax advice and planning tailored specifically to their unique business needs. She now focuses on assisting clients in finding a better path to achieving financial security through making informed decisions regarding their investments, estate plans and other financial decisions that life brings. Sarah obtained her Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Saskatchewan, has obtained her Chartered Professional Accountant Designation and has completed the CICA In-Depth tax courses.

Sarah Kolla-Empey's LinkedIn

Nicole Webb is an Engineer-in-Training registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. Her experience has been focused in potash mining, assisting underground Mine Engineering departments with ground control, rock mechanics, project management, and ventilation projects. Nicole was appointed Secretary of WIM/WiN-SK in May 2018.

Nicole Webb's LinkedIn

Karen Chovan is the Principal of Enviro Integration Strategies, and Shift2Lean Inc. She is a strategic, life-cycle thinker, an engineer and project manager, a sustainability expert, and a change agent who believes the greatest value can only be derived through common goals, healthy engagement, and collaboration to reduce wasteful practices. Karen gained her BASc in Geological Engineering, and a MASc in Mine Waste Management from the University of British Columbia, and she has spent time volunteering with the Canada Mining Innovation Council, Environmental Stewardship Initiative, the Project Management Institute, and recently became Vice-Chair for the Environmental and Social Responsibility Society (ESRS), Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM).

With 20 years in the mining sector, Karen engages teams for the purposes of improving project and operational performance by facilitating trust and alignment, thinking differently, and working collaboratively amongst multiple stakeholders. Experience has proven that this enables teams to openly identify risks, challenges, and improvement opportunities within the processes they follow, and for the operations, projects, and developments on which they work.

Karen Chovan's LinkedIn

Donna Beneteau is currently the Departmental Assistant Mining in Geological Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. She developed and currently teaches the “Drill/Blast/Excavate” course for the mine engineering option, helps with other courses as needed, and works in the Rock Mechanics and Mining laboratory. She previously worked at the Noranda Technology Centre in backfill research, as a mine engineer at the Holloway Mine, and in consulting for Ionic Engineering.

Donna has a BASc in Geological Engineering from the University of Waterloo, and a MASc in Mineral Resource Engineering from Laurentian University. Her thesis topic was in mine seismicity, studying datasets from Canadian and Australian hard rock mines. Donna is an active volunteer with WIM/WiN-SK and the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM). Currently with CIM, she is Past Chair for the Underground Mining Society and represents WIM/WiN-SK on the CIM Saskatoon Branch Board.

Donna Beneteau's LinkedIn

Frances graduated with a BSc in Biology (Honours) from the University of Saskatchewan and went on to complete a MSc. in Environmental Toxicology from Clemson University (South Carolina) in 2002. Since then, she has gained over 15 years of regulatory compliance experience working as an environmental lead for large capital developments, primarily in the electricity, mining and natural resources sectors in Canada. She currently works at Rio Tinto in the position of Manager, Environment & Permitting. Before this, she spent 10 years with SaskPower, where she worked to permit over $700M in assets for the provincial power utility and lead the development of the company's long-term carbon emissions strategy. Frances remains active in the academic field and has taught Environmental Toxicology and other upper level science courses at the First Nations University of Canada in Regina since 2007. She also contributes as an advisor for several research projects at the Universities of Saskatchewan and Regina studying the feasibility of nuclear power in Saskatchewan. She is an active community member and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Saskatchewan Athletics as well as the provincial chapter for Women in Mining & Women in Nuclear Canada.

Frances Hilderman's LinkedIn