Council Advisor
| Name of Appointee |
First Appointed |
Term |
| Councillor Erin Rutherford |
Nov 10/21 |
Organizational Meeting in 2024 |
Emily Batty (Chair)
Appointed May 1, 2022, Reappointed May 1, 2024
Emily completed her PhD in Experimental Psychology at the University of Alberta, studying comparative cognition, learning, and behaviour. After completing her doctorate, she began working as a data analyst (first with the ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ Police Service, then with the ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ), responsible for analyzing various types of data and creating monthly, quarterly and annual reports that are used internally and by city stakeholders.
Emily grew up in St. Albert and moved into ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ as an adult; transit has been a common mode of transportation throughout her life. She is mother to two elementary aged children. Emily and her family use multiple forms of transportation on a regular basis; including buses and LRT, cycling, walking, and driving. She believes that basic mobility should be convenient and accessible to all, and is passionate about ensuring that transit is safe, sustainable, and affordable for everyone.
Mudasser Seraj (Vice Chair)
Appointed May 1, 2022, Reappointed May 1, 2024
Mudasser (Rafi) Seraj is a highly experienced transportation professional with over a decade of expertise in transportation engineering. Currently serving as a Traffic Systems Engineer with the ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ, he oversees the design, review, analysis, and operations of traffic signals and street lighting systems. Previously, he held the role of Traffic Research and Technical Manager at ATS Traffic, where he led project teams to implement innovative engineering solutions for enhanced mobility and safety. Mudasser holds a doctorate and master's degree in Transportation Engineering from the University of Alberta, along with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. He is deeply passionate about improving public transit and aims to elevate ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ's Transit Service to national excellence.
Bailey Gerrits
Appointed May 1, 2023
Bailey Gerrits is an ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ resident and transit enthusiast. After living away in different parts of Canada and the world, Bailey recently returned to her hometown to nuture her young family. Top of their list for new locations to live - walking distance to the LRT and close to bike paths. Bailey is deeply invested in ensuring affordable, accessible and inclusive ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ Transit Services and non-car routes for residents of ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ today and into the future.
Bailey researches, writes, and teaches about gender, race, public policy and media. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Studies from Queen’s University and a master’s and bachelor’s degree from the University of Alberta. Her expertise focuses on gender-based violence, policing, discrimination on and offline, and political leadership. Bailey has applied strategic thinking to tackle community problems through a number of volunteer roles and projects. Through these, she honed her skills in gender-based analysis plus, cross-sectoral collaboration, and mixed-method research.
Zohra Jabeen
Appointed May 1, 2022
Zohra Jabeen is presently working with the ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ Police Service as a supervisor in the Information Technology Division. She is passionate about supporting the community by volunteering, mentoring and motivating youth, women, and immigrants. She is driven by her vision to see others become successful in their lives and wants to offer support however she can. The ETS has been her primary mode of transport for over 16 years and she sees it as the underlying structure for individuals in ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ's workforce or education system.
Zohra completed her Bachelor of Engineering, and Software Engineering Masters in Pakistan, and later completed a Master of Computer Science at the University of Alberta in 2012. Zohra worked as a University Professor for over seven years in a reputable Engineering University, Pakistan. Before joining the City, Zohra worked with a not-for-profit organization for ten years where she performed various roles in Information technology, including Business Analyst and Team Manager roles.
As a mother of three, her kids all have used - and continue to use - the ETS as their main source of transport. Consequently, she understands a robust myriad of ETS experiences and the challenges therein. She has participated in community and online surveys on various transit strategies. She is passionate about sharing her ideas as part of the advisory committee to bring meaningful improvements to the program. The ETS has experienced a decrease in use over the course of the pandemic but Zohra anticipates that more and more citizens will switch to ETS in 2022 and onwards due to the spike in gas prices, which might result in ETS reviewing current strategies to accommodate the larger groups and improve performance. This is an opportunity to attract the public, so they continue using ETS regardless of economic conditions.
