FRASER BASIN COUNCIL (FBC) - Key Persons
Adriana Ruso, B.Sc., CGA, MBA is the Chief Financial Officer at the Fraser Basin Council where she oversees finance and administration.
Adriana has previously held various finance and executive roles at Ecotrust Canada (an NGO), Simon Fraser University and Telus Communications Inc. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to lead or participate in strategic initiatives that have benefitted from her exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities, negotiations techniques and leadership skills.
Adriana draws on her background in engineering and accounting/finance to bring rigour and professionalism to her work.
Job Titles:
- Regional Manager, Thompson
- Regional Manager, Thompson - Okanagan
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, Shuswap Watershed Council
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- Quality Assurance Officer, University of Northern BC, Prince George ( Youth Director )
Job Titles:
- FBC Director
- Regional Director General, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Job Titles:
- Program Lead, Zero Emission Fleets
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- Program Lead, Interior Regional Programs
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Director, External Relations and Corporate Development / Senior Regional Manager, GVSS and Fraser Valley
- Executive Vice President / Senior Regional Manager, GVSS and Fraser Valley
Bob Purdy, Executive Vice President, has extensive experience in business and not-for-profit sectors and an academic background in zoology. He brings to FBC expertise in multi-interest process design and facilitation, environmental management systems, indigenous-non indigenous relationship-building and collaborative land use planning. Prior to joining FBC in 1998, he served as Vice President, Sales & Marketing for ESSA Software Ltd., a Vancouver-based provider of GIS-based environmental impact assessment decision support systems.
In addition to providing strategic oversight of the Salmon Safe BC program, Mr. Purdy acts for the Chief Executive Officer as required, oversees FBC's fund development and communications functions and FBC's work in the Greater Vancouver - Sea to Sky and Fraser Valley regions. He also leads specific initiatives, for example, serving as an independent facilitator of both the Port of Vancouver ECHO Program, a collaborative effort to reduce threats to at-risk whales in the Salish Sea, and FortisBC's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Advisory Group, which provides input to the company's energy efficiency and conservation programs.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Canada Energy Regulator
Job Titles:
- Manager, Youth Initiatives
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- Administrative Coordinator
- Finance
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of FBC 's Board of Directors
Colin Hansen is the fifth Chair of FBC's Board of Directors as of April 2014. He previously served for seventeen years as a Member of British Columbia's Legislative Assembly, and chose not to seek re-election in 2013. During his time as an MLA, he served as Deputy Premier (2009-11), Minister of Finance (2004-05 and 2008-11), Minister of Health (2001-2004 and 2010-11), Minister of Economic Development (2005-2008) and Minister Responsible for the 2010 Olympics (2005-2009).
He has served on several other not-for-profit boards, including Vancouver Foundation (Honorary Governor), Arthritis Research Canada, Jack Austin School of Asia Pacific Business Studies and the Canada-Japan Society. He is the former chair of the Board of the Transportation Investment Corporation.
His work with the Haida led to his formal adoption into the Eagle Clan and was given the Haida name of "Nang K'ang.gudang.as."
Job Titles:
- Regional Director, Pacific Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
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- Director, Fraser - Fort George Regional District, McBride
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- Program Lead, Energy Efficiency Mentorship Program
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Professional Engineer
David Marshall, a professional engineer, has been Chief Executive Officer of the Fraser Basin Council since its foundation in May 1997 and of the predecessor Fraser Basin Management Board from 1993 to 1997.
From 1989 to 1992, David was the Vice-Chairman of GLOBE '90 and GLOBE '92, two international conferences and trade fairs focusing on practical solutions to environmental challenges and the business opportunities and responsibilities they represent.
From 1980 to 1990, he was the Regional Director, Pacific, Western and Northern Region, of the Federal Environmental Assessment Review Office (FEARO), the predecessor organization to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. David's main responsibility was administration of the Canadian Environmental Assessment and Review Process in British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
Included in these responsibilities was management of the largest public inquiry into offshore oil and gas development ever to take place in North America. During this period, he received two separate Merit Awards for his exceptional and distinguished contribution to the effectiveness and efficiency of the Canadian Public Service.
