Board Members

Kathy Phillips

Board Chair

Kathy is a seasoned Human Resource professional with 30 years’ experience as an internal and external consultant, leader, and coach helping leaders achieve business results through a focus on people and related processes. Kathy currently focuses her practice in the areas of business transformation, organization, team, and leadership effectiveness. She is passionate about the impact leaders have in making the world a better place both at a macro and micro level. For Kathy, LINKages is about leadership in valuing diversity and inclusion by building relationships, breaking down stereotypes, and valuing the unique contributions of each generation.

Karen Wang

Treasurer

Karen brings a strong background in Corporate Finance with a specialization in Finance and Capital Markets. Karen is pursuing her CPA with a concentration in Tax and Audit & Assurance. She aims to incorporate industry best practice tailored for LINKages to increase transparency and accountability. Karen was drawn to the mission of LINKages and joined the Board as an advocate for investing in all generations of society to increase mental health and nurture caring communities.

Deb Cook

Board Member, External Relations Committee

Deb is a retired dynamo from Enbridge Inc. where she worked as Manager of Corporate Administration for most of her career. Deb has been a volunteer with LINKages for 7 years as a facilitator of two school programs. Deb was first introduced to LINKages when her mom was a resident at Staywell Manor (memory care) and she accompanied her to the LINKages program she was participating in. She was very impressed with the interaction and joy it brought to her mom.

In retirement, Deb decided to pick an area of interest in which to volunteer and that has become kids, seniors and healthcare.

Deb joined the LINKages Board in June, 2020, and also volunteers as an Emergency Wayfinder at South Health Campus and is a Public Advisor in Advance Care Planning with AHS.

Her passions include her four grandchildren (attending their multiple sports and activites), golf, and skiing. Although she lives in the satellite community of Okotoks, her favorite thing to do in Calgary is walk or snowshoe in the magnificent parks; i.e., Fish Creek, Glenmore, etc.; she recommends similar opportunities in Okotoks along the Sheep River.

Ryan Wilken

Board Member

Ryan is a born and raised 4th generation Calgarian, who enjoys spending time outdoors skiing, mountain biking, playing (and now coaching) baseball. Ryan has an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Gloucesterhire in England.

Ryan has spent the majority of his career in the finance, planning, strategy and communications disciplines with several companies in Calgary, AB. Currently Ryan is the Director, IT Business Office for the ATCO group of companies, and is responsible for the long-range planning, strategy, Organizational Change Management and Enterprise Architecture for the global delivery of IT services.

LINKages appealed to Ryan due to his family history with intergenerational programming, and his grandfather being a part of “grandparent” programs with several schools for more than 15 years. “My grandpa always said that being apart of the grandparents program and providing mentorship to young people was some of the best moments of his life, and it brought a great sense of purpose to his ‘retired’ years.”

Enjoying the great culinary adventures that Calgary has to offer is very high on that recommendation list, as would be visiting Griffith Woods in the community of Discovery Ridge, it is such a beautiful park in Calgary that has an abundance of wildlife”

Julianne McKinnon

Partner, Prospector Executive Search & Consulting

Julianne works with boards and executive teams to advance their strategy, planning and operations, and to secure the leaders to deliver results. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary, a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University, a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation and holds the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation.

Julianne believes in the power of intergenerational relationships and the impact of LINKages’ work. She joined the Board in 2020 and is Chair of the Governance, Nominating and Human Resources Committee.

For anyone new to Calgary, Julianne recommends trying Caffe Beano’s Steamed Chocolate Ginger Milk and a stroll across the Peace Bridge.