BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2025 – 2026

President – John Martin

John’s professional career includes helping to build an international high school and then teaching. He spent over 22 years at IBM Canada in a range of roles supporting clients around the globe. His final years were spent working in the healthcare sector in British Columbia where he helped to revitalize the molecular labs at Children’s and Women Hospital, introducing the 811 services in BC and the Yukon. At Fraser Health he modernized the hospital communications centers and introduced advanced systems management processes including architectural systems services, security and privacy services.

John has volunteered in many roles across Canada including: running the Toronto Field naturalists’ children program out of the Royal Ontario Museum, introducing the first national vegetarian congress, initiating a Sierra Club chapter, photographer for North Shore Scouting groups, instructor in the Marine Power Squadron program in BC and more.

Now retired, he enjoys travelling with about 18 countries visited so far. He also enjoys hiking and taking wildlife photographs in support of Citizen Science with a strong emphasis with iNaturalist. He is currently a board member of Nature Vancouver, enjoying many aspects of natural history while focusing on strategic initiatives.

Vice President – Donna Underhill

Donna Underhill was born and raised in Vancouver, with lots of early exposure to the natural history of our area and British Columbia. Her family (the Stace-Smiths) were involved with what was then Vancouver Natural History Society, so she attended summer camps most years during the 1960s. Donna attended UBC and graduated with a BSc in Zoology, worked as a research assistant at UBC,then Park Naturalist, and Coordinator of the Richmond Nature Park. After 10 years, she headed to SFU to do her Masters in Natural Resource Management.

During this time Donna and her husband, Brian, had a couple of sons and after graduating from SFU, she operated a small ecological consulting firm, mostly doing contracts for all levels of government.

She has become more active with Nature Vancouver since retirement, and joined the Board in 2018. She is interested in all natural history subjects – geology, soil, plants, animals and astronomy and enjoys sharing her love of nature with everyone else.

Treasurer – Elisa Kreller

Recording Secretary – Sheila Sakich

Director at Large – Laura Cottle

Director at Large – Nicholas Johnstone

Director at Large –Sunny Sun

Sunny is deeply passionate about nature, wildlife, and outdoor activities. An avid traveler, he enjoys exploring diverse natural landscapes around the world and believes that firsthand experiences in nature are essential to fostering appreciation, stewardship, and long-term conservation.

Through his involvement with Nature Vancouver, Sunny is motivated by the organization’s mission to connect people with nature and inspire environmental awareness within the community.

With a strong interest in technology and innovation, Sunny is currently involved in a project developing smart binoculars designed to enhance birdwatching by seamlessly combining observation and photography. He is particularly interested in how thoughtful technology can lower barriers to entry and enrich the experience for both new and experienced birders.

In his free time, Sunny is also a certified CSIA Level 2 Ski instructor, well recognized for his patient and engaging teaching style.

Director at Large – Kelvin Yip

Kelvin joined Nature Vancouver in 2024 with a keen interest in learning about birds. Through volunteering with co-leading birding walks, he became more involved with the organization and assisted with putting together social nights for the birding section and helped with organizing the Christmas Bird Count.

Kelvin also periodically volunteers with other organizations such as Wild Research, Everett Crowley Park Committee, Stanley Park Ecology, Free the Fern, the Vancouver Mycological Society, and the Still Moon Arts Society.

Kelvin shares his home with one energetic dog and two chattery budgies.

Director at Large – Melissa Cusack Striepe

Melissa is a nature lover and dedicated environmental advocate, passionate about building people’s connection with the natural world as a means to inspiring environmental protection.

As a Policy Analyst at Natural Resources Canada she analyzes options and builds policies and programs to support clean energy development. Melissa holds a Master of Applied Science and has published work in the areas of passenger vehicles emissions and clean fuel regulations.

In her free time Melissa loves getting out into nature, canoeing, snowshoeing, hiking, birdwatching, tree bathing, etc. and encourages those around her to do the same.

Director at Large – Karolina Pol

Karolina is a strategic leader and policy expert with over ten years of experience in sustainable resource management, economic development and government relations. She currently serves as Senior Advisor, Strategic Policy and Cabinet Affairs at Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan).

Karolina holds a Master of Arts from the School of Community and Regional Planning at UBC. Her graduate research on net-zero building policy was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada(SSHRC) and subsequently used by the B.C. government to implement the Step Code, an innovative performance-based energy policy currently considered best practice in North America. In 2019, Karolina was recruited into the Policy Analyst and Recruitment Development Program (PARDP) by Natural Resources Canada. Since joining the federal public service, she has advanced corporate transformation initiatives at Natural Resources Canada, the Geological Survey of Canada, BC Hydro and PacifiCan.

Karolina is committed to fostering governance structures that are forward-thinking, fiscally responsible and help to sustain natural assets for future generations.

Note: Please click on a name to contact any Director by e-mail.

The Nature Vancouver Board of Directors meets on the first Tuesday of every month, except August. Minutes of the meetings are published once they are approved, which typically happens at the following board meeting, e.g. the minutes for September are published shortly after the October meeting. Click below to access the minutes of the past meetings and the Bylaws.

If you would like to serve as a Director, please contact the President. Details of job description and responsibilities are available from the link below.

Nature Vancouver

Promoting the enjoyment and conservation of nature