Staff
Meet our team!
If like us, you are passionate about keeping Canada wild, consider joining us. We often hire talented professionals who are well versed in one or more of our conservation program areas, along with staff in communications, fundraising, finance and operations. Check our current job openings .
Leadership
Sandra Schwartz, National Executive Director
As a solutions-oriented leader, Sandra has worked in a wide range of public policy, strategic communications and political roles, where she has been a strong advocate for sound environmental policy and has championed progressive ideas for clean energy and tackling climate change.
Sandra holds Masters degrees in management and in environmental studies, and has a well-grounded understanding of the public and private influences on Canada’s natural heritage, with over 20 years’ experience within the federal government, national associations, and not-for-profit organizations.
Sandra also has a long history of community service, including as board member on several national non-profit organizations, and as founding member of a prominent women’s network. She also served two terms as an elected trustee on the Ottawa-Carlton District School Board.
She lives in Ottawa and is happiest out enjoying nature with her husband and their two children. She maintains her connection to Canada’s wilderness by visits to parks, where she enjoys camping, canoeing, hiking, and cross-country skiing.
Chris Rider, National Director, Conservation
Before starting his role as the National Director for Conservation in 2022, Chris served as the Executive Director of CPAWS Yukon. He has a passion for nature and feels privileged that he has the opportunity to help protect it for future generations. He recognizes that conservation in Canada can only be successful when it’s done in a good way, and led by First Nations, Inuit and Metis people.
A native of Australia, Chris has lived in Canada since 2011. Chris has a master’s degree in commerce (International Business) from Swinburne University in Melbourne and has worked in non-profit management since 2008.
Chris has a small son, and in his – now much more limited – spare time, he likes to get out running, backpacking and paddling. He is also known for a foolhardy love of Leeds United, a football (soccer) team that plays in England.
Jennifer-Lee Thomas, National Director, Communications & Philanthropy
“People are drowning in information but thirsty for clarity and purpose.”
Trained as a journalist with a BA from Concordia University in Montreal, Jennifer applies that training and focus to the various roles she has had as a senior marketing and communications professional.
With a career spanning over 20 years in various for-profit and non-profit organizations, Jennifer’s passion for branding and marketing is only rivaled by her love for her favourite hometown hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens.
Jennifer started her career by launching Monster.ca in Canada, where she was responsible from making it the most visited career website in the country at the time. After having two boys, she decided to leverage her skills in the non-profit world and revitalized the Big Brothers Big Sisters brand. Before joining her last gig at Scouts Canada as Director of Communications and Marketing, she also spent some time at Philanthropic Foundations Canada, learning more about the philanthropic side of the sector. Jennifer moved to Ottawa two years ago with her youngest son, Gavin, and their family dog, a husky named Lumi. Jennifer is known as a change-maker and her connection to the CPAWS mission is rooted in her value for respect. She deeply believes in respecting people and their diverse lived-experiences and respecting the natural world we live in and our connection to it.
Brad Clute, National Director, Operations
Brad is a nationally recognized environmental and community leader who has worked throughout his career to conserve our natural spaces, while laying the foundations for sustainable business development and building capacity within Canada’s environmental and outdoor recreation non-profit community. He has over twenty years experience working within industry and the non-profit sector creating and implementing programs and campaigns that have won multiple regional and national awards.
Before moving to the CPAWS National Office team, Brad served as Executive Director of our Southern Alberta chapter, and prior to joining CPAWS he led Mountain Equipment Co-op’s community investment and sustainability programs at both a regional and national level. His passion for community development, conservation and sustainability has inspired him to serve as a board chair and director for several provincial non-profit organizations, while working as an advisor and consultant to numerous ENGOs, businesses and government agencies.
Brad spends most of his spare time paddling, skiing, hiking, and camping, somewhere in the Rockies.
Laura Cui, National Director, Finance
Laura has over 15 years of experience in financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting in not-for-profit, private as well as public sectors. She also brings operational leadership skills and strategic insight to ensure the financial health and integrity of the organizations she serves.
