FORT MCMURRAY, ALBERTA — (Marketwire) — 07/25/11 — Editor–s Note: There is a photo associated with this release.
The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Kevin Percy, Ph.D. has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association, effective July 18th.
Dr. Percy first joined WBEA in January 2009 as the Association–s Lead Scientist. In the Lead Scientist role he provided oversight and scientific expertise gained over 35 years to WBEA–s air, land and human monitoring programs. With a four-fold increase in its funding since 2008, WBEA has significantly enhanced the scientific basis for its environmental monitoring, and has assembled a high-quality air technical and scientific team; including over 30 contracted, internationally respected scientists. Dr. Percy was instrumental in implementing this science build that will allow for better environmental decision making in the Wood Buffalo Region.
In his new role as Executive Director, Dr. Percy will oversee the day-to-day operation of the Association and its programs in addition to his duties as Lead Scientist. Dr. Percy will report directly to the Association–s Governance Committee, which is made up of representatives from three levels of government, industry, environmental non-government agencies and Aboriginal communities.
Prior to joining WBEA in 2009, Dr. Percy was Senior Scientist-Global Change with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Canadian Forest Service. He holds a PhD from the University of Bristol, England, MSc and BScF degrees from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, N.B., Canada.
Until May 2009, Dr. Percy served as Principal Investigator and Steering Committee member of the world–s largest greenhouse gas-forest experiment; the Aspen FACE (Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment)Experiment. The Aspen FACE experiment was primarily supported by the US Department of Energy, Program for Ecosystem Research, and comprised over 100 scientists from 10 countries. Dr. Percy has also served as an Expert Reviewer for Canada on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Expert Panel on Adaptation of Forests to Climate Change.
Among other past appointments, Dr. Percy was the Federal Co-Chair on the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment Multi-Stakeholder Acid Rain Monitoring and NOX/VOC science processes. Dr. Percy is the author of numerous scientific publications in leading journals and books.
Throughout his career, Dr. Percy has collaborated with scientists in Canada and over 20 other countries. Many of these collaborations are now providing expertise to WBEA, and presenting forward looking solutions and innovations to WBEA–s current monitoring work.
WBEA President, Ann Dort McLean, welcomed Dr. Percy to the Executive Director position saying,
“Dr. Percy–s wealth of experience in the fields of air pollution and climate change effects research and monitoring will be extremely valuable as he assumes his new position. The Governance Committee and members very much look forward to working with Dr. Percy in this new capacity.”
Dr. Percy–s predecessor, Carna MacEachern, was the Association–s Executive Director from May 2006 until her retirement in early July 2011. Well wishes and many thanks go out to Ms. MacEachern from the staff, Members and Governance Committee of WBEA.”
The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) is an independent, community based, not- for-profit organization that monitors the air in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This is done through a variety of air, land and human monitoring programs. The air quality information collected is openly shared with stakeholders and the public.
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To see a photo of WBEA Executive Director, Dr. Kevin Percy, Ph.D., click the following link:
Contacts:
Wood Buffalo Environmental Association
Melissa Pennell
Communications Consultant
780-747-8217 or 780-944-8440