The Board

NAOMI LAWSON-BAIRD

PRESIDENT

Naomi has been involved in the arts for most of her life, starting off acting and dancing at a young age and continued dancing  throughout her life. She started booking talent for the Calgary Stampede in 2017 where she found her passion for supporting artists and entertainers with their career and performance development. She moved to Edmonton in Summer of 2022 and joined Skirts A Fire as a member of the fundraising committee shortly after. Naomi currently works as an Event Producer and also runs Inclusive Heels Dance classes through her company – Nova Movement Dance.

KIM-ANN WILSON

VICE PRESIDENT

Kim-Ann Wilson is a business owner, event host, and public speaker, originally from Jamaica. She was recently nominated as one of Alberta’s Woman Entrepreneur by AWE in 2022. She was also recognized as 1 of 50 ‘Top to Top Future Woman Leader of Tomorrow’ awarded by HSBC in 2011. She’s the owner of SASS Marketing Agency which was recently voted as 1 of the Best Branding & Marketing Agencies in Edmonton in 2022, by Best in Edmonton. She’s also a co-owner of Eat Jamaican, a Jamaican grocery store on the Southside of the city. Her favorite quote is: “If your opinion doesn’t put food on my table, then it’s irrelevant”.

LILLI CHEVRIER

DIRECTOR

Lilli has had a rewarding career supporting and guiding organizations implementing business changes; driving change adoption to improve overall success. She works in both public and private sectors, leading changes to IT, financial services, higher education, municipal, provincial and federal government to realize business benefits.

As a member of the Board, Lilli brings commitment, engagement through active participation and collaboration, financial literacy and knowledge of implementation strategies.

TREVA SWICK

PAST PRESIDENT

Treva is a white heritage settler who is ecstatic championing the vibrant space(s) of SkirtsAfire Festival on Treaty Six Territory in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton). Treva’s ancestors homesteaded on the ancient and unceded Coast Salish Territory between Katzie and Kwantlen First Nation from Finland, Iceland, and Scotland early in the twentieth century. During childhood, her family moved to unceded Syilx Okanagan Nation and later she moved to Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton) where she raised a family, worked in the retail sector, and completed her capstone MA at the University of Alberta studying the history of art, design and visual culture.

ZOE VERHEES

SECRETARY

Zoe has been on the board since January 2020 and is passionate to continue and move into the role of Vice President. Zoe comes to the board with experience as a board member on multiple performing arts organizations in Whitehorse, Yukon. Since moving to Edmonton in 2017, Zoe has witnessed the strong artistic community in the city and is grateful to be a part of this festival that highlights and empowers female identified artists to perform and share their craft. Zoe comes to the table with experience as a dancer, holding a BA honours degree in dance from York University. Zoe also runs a collective based in the Yukon dedicated to creating opportunities for emerging and established artists to showcase new and experimental work called Brave New Works. Zoe is honoured to support female identifying artists in the Edmonton (Treaty 6) area to explore, participate and develop art through this fantastic and supportive festival, SkirtsAfire.

ALICIA FOWLER

TREASURER

ARRON BEST

DIRECTOR