Joshua Jackman
Appointed May 1, 2022
As a native ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇian and lifelong user of transit services, Joshua brings a customer-centric perspective to the ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ Transit Service Advisory Board. He is passionate about the possibilities of transit for future generations in the city and surrounding area. As a graduate of the University of Alberta MBA program (finance), he has over ten years of diverse experience in investment management, accounting, and financial services. He is also actively involved as a volunteer for financial literacy, transferring his knowledge and experience to peers, adults, and the next generation of business leaders. In order to maintain some balance, Joshua is an avid runner and continues to reach new heights in his marathon ambitions.
Eugene Masakhwe
A
ppointed May 1, 2023
Eugene is a recent Human Geography graduate from the University of Alberta who has called ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ home for the past 17 years. Having lived in various locations within the city during his time in ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ, from the heart of the city to the suburbs, he has developed an appreciation for ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ and all it has to offer. His life experiences and education, paired with a passion for urban spaces and how we interact with them, have given him the drive to continually look at how these spaces can be more accessible and equitable for ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇians. When not working Eugene enjoys a variety of hobbies within the city, including, cycling, running, and camping. Eugene is looking forward to helping make ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ transit more accessible and equitable for all.
Maria Owczarek
Appointed May 1, 2023 
Dr. Maria Owczarek is a scientist in the field of Social Psychology and serves as a peer reviewer for medical and psychological publications. Her second passion and profession are graphic design and painting, especially after graduation from the Visual Arts program at the University of Alberta in 2022.
Maria loves using public transit for commuting and also for pleasure. She has experience in the everyday use of public transit not only in ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ but also in cities with the best public transit in Canada and the world, like Montreal and Warsaw.
Because of her commitment to service to the city, Maria served as a Civic Director in the Hamptons Community League. Maria is always eager to use her experience and knowledge to cooperate with others in improving public transit in ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ to make it more efficient, safe and user-friendly.
Rebecca Hardie
Rebecca Hardie (she/her) is a white settler, gender-conforming cis member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. She holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in English, Education, and History. She has worked at NorQuest College for 18 years, and is currently an Academic Program Manager, overseeing the Justice, Arts & Sciences, and Indigenous Studies diploma programs, as well as the University Transfer and Open Studies areas. Rebecca is a transit enthusiast, and has experienced transit systems in over a dozen countries on four continents. Her favourite international transit systems so far have been Singapore and London, though she wants to see Tokyo one day! Rebecca lives centrally in ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ, and uses transit and bike lanes on her daily commute.
Ken Kirk
Ken Kirk is a passionate, results-oriented leader with over 30 years of experience in business and non-profit organizations. Ken has demonstrated a remarkable ability to exceed organizational goals and objectives by leading teams through targeted tactics and strategic initiatives. He is recognized for his talent in fostering collaboration among diverse groups of individuals. Ken treasures time with his four grandchildren and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, skiing, snorkeling, and golf.
Lexi McFarlane
Lexi McFarlane is a sports media personality and NAIT graduate. Born and raised in ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ, Lexi has always had a strong passion for everything ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ has to offer. Transit is a lifelong interest of Lexi’s, with participation in presentations to ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ City Council on transit matters multiple times, as well as freelancing for NAIT’s campus newspaper and campus radio website with coverage of the opening of NAIT/Blatchford Market Station, and the Valley Line LRT. Lexi has also contributed to online transit forums with updates and photography.
Shalene Williams
Shalene Williams is originally from Vancouver, where she developed a passion and appreciation for transit and its role in the design and development of cities and ability to connect communities. That passion continues to this day. Specifically, she has a keen interest in the intersections between transit and housing.
She has experience using transit in other cities like Calgary, and in ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ, she uses multiple forms of transportation, but predominantly relies on transit. Shalene holds an undergraduate and graduate degree from the University of British Columbia and actively volunteers in the community. She looks forward to serving on the ÁùºÏ²ÊÂíÀ´Î÷ÑÇ Transit Service Advisory Board.
