Meet a Board Member: Andi Romito
The Beaver Hills Biosphere Reserve Association (BHBRA) relies on the expertise and leadership of our diverse Board of Directors to guide our organization. They stand behind each success and help position the Beaver Hills Biosphere as a leader among its Canadian counterparts. Today, we introduce you to one of our board members, Andi Romito.
With a strong background in fund development, Andi Romito previously worked as a fundraiser for CKUA Radio Network and the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications, a diploma in arts and cultural management, and a diploma in computer systems technology. But with a passion for nature, working for an environmental organization was always an aspiration of hers and in 2016 she joined the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). In her current role as Senior Development Officer for NCC, a large part of her work consists of raising funds to support the impactful work of the organization which includes land securement and stewardship.
Not only does NCC have an active presence in and maintain several conservation properties within the Beaver Hills Biosphere, it was a long-time collaborator in the former Beaver Hills Initiative and now a member of the Beaver Hills Biosphere Reserve Association (BHBRA). Representing NCC, Andi has been involved in these collaborative efforts for a long time now and is currently NCC’s representative on the BHBRA Board of Directors.
But more than that, Andi’s commitment to the BHBRA and the biosphere goes beyond just a work-related task. Andi is incredibly proud to be part of an organization that supports and promotes the history, community, biodiversity, culture and overall significance of such a distinct landscape located so close to a major metropolitan area.
“I’m from Edmonton and as a child I spent a lot of time in the Beaver Hills,” shares Andi. “As someone with a personal connection to the area, I am proud to not only be among the people who started the Beaver Hills Initiative and attended the UNESCO biosphere designation ceremony, but to continue my involvement and support the biosphere through the efforts of the BHBRA.”
Given its proximity to the Edmonton metropolitan region, the Beaver Hills faces increasing pressures from rapid growth and increased economic activity. Andi’s personal experiences, along with her long-time knowledge of the region and involvement in the collaborative efforts to address those pressures, have also inspired her to initiate a NCC fundraising campaign called Keep the Beaver Hills Wild that specifically raises funds for and awareness of the organization’s important conservation efforts within the Beaver Hills region.
“Every time I visit the moraine and walk among the trees and wetlands or when I attend a BHBRA board meeting, I am reminded just how special and important the Beaver Hills are and of all the work that needs to be done to sustain the region’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations,” adds Andi.