Ann is a truly Renaissance woman: a unique and passionate performing artist, composer and librettist, narrator, workshop facilitator, author, and keynote speaker. At the same time, she is an environmental leader, devoted to preserving old-growth forests and restoring natural balance. Her work has won her many honours including the Order of Canada and YMCA Woman of Distinction Award. She has travelled the world, worked with the dying, dined with the Queen, spent time with the head Sangoma of the Zulu Nation, worked in Calcutta with Mother Teresa, and co-founded two organizations: The Trust for Sustainable Forestry, to preserve forest ecosystems especially old-growth forests, and The Somerset Foundation, that supports social innovation and environmental well-being. Learn more about Ann at www.annmortifee.com.

In his 32 years with the BC Government, Michael was the first Seaweed Biologist, Manager of licensing and regulation of aquaculture industry, and Director of the Land and Resource Management Planning Branch in the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management. He is now President of the Board of the Victoria School for Ideal Education, assisting BC and Federal Green Party and increasing public awareness of the dangers of 5G wireless technology and promoting regenerative organic agriculture. For inspiration, he winters in Kauai where he works on grass roots projects and takes a horseback expedition in the Northern Rockies of BC each summer.

Kelly is a Search and Rescue Technician with the Canadian Airforce and his squadron’s environmental officer. After becoming a parent, Kelly radically changed his perspective to focus on his son’s inheritance; a livable and healthy planet. He is passionate about passive house building, organic gardening and permaculture design. He is currently working on his Master’s degree in Environmental Management. His specific area of study is complex system theory for ecological and human systems. His thesis focuses on understanding the conditions for the emergence of a globally unified grassroots environmental organization. Kelly and his wife Ginette have also opened a zero-waste grocery store in Courtenay called Local Refillery.

Barry Gates has been a forest land manager for over 15 yrs. His knowledge, both practical and scientific, offers him a much-needed place on the board of the Trust. He is also vice-chair of the EcoForestry Institute Society and has been involved with Wildwood since 2001.

His current projects include Manager of FSC certified forestlands; Member/planner Ecological Design Panel and Shawnigan Lake watershed ecological planning initiative. He was a co-planner of the Elkington Forest Conservation Community Project. In his spare time he harvests, mills, and builds with wood from the beautiful forests in his home region.

Deb is a graduate student in Royal Roads’  Environmental Education and Communication Master’s degree program. She has an eclectic background in communications, public relations and environmental/social activism. Over the course of two decades, she’s worked as a social entrepreneur, marketing consultant, media spokesperson, and non-violent communications facilitator. She’s designed and implemented national multi-media campaigns, and generated publicity for a wide range of clientele and sustainable causes. Deb received the Ecostar Award for Community Environmental Leadership as the founder and director of the Organic Islands Festival & Sustainability Expo. She has advanced environmental causes with her outreach campaigns, fundraisers and special events including the Big Tree Festival at the Elkington Forest development.