Our Team

The ESfS organizing committee members are all geoscience volunteers.

Are you a passionate and energetic geoscience volunteer and would like to increase your involvement in a fun and rewarding initiative? The ESfS team is working on organizing a successful ESfS event and we are looking for volunteers to deliver the program. The next Earth Science for Society Exhibition in Calgary is March 14-16, 2027.

The organizing committee has started up for ESfS 2027. Please apply to join us. If you are interested or would like more details, contact us at esfscanada@gmail.com or click on the button below to sign up with the ESfS 2027 Organizing Committee:

Organizing Committee Sign-up Form

 

ESfS 2027 Organizing Committee

Organizing Committee Interim Chair – Julia Davison

Julia Davison is a professional geologist working as an energy analyst with NRG and consulting in geoscience. She has a M.B.A. and M.Sc. in geology from the University of Calgary and her B.Sc. in geology is from UBC, Vancouver. Julia has studied and worked on a range of interesting onshore and offshore Canadian and global petroleum basins, carbon capture, geothermal potential and renewable natural gas. After volunteering as an ESfS guide in 2016, Julia acted as the Sponsorship Chair (2017-2019 and 2022) and chaired the inaugural ESfS-in-Motion Science Odyssey event in 2018. She has been ESfS Chair since 2023. She is looking forward to working with a great team and building another fantastic, educational ESfS exhibition in 2027.

The Chair is responsible for the overall coordination of ESfS, including project management, meetings and minutes, and status reports to the team and to the CSEG Foundation. They keep things organized and on track to ensure the success of ESfS. Chair and Vice-Chair positions are currently vacant.

Subcommittees

Venue & Logistics Chair – Melissa Sawyer and Vice-Chair – Daniel Afolabi

Melissa is a professional geologist who is currently working at a natural gas company as an area geologist. She has seven years of experience in the industry. She has an M.Sc. in Geology from the University of Calgary in micropaleontology and biostratigraphy. Melissa first volunteered with ESfS as a university student back in 2014 where she was one of the guides and helped with the trilobite booth. Seeing the curiosity and enjoyment of the attendees first hand prompted Melissa to join the planning committee. The following year she was a part of the sponsorship committee and later went on to work with Exhibits and eventually was the Exhibits Chair for several years. Melissa is proud to be part of such a dedicated and hard working team bringing this very important educational event to children and families each year!

Daniel Afolabi is a Ph.D geophysics and seismology researcher at the University of Calgary with a research focus on passive seismic methods and near-surface geophysical characterization. His current research investigates the shallow subsurface structure and geothermal potential of the Teslin Fault zone in southern Yukon. His work involves the application of Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) analysis, seismic data processing, and integration of geophysical and geological datasets to understand subsurface conditions and structural permeability. Daniel collaborates with researchers and industry partners, including the Yukon Geological Survey, to support improved understanding of the region’s geological and geothermal resources. Beyond his research, he is actively involved in academic and professional committees and enjoys contributing to collaborative projects and scientific initiatives. He is passionate about using geophysical methods to address practical earth-science challenges and advance knowledge of the subsurface.

The Venue & Logistics committee coordinates our venue and logistics needs. The team is responsible for booking the facility and on-site goods and services, coordinating the ESfS on-site space, security, and emergency response requirements, and establishing designated staging areas for schools and buses.

Venue & Logistics committee: Melissa Sawyer, Daniel Afolabi

Sponsorship Chair – Pam Pribilovic

Pam Pribilovic is a geophysicist currently working at Athabasca Oil Corporation, with a strong foundation in subsurface interpretation and data analytics, combining a BSc in Geophysics from the University of Calgary with a Data Analytics certificate from SAIT. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about turning complex technical information into practical insights that support better decision making. Pam brings that same curiosity, energy, and collaborative spirit to her volunteer work with Earth Science for Society, where she has served on the sponsorship committee since 2019 and currently volunteers as Sponsorship Chair. She is proud to support ESfS because it creates an engaging, hands-on opportunity for youth, teachers, families, and the broader community to explore the importance of Earth Science in everyday life.

