Board of Directors

Robert Gibson
BA (York), MA (University of Toronto), PhD (University of Toronto)

Robert B. Gibson is a professor of Environment and Resource Studies at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. He specializes in environmental policy issues, including decision-making in environmental planning, assessment and regulation. Recently he has been focusing on the integration of broad sustainability considerations in land use decision-making in urban growth management, corporate greening initiatives, special area management, and environmental assessments at the project and strategic levels. His main current research project is examining citizen engagement in governance for socio-ecological sustainability in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. He has been co-editor, editor or editorial board chair of Alternatives Journal since 1984.

Sally Lerner

In 1970, Sally Lerner joined the diverse group of professors who started the Department of Environment and Resource Studies (ERS) at the University of Waterloo. Lerner stepped down as Chair of ERS when she took early retirement in 1996. A sociologist by training, Lerner is primarily interested in the political, economic and social aspects of environmental issues; specifically, social change, green business and citizen stewardship. Sally was Canadian Co-Chair of the Social Science Task Area of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission's Board of Technical Experts, and served on the Board of Directors of Great Lakes United.

Robert Paehlke
President and Founding Editor
PhD (UBC)

Robert Paehlke taught and served as Chair in the Department of Political Studies, and of the Environmental and Resource Studies Program, at Trent University from 1970 until 2004. Paehlke's research interests focus on: the relationship between sustainable use of natural resources and human social equity and fairness; globalization and environmental protection; and the ‘right-sizing’ of environmental policy jurisdiction (should we handle environmental protection globally, nationally, provincially, or locally). He has worked with governments, environmental organizations and businesses in Canada, the United States, Germany, Great Britain, Norway and Australia for nearly 30 years, and has published more than 100 articles and chapters on environmental policy and politics. Paehlke is founding editor of Alternatives Journal.