Trustees
Trustees provide overall leadership and decision-making and are legally obliged to set aside any personal interests that might interfere with pursuit of the Trust’s mission.
Gerald Amos, First Nations conservation leader
Gerald Amos is a former Chief councilor of the Haisla and was employed as the Haisla Treaty Negotiating Team’s Chief Negotiator. He has also served as the Speaker for the B.C. Aboriginal Fisheries Commission, a senior First Nations organization dealing with fisheries and ocean resource issues at provincial and national levels. Gerald currently is part of the Headwaters Initiative, a conservation organization which provides environmental education and leadership in the Skeena watershed.
Gladys Atrill, Tourism manager and operator
Gladys owns and operates an ecotourism business based out of Smithers where she also acts as the tourism coordinator for Smithers Tourism. She is Vice-chair of the Northern BC Tourism Association. She has worked as an outdoor educator for the past 20 years focusing on Wilderness First Aid, Canoeing, Backcountry Cooking and Guide/Client Relations.
Walter Joseph, First Nations fisheries manager
Walter Joseph is the Fisheries Manager for the Office of the Wet’suwet’en’s where he has been instrumental in the development of all aspects of their fisheries program. He works closely with Wet’suwet’en chiefs and communities as well as other First Nations groups in the Skeena watershed to improve fisheries management, social and economic benefits from salmon. Walter is also a board member on the Skeena Fisheries Commission – an organization comprised of all Skeena watershed First Nations focusing on fisheries management, science and conservation issues.
Tara Marsden, Research Associate, UNBC
Tara currently holds the position of Research Associate for the First Nations Environmental Health Innovation Network at the University of Northern BC, after most recently working for Carrier Sekani Tribal Council in the Natural Resources Department, focusing on environmental assessments and other consultation issues. Tara holds a Masters of Arts in Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in First Nations Studies, both from the University of Northern BC. Tara’s interest in First Nations-State relations has also been informed by a Legislative Internship with the Provincial Government of BC, and work for Government Caucus. Tara’s Gitxsan name is Naxginkw, from Wilp Gamlaxyeltxw, Lax Ganeda Clan, Village of Gitanyow.
Dr. Jim Pojar, Ecologist
Jim Pojar is an ecologist and forester who lived and worked in British Columbia for over 30 years before moving to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, where from 2004 – 2007 he was Executive Director, Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS). Jim earned a Ph.D. in Botany from UBC in 1974. In 1978 he moved to the Bulkley Valley, where he was Forest Ecologist & Research Officer for the B.C. Forest Service. Major contributions have been in ecological land classification, knowledge-based resource management, sustainable forestry, conservation and protected areas, and education. Lately Jim has concentrated his ecological work in four main areas: applied conservation biology, resource management, forest ecology, and education. Dr. Pojar is a professional biologist, registered professional forester and certified senior ecologist. He is a founding director of the Bulkley Valley Centre for Research and Management and of the Northwest Institute for Bioregional Studies. Jim recently moved back to the Bulkley Valley.
Mariusz Wroblewski , International conservationist
For nearly ten years Mariusz Wroblewski managed the Ponoi and Yokanga River Atlantic salmon operations of Frontiers International and Shackelton International on Russia’s Kola Peninsula. Mariusz was instrumental in working with the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Murmansk Polar Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography to establish the first Russian Atlantic salmon conservation and monitoring program based exclusively on data from sport fishing. Since 2006 Mariusz has been working for Ecotrust in Portland, Oregon. Mariusz holds a PhD candidate degree in Slavic Literatures and Languages from UC Berkeley.