Staff and Board of Directors

Jennifer Lash, Executive Director,
is the founder and Executive Director of Living Oceans Society. Her background is in Public Policy and Administration and she has worked on ocean conservation issues in British Columbia for many years. A life long love of the ocean led Jennifer to Australia where she worked on a prawn trawler. The destruction she witnessed during this experience changed her life completely, and inspired her to work for the sustainable health of B.C.'s ocean and the communities that depend on it.

Jennifer is coordinator of the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform and a founding member of the Oil Free Coast Alliance. She lives in Sointula with her children Molly and Dexter and their dog Lucy.

In 2002, the Tides Foundation presented Jennifer with the Jane Bagley Lehman Award for Excellence in Public Advocacy.

Executive Office

	Lori Anderson, Office Administrator, has lived on the West Coast from California to British Columbia for 40 plus years. Some of that time was spent traveling with all her worldly possessions in a kayak and living off the land in the Broughton Archipelago between the Burdwoods and Eden Island. After her first child was born she moved out of the kayak and on to a float house near Echo Bay. Residing now in Sointula for the past 22 years, she has been a volunteer for various organizations and is active in Sointula's church and music community.
	Stephanie Eakle, Grants Administrator, is a long time resident of Sointula and has worked as musician,performing arts administrator, salmon fisherman, and tree planter. She has also worked for the regional government and for arts and environmental non-profit organizations in a variety of capacities. At Living Oceans Society, Stephanie prepares and administers grant proposals and assists with development of campaign strategies. She has a degree in music education and literally keeps the office humming.Stephanie also leads the community choir, sings, plays the bass and teaches piano to many people on the island.
	Finn Canadensis, Executive Assistant, takes on the completion or organization of tasks which support Jennifer’s leading role at Living Oceans Society. He has his Honours BFA in Visual Arts from the University of Victoria and is completing a PhD in Architecture from the University of Melbourne. Finn is enthusiastic about triathlon and rowing and has lived, studied and worked in several provinces from Nova Scotia to BC as well as Japan and Australia.
	Geoff Gilliard, Communications Manager, graduated with a degree in Communications from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. As well as handling communications for Environment Canada and Project Seahorse at UBC, Geoff was a consultant for several years specializing in issues surrounding sustainability. He lives in Vancouver with his wife and two daughters and still finds time to play drums, ride his bike and enjoy the beach.
	Mary Lindsay, Managing Director, joined the Living Oceans team in August 2007. Raised on the B.C. coast, she spent many happy hours of her youth searching for the most bio-diverse tidal pool on the Sunshine Coast and the Gulf Islands. Her long standing commitment to sustainable community and international development led her to live and work in several different countries around the Pacific Rim. She earned her Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Geography from the University of British Columbia. An accomplished manager, who has dedicated much of her career to capacity building with non-profit organizations, Mary remains inspired by Margaret Meade: “Never doubt that a group of thoughtful committed citizens canchange the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” When not hard at work changing the world, Mary continues to enjoy exploring inter-tidal life, running, tennis and field hockey on the B.C. coast with her family and friends.
	Dorie Pesicka, Donor Relations Coordinator, has lived on Vancouver Island most of her life. She grew up in a remote area called Jennis Bay. Her family has been a part of the Sointula fishing community for over 15 years. Dorie has a Diploma in Business Administration and is currently working towards a Degree in Commerce through distance education. She became a resident of Sointula in May 2007, when she and her partner purchased some property there. Dorie loves living by the ocean and breathing the fresh air of Sointula.

