our team

As founder and president, Raj oversees Newo’s development, education programs and charitable projects. He is also the co-founder of the Sunrise Farm Cooperative and the Spirit of the Land Foundation.

Shane Hoveland was there in the early days of Newo, and has returned after 500-plus days in a tent (where he was witness to the magnificent unfolding of nature around us) to manage Newo’s finances.

Jill is part of the operations team at Newo and helps with food sovereignty projects. She is exploring how structured rhythms, food/medicine, and community contribute to wellness and feelings of abundance.

Maroof is a member of the energy audit and solar teams at Newo. With a background in civil engineering and NAIT’s alternative-energy technology program under his belt, Maroof seeks to combine the technological with the relational.

Garnet has a background in renewable energy, food rescue and non-profit work. He enjoys asking, “How do we create spaces that empower us to be the change?” At Newo, he’s exploring that question in the realm of energy audits.

Jess is a former journalist and onetime editor of the Camrose Canadian weekly newspaper who now works on Newo’s communications and marketing.

Lisa’s interest in solar energy started as preparation for the zombie apocolypse. As she learned about energy use in Newo’s 2018 course through Yellowhead Tribal Council, her focus became making the world a better place for her grandbabies to live in.