Prior to joining CPAWS, Laura served as the Manager, Finance and Human Resources Operations at the Canadian Electricity Association. Her role focused on managing the accounting team to perform the full cycle of accounting functions in addition to delivering quarterly forecast and financial reports, and developing multi-year budgets and business plan ensuring alignment with organizational vision and business priorities. In the process of developing, implementing, and maintaining the Financial Policy, Governance Policy and other internal control methods, Laura constantly challenges herself to streamline process while enhancing internal control objectives.
Laura currently lives in Ottawa with her husband and two lovely daughters. As a dance mom, she enjoys accompanying her daughters to various local, national, and international dance competitions. She stays connected with nature by hiking and kayaking in Canada’s beautiful parks, rivers, and lakes and is passionate about the CPAWS mission to protect our public lands, freshwater and oceans.
Laura holds a bachelor’s degree in International Finance and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Alexandra (Alex) Barron, National Director Ocean Program
Alex joined the CPAWS family back in 2013 as Marine Conservation Coordinator for the BC Chapter, before moving to CPAWS National Office in 2019 where she now leads the National Ocean Program. An experienced campaigner and conservationist, Alex brings 20 years of expertise in environmental advocacy, campaign strategy and non-profit leadership and has been a vocal advocate for social and environmental justice issues since high school. Alex holds a B.Sc.(Hons) in psychology and for her master’s degree in science she studied human and climate change impacts on carbon rich coastal ecosystems.
Prior to her arrival at CPAWS, Alex worked on various marine conservation and research projects looking at everything from coral spawning to great white shark predatory behaviours. Although the non-profit world is home, she has also worked in research and academia, education, tourism, for Indigenous and provincial governments, and as a consultant. Her work has taken her from the UK, to Greece, South Africa, and the Maldives, where she first discovered the incredible benefits of Marine Protected Areas when she worked on a carefully managed, healthy and vibrant coral reef which has thorough spoiled her when it comes to snorkelling anywhere else.
Originally from Yorkshire (UK), Alex has a fondness for wind swept beaches and stormy seas which she gets to enjoy at home on the unceded territory of the We Wai Kai First Nation on Quadra Island in British Columbia, where she lives with her partner and two dogs. When she’s not working Alex enjoys doing ridiculously long-distance trail runs very slowly. She sometimes tries to garden but isn’t very good at it.
Alison Woodley, Senior Strategic Advisor
After a two-year secondment working with the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Task Force on Beyond the Aichi Targets to encourage Canadian leadership in setting the next decade’s global conservation targets, Alison has returned to CPAWS as Senior Strategic Advisor. Over two decades Alison has played leadership roles in many successful CPAWS campaigns, including the 2009 massive expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve, and the Green Budget Coalition’s successful effort to secure a historic $1.3 billion federal investment in nature conservation in 2018. She was a member of the ministerial National Advisory Panel for the Pathway to Canada Target One initiative which recommended how Canada could achieve its commitment to protect at least 17% of land and freshwater by 2020. She has been a member of the federal Species at Risk Advisory Committee and an advisor to the federal Auditor General’s office on national park issues. Alison started her career working for Parks Canada in Fundy National Park, which sparked a lifelong passion and interest in parks and protected areas. Alison holds a B.Sc. in Forestry from the University of New Brunswick, and an MA in Geography from the University of Waterloo. She lives in Chelsea, Quebec and is happiest out enjoying nature in nearby Gatineau Park, and other wild places around the world.
Sabine Jessen, Senior Strategic Advisor, Ocean Program
Sabine Jessen has played a leading role in Canada for over 30 years on the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) and in advancing ocean conservation policy.
She was most recently the Executive Director with the IMPAC5 Secretariat at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, responsible for the organization of the 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress held in Vancouver, Canada from 3-9 February 2023.
Prior to assuming this role in July 2019, Sabine was the National Director of the Ocean Program at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), where she held a variety of previous roles since 1991, with a focus on MPAs and marine spatial planning.
