OCEAN WISE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Ocean Wise Board of Directors
Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, is an award-winning ocean activist and advocate for ocean restoration and abundance. As head of Oceans 2050, and as a senior advisor to ocean conservation organization Oceana, Cousteau collaborates with world leaders across sectors to influence, convene, and mobilize action to achieve measurable outcomes that will make the oceans more biodiverse and abundant.
Job Titles:
- Acting Manager
- HR Specialist
Brian Sullivan is part of a broader team dedicated to leveraging and developing Google's infrastructure to address global environmental, health, and humanitarian issues. As part of Google's "in-kind technology philanthropy," Brian manages external partner relationships and internal Google collaborations to identify and accelerate initiatives in machine learning, large scale analytics, and remote sensing with an impact focus. His partnerships experience spans academic and research organizations, NGOs, UN agencies, government/policy, philanthropy, the private sector, as well being a frequent conference speaker and project advocate.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- EVP, Conservation
Carlos is a recipient of the LiverdPress Award for his lifetime conservation achievement. He previously held the position of executive director of the Jane Goodall Institute, and previously served as director of the World Wildlife Fund's Global Species Programme. Carlos developed a first-of-its-kind toolkit for marine turtle adaptations to climate change; co-authored Costa Rica's annual report on human sustainable development; and orchestrated an advocacy program to successfully influence the UN to establish wildlife crime as a global threat. He holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from Cambridge University.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director, Ocean Pollution and Plastics
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- VP, Global Engagement
Dani is a global engagement expert who has worked with content creators, corporations, non-profits, influencers, media, and foundations to strategically leverage their platforms to create impact. She has played a lead role in public mobilization task forces across multiple UN summits and for the UN Foundation-founded initiatives Girl Up and Giving Tuesday. Dani has a B.A. in Public Policy Studies from Duke University where she is now a Visiting Professor of the Practice of Public Policy teaching a seminar about Innovating for Social Impact.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Ocean Wise Board of Directors
Guy Dean is passionate about supporting and promoting the consumption of sustainable seafood and particularly the long-term viability of the seafood industry. In 2018, Guy was awarded the ‘Seafood Champion Award for Leadership' by the Ocean Foundation at the Seaweb Seafood summit in Barcelona, Spain.
Ian Warner has over 20 years of experience achieving excellent results in portfolio and fiscal growth within the financial services sector. Currently, he is the President & CEO of Aprio Inc., a board management software company located in Vancouver, BC. Before Aprio, Ian was Chief Operating Officer of Vancity, Canada's largest credit union, and spent five years at Vancity's subsidiary, Citizens Bank of Canada, including four years as CEO and a board member. He has served on the board of the Alumni Association of the University of British Columbia, his alma mater, and as a Chair of the BC Technology Industry Association's SaaS C-Council.
Isabella Lövin is a best-selling author and former journalist who served as a minister in the Swedish government between 2014 and 2021, as minister for international development cooperation, as deputy prime minister and minister of climate and environment, and as co-leader of the Swedish Green party 2016-2021. She is a columnist, writer and co-chair of Friends of Ocean Action - a network of some 80 ocean champions with its secretariat at the Worlds Economic Forum.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
Jennie has over 25 years' experience in the finance and insurance industry including as senior vice president, Western Division, for Intact Insurance Company. Jennie co-founded the Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade BC Chapter, assisted on the task force that established a General Insurance and Risk Management Program at the BC Institute of Technology, and has been a regular presenter at the annual FCI-CWI Women in Leadership Conference. Jennie has also served on the board of SOS Children's Villages Canada, Bridges to Community Canada, and The Western Investment Company of Canada.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director, HR ( Leave of Absence )
Job Titles:
- Director, Information Technology
Keith Spencer is a leading information technology lawyer in British Columbia. As a member of various boards and advisory committees, Keith plays a significant role in number of early stage and emerging technology companies and technology industry associations.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- President
Lasse has dedicated his career to conservation and sustainable development. His several decades of international executive leadership and management experience included roles at Greenpeace International, WWF Sweden, WWF International and Oceana. His expertise includes regional and global program strategy and management, corporate and government partnership, as well as policy and advocacy work at the highest political levels in the EU, UN and in countries across the globe. Lasse studied at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden and IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Investment Counsellor With RBC PH & N
Lisa Stewart is an Investment Counsellor with RBC PH&N Investment Counsel. Throughout her career, Lisa has spent a considerable amount of time managing, developing, and mentoring investment professionals which has allowed her to further appreciate all aspects of the financial services industry.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Regional President of RBC Royal Bank
Martin Thibodeau is the Regional President of RBC Royal Bank in British Columbia. Martin is a Governor of the BC Business Council, and he sits on the Board of Directors for BC Children's Hospital, Science World, Ocean Wise, Peter Dhillon Center for Business Ethics, Urban Development Institute and is part of the CABGU Board for BC & Alberta.
