Tim Gardiner – President

After obtaining his MBA, Tim – who was born in London, Ontario and is a dual Canada/US citizen – built his career in wholesale metal sales and trading, specializing in precious metals. He worked at Mitsui & Co., JP Morgan and Toronto-Dominion Bank before retiring in 2016. He spent much of his life moving around the world alongside his wife Nancy and four children, with whom he lived in Toronto, Geneva, London, Singapore, and New York. They now split their time between New York City, Jackson Hole, WY, and Westport, ON. Over the years, Tim and his family have made significant gifts to support conservation in Canada, especially in the Frontenac Arch Biosphere, a critical nature connection between the Appalachian and Canadian Shield geographies.

“I came to quickly realize there are no borders in nature conservancy. This is especially true between the United States and Canada, which is why AFCN greatly contributes to NCC’s overall vision, mission, and values.” Tim, on why cross-border conservation is relevant today.

Stephen Lloyd – Vice President

Residing in Montreal, Quebec, Stephen is a partner at the global law firm Dentons, practicing corporate commercial law, primarily in the real estate and forest products sector. He is involved in the management of the firm, as a member of the board for Canada and of its global advisory board.  He is a member of various business and not-for-profit boards of directors, including the Atlantic Salmon Federation, the Bishop’s University Foundation and McGill University’s Martlet Foundation. He is a former National Board Member of the Nature Conservancy of Canada.  Stephen also serves as an elected councilor for the Laurentians town of Barkmere, QC. He has worked actively to reconcile commercial real estate interests and long-term conservation priorities on the Island of Montreal, through his presidency of the 1000-member Association for the Protection of Angell Woods.  Stephen is an avid Atlantic salmon fisherman, a passionate yet below-average hockey player, and just generally enjoys being outdoors.

Carol Maloof

Carol is a retired Deputy Administrator, U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, New England Region. She has extensive experience in social / health insurance policy and public affairs. She is active in the Episcopal Church and throughout the years she has served in multiple leadership capacities. She was elected to the Town Meeting Member, Town of Norwood, MA, U.S. has served on numerous civic and nonprofit boards. In retirement she has served as Co-Chair of the Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Fundraising in Florida and as National Representative for the Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. She has also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in Florida, Massachusetts, and Nepal. Beyond her lifelong involvement in health care, social, and community, Carol is an avid golfer, a certified yoga instructor, and enjoys cooking, hiking, reading, and traveling.

“Conservation of biodiversity is the race of our lifetime. Fortunately, in North America, we still have much to save and some scope for positive action in protecting habitats and biological corridors. This imperative cuts across everything we do – conservation protection is a giant, urgent, re-zoning exercise that will allow us to continue to cherish the richness of a natural world which we for so long have taken for granted.”

“I’ve enjoyed hiking for my entire life, and over the years have come to appreciate that hiking is so much more than just exercise. A walk in the woods or on a mountain trail is a walk through the home of all that live in the forest and the mountains. Now, with ever increasing threats to the environment, nature conservation is an imperative. Preservation of bird migratory routes is key to maintaining the health and beauty of our natural resources. I became involved with the AFCN through my dear friend Karen Ray and am honored to serve in this Canada/U.S. partnership devoted to preserving our environment for future generations”. Carol, on why nature conservation matters to her.

Scott Robert McWilliams

Scott is a professor of wildlife ecology and physiology at University of Rhode Island and a dedicated conservationist. He received his Ph.D. in wildlife ecology from University of California at Davis, and his M.Sc. in animal ecology from Iowa State University. He conducted his postdoctoral training in wildlife ecology at University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI. He studies the ecology and behavior and physiology of wild vertebrates, mostly waterfowl, upland gamebirds, and neotropical migrating songbirds. Current research topics include habitat use, diet, and nutrition of arctic-nesting geese, sea ducks, and migratory songbirds; forest management to support healthy bird populations; exercise physiology of migratory birds; effects of climate change on migratory birds; how offshore wind farms affect migratory sea ducks and seabirds. He is a Certified Wildlife Biologist, a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society, and has provided technical consultant support for both the quantitative assessment of offshore renewable energy facility impacts on migratory birds as well as the avian injury assessment for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

“Effective conservation of our natural resources must recognize that ecosystems span political boundaries, and that migratory animals functionally connect distant ecosystems often in different countries. This is especially true between the United States and Canada, which share all the major flyways of North America, and is why the collaborative efforts of AFCN and NCC are so important”.

Karen Ray

Karen is a lawyer by profession. She spent almost her entire career at the law firm of Fraser, Milner, Casgrain (formerly Fraser & Beatty and now Dentons) as a partner in Toronto, Canada before retiring from private practice in 2004. She served as national counsel to The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) from 2005-2015. Throughout her association with NCC she played an important role in the management of American Friends of Canadian Nature (AFCN), attending all Board meetings, updating organizational and operating documents and providing practical advice. Beyond her interest in non-advocacy conservation, Karen enjoys travel, especially nature travel, gardening, reading and golfing at her country clubs in Toronto and Bonita Springs, Florida.

“Robin Fraser inspired me to get involved in the world of conservation. Robin was a long-time partner at Fraser & Beatty and a long-time volunteer at NCC and AFCN, where he served over the years as chair of both corporations. He hired me at the law firm and later introduced me to NCC and AFCN and their admirable missions, for which actions I will be forever grateful.” Karen, on who inspired her to get involved in the world of conservation.

Tom Taylor

Tom is a retired architect who practiced for 39 years, specializing in high-end residential design across North America. Most of his career was spent as a partner at Erickson, Herscoe, Taylor and the bulk of his career at Soyster Taylor Design in Farmington, CT, with notable projects on Lake Michigan, in Florida, the Rocky Mountains, and the Pacific Northwest. Since 2015, he has lived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with his wife Linda, a retired OBGYN physician.

A lifelong nature enthusiast, his connection to the outdoors began while growing up in Michigan and grew through decades of time spent in the remote wilderness of Northern Ontario, where he built and maintains a cabin south of the Montreal River near Lake Superior. He and his wife are members of The Prairie Club, one of the oldest environmental organizations in the U.S., continuing a family legacy of conservation. His appreciation for the Canadian wilderness and its cultural heritage, including the landscapes captured by the Group of Seven, remains a strong influence.

In retirement, he enjoys kayaking, hiking, biking, and skiing in Jackson Hole as well as traveling the world to explore diverse cultures and landscapes. He was drawn to AFCN through neighbor and fellow advocate, Tim Gardiner, inspired by its mission and believes it will be a good fit.

“Nature has a unique almost sacred ability to offer refuge to the human spirit. It is a resource that must be protected for future generations as an asset both in terms of natural beauty and its ability to inspire and benefit everyone.” – Tom, on why nature matters to him.

Kyria Knibb-McLuhan – Executive Director

Kyria resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and was appointed to the role of Executive Director to American Friends of Canadian Nature in August 2023. In addition to this appointment, she serves as Senior Director, Campaigns & Development Operations at the Nature Conservancy of Canada, where she is responsible for fundraising strategy and initiatives.

She holds an MBA from York University’s Schulich School of Business with a specialization in sustainability and a BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University. Kyria lives in Toronto with her husband and two children and loves to escape the city whenever possible to spend time in nature.