Welcome to Leadership Saskatoon | About Leadership Saskatoon

Board of Directors | Staff | Alumni | Community Leadership Award | Annual Report

Board of Directors

Linda Clouthier (Secretary and Alumna 2011), Kari Doerksen (Vice Chair and Alumna 2016), Frank Hounjet (Treasurer), Darla Lindbjerg (Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce Appointee), Carm Michalenko (Saskatoon Community Foundation Appointee), Laurie O’Connor (Chair and Alumna 2013), Jill Salamon (University of Saskatchewan Appointee).

Our Staff

Executive Director, Sheri Hillestad Smith

Sheri Hillestad Smith has over twenty years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, most notably serving as the first Coordinator of Volunteer Saskatoon and the Executive Director of the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Saskatchewan Branch. She is also involved in the corporate sector as a partner at Smith Industries, a manufacturing company here in Saskatoon. Sheri is passionate about her community and the leadership it requires. She enjoys her work as a volunteer with Operation Christmas Child and as a Board member with the Saskatoon Convalescent Home. Sheri feels privileged to work with the talented group of leaders, facilitators and staff who dedicate their time and energy to the Leadership Saskatoon program.

Program Director, Tracy Stephensen

Tracy Stephensen has over 15 years experience working as a training/program coordinator in Adult Education. She is a certified practitioner in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator® and recently retired from the University of Saskatchewan where she worked as a program coordinator since 2008 in the area of leadership and professional development. Tracy continues to work part-time as the Program Director for Leadership Saskatoon and as a Program Coordinator for Women in Leadership for Life. In her personal life, Tracy is passionate about wellness and yoga. She is a certified yoga instructor and wellness coach.

Administrative Director, Magel Sutherland

Magel Sutherland has a diverse background with experience working in the public, private and not-for profit sectors for organizations such as Parks Canada, Saskatchewan Environment and the University of Saskatchewan. She is the Co-Chair of the Lakeridge Playground Project Committee and spends much of her time volunteering for a variety of organizations in support of her two very active children. Magel is delighted to be able to contribute to the community through her work as Administrative Director of Leadership Saskatoon.

Mission and Values

Our mission is to develop effective collaborative leaders by building awareness and understanding which inspires involvement in building an inclusive community.

Four values that distinguish Leadership Saskatoon are:

Citizen engagement
Collaboration
Inclusion/diversity
Life long learning

Our Founders

Leadership Saskatoon was founded by the University of Saskatchewan, the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, and the Saskatoon Community Foundation.

We are grateful for their continuing and unwavering support.

Alumni

Our alumni now number over 425 in total. Here are the photos from each class. Click on each year below to see who they are.

Cherry Insurance-Leadership Saskatoon Community Leadership Award

Namarta Kochar - 2017 Recipient

Namarta Kochar Namarta’s participation spans many dimensions of the community – from providing advice to the Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee and mentoring through the Saskatchewan Association of Human Resource Professionals to sharing arts, fashions and the culture of India through the India Pavilion at Folkfest. She values the improvement of the quality of life for others in Saskatoon including Dress for Success, Saskatoon Salvation Army, Children's Hospital Foundation, as well as many other organizations.

Namarta is an acknowledged community leader whose achievement and leadership have been recognized as a Woman of Influence from SaskBusiness Magazine, a finalist for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, one of CBC Saskatchewan’s Future 40, as well as receiving the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal and the Champion of Children Award from the Saskatoon Preschool Foundation to name a few.