Meet the staff and board members behind Water Watchers

We are movement organizers, communications experts, science & policy specialists, relationship-builders, and community members supported by an army of grassroots activists & volunteers working hard to protect water, ignite action to address the climate crisis, and advance justice for people & planet. 

 

Water Watchers Board of Directors

 

 

Rebekah Jamieson - Board Treasurer

Rebekah has lived in the Guelph and Fergus area for most of her life. As a mother, teacher and citizen, she is passionate about protecting water and educating young people. She is an avid camper and hiker who loves swimming in Ontario's freshwater lakes as often as possible, and believes that water is sacred and should be protected as a basic human right.

 

 

 

 

Jordan Thakar - Member at Large

Jordan is a student board member, with his goal to help connect Wellington Water Watchers to students of various ages, as well as help in making scientific knowledge accessible for everyone in the fight for a more just and decolonized world. Growing up in a generation often claimed as the "Generation of Climate Anxiety" shaped the activism Jordan is a part of today. He is a 2nd-year environmental chemistry student at the University of Guelph working towards a degree in environmental law. He is very passionate about the intersectionality of environmental science and how it connects to issues such as colonialism and white supremacy. Jordan is also a member of Climate Justice Guelph focusing on creating a cohesive climate movement in the so-called "Guelph" area. He hopes to knock down the inaccessibility associated with scientific literature and ensure everyone has a fair shot in obtaining the education they need to fight against the consequences of climate destruction in their area. 

 

"Everyone has a right to clean water, and I believe the way to obtain this is through massive decolonization and looking to traditional ecological knowledge rather than defaulting to western science ideals."

 

Sarah Alexander - Member at Large

Sarah is an environmental sociologist and educator with a long-standing commitment to social and environmental justice. Sarah is passionate about projects that explore and integrate the vital role of social factors in understanding the way people interact with and perceive the environment. As a Water Watchers board member, she brings a background in community organizing and the sociology of water, as well as an abundance of energy to learn from others, a desire to make connections, and fervent support for the organization’s mission. Sarah holds bachelor’s degrees in gender studies (Wells College, Aurora, NY) and education (University of Toronto). She has an M.S. and Ph.D. in Development Sociology from Cornell University. Her master’s thesis examined the rise of the bottled water industry and the commodification of water. Her Ph.D. research explored drinking water preferences, especially factors driving the increase in consumption of bottled water in the home. Sarah is involved in numerous community projects to fight for climate justice but also has been known to enjoy a nice stroll outdoors. 

Doug Tripp - Member at Large

Doug lives in Stratford Ontario with his wife, Dee, He is a chemical engineer, an educator, and his career included 27 years as a professor and dean at Durham College, and 20 years as an independent training and management consultant, specializing in energy and environmental management. He is a member of the Board of Water Watchers as well as the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition of Ontario. Doug holds Masters Degrees in Chemical Engineering and Higher Education.

 

 

 

Susan Ludwig - Member at Large

Susan is an organizational and leadership development consultant, coaching leaders to increase their self-awareness and impact on team and organizational culture. She has a long-standing passion in food and water security and more recently, the intersection between environmental and social justice.

As a Water Watchers board member, she brings experience facilitating climate conversations, providing learning and coaching to not-for-profit organizations supporting at-risk women and taking community action. She believes that water should be protected and held sacred and sees the role of Water Watchers as a critical capacity builder in that journey. Susan is a lover of cycling, kayaking and gardening which keep her energized and connected to the natural world. She sings with a social justice choir, and has a Master’s Degree in Adult Education and Community Development.

 

Julia Gagliano - Member at Large

Bio coming soon.

 

Passionate about water & justice?

Apply to join the Water Watchers' Board of Directors!

 

 

Water Watchers Team Members

 

 

Arlene Slocombe - Part Time Executive Director

Water Watchers co-founder Arlene Slocombe has been actively involved and committed to the work of the Wellington Water Watchers from the beginning. She has served as Executive Director since 2009. Arlene, her partner, and two children learned a great deal about water stewardship living a simple off grid life along the banks of the Eramosa River, just southeast of Guelph. While collecting the water that she and her family drank from a spring that bubbled from the ground near her home, Arlene had the privilege to viscerally experience the sacred nature of water that sustains all life.

“I do this work because I know deep in my being that the way we treat water is the way we treat all of life – including ourselves.”

 

 

 

 

Meghan Clout - Communications Director 

Meghan joined the Water Watchers in 2018 as the Communications Coordinator. Meghan is a University of Guelph alumni with a degree in environmental governance. Her experience as an aquatic biologist during her undergrad solidified her passion for water and shortly after graduating, Meghan started her career in the ENGO world working as a communications assistant before finding home with WWW. Meghan grew up in Northern Ontario, on the shore of Lake Nipissing. Here began her interests in all things outside and riverside! She enjoys playing music, backcountry camping, hiking, kayaking, canoeing and is an avid rock climber.

 

“I do this work because everyone and everything deserves clean, drinkable, swimmable water. Water is life - we are water."

 

 

Dani Lindamood - Programs Director

Dani was introduced to the Water Watchers in 2019 and officially joined the team in 2020 as Program Manager. Dani has a Master’s of Sustainability Management from the University of Waterloo and a certificate in Collaborative Water Management. Water has been a key feature throughout Dani’s career, grounding her work across multiple sectors including academia, science communications, international sustainable development, and water advocacy. Water has been important to Dani since birth and speaks to her as a symbol of the unity and connectivity of all life. When she’s not enjoying a swim or hike by the water, you can find her traveling, playing music, working on her novel, volunteering, or enjoying a craft beer.

”I believe in this work because water touches all life, creating an important entry point for all people to understand the value of the natural world, find their power to affect change, & advance the environmental movement."

 

 

Horeen Hassan - Campaign Organizer

Horeen joined the Water Watchers team in 2021 as the Guelph Campaign Organizer. She has a strong history in the student movement and has a deep connection to the justice movement in Guelph. Her time in the student movement allowed her to mobilize young people around environmental issues. Whether it was ending water bottling contracts, challenging plastic waste on campus, or pressuring her post-secondary institution to divest from fossil fuels, Horeen has always demanded better of those in positions of power. In 2021, Horeen walked over 100 kilometres visiting and interacting with communities whose drinking water is being threatened by gravel mining, developers, and other corporate interests. She has also been working to amplify the voices and work of those at Six Nations, and advocating that the Nestlé/Blue Triton bottling plant be returned to Six Nations.

"I do this work because believe there is no climate or water justice without Land Back."