September 21, 2022Back to Latest

The Minister of Justice and Solicitor General has appointed three new public representative Law Society of Alberta Benchers (also known as Lay Benchers). Glen Buick, Levonne Louie and Mary Ellen Neilson will join the Board for a three-year term, replacing Barbara McKinley, Cora Voyageur and Elizabeth Hak. We thank our outgoing Benchers for their time and service.

We are also pleased to announce Louise Wasylenko, CPA, CMA, will continue to serve as a Bencher, as her appointment has been renewed until Nov. 24, 2024.

Glen Buick previously served as a Bencher from 2014–2018. He was formerly the Canadian Ambassador to Chile, and later, Assistant Deputy Minister in Alberta Culture. He is a member of the Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board, the Assessment Review Board of the City of Edmonton and the Tribunal Roster of Public Members under the Health Professions Act. Glen received the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005 and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Levonne Louie holds a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Commerce, and a Master of Business Administration, all from the University of Calgary and her ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors. She retired from the oil and gas industry with almost 40 years of experience in the energy sector. She brings considerable leadership experience to her roles on the boards on which she serves. Levonne has been serving as a Public Member on the Council of the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta since 2017.

Mary Ellen Neilson has her Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary, her Master of Business Administration from York University, her CPA, CMA from the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta, and her ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors. She was Executive Director at the Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured until her retirement in 2020. Prior to this, Mary Ellen had a successful 30-year career in financial services, where she held senior executive positions for Western Canada operations. She is currently a Director on the Board of ATB Financial and chairs the Risk Committee.

Read more about the newest public representative Benchers in our Board Directory.