Christopher W. Quigley
Executive Director
Christopher W. Quigley is an interdisciplinary artist and designer whose work centers on themes of entropy, impermanence, and transformation. With a professional background in interior and urban design, he brings over two decades of experience in the fabrication of public art, large-scale sculpture, and immersive installations.
As Executive Director, Quigley leads with a deep commitment to using art as a means of provoking dialogue and catalyzing change. His body of work—including Ephemeral Monolith, Last Adventure Tours, Echinoidea, and Civil—examines the breakdown of social, environmental, and personal systems, questioning what remains after structural collapse.
His latest initiative, Transformation of Dangerous Spaces, continues this personal critical inquiry by confronting the quiet, persistent forces of complicity, power, and gendered violence. Through immersive storytelling and experiential design, Quigley challenges audiences to go beyond passive observation, inviting them to step into the disintegration of ideas, norms, and histories—and to consider not only what is lost, but what might be born from the ruins. https://www.cwquigley.com/folderscv
Rebecca Twanow brings lived experience, resilience, and a deep commitment to community care to her role on the board. A widow and mother of five, she has spent much of her life creating safe spaces—both for her own family and for others navigating hardship.
Born in Newfoundland, Rebecca spent much of her childhood moving across Canada and overseas with her family before settling in Alberta, where she met and married her husband. After ten tumultuous years and four children, her husband passed away when she was twenty-nine.
As someone who has lived the reality of intimate partner violence, this project holds profound personal meaning. For Rebecca, raising awareness about violence against women is not just important—it’s urgent. It is a necessary step toward educating a new generation, supporting those who live behind closed doors, and challenging those who hold power over them.
Today, Rebecca lives in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, where she serves as a town councillor. She is also the founder of the Community Roots Society and a small business owner. Most importantly, she now shares her life with a loving and supportive partner—proof that healing is possible, and that safe, respectful relationships can be part of life after abuse. Through her work and lived experience, Rebecca continues to advocate for safer, more connected communities through action, empathy, and hope.
Rebecca is honored to support the vision initiated by founder Christopher Quigley. She is committed to contributing her insights and experiences to further the organization’s mission of raising awareness and combating violence against women.
Patrick Kane is a proud Nova Scotian, born and raised in Dartmouth. He holds an Honours Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and a minor in business. This academic foundation laid the groundwork for his empathetic approach to community service.
Early in his career, Patrick secured an internship with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), which took him to a rural community in Honduras. In this role, he worked on initiatives aimed at promoting small businesses for marginalized Garifuma wome.
This formative experience broadened his perspective on systemic challenges and reinforced his dedication to community-focused work.
Following this, Patrick embarked on a 14-year career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Throughout his tenure, he encountered numerous cases of domestic abuse, gaining firsthand insight into the psychological manipulation and cyclical nature of such violence. These experiences deepened his understanding and commitment to supporting those affected by intimate partner violence.
Transitioning into retirement has been a significant life shift for Patrick. With the unwavering support of his loving partner and children, he continues to be an active presence in his community, keeping a watchful eye over what he affectionately refers to as “the best town in Canada.”
Patrick brings a unique perspective to the board, blending his professional experiences with a heartfelt dedication to fostering safer communities. His years in law enforcement exposed him to the recurring and often frustrating nature of domestic violence cases, which left a lasting emotional impact. While these experiences were challenging, they reinforced his belief in the necessity of educating men and breaking the cycle of abuse. Patrick is committed to supporting initiatives that address these issues, aligning with the vision initiated by founder Christopher Quigley.
Wendy May was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, by her single mother. As a teenager with challenges and despite a supportive family, Wendy was placed with Child and Family Services and lived in group homes—an experience that gave her firsthand insight into the systemic challenges surrounding youth care and gender-based violence.
In 1995, Wendy moved to England, where she met and built a life with her husband Rick and raised two incredible daughters, Violet and Ava. During her time in the UK, she worked for the Princess of Wales Memorial Fund , a time limited foundation -in an administrative role dedicated to ensuring the responsible distribution of funds raised in memory of Princess Diana. The fund closed in 2012 by spending its entire endowment of $112 million GBP.