Campaign and Outreach Coordinators

	Catherine Stewart, Salmon Farming Campaign Manager, has been an activist for many years. From her involvement in the peace movement to her work to stop bottom trawling in British Columbia, she brings to Living Oceans Society a keen sense of campaign design and implementation. Catherine worked with Greenpeace for seventeen years, holding the positions of Regional Director and oceans and forests campaigner. She has worked on a wide range of issues including aquaculture, pulp mill pollution, and habitat destruction.For the last six years she focused on forest issues and is a founding director of the Rainforest Solutions Project. Catherine loves to spend her rare free minutes hiking, reading, camping and painting.
	Dorthea Hangaard, Special Projects Manager, has worked in the environmental movement as well as in legal advocacy and international development. She studied international Politics and Environmental Studies at the University of Waterloo. Originally from Orillia, Ontario, the call of the wild West Coast brought her to Sointula in 1996. Since then she has worked as a carpenter and on a number of local community development projects including establishment of the Sointula Resource Centre and developing two hiking trails.
	Oonagh O'Connor, Energy Campaign Manager, began her work with Living Oceans Society in 1999 by examining offshore oil and gas practices around the world. Since then she has traveled the coast of B.C. presenting her research to coastal communities and First Nations. She has been involved in various processes looking at the impacts of offshore oil and gas including the Process Design Team, organized by the Northern Development Commission, and the Community Guidance Group with the University of Northern British Columbia. Oonagh also participated in the RAC Subcommittee on Offshore Oil and Gas with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. Oonagh continues her work to keep the moratorium in place while supporting alternative energy initiatives.
	Kate Willis Ladell, Marine Planning and Protected Areas Campaign Manager, is currently working to help advance the establishment of a representative network of effectively managed and lasting marine protected areas throughout British Columbia. To that end she is working closely with government, First Nations, and partner organizations in the region to move forward with the development of a comprehensive marine planning process for a large portion of the B.C. coast known as the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). Kate is also the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Marine Regional Coordinator for the North East Pacific. Kate has a background in marine biology and marine policy. From1998-2004 she worked as a marine biologist studying marine mammal ecology and physiology in Texas, California, Australia, Hawaii, Alaska,Vancouver and Antarctica. In 2005 Kate worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of International Affairs in Washington DC, where she focused on international fisheries and oceans governance issues. She joined Living Oceans Society in 2006.Kate received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Wesleyan University in 1998 and a Master of Science degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University in 2004.
	Shauna MacKinnon, Markets Campaigner, is happy to be back in B.C. after spending the last two years completing her Masters in Geography at the University of Guelph. Before earning her Masters, she worked on salmon farming issues for a New York City foundation, which later led to work developing funding strategies for small B.C. NGOs. Other life experiences along the way included internships in Indonesia and New Zealand. Her research and work interests have focused on the economic development opportunities that are being created through more local and organic food systems. In her current position Shauna works with retailers and the public to bring attention to how our food choices really can make a difference. The rest of the time, she can be found outside; playing in the dirt in her garden and enjoying B.C's mountains.
	Will Soltau, Salmon Farm Campaign Local Coordinator, lives in Sointula, B.C. and is actively involved in local wild salmon enhancement projects around northern Vancouver Island. Will worked as a commercial fisherman for more than 30 years all over the coast of B.C.and Southeast Alaska. Will has been involved in local politics and many government-led processes on salmon farming and fishing, and has represented commercial trollers at various fisheries management tables.
	Lara Renehan, Local Marine Planner, can be found at northern Vancouver Island community events, docks, and beaches listening to what people in coastal communities have to say about the issues affecting their lives, as she helps to build a sustainable vision for the place she calls home. Lara has worked as the manager at the Whale Interpretive Centre in Telegraph Cove and coordinator of the Community Mapping Project with the University of Victoria, where she received her B.Sc. in Geography.Lara spent six months with an NGO in Uganda assessing an environmental awareness training program that facilitated the reduction of fossil fuel and pesticide use. Her hobbies include playing the piano, feeding her coffee addiction by roasting her own coffee, and going to the beach with her daughter who loves looking for crabs.
	Vern Sampson, Local Knowledge Project Coordinator, was born and raised on the B.C. coast. For 34 years he has been a mariner, sailing the coastal waters in his own boat. Vern has a strong background in the logging business and comes to Living Oceans after contracting for 21 years with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on the Central Coast, assisting with salmon and herring management. He has also done technical work for consulting firms involved in fisheries programs.
	Karin Bodtker, Marine Analyst, is the nerd behind LOS’s mapping and analysis work. She enjoys the challenges of ecological modeling and analysis work and is passionate about the conservation of our natural resources. Karin holds a Masters Degree in Resource and Environmental Management, a Diploma in Engineering and a Liberal Arts degree. Some of her previous modeling projects include work on marine habitat, the effects of climate change on species at risk, and fisheries stock assessments. From time to time, fear of stagnation has led Karin to travel throughout Africa and from Southeast Asia overland to Northern Europe.Although Vancouver is her long-time home, Karin escapes into the outdoors whenever possible to camp, hike or ski with her son and husband.
	Carrie Robb, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist, supports LOS campaigns by creating maps and analyzing data from coastal ecosystems. Born and raised in Vancouver, Carrie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in animal biology from the University of British Columbia and an Advanced Diploma (honours) in GIS from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. In between contracts with both non-profit and governmental organizations, Carrie has managed to sneak off to travel through Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe. Her most recent stop was Stockholm, Sweden, where she spent a year working with Swedish natural history museums and herbaria as a part of a global effort to make biodiversity information freely available over the Internet.
	Tiffany Hilman, Markets Campaigner, has moved around a fair amount, but has always considered the west coast home. She most recently lived in Toronto for two years, where she earned a Master of Environmental Studies from York University. In her research she focused on forest policy in B.C., exploring her interests of biological conservation, ecological economics, and natural resource policy. Tiffany works for the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform and is based out of our Vancouver office. She is working to rally the support of chefs and retailers to encourage more sustainable salmon choices. In her spare time, Tiffany is most likely hiking, cooking, camping, learning to sew, or simply enjoying the beach.
	James Gates, Campaign Communications Coordinator, has followed his interests and love for British Columbia’s wild areas and spent several years working on wilderness preservation campaigns. He then got his degree in Forest Resources Management with the ideal of changing forest management practices as a Professional Forester. His work in forestry on North Vancouver Island provided him with an intense appreciation for British Columbia’s temperate forests, wet socks, and the difficulties facing B.C.'s resource dependent coastal communities. Living on Northern Vancouver Island James explored the coast in a tipsy canoe with his wife and dog. Deep interest in ecological matters led James to a serious involvement in yoga and then residency at Yasodhara Ashram where he put to work his writing and computer skills developed in a communications diploma program at Douglas College. At Living Oceans Society James provides communications support for the Marine Planning and Marine Protected Areas campaigns.
	Roxanne Paul, Marine Protected Areas Campaigner, made her return migration to the rhythm of mainland Vancouver in September 2008 after a brief (10 year) hiatus to Victoria. While exploring the rugged coasts of Vancouver Island, she collected a B.Sc. in Geography and a M.Sc. in Geography/Environmental Studies (Co-op) at the University of Victoria. Roxanne's love of the ocean is accompanied by a profound interest in learning about the myriad sea creatures and habitats that comprise the diverse marine and coastal communities around us. Most accurately described as quirky, she enjoys kayaking and surfing as well as some land-based activities for fun and leisure. Roxanne has embarked on a mission with the Living Oceans Society to advance the planning and implementation of critically important Marine Protected Areas on the Pacific coast.
	John Driscoll, Sustainable Fisheries Campaign Manager, came to the Sointula office from Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he earned his Master's degree at Dalhousie University. He's been a fisheries observer in Alaska and Maine, a teacher at a school for at-risk youth, and, for shorter periods, a biologist, a construction worker, and a salmon fisherman. A desire to understand why we humans do things in an unsustainable manner, and what can be done to change this, has driven John throughout his various work and academic experiences. When not working, John loves hiking, general outdoors wandering, guitar, playing basketball and ultimate, eating great food, philosophizing about anything at hand, home-brewing beer and wine, and telling stories.

