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.

Janell is the Finance & Operations Manager at Island Nature Trust. In this role, she supports land conservation, land stewardship, and the protection of species at risk across Prince Edward Island. Janell is passionate about the protection of biodiversity and has volunteered with environmental groups, such as the Environmental Coalition of PEI. Janell holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Practice and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. 

Christine is a Montrealer who completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Concordia University and graduate studies at the Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario and McGill University. She is a financial advisor and is an expert on legacy giving. Trained as a Chartered Accountant specializing in Business Valuations as well as Mergers and Acquisitions, Christine has lectured in financial accounting at both McGill University and at the University of Natal in Durban. She spent 6 years in South Africa where she set up a non-profit organization to raise funds by means of a lottery for job creation projects in disadvantaged communities in Zululand. Christine is actively involved in the community having served on various boards and committees. At Concordia University: The Board of Governors, The Foundation Board, KWPMP at JMSB and as Chair of the Alumni Women Who Lead Program, St Mary's Hospital Foundation, Montreal executive of International Women's Forum (IWF), and the Advisory Board of McGill University's School of Continuing Studies. She sat on the on the Board of Conference of Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU). In 2013, Christine was appointed to the first Advisory Board of Manulife Bank and Trust. Most recently, she was on the Cabinet du 50ieme for Centraide Montreal (United Way). Lengvari was named one of “50 Women of Influence in Canada’s Life Insurance Industry” in 2014 and was also awarded the Prix de Distinction from the Chambre de Securité Financière in 2017, the same year she received a 20-year service medal from St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation.  In 2019, She was awarded the Benoît Pelland Distinguished Service Award by Concordia University Alumni Association and in 2023, the Humberto Santos Award of Merit.  In 2024, she was named a Great Concordian in honour of Concordia’s 50th anniversary.