David has participated in coastal zone management, watershed management, environmental assessment and sustainable tourism development initiatives in the Caribbean, Indonesia, The Philippines, Russia, Thailand, China, Iraq and South Korea. He is an adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University and, in this capacity, has taught a Masters course on Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.
In May 1998 he received the National River Conservation Award of Merit from the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board.
His professional services have included membership on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Impact Assessment, the Canadian Water Network and the International Centre for Sustainable Cities. In 2001, he chaired the BC Government's Drinking Water Legislation Review Panel, and from 2006-2010 he chaired the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Board Advisory Committee on Sustainability Performance.
Job Titles:
- Communications Manager
- Senior Communications Manager
Denise Hoskins is Communications Manager for the Fraser Basin Council (FBC). She offers communications advice and support on a wide range of FBC initiatives and events with a focus on sustainability, and oversees key FBC web and electronic communications, presentations, internal and external briefings, publications, speeches, media materials and events.
Prior to joining FBC, Denise served for over 10 years as the Law Society of BC's Member Communications Manager, responsible for communications with over 10,000 BC lawyers and articled students and others in the legal community.
Ms. Hoskins previously worked as a legal and policy researcher and writer after completing the Programme d'études françaises et québecoises (Université Lavel) and the Paralegal Studies program (Capilano University),
She believes in respectful, inclusive two-way communications with all people, the need to creatively tailor communications to connect with different interests, and the importance of earning public trust.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, Climate Change
Eliana Chia joined the Fraser Basin Council in 2015 as part of the Climate Change and Air Quality Program and she is now the Program Manager, Climate Change. At FBC, Eliana leads the First Nations Home EnergySave program, the Renewable Energy for Remote Communities program, and the Adaptation program. She is passionate about building community resilience and engaging communities on social, economic and environmental sustainability.
Eliana graduated from the University of British Columbia's School of Community and Regional Planning with a Master's Degree in Planning, specializing in social planning and community development. She has also holds a Bachelor's Degree in International Development from Queen's University. Prior to joining the Fraser Basin Council, Eliana acted as a planner for Pauquachin First Nation, worked on neighbourhood social resilience at the City of Vancouver, and started a newcomer civic engagement project at the City of Richmond.
Job Titles:
- Network Lead, Indigenous Energy
Job Titles:
- Program Lead, Climate Change
Job Titles:
- Associate Regional Manager, Thompson
- Program Manager, Shuswap Watershed Council
Erin is the Associate Regional Manager for the Thompson Region. She has been with the Fraser Basin Council since 2007.
Erin has 15 years experience in natural resource program management and planning, community engagement and education, and facilitation. She has worked with a variety of groups, organizations, governments, and industry sectors on issues such as fisheries, recreation and trails, air quality, sustainable development and community planning, environmental stewardship and the non-profit sector, watershed management and water quality. Erin is FBC's lead staff person on the Shuswap Watershed Council, a watershed-based partnership to maintain and enhance water quality in the Shuswap watershed. In that role, Erin developed, leads and facilitates several collaborative initiatives for water quality monitoring, water quality reporting, aquatic invasive species prevention, water quality protection, safe boating and water-based recreation, and community engagement.
Erin has a Bachelor's Degree in Natural Resource Sciences from Thompson Rivers University (2006).
Job Titles:
- Regional Manager, Greater Vancouver - Sea to Sky
Job Titles:
- Assistant Program Manager, Flood Management
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, Flood Program
- Program Manager, Flood Strategies
Since joining the Fraser Basin Council in 2019, Frances Woo has worked on initiatives related to flood management, including the development of the Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy and a series of investigations on flood management issues in BC.
Prior to FBC, she was a policy planner at the Toronto and Regional Conservation Authority and at the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs, with a focus on land use, environmental, and hazard policy and regulation. Frances has a master's degree in Planning from the University of Toronto and a B.A. in Sociology and English from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Registered Professional Planner (BC) and a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners
* Frances Woo is currently on leave; please contact Jenny Koss for program inquiries.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Metro Vancouver Board of Directors
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- Program Coordinator, NCLGA
* Hannah Wasstrom is currently on leave. Please contact Kim Menounos for program inquiries.