Board of Directors

Karen Wristen, Executive Director, Society Promoting Environmental Conservation
Director, Living Oceans Society
Karen has been an environmental lawyer for over 15 years. She has worked on issues such as fish farms, pesticide use, sewage dumping, mining issues, and First Nations rights. Karen has a broad understanding of the conservation issues facing our marine environment and her understanding of how to use the law to protect our environment is an asset to the Living Oceans Society.

Dr. Jody Holmes, Sierra Club of BC
Director, Living Oceans Society
Dr. Jody Holmes has a doctorate in botany from the University of British Columbia and worked for BC Wild from 1995-1998. Dr. Holmes has a long-standing interest in conservation biology and ecology as well as having strong management and organizational skills. In the past Dr. Holmes sat on the executive committee of the Canadian Rainforest Network, the BC Grasslands Conservation Council, the BC Endangered Species Coalition, the Hollyhock Leadership Initiative and the Leadership Initiative for Earth. Dr. Holmes currently lives in Smithers BC.

David Lane, Executive Director, T Buck Suzuki Foundation
Director, Living Oceans Society
David Lane is the Executive Director of the T. Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation and is the Environmental Director for the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union - CAW. In both capacities he has many years of experience in research and advocacy on environmental issues relating to fish habitat protection and sustainable fisheries management. He is the past editor of The Fisherman newspaper, a fishing industry publication focusing on issues of importance to commercial fishermen and fish plant workers. He's also a great cook and contributed to the LOS cookbook.

Dr. Astrid Scholz, Vice President, Knowledge Systems, Ecotrust
Director, Living Oceans Society
Astrid Scholz is Vice President for Knowledge Systems at Ecotrust, a Portland, Oregon, based conservation organization committed to building a future that strengthens communities and the environment from Alaska to California--the lands and waters of Salmon Nation. Responsible for managing Ecotrust's analytical, technical and cartographic capacities, she oversees a staff of 12 and a variety of projects that link the social, economic and ecological systems of the bioregion. Astrid is an affiliate faculty member of Oregon State University's College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, and is the co-editor of a book on integrated marine geographic information systems, Place Matters, published by OSU Press in spring 2005. She serves on the boards of the Pacific Marine Conservation Council, Habitat Media and Living Oceans Society, and is a member of the Science Advisory Team to the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative in California. She received her M.A. in Economics and Philosophy from the University of St. Andrews, her M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Bristol, and her Ph.D. in Energy and Resources from the University of California, Berkeley.

Advisor

Dr. Elliott Norse, President, Marine Conservation Biology Institute
Founding Member and Advisor, Living Oceans Society
Dr. Norse developed the concept of biological diversity in 1980 and is he president and founder of the Marine Conservation Biology Institute. After receiving his Ph.D. in Marine Ecology at the University of Southern California (1975) and his Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Iowa (1978), he spent 12 years in Washington DC as Marine Biologist with the US Environmental Protection Agency, Staff Ecologist of the Presidents Council on Environmental Quality, Public Policy Director of the Ecological Society of America, Senior Ecologist of the Wilderness Society and Chief Scientist of the Center for Marine Conservation, before founding MCBI in 1996. His 90+ publications include three influential books: Conserving Biological Diversity in Our National Forest (1986), Ancient Forests of the Pacific Northwest (1990) and Global Marine Biological Diversity: A Strategy for Building Conservation into Decision Making (199). He was given an Evergreen Award in 1996 and a Pew Fellows Award in Conservation and Environment in 1997.