GPNS Leader: Dr. Thomas Trappenberg
Dr. Thomas Trappenberg lived in Halifax and Upper Tantallon before moving with his wife and two children to Hatchet Lake in 2002. Thomas is active in the community, teaching Karate at the Prospect Road Community Centre, and he is the president of the Halifax Hakodate Friendship association building a link to our twin-town Hakodate in Japan. His wife was the first exchange student following the twinning.
Professionally, Thomas is a professor of Computer Science at Dalhousie University. He holds a PhD in physics and held research positions in Canada, Japan, and Oxford, England. His main research areas are computational neuroscience, machine learning and robotics. He is the author of a well known textbook on Computational Neuroscience published by Oxford University Press. Thomas is a former member of the Dalhousie Faculty Association executive.
Thomas has a long history with the Green Party. He witnessed the rise of the movements in Germany in the early eighties, and served as inaugural president of two federal electoral district associations (Halifax and Halifax West), supporting Elizabeth May to become leader of the Green Party of Canada, representing Nova Scotia on council of the Federal Party in 2007/8, co-organizing the founding of the Green Party of Nova Scotia, and running as federal candidate in Halifax West since 2006. Thomas was also the Green candidate in Timberlea-Prospect in the last three provincial elections.
Given Thomas’ background in Science, he strongly believes that actions are urgent. He also believes that we cannot ignore opportunities for Nova Scotians. We are relying on foreign fossil fuels instead of using our own resources and talents. He is convinced that we can build a vibrant economy, ecology, and society with a sensible and respectful government. Finally, Thomas thinks that the most important part in this election is to convince people to vote and not to procrastinate. Not voting does not prevent a bad government!
GPNS Deputy Leader: Jessica Alexander
Jessica Alexander has helped re-energize the party since 2016, holding several key roles as policy convenor, official agent, candidate, and deputy leader.
Jessica has a degree in public policy studies (with distinction) from MSVU, and a certificate in Sustainability Leadership from Dalhousie.
She has numerous volunteer involvements, including serving with the Northwest Planning Advisory Council, the Canadian Cancer Society’s Peer Support Program, the Research Ethics Board for the NS Health Authority, and others.
She has worked for several levels of government in Nova Scotia and in BC. She works for a large employer in Dartmouth.
She has four adult children, one small yappy dog, and a gecko. She lives in Lower Sackville. Her hobbies include cycling, yoga, surfing, hiking, and is developing an art practice.