The Oldman Watershed Council is thrilled to welcome Jana MacKenzie as our new Development Manager. Jana brings a wealth of experience in the not-for-profit sector, a deep understanding of stakeholder relations, and a strong connection to the southern Alberta community. With her background in grant management, strategic leadership, and fostering meaningful collaborations, Jana is well-equipped to support and grow the OWC’s mission of ensuring a healthy and resilient watershed. Her passion for the region and commitment to making a positive impact will be invaluable as we work together to advance our goals.
Welcome!
I am very excited to be putting my energy and enthusiasm into the position of Development Manager with the Oldman Watershed Council. I am a graduate of the Urban and Regional Studies program at the University of Lethbridge and have extensive experience working in the not-for-profit sector. I am well-versed in grant management, stakeholder relations, and connecting with key decision-makers.
Most recently, I was the Executive Director of the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge. I have also held positions with Womanspace Resource Centre and Alberta Environment & Parks, as well as served as the Artistic Director of the South Country Fair for over a decade. I was a member-at-large on the City of Lethbridge Community Social Development Committee and contributed to the work of SHENLA (Social, Health, Equity, Network of Lethbridge). I am also proud to say that I served as a member-at-large on the Oldman Watershed Council Board of Directors from 2019-2022. I was part of the sub-committee that drafted the OWC Neutrality Policy, an important tool in working collectively while discussing challenging issues.
I have kept up to date on OWC projects and initiatives and understand the various funding streams required to make these activities successful. As a southern Albertan, born and raised, I connect deeply with the mission of the OWC: to be a collaborative forum for all voices, with the primary goal of ensuring that our watershed is healthy and resilient. I have always appreciated that, instead of fighting against something, the OWC is fighting for something.
I am grateful to be joining the OWC team at this time, with the Four-Year Strategic Plan (2024-2027) in place and the five strategic goals well-outlined for implementation. I look forward to getting to know the existing OWC partners, donors, and members, and I am eager to connect with individuals and organizations that have yet to be introduced to the great work of the OWC. Since the health of the watershed affects everyone and everything in the region, I know I will always have a list of people I need to connect with.
A key part of my work will also be ensuring a diversity of funding streams for the organization, including increasing the individual, monthly donations that the organization receives. While larger grants and government support are necessary for OWC operations, we are also dependent on the ongoing support of donors.
If you are interested in hearing more about how you can contribute to the work of the OWC, please reach out at any time. I can be contacted at Jana@oldmanwatershed.ca.
