CPAWS-BC relies on a core staff of respected campaigners and experienced researchers to develop and carry out its initiatives, with the support of the Board of Directors and dedicated volunteers.
Chloe O'Loughlin, Executive Director
Sabine Jessen, Conservation Director
Carrie West, Communications Coordinator
Sarah Patton, Marine Science Coordinator
Megan Baker, Marine Protected Areas Coordinator
Taina Uitto, SeaChoice Coordinator
Gloria Pavez, Bookkeeper
Staff Biographies
Chloe O'Loughlin, Executive Director
Chloe brings her excellent leadership and fund raising skills to CPAWS-BC. She has been an Executive Director of provincial organizations in British Columbia for 14 years and has worked in the nonprofit sector for 27 years.
For the past 18 years, she has taught nonprofit management and lobbying for community groups at Vancouver colleges. She is passionate and committed to the wilderness in British Columbia as an avid hiker and scuba diver. ^ top
Sabine Jessen, Conservation Director, National Director of Oceans and Freshwater Lakes
Sabine is the Conservation Director for the BC Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, where she focuses on directing the Marine Spaces and Baja to Bering Sea programs. Since her involvement with CPAWS began in 1991, Sabine has served in a number of staff and volunteer capacities, including Executive Director from 1995 to 2000, President of the Board of Directors from 1993 to 1995, and Secretary. Sabine steered the chapter into three new campaign areas - the Marine Protected Areas Campaign, the Parks Stewardship Program, and the Grasslands Conservation Campaign. Under her guidance, the chapter budget and staff increased fivefold. She also previously coordinated the marine spaces campaign for World Wildlife Fund Canada in British Columbia as part of the Endangered Spaces Campaign.
Sabine holds a Masters Degree in Geography, specializing in coastal zone management and environmental regulation. She has considerable academic and work experience on land-use planning issues, particularly in Canada's North. She has served as an Advisor to the BC Parks Department, the former BC Commission on Resources and Environment, and the Economic Council of Canada. She was appointed to the Minister's Advisory Council on Oceans, and was previously a member of Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Science Advisory Council.
Sabine is also the national manager of the CPAWS Oceans and Great Freshwater Lakes Program.^ top
Carrie West, Communications Coordinator
A writer and journalist, Carrie West has worked for several print and broadcast media outlets in British Columbia, including the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Global television. She also recently authored a long-running environment column for the Victoria Times Colonist called "Endangered Species". Raised in Victoria, Carrie earned bachelor degrees in creative writing and English literature at the University of Victoria. She also holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Western Ontario. Carrie joined CPAWS-BC in the fall of 2007. ^ top
Megan Baker, Marine Protected Areas Coordinator
Having started with CPAWS-BC as a volunteer, Megan has worked her way up from Conservation Intern to Marine Protected Areas Coordinator. With a background in recruiting, Megan became interested in conservation work after exploring the wilderness of Ontario by canoe and snowshoe, and she continues to camp, hike and kayak around BC. Megan is from Auckland, New Zealand and she is working towards permanent protection for BC's marine environment in the Southern Strait of Georgia, Glass Sponge Reefs, Cold-water Corals, Gwaii Haanas and Big Eddy campaigns. ^ top
Sarah Patton , Marine Science Coordinator
Sarah completed her B.Sc. in Marine biology at Dalhousie University, and her Masters in Conservation Biology as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar at James Cook University in Australia. She has experience working with several NGOs on a wide array of national and international marine conservation initiatives, and with government both in Canada and in Australia.
Sarah also worked for many years as a kayak guide and marine wildlife educator in the Pacific Northwest, and has dedicated much of her time to volunteer humanitarian and environmental pursuits locally, in Latin America, and in Asia. She is an avid traveler, snowboarder and hiker, and is very excited to now be working with CPAWS in her role as Marine Science Coordinator.^ top
Taina Uitto, SeaChoice Coordinator
Taina completed her education in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia. Her undergraduate degree in Natural Resources Conservation gave her a strong grounding in the natural and social sciences, while her master’s thesis research in water conservation policy impressed on her the barriers to and drivers of sustainable practice under real-world constraints.
Taina has been involved with a wide assortment of sustainability initiatives, ranging from working with small communities in the Peruvian Andes, to enforcing local water sprinkling restrictions. However, her recent introduction to scuba diving confirmed a persistently-mounting desire to focus on fisheries and marine conservation. She is excited to be working with CPAWS and Sustainable Seafood Canada on the SeaChoice Campaign. ^ top
CPAWS - British Columbia Chapter