The Sponsorship committee is responsible for leading the team to solicit funds from organizations – donations which allow ESfS to remain financially accessible to the targeted school and youth group audiences. Along with soliciting sponsorship funds, the team helps prepare the sponsorship brochure, tracks sponsorship and exhibitor progress, applies for grants, ensures sponsor recognition before and during the event, and helps coordinate the post-event Thank-you mail out.

Sponsorship committee: Pam Pribilovic, Annette Milbradt, Julia Davison

Exhibits Chair – Greg Edwards

Greg is a professional geologist who graduated from the University of Calgary with a petroleum geoscience specialization. He has worked as a geologist in the energy industry for over 10 years, specializing in reservoir characterization and geological modeling and has had the opportunity to apply his skills across several basins globally. He now works at Entropy Inc. where his focus is on the safe and feasible sequestration of CO2 in North America. He has previously volunteered with ESfS on the exhibits committee.

The Exhibits committee is responsible for inviting exhibitors to ESfS to ensure a fun and dynamic exhibition. The team helps prepare the Exhibitor brochure content, solicits for ESfS exhibitors, develops the pavilion and exhibitor floor plan, compiles exhibitor requirements for venue and logistics, prepares the exhibitor kit, coordinates the exhibitor summary, coordinates on-site assistance, compiles the exhibitor feedback surveys, and contributes to the post-event Thank-you booklet.

Exhibits committee: Greg Edwards, Mrinmoy Maitra, John Duhault, Daniel Afolabi

Marketing Vice-Chair – Hunter Brett

Hunter is a Professional Geologist with 7 years of experience in critical minerals mining, energy advisory, and carbon management fields. He graduated from the University of Calgary in 2017 with a degree in Geology. During his career, he has worked at the Brucejack Mine in the ‘Golden Triangle’, situated in NW British Columbia. In 2024, has graduated from the University of Calgary with a Masters in Sustainable Energy Development. Currently, he works with Sproule ERCE in their Low Carbon Solutions team, helping advise clients on strategic decarbonization pathways, specializing in Carbon, Capture, Utilization and Storage projects. Hunter is a returning member of the ESfS team, taking on the Marketing Chair role, and is excited to be involved with this team and organization.

The Marketing committee develops the marketing and communication plan, works with the marketing team and other committees to prepare all collateral material and advertising, coordinates with other technical societies, connects with external youth groups, coordinates all branded material, ensures consistent ESfS branding and communication, manages social media accounts and communication, prepares newsletters, coordinates on-site signage, develops and compiles feedback surveys, manages photography requirements, prepares materials for the days-of-event welcoming committee, and coordinates the post-event Thank-you mailout.

Marketing committee: Hunter Brett, Annette Milbradt, Emily Guo, Malaika Mahmood, Paige Snelling, Ariana Pumo, Renu Sahota (Advisor)

Volunteers Chair – Chisom Okwaraojimadu and Vice-Chair – Avneet Kaur

Chisom Okwaraojimadu is a second-year M.Sc. student in the Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment at the University of Calgary, where his research focuses on national-scale geological CO2 storage screening of Canadian sedimentary basins. He is a member of the EnGAGE Research Group and the AAPG IBA research team, and is currently completing an internship with Natural Resources Canada focused on reservoir simulation. Chisom first volunteered with ESfS at the 2026 exhibition and is excited to step into the Volunteers Chair role to help coordinate and support the 2027 exhibition.

The Volunteer committee is responsible for coordinating event volunteers, which includes preparing and managing the volunteer schedule, preparing volunteer reference documents, coordinating volunteer on-site requirements, providing on-site briefing, recognizing volunteer efforts, and reporting volunteer statistics.

Volunteers committee: Chisom Okwaraojimadu, Avneet Kaur, Julia Davison, David Karran (Advisor)

Program Delivery Chair – Helen Isaac

Helen has a Ph.D in Geophysics and worked in the oil industry and at the University of Calgary, specializing in seismic data processing and interpretation with integration of geologic data. Helen has been a very active volunteer with the CSEG for many years, serving as a Director for the CSEG Foundation, on the CSEG Executive, and on the Recorder and Outreach committees. In 2023 she was awarded the CSEG’s Roy O. Lindseth Medal for outstanding contributions to the science of exploration geophysics. She has been deeply committed to ESfS since its inception in 2010.