Job Titles:
- Chief, Semiahmoo First Nation
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- Mayor - Whistler, Squamish - Lillooet Regional District
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- Director, Fraser Valley Regional District
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- Representative, Okanagan Nation Alliance
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- Regional Manager, Cariboo - Chilcotin
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- Shuswap Watershed Council Chair
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- Chief Forester, West Fraser, Quesnel
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- Assistant Program Manager, Flood Management
As Senior Finance Manager, Jessie Ning is responsible for the Council's overall financial record tracking, and she assists the Chief Financial Officer in developing and implementing financial policies and procedures.
Prior to joining FBC in 2009, Jessie worked with companies in legal service, marine shipping, education and mining industries, gaining progressive experience in various areas of full cycle accounting, including project accounting, trust fund and government fund accounting.
Jessie is a graduate of SFU and a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants Canada.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director, Operations and Climate Change Programs
Jim Vanderwal is the Director responsible for Fraser Basin Council Operations and for overseeing the Climate Change and Air Quality Program.
Jim has held progressively senior roles at the Council since 1999, developing new initiatives related to river management, stakeholder engagement, energy and emissions planning, climate change adaptation, green fleet management and clean energy development.
Jim was the lead staff person in the development of E3 Fleet, Canada's green fleet certification program and various other clean transportation initiatives, including Plug in BC, which supports electric vehicle uptake throughout BC. He also has worked extensively with local governments and First Nations to develop and implement clean energy and climate adaptation initiatives.
Jim completed a B.A.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of British Columbia, and worked in research and development capacities in the telecommunications sector. He completed a M.Sc. in Resource Management from the University of British Columbia, specializing in the development of public processes that link technical research with broad public engagement.
Jocelyn has worked previously in non-profit organizations and manufacturing industries. She is a proud member of Chartered Professional Accountants of BC. She is also a member and Subject Matter Expert for National Payroll Institute.
Jocelyn is responsible for the effective management of accounting functions, particularly within identified key priority areas of full cycle accounting, payroll, banking, trust fund management and administration, project accounting and financial claims management and financial reporting.
She works closely with the CFO, Senior Finance Manager, Financial Administrators and the FBC staff team to provide advice, strategic direction and assistance as needed to support the effective financial management of FBC activities.
Job Titles:
- Mayor, Cache Creek - Thompson - Nicola Regional District
Job Titles:
- Program Administrator, Sustainable Transportation
Job Titles:
- EV Advisor and Program Coordinator, Plug in BC
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator, Climate and Energy Resilience
Job Titles:
- Regional Manager, Northern Interior Region
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- Manager, Financial Reporting
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator, CCSBC
Job Titles:
- Provincial Lead, Organizing for Change, Victoria
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- Deputy Minister, Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, Sustainable Transportation at Plug in BC
- Program Manger, Sustainable Transportation.
Mahdis Araujo is Program Manager, Sustainable Transportation at Plug In BC. She oversees the CleanBC Public Charger Program, the CleanBC Go Electric Fleets Program, the CleanBC Go Electric Rebate Program (formerly SUVI), the EV Advisor Service for Home and Workplace, and the Emotive Program - The Electric Vehicle Experience.
Mahdis is one of the successful mentees of the 2022-2023 Women4Climate Vancouver Mentorship Programme. She is passionate about environmental initiatives, social equity, youth engagement and community building. She is currently leading a research project on barriers to electrification in marginalized communities.
Job Titles:
- Program Lead, Incentive Administration
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- Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Forests, Integrated Resource Operations Division
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- Director, Cariboo Regional District
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- Program Lead, Communications, Plug in BC
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- Chief, Sekw'El'Was, St'at'Imc Nation
Job Titles:
- Assistant Program Manager, Flood Management
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- Vice President, Programs and Partners, Pacific Economic Development Canada
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- Shuswap Watershed Council Vice Chair
Job Titles:
- Communications Coordinator
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- Accounting and Administrative Assistant
Job Titles:
- Regional Program Lead ( Air Quality ), Northern Interior Region
Patience Rakochy is FBC's Northern Interior Lead for Air Quality. She supports the Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable (PGAIR), the members of which are working to achieve desired air quality targets for the region.
