Board of Directors

Amanda Bennett is a Research Associate with the Council of Canadian Academies, an NGO supporting independent, authoritative, and evidence-based expert assessments that inform public policy development in Canada (cca-reports.ca). She holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Zoology and Studio Arts from the University of Guelph, an M.Sc. in Biology from Laurentian University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental and Life Sciences from Trent University. Her academic research has focused on the ecology and conservation of reptiles and amphibians. She’s studied the genetics, spatial ecology, and demographics of species-at-risk turtles for my M.Sc., then moved on to examining constraints and limitations on phenotypic plasticity in larval amphibians for my Ph.D. Amanda worked in applied conservation, as an intern with the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve and the Saving Turtles at Risk Today Project, returning to Trent University as a Postdoctoral Fellow, working on stress physiology, species distribution modeling, eDNA, and infectious diseases of amphibians. In addition to CHS, Amanda also serves on the COSEWIC Amphibians and Reptiles Specialist Sub-committee and on the board of Fragile Inheritance. In her free time, Amanda “Benny” Bennett plays ultimate and wanders about in woods and swamps. 

Joe Crowley is a herpetologist and species risk biologist with the Government of Ontario, where he provides science advice to support the implementation of Ontario’s endangered species program. Joe holds a B.Sc. in Environmental Biology from Nipissing University and a M.Sc. in Zoology from the University of Guelph. He has had a life-long passion for wildlife, particularly amphibians and reptiles, and has been engaged in a variety of amphibian and reptile conservation initiatives throughout his career. These include initiating the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas program at Ontario Nature, serving on the CHS Board of Directors (2011-2020, 2025-present) and the COSEWIC Amphibians and Reptiles Specialist Sub-committee (2014-2020), and helping develop and run an annual Ontario reptile and amphibian field course for conservation professionals. In his spare time, he enjoys writing, traveling and spending time in nature to observe and photograph wildlife.

Growing up on PEI, Jolene spent summers playing in the cric with her brother and cousins catching frogs and minnows. She developed her love of reptiles and amphibians while at Sir Sandford Fleming College. Jolene attended Trent University and later completed her Masters on Stinkpot turtles at Laurentian University. She has had a variety of jobs working with species at risk amphibians and reptiles in Ontario, including positions with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, Ontario Parks, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Jolene then shifted gears and pursued other interests in Western Canada before coming back to Atlantic Canada to her current position as a Species at Risk Biologist with Nova Scotia Lands and Forestry. She works with the Amphibians and Reptiles Recovery Team as well as with a variety of researchers and conservation professionals to contribute to the conservation of the province’s herpetofauna.

Donnell envisions a world with ecological and cultural integrity and strives to implement, evaluate, and improve conservation strategies to work towards this reality. Donnell has over 10 years of conservation experience, much of which has focused on species-at-risk reptiles in Ontario, executed through in- and ex-situ techniques, field research, community science, outreach, and wildlife rehabilitation. She is a graduate of the University of Guelph (BSc.) and Laurentian University (MSc.).

Claudia is the co-chair of CHS’ equity diversity and inclusivity committee, and an active member of CHS’ meetings and workshops committee. Notably, alongside other EDI-related initiatives, she leads the mentorship lunch at annual meetings and is currently co-leading the English to French translation of multiple CHS-related documents/communications. Professionally, Claudia is a behavioural ecologist and field biologist currently pursuing a PhD in Norway to investigate eco-evo drivers of acoustic communication in marine fishes. She is also a co-supervisor to multiple undergraduate theses at the University of Toronto investigating various aspects of freshwater turtle acoustic communication and their social behaviour. During her M.Sc. at the University of Toronto, she studied hatchling turtle vocalisations and nest emergence behaviour under the supervision of Dr. Christina Davy and Dr. Njal Rollinson. Her love for herps stems from her time at the Algonquin Wildlife Research Station, where she spent numerous summers catching herpetofauna for the long-term life history study of turtles and spotted salamanders. She has also worked on herpetology conservation-focused research projects in collaboration with local non-governmental organisations across Ontario.

Dr. Jacqueline (Jackie) Litzgus is a full professor of Biology in the School of Natural Sciences at Laurentian University (Sudbury, Ontario). She is also the Director of the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit in the Vale Living With Lakes Centre. She received her BSc and MSc from the University of Guelph and her PhD from University of South Carolina. Her expertise includes the ecology, life history, behaviour and conservation of reptiles, particularly freshwater turtles. Dr. Litzgus has been recognized with the Laurentian University Research Excellence Award, Ontario Nature’s Conservation Leadership Award, the Blue Racer award from CHS, the Distinguished Herpetologist award from HL, a Mentorship Award from Magnetawan First Nation, and a Jane Goodall Research Fellowship in Conservation Biology.

Hannah McCurdy-Adams (she/her) grew up exploring the rivers, lakes, and rocky outcrops of Ontario, all while developing a love for reptiles and amphibians. She is now the Reptile and Amphibian Program Development Coordinator for Wildlife Preservation Canada, collaboratively recovering Canada’s most endangered species (wildlifepreservation.ca). She has over a decade experience as a professional conservation herpetologist and community scientist. Hannah completed an Environmental Earth Science B.Sc. and turtle conservation ecology M.Sc. at Laurentian University. She helped develop the Saving Turtles At Risk Today Project (START), worked with Blazing Star Environmental, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and many reptile and amphibian conservation practitioners in the research fields of road ecology, physiology, and genetics. She co-chairs the CHS Meetings and Workshops Committee, is a member of a few other CHS Committees, co-chairs the Canadian Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Recovery Implementation Group (CEMRRIG) and leads the Working Group for the Conservation of Ontario Turtles (WGCOT). When not planning her next trip outdoors, Hannah loves to swing dance, garden, bake, and hike.