CLEAR Board of Directors Election 2026-27 Candidate Information

Positions being contested

Office of the President-Elect 

Regular Member Positions

Candidate for the Office of President-Elect

One candidate is running for the Office of CLEAR President-Elect

Michael Carpenter

Michael is currently CEO of General Surgeons Australia. An experienced and dedicated regulator, Michael has worked in the regulation of engineers, dentists, psychologists and health professionals more generally in both the UK and Australia. 

Michael is a long-standing supporter of, and contributor to, CLEAR, having been a member of the Board of Directors for six years as well as Chair of the Regulatory Agency Administration Committee, one of the Deputy Chairs of the DEI Committee and a regular attendee and presenter at the Annual Educational Conference and other CLEAR events.

Position Statement

Candidates for the Regular Member Positions on the Board of Directors 

Six candidates are standing for the four available regular member positions

Christine Arnold (incumbent)

Christine Arnold is the Registrar and CEO of the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia and has served on CLEAR’s Board of Directors since 2025. Prior to joining the College, Christine was the founding director and managing lawyer of the Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia’s Everyone Legal Clinic, a first-of-its-kind fully virtual legal services provider and teaching incubator aimed at improving access to justice. Christine is a course author and instructor at the University of British Columbia and the BC Council of Administrative Tribunals where she teaches topics in professional regulation including administrative law, decision writing, and ethics. 

Position Statement

Jennifer Garrett (incumbent)

Jennifer Garrett is the deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. Under her leadership, DSPS created an interdisciplinary advisory committee to promulgate guidance on issues that cut across professions. She led efforts to destigmatize application questions and implemented surveys to better identify workforce needs. 

Jennifer is a CLEAR board member, co-chair of the Regulatory Agency Administration Committee, and frequent presenter at CLEAR events. Jennifer earned a BA from Purdue University and JD from Indiana University. She is a 2024 Henry Toll fellow and was named a Public Service Champion by the National Academy of Public Administration.

Position statement

Andrew LaFratte

Andrew LaFratte currently serves as Deputy Director of Policy for Pennsylvania's Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs, which coordinates regulatory affairs across 29 state licensing boards. In this role he has contributed to the passage of over 20 laws reducing barriers to licensure. An active CLEAR member, Andrew serves on the Regulatory Administration and Governance Committee and the AI, and Central Agency Working Groups, and will be a featured speaker at the 2026 Annual Educational Conference. A frequent subject-matter expert for federal agencies and legislative committees, Andrew holds an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh and brings proven skills in coalition-building and strategic communication.

Position statement

Amelia Manuel

Amelia is a regulatory executive and registered nurse with extensive experience in professional regulation, investigations, governance, and public protection. She currently serves as Director of Professional Conduct for the College of Nurses of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut and has led complex regulatory initiatives, policy development, disciplinary processes, and organizational transformation across both jurisdictions. Amelia is recognized for her collaborative leadership, strategic thinking, and commitment to regulatory excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. An active participant in national and international regulatory communities, she is passionate about advancing modern, evidence-informed regulation, strengthening public confidence in professional self-regulation, and fostering collaboration among regulators to address emerging challenges and share best practices.

Position statement

Arjun Shankar

Arjun Shankar serves as Deputy Registrar and Legal Counsel with the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals, bringing 16 years of experience in law, business and governance. His career includes being a public defender, owning a boutique litigation firm and an appointment as a Senior Crown Prosecutor, handling complex homicide and firearm cases. He later served as Legislative Crown Counsel, drafting legislation in the areas of health and regulatory law reform. A committed scholar-practitioner, Arjun holds an MBA and is starting a PhD in Public Policy in 2026, focusing on the intersection between health professional regulation and healthcare corporatization.

Position statement

Adam Slater

Adam Slater is CEO of AELERT - an environmental regulatory organization that seeks to improve the professionalism and capability of practitioners in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. He is in the examination stages of his PhD and holds a Visiting Fellowship at RegNet, and is an Adjunct Fellow at the University of New South Wales. He has held several senior roles in the New Zealand public service and is recognized for helping to build regulation as a profession in Australia. Lastly, he is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a frequent CLEAR event attendee, and a growing member of the CLEAR International Relations committee and others.

Position statement