Patience is a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) and holds a Master of Science in Forestry.
Before joining FBC, she was employed as an Assistant Manager for Forsite Consultant's Northern Interior Operations. She was responsible for meeting company safety, quality and production goals, managing projects, coordinating human resources and providing leadership. Patience holds safety in the utmost regard and continues to sponsor up-and-coming RPFs. She is an internal COR, BASE and ISEBASE auditor and holds an advanced drone pilot's licence with an ROC-A.
Patience is an experienced forest tenure manager with skills ranging from forest licence acquisition to development, through to harvesting and reforestation. She has been accountable for developing short and long-term objectives to meet licence obligations that balance forest stewardship goals.
Job Titles:
- Sustainability Consultant, Squamish
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- Councillor, Tŝideldel First Nation, Alexis Creek
Job Titles:
- Program Lead, Charging Infrastructure
Job Titles:
- Program Lead, Climate Resilience
Job Titles:
- Director, Columbia Shuswap Regional District
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- Chief, Stellat'En, Carrier Sekani
Job Titles:
- Director, Bulkley - Nechako Regional District
Job Titles:
- Vice President - Operations, Westberry Farms Blueberries, Abbotsford
Sonja manages the Fraser Basin Council Youth Program, including its flagship initiative Co-Creating a Sustainable BC.
Sonja first joined the FBC team in 2013. She has worked on FBC's Smart Planning for Communities and the Climate Change and Air Quality programs before joining the youth program.
Sonja has a unique combination of skills: extensive design, illustration and communication experience as well as skills in environmental and community planning. She has been involved in numerous sustainability and community building initiatives, including the West End On-street Mural, StyroFree - a project inspiring restaurants to switch to green take-out container alternatives - and various food security, green roof and green wall projects.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Geoscience BC, Mackenzie
Steve Litke has worked with the Fraser Basin Council since 1998 and is the Director responsible for a variety programs on Watersheds and Water Resources.
A primary focus of Steve's work is on flood management and flood risk reduction. He manages programs that bring together and serve multiple agencies with flood responsibilities; delivers flood-related communications and public education; and administers a range of technical projects, including those on flood modelling and mapping.
Steve graduated from Simon Fraser University in 1995 with a Master's Degree in Resource and Environmental Management (MRM).
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator, Climate and Energy Resilience
- School and Education Lead, Youth Program
Sybil Zhang joined the FBC Youth Program in 2022 as the School and Education Lead. She is a trilingual people-person with 6+ years of experience working with students and entrepreneurs. She has also initiated a variety of youth programs, events and activities to help the young generation reach their full potential prior to FBC.
Sybil majored in Earth and Ocean Sciences at University of British Columbia and holds a Master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from City University of Hong Kong.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, Climate & Energy Resilience
Job Titles:
- Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Municipal Affairs
Job Titles:
- Regional Program Lead, Northern Interior Region
Job Titles:
- Director, Interior Regional Programs
- Director, Special Projects
Terry Robert, M.Ed. has been with the Fraser Basin Council since 2005 and serves as FBC's Director, Special Projects.
Terry began his service with FBC working on climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and air quality improvement. He helped lead several innovative initiatives through Green Fleets BC to help public and private sector fleets increase fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Prior to becoming the Director, Special Projects, Terry was Regional Manager for the Upper Fraser region and oversaw a variety of projects, including operation of the Prince George Air Quality Improvement Roundtable (PGAIR).
Terry has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management and a Master's Degree focused on public education and engagement on complex resource management issues. He is experienced in facilitating multi-stakeholder processes.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager, Indigenous Partnerships and Programs
Job Titles:
- Community Development Consultant, Fairmont Hot Springs