The Program Delivery committee is responsible for coordinating all aspects of student and youth group visits, including group sign-ups and communications, rotation schedules and volunteer guide requirements, buses and school packages. The team creates the Scavenger Hunt Booklets and compiles educational resources for teachers and youth group leaders.

Program Delivery committee: Helen Isaac

Speakers

The Speakers committee is responsible for coordinating family-friendly geoscience presentations of general interest that take place in the Geo-Theatre on the Sunday of ESfS.

Speakers committee: Gabriel Solano, Annette Milbradt

ESfS in Motion Chair – Enisha Bhangoo and Vice-Chair – Malaika Mahmood

Enisha is a recent graduate from the University of Calgary, completing a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences and a B.Sc. in Environmental Science. She first volunteered with ESfS at the 2025 exhibition, helping out with the Yukon Dan booth. This experience was meaningful to her and seeing how it sparked curiosity and interest in earth science in attendees inspired her to join the ESfS in Motion Committee. Enisha is excited to continue contributing to ESfS and helping organize outreach events that educate and ignite curiosity about earth science in the community!

Malaika Mahmood completed her Bachelor of Environmental Science with a concentration in Geology from the University of Calgary. Passionate about rocks, fossils, and tectonics, she loves sharing the excitement of Earth science through hands-on learning and outreach. After volunteering at ESfS 2026 and supporting several ESfS in Motion events; including TELUS Spark Science Weekend, Girl Guides Rally, and school visits, she saw firsthand how curiosity can spark a lifelong interest in Earth sciences. Inspired by the enthusiasm of young learners, who love rocks as much as she does, Malaika joined the committee to help create engaging experiences that encourage and inspire the next generation of geoscientists.

The ESfS in Motion committee organizes the Yukon Dan gold panning exhibit, the ESfS Fossil station, and the Geoscience Activity tables at ESfS every March.

ESfS developed travelling exhibits that we can take to science education and outreach events or add as a booth at ESfS. We participated in Science Odyssey in 2017, 2018, & 2019, Science Literacy Week in 2018 & 2019, the APEGA Rock & Fossil Clinic in 2022, Science Olympics in 2024, National Geographic Live in 2025, and the Calgary Rock and Lapidary Club Rock & Mineral Show in 2025.

The ESfS in Motion travelling exhibits showcase four fun and interactive stations: the Explore Space Station, the Trilobite Fossil Station, the Rock Cycle Station and the Our Changing World Station. Visitors investigate space travel and our solar system at the Explore Space Station. The Trilobite Fossil Station allows participants to touch, identify and classify trilobite fossils. The Rock Cycle Station has sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks and mineral samples to examine. The Our Changing World Station has activities related to plate tectonics and seismic methods.

ESfS in Motion committee: Enisha Bhangoo, Malaika Mahmood

Budget & Finance Chair – Annette Milbradt

Annette is a retired Geophysicist, interested in geoscience outreach. She served six years as a Director for the CSEG Foundation as Outreach Director, Treasurer, Secretary, and more. She has been involved with ESfS since it started in 2010. She finds working with fellow enthusiastic organizing committee volunteers and days-of-event volunteers on this amazing educational STEM event is fun and tremendously rewarding.

The Budget & Finance committee is responsible for preparing the budget, assisting with coding payables, and tracking revenues and expenses to ensure that ESfS stays on budget. The team coordinates with committees to manage financial processes and transactions.

Budget & Finance committee: Annette Milbradt

ESfS Administrators – Aferdita Balasch, Alyssa Middleton, and Annette Milbradt

The ESfS Administrators manage bookings, accounts & contracts (venue, suppliers, buses, marketing) on behalf of the CSEG Foundation, send invoices and records payments, track and manage receivables, ensure payment of expenses by credit card, and provide support for orders – venue, venue suppliers, buses, schools, exhibitors, sponsors, student and educator materials, volunteers and volunteer materials, printing, and media/marketing.