Brad Milne - Chair

Brad Milne works professionally in construction management, where he navigates the challenges of coordinating diverse user groups and delivering results in demanding environments. That same steady, practical approach carries into how he operates in the field and in his conservation work.

Brad spent most of his youth with a fishing rod in hand, with the occasional hunting trip mixed in. Over time, those early experiences grew into a deeper commitment to the outdoors. Today, he is an avid bowhunter and Angler. For Brad, the mountains aren’t just a destination—they’re where things make the most sense.

His connection to the land is rooted in respect: for wildlife, for wild places, and for the responsibility that comes with both. That mindset is what led him to become involved with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, where he has served on the board for the past four years. Brad believes strongly in BHA’s mission to protect public lands and waters, defend access, and ensure that the traditions of hunting and angling remain grounded in ethics and stewardship.

Outside of BHA, Brad serves as a Regional President with the Alberta Jr. Forest Wardens. In that role, he is passionate about passing on conservation values and field skills to the next generation, as well as to adults discovering the outdoors later in life. Whether mentoring youth or working with new hunters and anglers, he focuses on building confidence, respect for the resource, and a lasting connection to the land.

For Brad, conservation isn’t theoretical—it’s hands-on, lived, and shared. The goal is simple: leave wild places better than he found them and help ensure they’re still there for those who come next.

Beau Cleland - Co-Chair

Beau Cleland is an avid angler and an adult-onset hunter who fishes and camps almost exclusively on public lands and waters. Beau was first drawn to BHA because of its emphasis on protecting and conserving these shared resources and the things that live and grow there. Originally from the United States, he has lived in Calgary since 2011. He spends his outdoor time roaming western Canada and the United States, camping, hiking, hunting, and fishing with his wife and three boys. Beau served for eight years in the United States Army, with service in Iraq and Afghanistan. He holds a masters in international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a PhD in history from the University of Calgary, where he currently works. He has worked as a board member for years to help with BHA’s mission to preserve and protect our collective outdoor spaces for current and future generations.

Kayleigh Weaver - Secretary

Kayleigh has been drawn to the outdoors since she was young. She went out with her dad whenever she got the chance whether it was to go chase white-tailed deer, shoot pheasants with the help of their dog Jack, or to catch burbot in the heart of winter. Those early experiences led her into the environmental sciences field where she just graduated with a B.Sc. in Ecosystem Management at Lethbridge College. She continues to spend much of her time outdoors, hunting and fishing whenever possible.

Kayleigh learned about BHA through colleagues and was hooked after the first conversation. She is excited to be a part of BHA and to help advocate for and conserve our wild spaces in Alberta.

Benjamin Misener - Board of Directors

Ben Misener currently works as a Rangeland Agrologist for the Government of Alberta. Managing Crown land is a daily part of his job. Ben's passion for open spaces and preserving public lands is central to his personal and professional life.

A longtime hunter and fisher, he got into it at a young age by following his mom and dad into the field. Ben's dad was an avid outdoorsman and instilled in Ben a strong ethic and love for nature. October and November are his favourite time of the year, and opening day of pheasant hunting is as sacred a day as any on the calendar. Catching a northern Saskatchewan pike has long been a summer ritual for him, going back to early days fishing with his parents and grandparents.

Ben regularly enjoys escaping to the outdoors when he's not working on his acreage near Didsbury. The prairies are his favourite spot, but he'll never complain about a day in the mountains. 

Jerry Joseph - Board of Directors

Born and Raised in Calgary, Jerry had limited exposure to Wild places growing up.  In his Mid-20's he made a commitment to expand past the odd day hike and start expanding into at least one multi-day backcountry trip a year.  This progressed into more frequent and longer times spent past the reach of cell phones until, at the age of 31, he bought is first Deer Tag.

With limited resources, the learning curve was intimidating.  He continues to see himself as someone who is just discovering the depths of being a hunter.  Public land access was the only option available to him, and so he values this limited resource highly.

Jerry joined BHA because he wanted to play his part in protecting public land so he can continue to expose his two daughters to a part of this world that so many have forgotten about.

Drew Cornell - Board of Directors

Drew is a land use and development planner with a passion for wild places and the critters that call them home. Professionally, I navigate complex planning, environmental policy, and Indigenous engagement frameworks. I am looking forward to the opportunity to use my personal and professional experience on the BHA AB board to advocate for sustainable land-use decisions that prioritize ecological integrity.

When I am not at my desk, you can usually find me in our mountain zones with a bow or rifle in hand, or wading the Bow River with a fly rod, chasing the connection to nature that only these quiet, wild moments provide. I joined the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Alberta board because I believe our public crown lands and waters are our greatest heritage and are worth advocating for. I am committed to ensuring that habitat remains connected, healthy, and accessible so that both wildlife and future generations of Albertans can continue to thrive in the backcountry.

Natasha Rinas - Board of Directors

Natasha grew up camping in Alberta’s backcountry, which sparked a deep-seated love for the outdoors. She was introduced to hunting as an adult and quickly came to appreciate the deeper connection to nature it provides. She has a BSc in Environmental and Conservation Science, which shapes how she sees the role hunters and anglers play in protecting wildlife and habitat. She’s especially passionate about mentorship and enjoys helping new hunters and anglers—particularly women and other adult beginners—build skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging in the outdoors.

She cares deeply about conservation, responsible access, and keeping Alberta’s wild places healthy for the long term.

Chris Gillanders - Board of Directors

Chris Gillanders is a 4th generation Albertan who has lived and worked in remote and austere environments in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Having lived in these regions for many years, Chris appreciates just how extraordinary our public lands truly are.  He believes Albertans carry a birthright that’s worth defending fiercely.

Chris enjoys chasing elk or a good backcountry trout and enjoys traditional bow and big bore rifles with equal joy. He  has been a BHA Alberta volunteer since 2017, contributing to the conservation committee and In 2024 he joined the BHA Alberta Board, committed to protecting the wild landscapes that sustain our fish, our wildlife, and the hunting and fishing traditions that define this province. A former Canadian Infantry leader and a professional pilot, Chris is an Associate Professor at Mount Royal University’s school of aviation and lives with his wife, son and daughter, in Calgary.

Josh Sullivan - Board of Directors

Josh is a wildlife biologist, husband, and dad who never passes up a chance to get outside and experience Alberta’s wild places. Raised hunting and fishing around Yellowknife, NT, where wild country seemed endless, Josh grew up with a deep appreciation for vast expanses of public land.

When he moved to Alberta more than 20 years ago, he fell In love with the province’s mountains, foothills, and prairies, and quickly came to understand just how valuable and worth defending our public lands truly are. From glassing bighorn sheep and fishing cutthroat trout along the eastern slopes of the Rockies, to stalking mule deer and flushing grouse across the open prairies, Alberta’s public lands have shaped his life as a hunter, angler, and conservationist.

Josh joined the Alberta BHA Board out of a deep sense of responsibility - to stand up for our public spaces, to give voice to hunters and anglers, and to help ensure Alberta’s backcountry heritage remains accessible and intact for generations to come.