Our Committees

Kevin Kapell

Appointed national-president elect on October 31, 2019, Kevin has been a valuable, dedicated and outspoken member of the NEC since May 2017. In spring 2007, he obtained his BASc in Environmental Health and Science at the First Nations University of Canada/University of Regina and obtained his CPHI(C) in the fall that same year. Since then, he has worked with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (formerly Heartland Health Region) as a field public health officer. During this time, he has worked in rural offices in both Outlook, SK and Rosetown, SK and covers a large rural area in west central Saskatchewan.

Kevin became interested in CIPHI after he attended the Annual Education Conference in Regina in 2006 and the provincial conference in 2007, both organized by the Saskatchewan Branch. Inspired by the dedicated volunteers working hard to put on two great events, Kevin got involved, and has been a part of the CIPHI Saskatchewan Branch executive since being elected to a councillor position in 2011, and served as branch president from 2017 to 2019.

Kevin currently lives in Rosetown, SK with his wife Amanda and son Aiden. When he’s not working, he coaches both hockey and baseball, plays recreational hockey and golf, travels, and spends time at the family cabin.

Casey Neathway

Casey is the interior regional manager of Environmental Public Health Services for British Columbia’s First Nations Health Authority, the first province-wide, Indigenous-led health authority of its kind in Canada. Casey graduated from Thompson Rivers University with a BSc. in cellular, molecular, and microbial biology, and subsequently attended BCIT for his environmental health training, graduating in 2008. Since then, Casey has continued his education, obtaining graduate certificates in public health strategic communications and public health leadership. Throughout his career, Casey has worked in varied programs in population and public health, including environmental health, community care licensing, and First Nations community programming.

Prior to joining the BC Branch Executive Council as president-elect, Casey was (and continues to be) an associate editor of the BC Branch newsletter, and spent a number of years as a BoC examiner.

Casey currently lives in Vernon, BC where he enjoys the ideal Okanagan climate by backpacking, kayaking, camping, and snowshoeing with his family and dog.

Natalie Lowdon

National Director - Advocacy

Natalie Lowdon is the regional manager for the Winnipeg Health Protection Unit, Environmental Health Branch, with Manitoba Health. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba, and a Bachelor of Environmental Health (after degree) from the Concordia University College of Edmonton. A certified public health inspector (Canada) since 2007, Natalie has a wealth of experience in the field of public health inspection, as a public health inspector for the City of Winnipeg and with the Province of Manitoba.

Natalie joined the CIPHI Manitoba Branch Executive Committee in 2008 as a councilor. Her duties included volunteering on various committees, which eventually led to her chairing a branch educational conference in 2009 and a workshop in 2010. The chairing role included coordinating and working with venues, sponsorship, menus, and speakers. She was also appointed as the venue chair for the 2013 Centennial National Annual Conference in Winnipeg, which commenced planning three years in advance of the event. Although her branch councilor term ended in 2012, Natalie returned to hold the branch secretary position from 2017-2018.

In 2021, Natalie moved into the Manitoba Branch past-president role. She also remained on the National Advocacy Committee as a co-chair and continued to participate with the development of the branding for CIPHI, with the ongoing goal of increasing both public and employer awareness of the institute and the professional designation, and creating a better understanding of the role of environmental public health professionals in communities throughout Canada.

Her favourite activities include playing recreational indoor and outdoor beach volleyball, jamming with her musically inclined husband Terry, spending time outdoors with their dogs, visiting with family and friends, and watching their two athletic daughters, Maëlle and Annalie, participate in hockey and gymnastics.

Ann Thomas

National Director - Policy and Governance

Ann was appointed to the NEC in early 2022 to take on one of the newly created National Director positions. Prior to this Ann was President of CIPHI from 2015-2019, Chair of BOC 2004-2011, a member of CIPHI since 1986 and a Life Member since 2020. She is a steadfast advocate for mandatory membership and the need for continuing professional development to allow CPHI(C)s to establish themselves as vital members of the health professional community across Canada. Ann retired in 2017 after a long career in environmental health protection in BC and the Northwest Territories and resides on a rural property on Vancouver Island BC.

Kari Engele-Carter

National Director - Education

Kari attended Concordia University College of Alberta’s After-Degree Program in Environmental Health and obtained CPHI(C) certification in 2003. Since then, she has been employed by the Saskatchewan Health Authority in various roles as a public health inspector and senior public health inspector.

Kari has been an active CIPHI member since 2002. She has been a member of National Executive Council since 2013, formerly as Saskatchewan Branch and National Presidents and currently as a National Director. Kari is also the CIPHI representative for the International Federation of Environmental Health Kari was co-chair of the National Annual Education Conferences in Saskatoon, SK (2018) and Halifax, NS (2019).

Kari is appreciative of the opportunities volunteering with CIPHI has presented, including the opportunity to network with members across Canada.

Kari lives in small town Saskatchewan with her husband and daughter. She enjoys camping, traveling, reading, spending time with family, and volunteering in small town Saskatchewan and with CIPHI.

Vanessa Nickelo

Born and raised in Cape Breton before moving west and graduating from Concordia University College of Alberta’s After-Degree Program in Environmental Health in 2010, Vanessa worked as a public health inspector at the New Brunswick Department of Health in 2010 before moving back to Nova Scotia and practicing as a public health officer with the Government of Nova Scotia from 2011 to 2018. She recently accepted the role as an officer with the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s Emergency Preparedness Program. Throughout her career, Vanessa has been an active CIPHI member, mentoring students, serving as a BoC examiner, presenting at the 2016 Annual Education Conference, and volunteering as webmaster at the Nova Scotia-Prince Edward Island Branch.

Vanessa resides in Halifax with her partner Mark. In her spare time she enjoys the gym, video games, and spending time with her dog, Loki.s.

Valerie Jackson

Valerie currently works as an Environmental Public Health Officer with First Nations Health Authority out of Westbank BC. Valerie graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor’s of Science in Bio-Anthropology and then went on to work with an immunology professor as a research assistant at the University and as an Environmental testing laboratory technician at ALS Environmental. Valerie then decided to go back and pursue her passion and interest in the field of public health and attended Concordia University of Edmonton’s After Degree program in Environmental Public Health (EPH). She completed her practicum with Alberta Health Services and then moved back to Manitoba where she had the opportunity to work as a Drinking Water Officer.

Valerie then went on to work with Indigenous Services Canada as an Environmental Public Health Officer where she gained valuable experience working with remote first Nations communities. She has continued her education and learning wherever possible and has completed additional training in Infection Control and Prevention as well as Indigenous Public Health.

Valerie joined CIPHI as a student and when in Manitoba became part of various committees helping where she could. She took on the role of Manitoba president elect in 2020 and currently is BC president elect. She is a member of the National Advocacy Committee and hopes to continue assisting with the amazing work they are doing. Valerie enjoys promoting the EPH profession, and is passionate about health promotion and education.

Valerie loves to travel with her better half, Jeff, and two sons, Cobin and Hayden. She enjoys yoga, boxing, art, cooking, camping, hiking, and getting outside with her dogs. An animal lover, Valerie always has room for more dogs in her life, even if Jeff says no!