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Leading what's possible

The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) relies on the vision and strategic direction of a committed Board of Directors representing a diversity of experience, skills, and interests that support our role as a UNESCO Biosphere and community foundation.

The Board of Directors is comprised of appointments from hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht First Nation), ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht), ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations), Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government (Ucluelet First Nation), tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht Nation), District of Tofino, District of Ucluelet and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Area C, as well as two At-large Directors. Their knowledge and dedication guide our work and ensure we remain in touch with the communities we serve. We also appreciate the dedication of non-voting board advisers appointed by Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Parks Canada, and the Province of British Columbia.

We maintain a board resources page to provide helpful non-profit governance information to our directors. We encourage you to check it out.

Nicky is the director appointed to the CBT by the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) - Area C and serves as co-chair of the CBT board. Hailing from Rochester in the UK, Nicky holds degrees in electro-mechanical power engineering and human nutrition, as well as a post-graduate diploma in Leadership & Management. She now lives in an off-grid, sustainable home just outside Ucluelet in ACRD - Area C, where she operates an IT Consultancy that she founded. In addition to her role on the CBT board, Nicky is a volunteer mentor for Junior Achievers (Ucluelet), provides volunteer IT support for both the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce and the Westcoast Community Resources Society, and is a member of the CBT Neighbourhood Small Grants Committee. She is passionate about alternative power technologies and sustainability, as well as public health, nutrition, and food policy. She is also an Organic Master Gardener and she loves to grow and eat delicious, healthy food.

Naomi is the director appointed to the CBT by tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht Nation) and serves as co-chair on the CBT board. She was born and raised in Port Alberni and now resides in the community of Macoah. Naomi is both a three-term elected council member and Administrative Assistant for tukʷaaʔatḥ. She has received an Indigenous Language Proficiency Certificate from UVIC and feels that it is important to continue learning the nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) language. Beading and scrapbooking are passions of Naomi and she also enjoys connecting with her two younger sisters who live in Port Alberni and Campbell River.

Director-at-Large
Brett Freake

Brett is a director-at-large to the CBT Board. He has been living in the traditional unceded and ancestral territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation since 2018. Brett is passionate about contributing to socially and ecologically sustainable communities. He has a Masters degree in Community and Regional Planning and is currently working as the Manager of Lands and Resources for Toquaht Nation as well as volunteering with the Tofino Fire Department. 

Elyse (she/her) is a director-at-large to the Board and was introduced to the work of the CBT through her time on the  CBT Community Development grant evaluation committee. Energized by the connections between people and place, she credits her time with the CBT with a deepening in her understanding of the communities, needs, and creativity in the Biosphere region. 

The daughter of first-generation Canadians, Elyse was born in Winnipeg on Treaty No. 1 lands in Anishinabe and Cree territories; at an early age, she moved with her family to Lekwungen territory on Vancouver Island. She holds a degree in political science from UVic and worked with the provincial and federal governments before settling on the West Coast to work with the District of Tofino. She now gratefully lives in Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ territory with her partner, son and dog and enjoys fishing, surfing and cooking for friends. 

Mike is the director appointed to the CBT by the District of Tofino and serves as treasurer.  He was born and raised in Victoria and he followed a passion for adventuring by boots, boards, bikes, and boats to Tofino in 2005.  While the surfing lifestyle first attracted him to the region, he feels that the culture and tight-knit community are what has made it a home for him and his family.  He also enjoys the opportunities Clayoquot Sound and the surrounding area provide to inspire his kids to be free-spirited adventurers.

Mike has a BSC in Natural Resource Conservation from UBC and is a professional forester.  He works for a small consulting company specializing in community forestry and woodlot management and feels very lucky to play a role in shaping the future stewardship of our forests.

Sarah is the director appointed to the CBT by the District of Ucluelet. A queer activist and corporate leader, Sarah is committed to co-creating equitable, sustainable, and joyous communities. She grew up as an avid outdoors person and budding environmentalist on Vancouver’s North Shore, and has since planted roots and found community here in Ucluelet. Sarah’s professional experience has allowed her to work with municipal, provincial, and federal governments, as well as educational institutes and non-profits on large-scale digital and organizational transformation projects. She brings a strong background in revenue strategy, organization design, and change management to her work and her position with the CBT. You’ll frequently find Sarah cleaning the beach, volunteering at community events, and riding the ʔapsčiik t̓ašii with her dog, Honey, on her back. 

Tara is the director appointed to the CBT by ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht). She is an Indigenous sustainable development professional and environmental economics researcher from ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ. Tara's work focuses on stewardship, with particular interest in exploring economic tools to empower and uphold Indigenous law and governance in sustainable development and natural resource management.

Tara holds a PhD from the University of Waterloo Faculty of Environment, a MSc in Environmental Economics from the University of London and a BBA from Vancouver Island University. She is currently working with the BC Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship as a Stewardship Economist within the Provincial Stewardship Strategies and Planning Branch.

 

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Tiitstiitskauauksuup is the director appointed to the CBT by ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations) and serves as secretary. She was born and raised in the region and has now lived in Opitsaht for over 30 years. Tiitstiitskauauksuup has been involved in her community all her life, she sits on the board of several committees, and she has supported the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ Ha'wiih in many ways for decades. She has also worked for the Nation in various roles, and she is currently occupying the position of Family Cultural Activities Coordinator. Tiitstiitskauauksuup is an LVI alumni, and she has been on the CBT Biosphere Development Committee for the past three years. When she is not working or volunteering her time, Tiitstiitskauauksuup thoroughly enjoys painting.  

Alternate Board Directors & Non-voting Board Advisors:

Alternate Board Directors

Ariane Shaw: Director-at-large
Gertrude Touchie: Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government (Ucluelet First Nation)
Nora Morrison: District of Tofino
Noreen Frank: tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht Nation)
Hasheukumiss, Richard George: ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht)
Vacant: District of Ucluelet
Vaida Siga: Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District
Vacant: ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations)
Vacant: hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht First Nation)

Non-voting Board Advisors

Kendall Woo & Olga Nassinovskaia (Alternate): Environment & Climate Change Canada
Linda Higgins & Denise Koshowski (Alternate): Department of Fisheries & Oceans
Liam McNeil & Dave Tovell (Alternate): Parks Canada
James Proteau & Allison Chen (Alternate): Province of British Columbia

Board documents

Historical documents