A lawyer by background and training, Meghan Jeans works at the intersection of law, policy, science, and markets to help foundations, social and environmental change organizations, and private sector clients link strategy to impact with solutions-oriented guidance, analysis, tools, and collaborations. She was most recently the Vice Chair of Aquaculture Stewardship Council.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Ocean Wise Board of Directors
Mike oversees a unique collective of Canadian organizations that share the same vision: to achieve a sustainable, prosperous, and socially just future in a generation. He has been a pioneer in the sustainability and climate space in Canada for over three decades, helping companies become leaders and advising governments on effective policy.
Mike leads the strategic direction, growth, and impact of the group of organizations that includes GLOBE Series, The Delphi Group, Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR), and Leading Change Canada. Through its range of ESG and climate services - consulting, event design and management, peer-to-peer learning, and youth mentorship - this collective identifies, connects, and supports a global community of changemakers.
In addition to serving on a number of boards, Mike mentors youth and business leaders across Canada through initiatives such as Enactus, SHAD Valley, Loran Scholarship, and TEC Canada. He is also the founding Chair of Leading Change Canada and was the founding Chair of The Climate Reality Project - Canada.
Job Titles:
- Director, Fisheries and Seafood
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- VP, Youth & Education
Nicole is a strong believer in the power of experiential learning. Having dedicated her career to advancing ocean literacy she has led school programs, sleepover camps, and facilitated youth mentorship programming. Nicole has been a critical part of the successful Ocean Bridge, Ocean Pathways and Youth to Sea programs as well as playing a lead role in the creation of Ocean Wise's social justice committee. She is passionate about creating pathways for youth from diverse and varied backgrounds to participate in ocean conservation.
Nina Jensen is the CEO of REV Ocean, the world's largest Research and Expedition Vessel (REV) which will be available for scientists, NGOs, policy makers, innovators, engineers, and marine stakeholders. All REV Ocean initiatives are based on open collaboration and partnerships with relevant stakeholders, working toward the same common goal - preserving our ocean.
Pascal Mittermaier's career spans over 30 years, 10 countries, and three industries including healthcare and sustainable development. Formerly Managing Director at the Nature Conservancy, Pascal currently serves as Board Chair of Nature Sacred and is Entrepreneur in Residence at Sea-Ahead, helping Bluetech startups and incubators prepare for market launch.
Rich Simons is a native Vancouverite who graduated from the Commerce Department of UBC in 1968. With diverse experience, including the full range of marketing, branding and business building skills, Rich provides a unique perspective, strength and depth to Ocean Wise. . He also provides entrepreneurial guidance for new CEOs, plays an advisory role in business building, and is an active Angel investor in the technology and food industries (named by the Vancouver Angel Forum as Angel Investor of the Year in 2017). Rich and his wife, Linda Kathleen, are involved in the local philanthropic community through The Simons Family Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Indigenous Lead Conservation through Reconciliation With the Grizzly Bear Foundation
Richard Sparrow is the Director of Indigenous lead conservation through reconciliation with the Grizzly Bear Foundation (GBF) and has been active in the field of First Nations conservation, restoration management, and policy for more than 20 years. Richard is a member and Councillor of xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band).
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Ocean Wise Board of Directors
Based in Vancouver, Rod is a finance professional with senior executive experience across multiple businesses, including insurance, investment banking, technology, and real estate. He is a trusted business advisor, excelling in the delivery of innovative finance solutions; identification and development of growth opportunities; leadership and coordination of mergers and acquisitions. In addition to being CEO of Cavell Risk, a strategic consultancy and insurance brokerage, Rod is Executive Chair of aDolus Technology Inc., a global authority on software intelligence for critical infrastructure.
Prior to founding Cavell, Rod's executive background included Director and CEO of Jones Brown Inc., a Canadian Insurance Broker with over $190M in annual premiums acquired by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG); Chairman of Apri Group Benefits, one of Canada's largest independent group benefits consulting firms acquired by People Corporation (TSXV:PEO); President & CEO at Clarus Securities Inc., a private investment dealer; and Managing Partner at VRG Capital, a private equity firm. Early in his career, Rod spent nearly a decade at CIBC and years as Chief Financial Officer for growth companies based in British Columbia.
Sarah MacDonald is an accomplished Executive with international operational and corporate experience in the energy industry. Sarah is currently CHRO at Algonquin Power after having served as CEO of EfficiencyOne, the first Energy Efficiency Utility in Canada. Prior to joining EfficiencyOne Sarah spent almost 20 years with Emera and its subsidiaries. She has a proven track record of building, turning around and operating companies along with a history of increasing profitability and resolving difficult situations with multiple stakeholders.
Sarah has a keen interest in ocean science, having been COO of XOCEAN, an Irish company that uses uncrewed surface vessels to map the ocean floor.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director, Seaforestation
Tuck Rickards works closely with high-growth technology companies and Global 1000 organizations on the recruitment of high-impact digital and technology executives. He's also a member of the Sustainability and Social Impact Practices. Tuck is a Board Director of the Bay Area Council in San Francisco, a Trustee of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and an Advisory Board Member of a growth stage cyber security software company, Night Vision.