Our Young Leaders Program

Erica Van Loon is a wildlife conservationist working at the intersection of agriculture, biodiversity, and large carnivore coexistence in southwest BC. Raised on a seed potato farm in the Pemberton Meadows, she grew up sharing the landscape with grizzly bears and now works to support their recovery through proactive, non-lethal conflict reduction, wildlife monitoring, and habitat protection with the Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative.

In 2023, Erica completed her MSc at the University of Edinburgh, where her research explored the intersection of grizzly bear food security and Indigenous food sovereignty on the territory of the Líl̓wat Nation. That work deepened her commitment to place-based, community-rooted conservation and led her to pursue applied conservation work back home. Alongside her grizzly bear work, she contributes to reptile and amphibian conservation, supporting surveys for the endangered sharp-tailed snake and threatened northern rubber boa and engaging her community in citizen science. Through CPAWS’ Young Leaders in Conservation Program, she is hoping to expand her skills in advocacy and policy to help secure connected, resilient landscapes for both iconic and often-overlooked species.

Siya Markel (she/her) is a Biologist in Training with the College of Applied Biologists in BC, and a recent Honours graduate of the Natural Resource Science program at TRU. Raised on the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc and nɬeʔképmx nations, Siya’s deep connection to the southern interior fuels her commitment to protecting the grasslands and the specialized wildlife that define these ecosystems. With a background spanning entomology, small mammals, and herpetology, she has developed a specialized expertise in the “creepy-crawlies” of British Columbia, focusing her undergraduate research on species abundance and ecosystem recovery in post-wildfire landscapes.

Siya is a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation and the protection of overlooked species. Her work is centered on the belief that community-level education is the foundation of effective stewardship; she strives to bridge the gap between scientific understanding and public appreciation for species often deemed “unimportant” or “scary.” By fostering dialogue and curiosity, Siya aims to empower others to value the biodiversity in their own backyards. When she isn’t out herping, or looking at bugs on the ground, she can be found thru-hiking or skiing, or struggling through some knitting or crochet.

Rabeya is a Master’s student in Environmental Science at Thompson Rivers University, where her research focuses on ecological reclamation in post-mining landscapes. Her work examines how soil amendments and nutrient management strategies can support the re-introduction of native plant species in tailings and overburden, with the long-term goal of restoring biodiversity and ecosystem function. Through this research, she has developed a deep appreciation for resilience, both ecological and human, and for the role young leaders can play in shaping sustainable land stewardship practices.

Rabeya is grateful to conduct her work in Kamloops, on the traditional and unceded ancestral lands of the Secwépemc Nation, specifically within the territory of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc. Her approach to conservation is grounded in reciprocity and respect for Indigenous stewardship. She has always been interested in bridging scientific research with Indigenous Ecological Knowledge to support more holistic and culturally informed restoration practices. Rabeya is originally from Bangladesh and completed her undergraduate studies in Soil, Water, and Environment Science. Growing up alongside tropical rivers and fertile floodplains shaped her early connection to land, water, and community-based resource care. These experiences continue to shape her perspective on global environmental responsibility and climate resilience.

Rabeya is passionate about advancing environmental beliefs that conservation must center both ecosystems and people. Inspired by organizations like CPAWS-BC, she considers protected areas, biodiversity conservation, and youth engagement as critical pathways toward a just and sustainable future. As a prospective participant in the Young Leaders in Conservation Program, Rabeya hopes to broaden her understanding of protected areas advocacy, community engagement, and conservation policy in British Columbia while contributing her background in restoration ecology, cross-cultural environmental perspectives, and collaborative leadership.

Olatomide Ojajune is a sustainability communicator and forestry professional passionate about helping people understand environmental challenges and their role in addressing them. She is currently completing a Master of Sustainable Forest Management at the University of British Columbia, where she studies forest management, land stewardship, and the social and economic factors shaping natural resource decisions. With over five years of experience in climate communication and community engagement, she has coordinated workshops, forums, and public conversations that have reached thousands of participants.

Through TalkClimateAfrica, a platform she founded to promote climate awareness and dialogue, Olatomide leads initiatives that translate complex climate and sustainability issues into clear, relatable discussions for young people and community audiences. She is also the author of You and the Earth, a book that introduces sustainability concepts in accessible language and encourages practical environmental action.

