Board of Directors

Bryce Kraeker is currently the Past Chair and Vice Chair Internal of KWAG's Board of Directors. He is the Managing Partner of the Waterloo Region office of Gowling WLG, an international law firm. His practice is focused primarily on transactional and securities regulatory matters, assisting Canadian and international clients in both capital raising and M&A transactions. Bryce has a keen interest in contemporary art, architecture, music and theatre. He joined KWAG's board to contribute his legal expertise towards the ongoing development of a thriving local arts culture. Bryce is continually amazed at the high caliber of exhibitions presented by the gallery and is delighted by artists’ stories, including those shared by David Harper, Kent Monkman, Edward Burtynsky, Sarah Cale, An Te Liu and curator Wanda Nanibush, among others. In his spare time Bryce is an avid cyclist.

Jeff Howald is a partner in the Tax Practice of KPMG LLP based in Waterloo. He has spent more than 12 years specializing in Canadian income tax matters related to private companies and their shareholders. Jeff is a Chartered Accountant and has tutored extensively with CPA Canada’s In-Depth Tax Course at various levels.  

Within the community, Jeff is a member of the Tax Practitoner’s Consultation Group which meets with senior members of CRA’s Kitchener-Waterloo Tax Services Office. He has also served as a guest lecturer at the University of Waterloo (School of Pharmacy – Business & Entrepreneurship Program) and has volunteered with KWAG on our Finance and Endowment committees since 2013.

Irena Kramer is an associate in Gowling WLG's Waterloo Region office. She works primarily on corporate, contractual, transactional, and financing matters. Irena provides knowledge, insight, and support to clients, so that they feel confident reaching their business goals. When she isn't working, Irena is giving back to her community and adding to the thriving culture in Kitchener-Waterloo. She is grateful for the opportunity to support and champion local and national art initiatives and artists. In her role on the Board of Directors, Irena brings her problem-solving skills together with her passion for the arts and sharing the experiences KWAG offers with her friends and family in the Kitchener-Waterloo community. 

Robin Lindner is a creative thinker and freelance designer who loves a good challenge. Currently she is building a brand and digital marketing company called Robin + Elaine (with her super-rad partner, Elaine) that focuses on helping local companies grow their businesses and get more involved with the community. Her career started in the textile industry working as a product designer for companies like The Bay, Walmart and Costco. After that she spent a few years learning about the world of educational publishing and working in the tech sector at Communitech as a brand manager. Robin is a huge fan of art organizations like KWAG that encourage fearless creativity and experimentation. 

Logan MacDonald is a Canadian-based artist, curator, and educator and activist who focuses on queer, disability and Indigenous perspectives. He is of European and Mi’kmaq ancestry, who identifies with both his settler and Indigenous roots. Born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, his Mi’kmaq ancestry is connected to Elmastukwek, Ktaqamkuk. His artwork has exhibited across North America, notably with exhibitions at L.A.C.E. (Los Angeles) John Connelly Presents (New York), AceArtInc. (Winnipeg), The Rooms (St. John's), Articule (Montréal), and the Künstlerhaus Bethanien (Berlin). He is author of a forthcoming chapter on Indigenous Art Histories of Newfoundland that is being published by The Rooms, for the Future Possible exhibition/art history catalogue. He is a graduate from Concordia University with a BFA in Interdisciplinary Studies and an MFA in Studio Arts from York University. He is currently Vice-Chair of the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective, and is an Assistant Professor in Studio Arts at the University of Waterloo.

Aaron Shull is CIGI’s chief operating officer and general counsel, effective March 2015. Prior to that he was CIGI’s counsel and corporate secretary and was also a research fellow beginning in 2013. He continues to act as corporate secretary. As General Counsel, he responds to legal inquiries from Senior Management that relate to corporate, contractual, employment, occupational health and safety, intellectual property, dispute resolution, and compliance related matters. As Chief of Staff, he operates as an effective liaison and conduit across all departments, providing guidance and advice on all matters of strategic and operational importance. Aaron graduated from the University of Waterloo, placing first in his class as a departmental scholar, with a B.A. (honours) in history and political science. His keen interest in international affairs and political history led him to pursue a Master of Arts in international affairs at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, where he graduated with distinction. He concurrently pursued his LL.B. from the University of Ottawa, where he graduated cum laude with first class honours. Aaron attained his LL.M. from Columbia Law School, where he graduated as a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar. Aaron currently lives in the Waterloo Region, where he spends time with his family.