Sabine holds an undergraduate and graduate degrees in Geography from the University of Waterloo, specializing in coastal zone management and environmental regulation. She has served as an advisor to many federal and provincial governments in Canada, and has conducted international research on MPAs in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Sabine was previously an Adjunct Professor in the Resource and Environmental Management Program at Simon Fraser University (SFU). Her professional and academic work has been recognized with a number of awards in Canada and internationally. In her spare time, Sabine is an avid birder and photographer.
Conservation
Kirsten Scott, Program Manager, Land and Freshwater
Kirsten has 15 years of experience working in the environmental field but will always be a farm kid from rural eastern Ontario at heart. Her first career was in the equine veterinary sector, but realizing she wanted to scale up from caring for one species to the broader environment, she made the switch in 2009 during a decade of living in Australia.
Before joining CPAWS, Kirsten worked as the Land and Resources Manager for Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation in the Yukon, Federal government agencies in Canada and Australia, and most recently, as a policy and environmental assessment consultant for self-governing Nations. Through this work, she has a strong understanding of Indigenous-led conservation and how to impact policy and decision-making.
Kirsten holds a BSc (Environmental Science) from the University of Western Sydney, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Climate Change Policy from Yukon University. An inveterate traveller, she moved back to Ontario in 2021 to complete a Master of Environmental Science in conservation and biodiversity at the University of Toronto, and subsequently landed in the Ottawa area. Kirsten attempts to garden, hike, ride horses, camp, paddle, cross-country ski, do yoga and run long distances – generally not all at once, but often assisted by her dogs and friends.
Tatyana Feiner, Program Coordinator, Land and Freshwater
Tatyana is delighted to join the CPAWS Conservation team and contribute to meaningful conservation efforts across the nation. With a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, she is dedicated to making a transformative impact advocating for the protection of ecologically- and culturally-significant land, freshwater, and ocean areas.
Growing up in the rural municipality of Mulmur, Ontario allowed Tatyana to develop a deep appreciation for nature at a young age. She believes that effective conservation requires the fostering of diverse knowledge systems that are based on mutual respect, kindness, and generosity, and strives to incorporate these practices in her work and daily life.
Tatyana holds a master’s degree in environmental studies from Wilfrid Laurier University where she specialized in Canadian climate and biodiversity policy. With previous experience in research and not-for-profit work, she is a strong advocate for systems thinking and is committed to continuous learning.
Tatyana loves to travel and hopes to explore scenic natural landscapes in all 13 provinces and territories across Canada. In her spare time, you can find her wandering through local farmers markets, gardening, and knitting itchy sweaters.
Qingyang Li, Conservation Program Assistant, Land and Freshwater
Qingyang (she/her/elle) is a sustainability advocate specializing in natural resources conservation and environmental governance. She is passionate about advancing inclusive conservation strategies that support both ecological values and community well-being. And she is excited to contribute to the conservation efforts across the nation with CPAWS Conservation team.
Growing up near the protected areas in southern China, Qingyang developed a deep appreciation for the relationship between biodiversity and local livelihoods. She believes that effective conservation strategies must be built upon local values and livelihoods to deliver mutual benefits for humans and nature.
Qingyang holds a Master’s degree in International Forestry from the University of British Columbia (UBC), as well as a dual BSc in Natural Resources Conservation (UBC) and Ecology (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University). Her previous work spans both China and Canada, where she has contributed to conservation projects, sustainability research, and community-led stewardship initiatives.
Outside of conservation, Qingyang enjoys exploring different cuisines, music, and cultural stories. She’s also a self-proclaimed “chef”— though her kitchen occasionally looks like a food fight broke out.
Development and Communications
Vicki DiMillo, National Associate Director, Philanthropy
Vicki has over 12 years of experience fundraising for charities and not-for-profits. She joined CPAWS in 2003 as a part-time membership assistant, and expanded her role in 2005 to full-time Donor Relations Manager. Prior to her role at CPAWS, Vicki worked for the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the Administrative Coordinator, and she was employed 10 years as the Development Officer for the Queensway-Carleton Hospital Foundation. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Canadian Marketing Association. Vicki resides in Ottawa with her husband and three children.