Wendy went on to serve for six years as an elected member of the Guildford Town Council, where she was an active contributor to planning, communications, environmental, and community subcommittees. She worked closely with police and support officers to provide meaningful assistance to residents in many aspects of their lives.
After returning to Canada in 2013, Wendy embraced her entrepreneurial spirit, taking over a restaurant and most recently venturing into the world of gourmet frozen ice cream. An avid baker and passionate foodie, Wendy is fluent in both English and sarcasm—and she’s not afraid to mix the two when the moment calls for it.
Sarah Riley-Board Chair- With a background in the creative economy, Sarah's career began in the theatre, with a conservatory acting degree from the Fountain School for Performing Arts at Dalhousie University, where she dabbled regularly in the worlds of indie film, TV and the stage. Her allure for creative media and classical playwrights and the recognition that expression and shared experiences are the basis for human connectivity led her to an obsession with storytelling that would anchor her values and her professional future.
She went on to obtain a Masters in Journalism from the University of King's College, starting her early career in Toronto first as a freelance journalist, then as a PR writer, and finally segueing into the world of advertising. She began writing commercials and later transformed herself once again to work as a Brand and Communications Strategist, training under the head of Pepsi Brands North America and producing multinational campaigns for the likes of Mercedes and Kraft.
In 2012, she became an early mover in eco-communications, leading Efficiency Nova Scotia’s team as Executive Brand Strategist. Now a successful creative entrepreneur at the helm of the women-founded-and-led B Corp, R&G Strategic, she delivers sustainability storytelling and stakeholder engagement for organizations that range from cleantech startups to NGOs to Fortune 500s, helping them activate and share their impact.
She believes in, and advocates for environmental and social good in all things, and her core passion for a good story still drives her mission and R&G's purpose to move hearts and make movements.
Sarah Riley
Chief Strategy Officer
Canada's Clean50
(She/Her)
Donald MacTavish-Treasurer- is a renaissance man in the truest sense, equal parts master carpenter, data whisperer, tech executive, and music producer. When people hear his résumé, they usually need a moment (and maybe a flowchart) to take it in.
Born in Montreal, Don’s professional journey has spanned Ottawa, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Berlin. He began as a teenaged entrepreneur running a custom woodworking business, which evolved into a full-time pursuit after studying at the School of Industrial Design at Carleton University. When the 1990 recession hit, Don pivoted, gracefully into technology, where he made a name for himself in the then-nascent world of data analysis and corporate intelligence. He was recruited to San Francisco as a Senior Research Analyst with Meta Group, specializing in data analytics, machine learning and business intelligence. From there, he became Director of Product Marketing at Hyperion Solutions, where he set global strategies for financial performance management and consulted with major multinationals. Don later was COO for San Francisco based Sycle.net helping to build it from a tiny startup into a 100+ person operation, first in Vancouver building its development organization before returning to San Francisco to lead operations until the company’s acquisition in 2017.
After leaving tech, Don and his musician partner Tara C Taylor, decamped to Berlin, where he honed his chops in music production, videography, and perhaps most impressively, German. Eventually, the call of home (Canada) brought them to Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, where Don continues to work in the world of independent music.
Fluent in finance and business operations across Canada, the U.S., and Germany, Don now brings his interdisciplinary superpowers to ALCHEMIA Art Workshop as Treasurer and will be partnering with external consulting services for audit services.
He survived Vancouver, Silicon Valley, the Berlin club scene, and the German language, so he’s fairly confident he can handle ALCHEMIA Art Workshop’s financial oversight.
Executive Leader | Trauma-Informed Community Builder | Creative Systems Collaborator
Kelly Ann Hamshaw is a visionary nonprofit executive with over 15 years of experience leading trauma-informed, equity-driven organizations across Nova Scotia and throughout Canada. She is deeply committed to building inclusive systems that center community voice, healing, and meaningful connection.
Kelly Ann brings an embodied leadership style that blends strategic clarity with emotional intelligence and creative insight. She builds capacity within teams and communities by valuing both individual strengths and collective impact, creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered.
With a national track record in cross-sector collaboration, Kelly Ann nurtures partnerships that bridge the arts, social services, and systems change—always grounded in the belief that strong, equitable communities are built at the intersection of care, creativity, and justice.