Executive Team

Nazli Akpinar

President

Nazli Akpinar (She/Her) is a fifth-year Industrial Engineering student from Dalhousie University. She began her involvement with ACES as the EDI commissioner in 2021 and became the VP Finance the following year. She is the President of ACES for the 2023-2024 academic year. As president, she is looking forward to support and represent the diverse population of engineering students. Nazli enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants and reading. She is always open for a chat and is happy to answer any questions.

As President Nazli is responsible for:

  • Overseeing and supporting the duties of the ACES Board of Directors

  • Aligning the direction of the organization with member interests

  • Representing ACES to relevant external engineering bodies

Holly Clarke

Atlantic Ambassador

Holly Clarke (she/her) is a fifth year Process Engineering student at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Holly has been involved in ACES since her first year and is most excited about helping Atlantic schools connect on a regional and national level! Outside of school Holly enjoys kickboxing and baking.

As Atlantic Ambassador Holly is responsible for:

  • Representing ACES to the CFES’ Board of Directors

  • Keeping all ACES members up to date on issues and information from the CFES

  • Wearing the ACES Sou’ Wester

Ellen Fraser

VP Communications

Ellen Fraser(she/her) is in her third year of Sustainable Design Engineering at UPEI and is acting as the Vice President of Communications for ACES for the 2023-2024 year. She is looking forward to attending AGM, AEC and ELS as a part of the ACES executive. Ellen enjoys baking, playing the guitar and working out in her free time.

As VP Communications Ellen is responsible for:

  • Compiling and distributing ACES newsletters to provide updates

  • Maintaining and ensuring regular activity on ACES social media and communication platforms

  • Overseeing the IT Commissioners

Nick Mckenna

VP Finance

I am Nick McKenna (He/Him), a third-year Mechanical engineering student at Dalhousie University. Outside of classes, I am the chassis and suspension lead for Dalhousie’s FSAE team and spend much of my free time helping build our first electric race car. The thing I am most excited about for this position is getting to work with and build connections with other engineering students in Atlantic Canada and experience a variety of perspectives.

As VP Finance Nick is responsible for:

  • Collecting and managing all membership fees and monies of ACES

  • Developing the annual ACES operating budget and keeping accurate records of all financial transactions

  • Actively seeking corporate sponsorship

  • Ensuring proper recording of conference finances

Jayden Mackenzie

VP Engagement

Jayden MacKenzie (he/him) is in his fourth year of Chemical Engineering at Dalhousie University – Sexton Campus and is the VP Engagement of ACES for the 2023-2024 year. He completed his first two years of engineering at Dalhousie – Agricultural Campus. As VP Engagement, he is looking forward to working with member societies to get their students more involved with ACES to promote the growth of ACES as an organization. He hopes to facilitate communication between member societies to promote events between schools. Apart from ACES, Jayden was elected VP External for the Fall of 2023 for Dalhousie – Sexton. Anybody with any questions or any ideas to promote engagement within ACES can reach out to Jayden.

As VP Engagement Jayden is responsible for:

  • Promoting and initiating networking and inter-society communication for member societies

  • Ensuring that small school societies engage with ACES

  • Overseeing the Small School Engagement Commissioners

Mikkayla Ellsworth-Reid

VP Services

Mikkayla Ellsworth-Reid (she/her) is a fourth-year student in the Sustainable Design Engineering Program at the University of Prince Edward Island. She first became involved with ACES in 2021 as the Bilingualism Commissioner, followed by VP Communications, and is excited to be taking on the role of VP Services for the 2023-2024 year.

Mikkayla is looking forward to supporting the various ACES activities, where the Atlantic engineering student body can connect to share valuable experiences, work together, and develop personal and professional skills. Outside of ACES, Mikkayla enjoys watching scary movies, visiting local art galleries, and volunteering for various youth groups on the island.

As VP Services Mikkayla is responsible for:

  • Providing and overseeing the development of professional and educational resources and services for members

  • Overseeing the planning of AEC, ELS, and AGM

  • Keeping record of the ACES conference planning rotation

Commissioners

Hana Elnaggar

Chair

Hana Elnaggar (she/her) is a third-year Chemical Engineering student at Dalhousie University. Hana is excited to become involved with ACES as the 2023-2024 Chair. She looks forward to working with the team to meet its mandate and meeting other engineering students in Atlantic Canada.

Currently, Hana is also the Chair of the Engineering Student Council at Dalhousie University. Hana enjoys reading, cooking, and baking.

Chair Commissioner Responsibilities include:

  • Chair all General Meetings of ACES and meetings which include the ACES Executive, Commissioners, and Activity Chairs

  • Prepare and deliver General Assembly introduction sessions at AGM and ELS

  • Prepare and distribute the preliminary and final agenda for all General Meeting

  • Maintain the ACES mandate tracker and ensure that it is available to all members

Mikkayla Ellsworth-Reid

Bilingualism Commissioner

Mikkayla Ellsworth-Reid (she/her) is a fourth-year student in the Sustainable Design Engineering Program at the University of Prince Edward Island. She first became involved with ACES in 2021 as the Bilingualism Commissioner, followed by VP Communications, and is now returning to the position of Bilingualism Commissioner for the 2023-2024 year.

Mikkayla is excited to continue developing the connection for the bilingual members of ACES and ensuring all students are represented in the Atlantic region. Outside of ACES, Mikkayla enjoys watching scary movies, visiting local art galleries, and volunteering for various youth groups on the island.

Bilingualism Commissioner Responsibilities include:

  • Manage communication between ACES and U de M.