Matthew (he/him) has an honours Bachelor of Environment from SFU in Resource and Environmental Management, where he studied fire risk and ecosystem shifts in Burns Bog in Delta, BC. He has spent the past few years working as an ecological restoration technician, geomorphology research assistant, and conservation summer camp leader. In his free time, Matthew enjoys backpacking, scuba diving, and volunteering in exciting places to connect with people and ecosystems.

Holly Benna (she/her) is an organizer and researcher committed to advancing climate justice through confronting the political and social structures that sustain extractive systems. Originally from Vancouver, she’s spent the past four years living in Norway, where she completed a Masters degree in Development, Environment and Cultural Change. She previously earned a Bachelor’s in Sociology at the University of British Columbia. While in Norway, she worked with a grassroots climate campaign targeting the fossil fuel industry’s disproportionate political influence through public advocacy and mobilization for democratic interventions. She’s now eager to bring these experiences together in CPAWS’s Young Leaders in Conservation Program, connecting with others who share this commitment to approaching conservation from a critical lens in the BC context.

Milad Rajabi is a community leader, storyteller, and advocate based in British Columbia. He is passionate about youth leadership, human rights, conservation, and creating stronger connections between refugee communities and Indigenous land. His work is grounded in building belonging, deepening community understanding, and helping more people see nature as a place of relationship, responsibility, and shared future.

Katarina is very excited to be a part of the 2026 cohort! She recently graduated with a degree in Physical Geography and is passionate about all things related to the great outdoors! She enjoys spending my time outdoors, skiing, hiking, and hanging out!

Sally Ruoss (she/her) is a graduating student from the University of British Columbia Okanagan with a B.Sc. Honours in Earth and Environmental Science. She is originally from Cranbrook, BC, where she up grew exploring the Rocky Mountains. She is completing an honours thesis on organic carbon fluxes in semi-permafrost regions on the Rose River, Yukon. She has enjoyed being a teaching assistant for geomorphology educating students about landform assemblages. Her work experience includes being a wetlands research intern, an invasive species outreach assistant, and an environmental technician working on coal mines.

Sally has a passion for educating future students on professional licensure and for the past two years has been the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists student representative on the Earth and Environmental Science Course Union at UBCO. In this role she has acted as the intermediary between the university program and BCIA, providing information on career pathways as well as hosting networking events. In her spare time Sally loves to sew, bake sourdough and spending time with her family.

Her passion for the natural world, combined with her strong work ethic, makes her eager to apply these skills to promote environmental stewardship in her future career.

Hannah is a third-generation resident of Átl’ḵa7tsem, Howe Sound, with ties to Northern British Columbia. Being outside was simply a part of life, and the desire to protect and advocate motivated her to pursue a degree in International Relations, where she focused on environmental policy. Hannah eventually found tourism as an outlet to share her passion in a way that was accessible and fun. From a historical interpreter at Britannia Mine Museum, to a sea kayak guide in home waters and abroad, Hannah hopes to encourage people to experience these places meaningfully with respect for the land and all the critters we share it with.

Anna Luna Rossi (she/her) is an ocean and fisheries scientist, with a deep passion for sharks and marine conservation. She just graduated with her Master’s degree in marine biology at the University of British Columbia, where her research focused on integrating biodiversity theory, catch reconstruction and ecosystem modelling to inform sustainable fishery practices in a small archipelago. Previously, she studied terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity and ecology in Montreal. Anna now works on evaluating global fish stocks’ status, and is particularly driven to spread marine conservation awareness.

Originally from the south of France, she grew up between both countries (and both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea) before moving to the unceded, ancestral and territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) (Vancouver).

Beyond research, Anna is a nature and portrait photographer, who loves storytelling. She enjoys reading, making art, traveling, and outdoor sports. She also volunteers in marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, and sits on the Youth Council of the NGO Reserva YLT.

I was born in Nelson, BC and spent my early days frolicking in alpine meadows and paddling on Kootenay Lake. In 2018 I came to the coast for University where I studied Environmental Science, Biology and GIS. Working seasonally as a kayak guide and a GIS technician for conservation projects, I blend my love for bringing people into the outdoors with a passion for advocating for the same spaces. When I’m not working you’ll find me kayak surfing, volunteering for conservation projects, chasing powder turns, or curled up with a cup of tea and my knitting.