Board of Directors

The Alpine Club of Canada is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of nine positions. Board members are elected for a 3-year term with elections staggered such that one third of the board positions are elected each year.

Isabelle Daigneault, President

President – Isabelle Daigneault

Board member since: 2006

Known in her professional life as a caring leader, Daigneault is no stranger to the ACC, or to the board of directors. She’s been a member for 25 years and served 13 years on the board overseeing portfolios of Access & Environment, Mountain Culture and most recently the club’s governance through her role as club Secretary from 2014 to 2019, leaving the board at the end of her term. Isabelle grew up in Quebec’s Eastern townships. Spending the formative year of her life in Toronto and Montreal, she spent many years climbing, hiking and skiing in the Laurentians and the Adirondacks. She now lives in Canmore with her husband and pre-teen son Simon.

Zac Robinson, VP Mountain Culture

Vice-President for Mountain Culture – Zac Robinson

Board member since: 2010

Zac Robinson is a historian and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta. An award-winning author and teacher of mountain culture and history, he is a long-time Camp Manager at the Club's General Mountaineering Camp, as well as a regular contributor to the Canadian Alpine Journal. With Lael Parrott and David Hik, Robinson is the co-editor of the annual State of the Mountains Report, and is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He lives in Edmonton, with his partner, Liza, and their boys, Michael and Sacha. 

Frank Spears, VP Activites

Vice-President for Activities – Frank Spears

Board member since: 2014

Frank Spears is a resident of Prince George located in the center of British Columbia, he and his family have been members of the ACC since 2006. Frank has served as the Section Representative and Chair of the Prince George Section. He is an avid participant in summer and winter climbing, skiing and mountaineering pursuits. A perfect year for Frank involves snow adventures in all twelve months of the year.

Jim Gudjonson, VP Facilites

Vice-President for Facilites – Jim Gudjonson

Board member since: 2015

Born and raised in Golden, BC, Jim is a certified ACMG/IFMGA mountain guide and long-time member of the ACC. Jim holds an electrical degree as well as a Masters degree in tourism and sustainability. Jim is presently the Director of the Office of Environment & Sustainability at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC.

Keith Sanford, Treasurer

Treasurer – Keith Sanford

Keith Sanford has held several positions on the Calgary Section board, including Vice Chairman and volunteer trip leader. Keith has served as the ACC representative on the board of the Canadian Alpine Centre in Lake Louise and has been the Calgary Section representative on the ACC’s board of directors (now Section Forum). He is an avid backcountry snowboarder (and sometimes skier), rock climber, alpinist and fly fisherman and has been an active member of the ACC for 18 years. In 2014 he received the Silver Rope for Leadership award for his activities with the Calgary Section.

Toby Harper-Merrett, VP Services & Athletics

Vice-President for Services & Athletics – Toby Harper-Merrett

Board member since: 2016

Toby Harper-Merrett joined the ACC in 1997, is a past Chair of the Thunder Bay Section of the ACC, and worked in the ACC Office as Director of Programmes. He lives in Montreal with his wife and two daughters, and is a not-for-profit executive, currently supporting a federal economic development programme.

Lael Parrott, VP Access & Environment

Vice-President for Access & Environment – Lael Parrott

Board member since: 2017

Lael Parrott is an environmental geographer, Professor of Sustainability, and Director of the Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience, and Ecosystem Services at The University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus. Originally from Vancouver, BC, she first joined the ACC in the 1990s and is currently a member of the Okanagan Section.

Richard Campbell, Secretary

Secretary – Richard Campbell

Board member since: 2019

Richard Campbell joined the ACC in 2004, and is a trip leader with the Calgary Section, where he introduces new ski tourers to the Canadian Rockies. Richard is the founder of an adventure travel company and an alumnus of Harvard Business School and London Business School, where he was a Sloan Fellow. When not working, he can be found exploring the Rockies with his family.

Steve Traversari, VP Sections

Vice-President for Sections – Steve Traversari

Board member since: 2021

Steve Traversari was elected VP Sections in 2021. Steve is a long-time member of the Montreal Section.

Carine Salvy, Executive Director

Executive Director - Carine Salvy

Carine brings a diverse background to the ED role with more than 25 years of experience in executive management, corporate governance and leadership in the outdoor industry. Carine was most recently the CEO and co-founder of Mountain Path, a France-based company that works to develop responsible leadership within organizations through experiential learning activities in the mountains. Carine is fluent in French, English and Spanish and is actively involved in the local community, serving on the board of some of the Bow Valley’s not for profit organizations.