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Meet the Board
ALBERTO JIMENEZ PONCE (he/him)
Director
Alberto currently lives in the southwest of Calgary, but his heart will always belong to the coast of Ecuador. He is a Senior Manager, People and Culture, with over five years of experience driving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies and fostering supportive, inclusive work environments. In Alberto’s role, he leads the development and implementation of HR strategies, with a strong focus on talent management, employee engagement, and inclusive workplace practices. He is passionate about aligning people's strategies with broader organizational goals and ensuring leaders have the tools to champion a culture where everyone can thrive. Outside of work, Alberto stays deeply connected to his community through volunteering and supporting programs that reflect his values of inclusion, representation, and equity. When he is not shaping workplace culture, you’ll find him connecting with friends, dancing, staying active outdoors, or indulging his inner foodie. Alberto loves exploring local eats and global cuisines—and if you ever want a taste of Ecuador, he highly recommends trying Bolón: a savory mashed fried plantain ball, best enjoyed with a sunny-side-up egg on top.
John Abarca (he/him)
Treasurer
John currently resides in Calgary and brings with him a strong background in insurance, risk management, and nonprofit governance. He works as an Insurance and Risk Manager at the Alberta Association of Midwives, where he supports strategic planning, compliance, and people-centered policies that strengthen safe and inclusive workplace practices. He is passionate about equity, community care, and creating systems where 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals feel seen, supported, and protected. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his partner, discovering new local coffee shops, participating in fun runs that support meaningful causes, and getting involved in grassroots community initiatives. He finds joy in fostering authentic connections, promoting mental wellness, and creating spaces for reflection and learning. As a board member at Calgary Outlink, he is proud to contribute his lived experience, professional insight, and heart for advocacy to help build a stronger, more welcoming community for all.
HEATHER HANSLER (she/her)
Secretary
Heather is a biologist turned artist, illustrator, and entrepreneur. She designs greeting cards, pins, mugs, ornaments and more to celebrate the lives and relationships of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. She believes cultivating relationships, deepening community, and acts of generosity are powerful agents of healing. She is an entrepreneur, illustrator, and a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. She can contribute a kind, balanced, and helping hand towards anything the community needs. She is happy to work where her skills will serve the community best, and she knows her creativity can be put to good use on almost any project.
MARK ESTRADA (he/him)
Director
Mark is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ and Filipino communities and a recent transplant to the Calgary area. Along with his partner, Dusty, the two of them moved from BC to start a family. During the day, he is a renovation sales manager and CFO (Chief Fun Officer) at work. His hobbies include gaming (both board games and video games), and increasing the waistlines of his friends and family through baking.
EMMA LADOUCEUR
(she/her)
Director of Operations & Development
e: emma@calgaryoutlink.ca
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ZAK DATTADEEN
(he/him)
Manager of Volunteers & Programming
e: zak@calgaryoutlink.ca
Meet the Staff
Brooke Kyle (she/her)
Director
Brooke is a long-time Calgarian and someone who cares deeply about strong, inclusive communities. She brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the construction and service industries, having led large, diverse teams through growth, transformation, and operational improvement. Most recently, Brooke served as President & CEO of a heavy civil infrastructure organization, where she focused on building scalable, people-centered operations. Outside of work, Brooke enjoys time with her family—especially at their cottage in BC, where they spend time on the water, relax by the fire, and hike through the mountains. Brooke also loves cooking and long walks with her dog, Maverick.
Brent Ward (he/him)
Director
Brent was born and raised in Ontario on the shores of Lake Superior before moving to Calgary in 1995 after graduating from university. Over the past 3 decades, Brent has enjoyed a rewarding finance career in corporate Calgary with the last 24 years at a large multi-national company which included 4 years as a member of the Senior Executive team. At the company, Brent was the executive sponsor of the Pride and Power social group which drove a number of ED&I initiatives including their first ever entry into the Calgary Pride parade in 2024. Brent is currently testing semi-retirement, and pursuing interests that he previously did not have time for including some Board work and also spending quality time with his lovely wife and two wonderful children. He enjoys being active and some of passions include running, golf, biking, fitness classes, travelling, gardening, music and sampling from his wine collection.
ALEXEI
(they/them)
Community Outreach Coordinator
e: alexei@calgaryoutlink.ca
Jordan Baylon
(they/she)
Community Engagement
Coordinator
e: jordan@calgaryoutlink.ca
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