Our Commitment to Equity and Representation

At ACWS, we view diversity as a strength essential to effective leadership. Our Board of Directors is committed to reflecting the varied identities of the communities we serve. Our directors bring valuable lived experience and expertise, guiding ACWS in its mission to create safety, support, and meaningful change for survivors across Alberta. We encourage applications from all individuals and those with diverse backgrounds including racialized, immigrant, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

We honour different ways of knowing and recognize that each individual has intersecting identities shaped by culture, race, gender, ability, and lived experience. No one should represent an entire community; we seek representation and accountability. In 2022, we conducted an identity survey to improve our understanding and identify areas for growth. We are dedicated to challenging colonial and patriarchal structures in our governance while creating space for new voices and leadership.

Board Members, 2025-2026

President

Sandy Vander Ziel

The former Chair of The Sonshine Centre in Calgary, Sandy is also an award-winning family lawyer. She has extensive volunteer experience both with community organizations and within the legal community. Witnessing the lasting impact of domestic violence upon children, she is a passionate advocate for building greater public awareness and education. Sandy is the current Board President for ACWS.

Vice President

Jerri Taylor

Jerri is the past Board Chair for the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter (CAWES) in Red Deer, a Fellow in the American College of Health Executive (FACHE), a Certified Member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders, and a member of the Project Management Institute. She has been Chair of the Capital Committee for CAWES during the build of their new 50-bed Emergency Shelter inclusive of 40 additional secure transitional and low-income housing for women and children, which has now been completed and is opening in 2025-2026. She has extensive experience in financial and project management, strategic and capital planning, and partnership contract development and management. She has over 36 years of experience in management including 6 years in small business accounting and tax preparation, and 39 years of executive management in healthcare. Her latest interest and pursuit is Board Governance in the non-profit sector. Building strong teams and relationships are her most rewarding accomplishments.

Treasurer and Public Director

Keaton Harris

Keaton is an Accountant with AIMCo and has previous experience as an auditor with the Auditor General of Alberta. He has audited various entities such as post-secondary institutions, agencies, and government programs. He volunteers for a few organizations throughout the year including the Tax Clinic for CPA Alberta and as a general volunteer for SCARS. As a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, he hopes to help facilitate discussions through a queer lens.

Secretary

Jennifer Kwan

Jennifer Kwan is an independent consultant specializing in project management, governance, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement. Professionally, she works extensively with Boards and organizations in the health, education, and non-profit sectors. Jennifer also volunteers on the Board of the Citadel Theatre and is a member of the Telus World of Science Edmonton Space and Science Foundation.

Directors

Jill Young

Jill Young is the CEO of YWCA Lethbridge & District and has led critical initiatives in support of women, youth, and families, including emergency shelters, youth housing, and violence prevention programs. Prior to her work in the social services sector, Jill held key roles in the sports, entertainment, and hospitality industries where she developed expertise in corporate leadership, event management, and community outreach.

Her combined experience in both corporate and non-profit sectors equips Jill with a unique, well-rounded approach to leadership and advocacy. Her passion for creating safer, more inclusive communities aligns perfectly with ACWS’s mission, where she now brings her expertise and vision to the provincial level, working to strengthen the network of women’s shelters and support services across Alberta.

Becky Wells

Becky Wells is the Executive Director of the Wellspring Family Resource & Crisis Centre, a position she has held since 2013. In this role, she is responsible for the daily operations, budgets, and staffing requirements to run an emergency women’s shelter for people fleeing domestic violence. She also manages the social enterprise a thrift store of the shelter, Wellspring’s Twice is Nice Prior to her position at Wellspring, Becky worked for the Northwest Central FASD Network (2012), where she worked with individuals diagnosed with FASD or in the process of the assessment of FASD, on client-based programming. Becky holds a diploma in Social Work from Red Deer College (2010).

Public Directors

Wilda Listener

Tanisi/Oki, Wilda Listener is a citizen of the Ermineskin Cree Nation. She is a mother of three and a caregiver. She has been the Dean of the School of Indigenous Social Work at the Maskwacis Cultural College for eleven years. Previous work experience includes the Ermineskin Women’s Shelter Society as a family counselor and causal on-call Crisis Intervention worker. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Alberta (Augustana previously), a Bachelor of Social Work and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Calgary. My research interest are family violence, Women’s Shelter Workers, and decolonization of practice. Her belief is the role of a professional has great responsibility and influence; therefore, changes can happen by seeking knowledge and leading by heart. Her interest is to explore ways to add to the board with a different voice and to learn from the other council members.

Ashleigh Griffiths

Ashleigh Griffiths is a management consultant at KPMG focused on helping governments strengthen safety, accountability, and outcomes for communities. She brings deep expertise in violence prevention and safeguarding across public sector systems. Ashleigh has contributed to national and international policy reforms, including evaluations of Australia’s National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children and the Domestic and Family Violence Blueprint for Reform. Earlier in her career, she worked for a non-profit, the Asia Foundation, to establish a Women’s Business Centre in Mongolia and supported police training following the criminalization of domestic violence for the first time in the country’s history. She also supported Australian Prime Minister’s delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Sadaf Raja

Sadaf Raja is a lawyer deeply committed to advancing access to justice and empowering women and marginalized communities. She began her journey in public service as a Criminal Justice student, volunteering with the Victim Services Unit, Calgary Police Service to support individuals navigating trauma and crisis. Following law school, she dedicated her practice to defending and advocating for women and children, with experience spanning both family and criminal law.

Passionate about equity and systemic change, Sadaf continues to contribute to the legal community through her involvement with the Association of Women Lawyers and the Canadian Bar Association, where she serves in executive roles. As a proud member of the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters, she has served on the Legal and Ethics Committee for the past two years, bringing a strong voice for justice, compassion, and community advocacy to the organization’s mission. Sadaf is fluent in Urdu/Hindi and Punjabi.

Board of Directors

Together, We Can End Domestic Violence. ACWS unites volunteers, advocates, and supporters to create systemic change and stop the cycle of abuse.