Passing the Mantle:
Farewell to Leah, Welcome to Jaclyn
On July 1, at the transition of our fiscal year, Leah Myers passed the role of Chair of the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) Board to Jaclyn Moody.
Leah reaches her term limit of nine years on the BTC Board this fall. As part of a carefully considered succession plan, Leah has stepped down from the role of Chair and will remain on the BTC Board as a Director until her term ends in September.
For more than a decade, Leah has been an enduring champion of the BTC, showing her deep passion for our mission. In addition to being a member, donor, hiker, and nature lover, Leah has given her talents and skills as a Board member since 2016. Leah has generously shared expertise gained over a 30-year career with the Ontario government, bringing insights into government relations and thoughtful leadership in times of uncertainty. This was demonstrated several times over the course of her tenure, but perhaps most notably in 2018 when she temporarily stepped off the Board to take on the position of interim Chief Executive Officer.
Leah resumed her Board work in 2019, bringing with her an enhanced understanding of the day-to-day operations of the BTC. She became Chair in January 2020, only months before COVID-19 upended daily lives. Her guidance was instrumental in helping the BTC navigate the changes and challenges the pandemic brought and has contributed significantly to the success the BTC has experienced since, including the addition of more than 3,000 acres of sensitive Niagara Escarpment lands to our conservation corridor. Her enduring focus on good governance and relationship-building has left an indelible impact on the BTC and the beautiful lands we are called to protect.
Leah passes the mantle to Jaclyn Moody, who joined the Board in 2019. During her tenure, Jaclyn has served on the Governance Committee and as Co-Chair of the Finance & Risk Committee, bringing to these roles significant expertise in governance, risk management and finance from her career in the investment industry. Currently, Jaclyn is Vice-President, Head of Sustainability and Institutional Services at Burgundy Asset Management, where she leads ESG-focused research and engagement efforts.
Jaclyn is a certified board director with the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) who has a deep-seated love of nature. Prior to her career in the finance sector, Jaclyn’s passion for wildlife inspired her to spend many years working alongside veterinarians after pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at the University of Guelph, where she graduated with Honours. Jaclyn believes in the importance of environmental stewardship and responsibly connecting others with our ribbon of wilderness. As such, she loves spending time hiking the Bruce Trail with her family and friends.
“Jaclyn’s professional background and passion for the BTC’s mission will serve her well in this role,” Leah said in a letter to members in April. “I have truly enjoyed working with Jaclyn over the years and have every confidence that she will bring strong strategic leadership to the Board during her tenure as Chair.”