Muditha Galle Kankanange, National Manager, Data Integrity and Analytics
Muditha has over 10 years of experience working in the not-for-profit sector. She holds a joint honors degree in Social Sciences in Communication and Sociology from the University of Ottawa. Her background and expertise are in database management and fundraising. Her specializations are in gift processing, donor management and customer service. She is a proven leader who enjoys managing, training, and collaboration. She also is creative and solution drive. Muditha helps organizations make data driven decisions to optimize their development, fundraising goals, and donor outreach.
Prior to joining CPAWS, she worked at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation, as its Donation and Databases Manager. There she led the Gift Processing department by improving donation intake and database coding processes. She improved reporting systems and was part of various database integration projects. Muditha has also worked at Canadian Blood Services and SOS Children’s Villages, helping to coordinate various fundraising campaigns and initiatives.
Muditha enjoys traveling, exploring, and experiencing different cultures and cuisines. Her childhood was spent growing up between Saudi Arabia and Sudbury, Ontario. This allowed her to become more adaptable, open-minded, and appreciative of different cultures, people, and diversity. Her hobbies include photography, drawing, and reading – she is a lifelong learner. Muditha has a creative eye for event planning, decorating, and staging. She enjoys being out in nature, swimming, snorkeling, and exploring hiking trails. She currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario with her husband, her young daughter, and her orange tabby cat.
Amy Day, National Development Coordinator
Amy joined CPAWS in 2013 as a volunteer for the development team. Since then, she has worked for CPAWS’ Ottawa Valley Chapter as an Event Planner for the MEC Big Wild Challenge, and then joined the national office team as the full time Development Assistant in 2015. Originally from Barrie, Ontario, Amy moved to Ottawa in 2010 to attend Carleton University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and minor in Law. Amy’s love of animals is what led her to a career in conservation; she is especially passionate about animal welfare and habitat conservation. Enthusiastic about nature and wildlife, Amy reconnects with the outdoors whenever she can. She enjoys everything from snowboarding, skating, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, rock-climbing and exploring new trails with her family and dog, Barkley.
Oluwafunto Olonishuwa, National Data Entry Clerk
Before joining CPAWS, Oluwafunto Olonishuwa (Funto) built a diverse career in administrative services and customer support across the business consultancy, hospitality, and retail industries. Most recently, she worked with Cleannovation Global in the UK, she contributed to a brownfield sites market characterization study, which won Best Team in MSc. Management for the consultancy project award.
She holds a Master of Science in Management from the University of Sussex Business School, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from Ahmadu Bello University, and a BSc. in International Relations and Diplomacy from Afe Babalola University.
Born in Nigeria, Funto grew up surrounded by greenery, which nurtured her appreciation for nature from an early age. In her culture, sustainability is highly valued. Her father chose to pursue farming after retirement, underscoring the family’s commitment to sustainable living. Over the past three to four years, Funto has been an active participant in their village-farm during her visits, gaining hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture.
She is passionate about making a positive impact on the environment, learning, and inspiring others to join in this important work. When she’s not working, Funto enjoys baking all kinds of delicious treats in her spare time.
Lobban Erwin, National Advisor, Institutional Giving
Originally from Perth, ON, Lobban moved to Ottawa to study communications at the University of Ottawa, and since then has worked in many different areas of communications and marketing, across various sectors.
Whether working in a government department, national nonprofit, or marketing agency, Lobban strives to build value through strengthening communications and creating strong connections. He is excited to use his skills and experiences in communications to further the vision of CPAWS on a national and global level.
On his days off, Lobban can be found watching the Buffalo Bills, playing spikeball with friends, or going on a hike with his dog Seb. He loves theatre and all things travel, and takes every possible opportunity to get outside and see the great Canadian outdoors.
Ursula Dechnik, National Data Integrity Specialist
Ursula joined CPAWS in the summer of 2008. She has a BA in Environmental Science and Chemistry from Poland, and a Diploma in Computer Programming from Canada. She has over 10 years of experience in fundraising. Prior to her role at CPAWS, Ursula worked for Nature Canada as their Database Manager and for the Canadian Cancer Society as a Programmer Analyst. She enjoys traveling from coast to coast across our beautiful country with her husband, two children and dog, which she takes camping during the summer.