  • Support the AEC Organizing Committee with translation of materials.

  • Translate ACES documents and social media content

Rowan Pratt

EDI Commissioner

Rowan Pratt (they/she) is in their 3rd-year of Industrial Engineering at Dalhousie University simultaneously completing their Certificate in Indigenous Studies (although they’ve been around much longer, having completed 3 years in Civil first). She is the Atlantic Regional Director for EngiQueers Canada – through this role, she sits on ACES as an EDI Commissioner to provide support and consultation on various ACES initiatives. She is also Co-President of Dalhousie EngiQueers and Jack.orgDalEng. Her pull in life is to decolonize systems, ensure spaces are safe and accessible, and ultimately work to create a softer world with love and understanding at the forefront. It’s a pleasure to be back on ACES!

Yagmur Var

EDI Commissioner

Yagmur (she/her) is from Turkey and completed her first two years of engineering at St.FX. Going into her third year, she transferred to Dal to continue her studies and she is currently in her fifth year of Industrial Engineering. As a new member of the ACES team, Yagmur takes the role of Co-EDI Commissioner, who represents the Atlantic region on various events and training sessions while spreading awareness.

She is an active person who loves meeting with new people, spending time outdoors and enjoys participating in sports. She also supports the Dal Student Life as a social media content creator. Yagmur is looking forward to meeting with all ACES members, and representing a diverse population of engineering students!

Francheska (Nichole) Baya

EDI Commissioner

Nichole (she/her) is a 4th year Chemical Engineering student at the University of New Brunswick. Nichole has been active in various clubs and societies around UNB and is excited to be a part of ACES this year! Nichole has been active in EDI related initiatives and was able to start a STEM Outreach Program directed to Indigenous students in middle school with APEGNB. She is very excited to work as an EDI Commissioner. Outside of school, she enjoys crocheting and spending time with friends and family.

EDI Commissioners’ Responsibilities include:

  • Ensure each new ACES executive and commissioner undergo EDI training

  • Promote allyship and regular engagement with social issues

  • Engage with Activity Chairs to ensure the Activities are inclusive

Nyah Lupick

IT Commissioner

Nyah Lupick (she/her) is a second-year Electrical Engineering student at Dalhousie University. This is her first year being involved in ACES. She is super excited to meet other students from across Atlantic Canada and work together to make ACES the best it can be.

Outside of ACES, she is the President of the Dalhousie Diploma of Engineering Society, and a member of the Dalhousie Autonomous Underwater Vehicle team. During her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, crocheting, and having staring contests with the ocean (which she always seems to lose for some reason).

Ispeeta Ahmed

IT Commissioner

Ispeeta Ahmed (she/her/elle) is a second-year Electrical Engineering student at Dalhousie University. Ispeeta started getting involved in engineering societies in her first year, acting as a Student Advisory Council (SAC) representative in the Diploma of Engineering Society (DES) at Dalhousie. Now continuing in second year, she will lead the representatives in SAC as Vice President of Academics in DES.

From her experiences, Ispeeta knows the importance (and even fun!) of building connections with other like-minded students in engineering. She hopes to bring more accessibility and reach to ACES’s mission so that students have an easy experience acquiring important information on all kinds of initiatives and connections!

IT Commissioners’ Responsibilities include:

  • Maintaining and updating the ACES website and social media platforms

  • Ensuring that relevant information can be easily accessed on the ACES Member Share Drive, and on the ACES website

  • Any other duties relating to the electronic infrastructure of ACES

Erin Burke

Diploma School Commissioner

Erin (she/her/elle) is a fourth year mechanical engineering student at Dalhousie University. She acted as the VP External for one of our diploma schools, Saint Mary's University, for 2 years, as well as an Advocacy & Outreach Commissioner. After struggling herself, she realized these 2-year schools needed extra guidance to make up for the quick society turnover and thought the previous Transitional-School Commissioners were a great resource.

On top of helping transition societies and getting them to conferences, Erin enjoys being active outdoors, woodworking, and collecting conference coffee mugs.

Carter McNeil

Diploma School Commissioner

Carter McNeil (he/him) is a second-year electrical engineering student at Cape Breton University. He is one of the Transitional School Engagement Commissioners for the 2023-2024 year, and is also Co-President of Cape Breton University’s Engineering Society for this year.

He looks forward to using his experience studying at a transitional school to help connect all the schools in Atlantic Canada, and to help them overcome any challenges that they may face. Outside of school, Carter enjoys hiking, cooking, and helping out in his community.

Kristen North

Diploma School Commissioner

Kristen North (she/her/elle) is in her third year of Chemical Engineering at Dalhousie University and is this year's Co-Transitional School Engagement Commissioner. Within her time as the Co-President of the Acadia Engineering Society in the previous year, Kristen saw firsthand how helpful the Transitional School Engagement Commissioner role was in ensuring proper communication, institutional knowledge, and support was to the societies within Transitional Schools, and wanted to pay it forward in continuing this help for the oncoming executives. In this role herself, Kristen plans to tackle any challenges that the oncoming executives in engineering societies may face in the coming year and be a support system to which they can go if they need help with anything.

When not studying or working, Kristen enjoys reading, running, exploring the city, or napping. Anyone with any questions involving responsibilities of being a President of an Engineering Society can reach out to Kristen, who is happy to help!

Diploma School Commissioners’ Responsibilities include:

  • Maintaining points of contact between ACES and the small schools

  • Holding bi-monthly meetings to assist and assess challenges within engineering societies

  • Creating and organizing transition documents for small school engineering societies