Our Board & Honourees

Trisha Beaty has been a birder since her early teens and has worked as a Park Naturalist in the BC Parks system. Trisha's connection to nature and its biodiversity inspired her to pursue an undergraduate pathway in Zoology. She  transferred into medicine, graduating from UBC's Faculty of Medicine, and then completing her medical residency in New Zealand. Trisha has worked in various medical areas of family practise in both Ontario and BC. including women's health, labour and delivery, adolescent health, general practise and travel medicine. For the last ten years of her medical career she taught medical students at UBC.Trisha is the co-founder and Vice-President of the Sitka Foundation, a family foundation with a simple mission: to be a catalyst in the conservation of nature and the protection of biodiversity. She also enjoys participating on the board of Ecojustice and the Nature Trust of BC. When she is not birding, she may be off kayaking, hiking  or cycling or with her ever growing family

Shannon Coombs has been with CCSPA since 1998 and has been President for 19 years. As President, she is the association’s spokesperson, responsible for the implementation of effective government relations, regulatory strategies and public affairs on the critical issues for member companies. Shannon has an honours degree in Political Science from Carleton University, as well as extensive experience in government and political arenas. Shannon sits on various Ministerial Advisory Panels and Committees. She has participated on various Boards such as the Canadian Institute of Child Health, Rideau Club of Canada, the Government Relations Institute of Canada and Stewardship Ontario. Shannon lives with her son in Ottawa, Ontario.

Harry is an environmental lawyer. He practiced with a large multinational law firm based in Canada and the UK. In the course of his career he has been recognized by a number of rating agencies as one of the leading environmental lawyers in Canada. His clients have included governments, corporations, non-governmental organizations and individuals.  As a lawyer and as an independent director, he regularly provided, and continues to provide advice to executives on a large variety of issues and he has advised, and continues to advise, boards of directors on a multitude of issues relating to corporate governance. He has a degree in biophysics and biochemistry from the University of Toronto. Harry is an avid outdoors person with a particular interest in adventure travel. He has a long-standing interest in habitat protection, preservation and restoration.