Jennifer Brown, National Associate Director, Communications
Jennifer (Jenn) Brown joined the CPAWS’ National Office in the role of Communications and Events Coordinator, Ocean Program in October 2020. An experienced sailor and diver, Jenn is excited to channel her passion for ocean stewardship in support of CPAWS’ mission to protect 30% of Canada’s marine and freshwater environments by 2030.
After earning her private pilot and glider licenses in high-school, Jenn studied at Carleton University and is currently completing a post-graduate certificate in Environmental Policy and International Development with Harvard University’s Extension School, focusing on marine policy, ocean and watershed resource management, and conservation biology. Her professional background is predominantly based in the Canadian not-for-profit and charitable sectors, where she has served as an innovative, solutions-driven leader producing large-scale national events and managing communications, outreach and marketing programs for a portfolio of clients. A seasoned traveler, Jenn’s work with Pets of Aguirre Welfare Services – a grassroots animal welfare agency in Costa Rica – in 2012 holds a particularly special place in her heart.
When she’s not wearing a mask and fins, you can find her cheering on the Toronto Raptors, immersing herself in the latest shark research and enjoying the terrestrial side of nature with her two pups, husband and extended family in Bronte, Ontario.
Vincent Poirier-Ruel, National Web Developer and Designer
Vincent holds a bachelor’s degree in communications as well as a certificate in applied computer science. Specializing in interface (front-end) design, he is versatile and has mastered all facets of Web development.
Initially drawn to the cultural milieu, it was there that Vincent built up his first professional experiences. Working with non-profit organizations in the fields of theater and music, Vincent has held a wide range of positions, from programming to communications and project management. Wishing to embark on entrepreneurship, Vincent set up his own Web design company, offering services adapted from his previous fields of work. What followed were five years of stimulating experiences alongside a variety of colourful partners. Today, he considers himself privileged to have the opportunity to put his skills to work for the protection of the environment.
Curious and eager to learn, Vincent’s interests are wide-ranging. He divides his free time between volleyball, snowboarding, guitar, salsa dancing, backpacking, studying Spanish, chess and aquaponics.
Julianna Van Adrichem, National Communications Advisor
Julianna is on a mission to protect wildlife and their ecosystems through effective science communications and storytelling. She has over 20 years of marketing experience in the environmental sector, including solar energy, regenerative agriculture, the circular economy, and conservation. Her degrees in International Development and Biological Sciences from the University of Guelph ensure that her communications align with new research and allow her to bring an analytical and big-picture approach to marketing.
A life-long learner, Julianna is always reading and studying wildlife and how to be an even more effective voice for the voiceless! On that note, she loves speaking and has done talks on ethical and authentic marketing and communications to inspire motivated audiences not impeded by eco-anxiety. She has also started leading interpretive nature walks about beavers!
In her spare time, Julianna may be sewing, crocheting, reading, hiking, biking, or sitting in the woods, watching and listening to birds and other wildlife.
Noémie Ipou, National Communications Coordinator
Noémie holds a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Business from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa and began her career in the non-profit sector, driven by a deep commitment to volunteering and helping people. She has worked as a content creator at the University of Ottawa’s Entrepreneurship Hub and as a Marketing and Communications Manager at Alliance Française Ottawa, where she developed a strong foundation in communications and content strategy. Fluent in French and English, with a good understanding of Spanish, Noémie brings a multilingual approach to her work at CPAWS.
Her passion for conservation was sparked through volunteer work in local community gardens and conversations with Indigenous activists, inspiring her to pivot to conservation-focused work. At CPAWS, she is excited to use her skills in translation, writing, and communications to support the organization’s mission and amplify its impact.
In her spare time, Noémie enjoys gardening (she’s a proud plant’s mom), writing and reading fiction, baking, hunting for unique thrifted pieces to decorate her home and volunteering at women’s shelters and community theatres.
Paula Cardona, National Production Coordinator
For a long time, I’ve been searching for a job that truly has a purpose, and now, I have the opportunity to work for the protection of nature and wildlife. To me, there’s no greater purpose than helping preserve this planet for future generations.
