Alberta / Northwest Territories / Nunavut

Manny Ahmad

President

Originally from Calgary, Manny completed his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta in 2005 followed by specialized training in Medical Laboratory Sciences until 2007. He continued his education and completed his Bachelor of Environmental Health at Concordia University of Edmonton and a Master of Public Health from the University of Waterloo.

He has been working in healthcare since 2007 and specifically in the field of Public Health since 2009. Throughout his career, he has held specialized roles in communicable disease control, outbreak management, community-based health care investigations and municipal affairs development. He is currently a Manager in Environmental Public Health at Alberta Health Services – Central Zone.

Although he enjoys travelling and spending time in Calgary and Edmonton, he has made Red Deer his home for more than ten years with his wife and two kids. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, volunteering and spending quality time with family and friends.

Meaghen Allen

Past President

Meaghen became a certified Public Health Inspector in 2006 after completing her After Degree in Environmental Public Health form Concordia College. She spent the first two years of her career working in Northern Alberta and later relocated to the Edmonton area to work as a generalist in a rural office.

In 2009, Meaghen left the profession to pursue a Master’s Degree in Health Policy and Management from the University of Alberta but later returned in 2012. Since this time Meaghen has worked in both the Safe Food and Safe Built programs with Alberta Health Services, Edmonton Zone. Currently, Meaghen is the Director, Environmental Public Health - South Zone.

Meaghen served as the CIPHI Alberta Branch, Edmonton Zone councilor for two years, was the co-chair of the 2018 CIPHI Alberta Branch Fall Workshop and is in her second year as the branch president.
Meaghen is also the National Advocacy Director

Paul Kascak

Secretary

Leah Tomasevic

Treasurer

Leah graduated from the University of Alberta with a BSc in Biological Sciences in 2013. During her final year of her undergraduate studies, she was introduced to the field of Public Health which led her to pursue a degree in Environmental Health at Concordia University of Edmonton. Leah completed the program and was certified as a Public Health Inspector in 2015. Since 2015, Leah has worked in the Edmonton Zone in various program areas. Currently, she is a member of the Safe Built Environment team in Urban Edmonton where she enjoys the fast pace and “never a dull moment” work environment.

Leah has volunteered with CIPHI on workshop planning committees and helped complete Financial Audits for the Alberta Branch from 2017-2021. Leah was excited for the opportunity to be a part of the Executive Committee so she could give back to her profession through her work as the Alberta Branch Treasurer. She has also volunteered in the community as a Wish Grantor with the Make-a-Wish Foundation Northern Alberta Chapter since 2012 and has been involved in over 25 Wishes to date.

In her free time, Leah enjoys travelling and being outdoors. Her favorite activities include mountain biking, hiking and dragon boating in the summer, and skiing and snowboarding in the winter. She also enjoys escaping with a good book!

Ashley Yu

Northern Zone Councilor

Heya! I have been working in the north zone since my practicum and have loads of interesting experiences. I have been hauled off by a mall cop, locked in a walk-in freezer and of course yelled at numerous times. It has also been enjoyable to watch a business start from the ground up and flourish.

I took over the North Zone Councillor around 2021 and have helped with the Branch Awards. I have also assisted in various other committees for the branch on and off through the years. I have also been an BOC examiner for the last 5 years and have also helped with PDH audits. If you see me at an event, come say hello.

Also if you ever have a good ice cream spot to try, let me know.

See you around!

Anca Nastase

Edmonton Zone Councilor

Anca is passionate about Environmental Public Health, with a demonstrated history of working within Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health since 2011. She gained much of her experience in food safety and health education from working as a Food Supervisor in acute and long-term care and as an Educator for the food service and nutrition industry. She is currently working as a Public Health Inspector in the Edmonton Zone, within the Rural team. Anca has a Bachelor's Degree in nutrition and Food Service from the University of Alberta and an After Degree from Concordia in Environmental Health. She is currently registered in the Master in Health Science Education at the University of Alberta. She welcomes anyone to approach and talk to her about how we can help our profession grow.

Andrew Kong

Central Zone Councilor

Andrew graduated from the University of Alberta and Concordia University of Edmonton with a BSc in Chemistry and a BEH(AD), respectively. He currently works as a Public Health Inspector at Alberta Health Services in Red Deer. During his leisure time, Andrew enjoys travelling and listening to music.

Rachel Burak

Calgary Zone Councilor

Amanda Hepp

South Zone Councilor

Amanda obtained a BSc in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Alberta in 2019 after which she worked with Alberta Health Services as a supervisor of patient food services. While working to ensure consistent, safe meals to patients and customers at 3 hospitals in Edmonton Zone, Amanda studied Environmental Health at Concordia University of Edmonton. She began working as a Public Health Inspector in High Level in 2020 gaining much experience amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Working in a rural and remote community with many diverse cultures, Amanda's passion for reducing health inequities strengthened. This is what led her to pursue a MSc - public health specialization at the University of Lethbridge and brought her to South Zone where she works part time as a PHI with AHS.

Ryan Boyd

Federal Zone Councilor

Ryan graduated from Mount Royal University in Calgary AB in 2016, earning a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Directly after graduation, Ryan entered into the Bachelor of Environmental Health program at Concordia University of Edmonton. His first position after certification was working as a transfer EHO at Battle River Treaty 6 Health Center, a First Nations owned and operated Health Service provider located in North Battleford Saskatchewan. He spent 2 years working with the Nations around the Battleford area before accepting a position as an EPHO with First Nations Inuit Health Branch, Alberta Region.

In the past, Ryan has volunteered to help plan at CIPHI professional development conferences as well as to facilitate Mock BOC exams with the CIPHI Saskatchewan Branch. Ryan is looking forward to being given the opportunity to represent the Federal and Transferred Health Inspectors across Alberta, as well as being more involved with CIPHI.

In his spare time, Ryan enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and fishing and is always looking for his next adventure.

Vacant

Artic Councilor

If you are interested in serving as the Artic/NWT Zone councilor please reach out.