I’m originally from Colombia and moved to Montreal in 2021. I hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a DEC in Creative Business Management. My journey has taken me across the globe, I did an internship in Brazil where I learned Portuguese and I had the chance to volunteer in Russia, Georgia, and Turkey, teaching English in elementary schools. Sadly, I didn’t learn Russian, hehehe.
Next on my bucket list is to take a camping road trip across all of Canada. I’ve already fallen in love with Quebec’s stunning landscapes, and I can’t wait to explore more of my beautiful second home.
When I’m not working, you’ll find me enjoying music (especially nu metal), watching movies, practicing yoga, or hiking.
Operations and Finance
Tina Singh, National Accounting Manager
Tina joined CPAWS in summer 2011 as a volunteer in the Accounts & Finance department. Later in April 2012, she joined the CPAWS team as a full-time Accounts clerk. A well-trained auditor with 3 years of working experience, she holds a master’s degree in finance from a renowned University in Nepal. She has volunteered for Canada Africa Community Health Alliance (CACHA) as well. She loves to paint and cook in her leisure time. She resides in Ottawa with her husband and daughter.
Chadi Mroue, National Accounting Officer
Chadi recently joined CPAWS. After working for 10 years in various accounting roles in Lebanon, he moved in Canada on April 2022. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems. He speaks English, French and Arabic.
Outside of Work, Chadi loves going hiking and visiting new places. He is also passionate in Science, History and Geography. He lives with his wife in Gatineau, Quebec.
Nahiyan Ahmed, National Junior Accounting Officer
Nahiyan Ahmed joined CPAWS in June 2023 as a Data Entry Clerk in the National Development team.
Prior to joining CPAWS, Nahiyan worked as a Banking Officer in a Bank in Bangladesh. And prior to that she worked at TD Bank Canada as Customer Service Officer. She comes from a banking, client service and sales background. Nahiyan has an extensive knowledge of credit card billing and credit line policies and payment processing. She has experience in cash and cheque reconciliation, as well as working with multiple currencies. She has a vast knowledge of bank application procedures and working with different types of banking software.
She was born in Bangladesh but grew up between Bangladesh and Canada. She has a Diploma in Business Administration from Algonquin College. Back in High school she used to be part of the environmental club which partook in various projects that benefit the environment. Nahiyan loves to travel and try out new cuisine. She is passionate about caring for the environment and urges family and friends to do the same. She is excited to join CPAWS and start making a positive impact.
Celina Bernal, National Office and Operations Manager
Celina is from Mexico City. In June 2020 she moved to Canada with Michael, her amazing husband.
She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and a Master’s degree in Administration and International Business, which she studied in Paris, France. She speaks English, French, Portuguese and her native tongue, Spanish.
She has worked as an Operations Manager and she defines herself as an Operational Excellence Advocate, a customer-centered professional and a People person. She has contributed for 15 years to manage and streamline the business operations for supply chain and tech organizations and more recently, she contributed to a non/profit organization.
She loves reading fiction and singing in a choir. She loves travelling and discovering new countries and cultures.
Celina feels Canadian nature as part of her home: nobody could have imagined her snowshoeing, hiking or paddling in lakes before!
Nathalie Mancini, National Administrative Assistant
Nathalie is a passionate advocate for environmental conservation and a nature enthusiast with a keen interest in the mission of CPAWS. With a strong background in operations, interdepartmental collaboration, and international development, she is excited to apply her expertise to support and enhance conservation efforts across Canada.
Originally from Sault Ste. Marie and raised in rural Ottawa, Nathalie’s deep appreciation for Canada’s diverse landscapes has been shaped by her experiences exploring the West Coast, living on the East Coast, and embracing the beauty of the nation’s natural heritage. Her academic foundation in International Development and Global Studies from the University of Ottawa has further fueled her commitment to advocacy, Indigenous affairs, and environmental progress.
In her free time, Nathalie enjoys immersing herself in nature’s trails, traveling, savoring diverse cuisines and pastries, diving into a captivating novel, and spending quality time with her friends and family.