Our Board

Julie Towers is the former Deputy Minister in Nova Scotia for departments of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Aboriginal Affairs and Immigration. She currently sits on the Nature Advisory Committee for Environment and Climate Change Canada. Julie started her career as a wildlife biologist after earning Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the University of Toronto and University of New Brunswick. Before becoming Deputy Minister and CEO of Aboriginal Affairs, Julie worked in applied research, environmental education and forest, parks and wildlife management. She was directly involved in developing and implementing the National Biodiversity Framework, Aichi targets, Canada's Biodiversity Strategy, and 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets, and recently worked on the post-2020 biodiversity strategy. Julie has authored three books, including the reference guide Wildlife of Nova Scotia.

Anil Wijesooriya is the Director of Restoration and Infrastructure and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. In this role, he leads a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team dedicated to building nature-based infrastructure that fosters safe and resilient communities. His leadership encompasses construction project delivery, erosion risk management, environmental restoration, and a suite of professional services including environmental assessments, trails design and development, soils management, archaeology, and surveying. Anil began his career as a Land Use Planner with the City of Ottawa. Prior to his tenure at TRCA, Anil worked at Infrastructure Ontario, where he held several key positions, including Analytics & Data Governance, Business Performance, Sales & Acquisitions, and Development Planning. In these roles, he spearheaded strategic initiatives focused on data-driven decision-making, business transformation, and the modernization of transactional programs, consistently achieving government-mandated delivery, revenue and cost-saving targets. Anil holds a Master’s degree in Urban & Regional Planning from Queen’s University and is a registered professional planner, holding memberships with the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.

Trevor Swerdfager is a Practitioner-in-Residence teaching courses in fish, forest and wildlife management, environmental policy and decision-making and ocean conservation and protection at the University of Waterloo. Prior to that, his career centred on senior management service in Parks Canada (Senior Vice-President), the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Senior Assistant Deputy Minister), and Environment Canada (Director-General of the Canadian Wildlife Service). Trevor resides in Ottawa and Waterloo. He brings widespread knowledge and experience concerning environmental science, policy, and conservation across Canada, with particular experience in the federal government’s responsibility for migratory birds and habitat.

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. 

Mike Wong serves as the Regional Chair for North America for the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN’s) World Commission on Protected Areas. His current interest is on promoting a nature-positive recovery following the pandemic. Retired from the federal government, Mike is a biologist with Bachelor’s (St. Francis Xavier University) and Master’s (University of Ottawa) degrees, with the latter examining the impact of chemicals on fish and wildlife. He was with the ecosystem health group of Environment Canada for 15 years, directing the development of national environmental quality guidelines and the ecological monitoring and assessment network. Mike also worked 15 years with Parks Canada as the Executive Director of Ecological Integrity, developing monitoring and ecological restoration programs for Canada’s national parks, which are continuing today. While captivated by the world of birds, Mike self-declares that he does not have a life list, but is very interested in advancing conservation overall in Canada and globally! He has governance experience with the National Committee of the IUCN, the Conservation Committee of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and with Ocean Bridge, a program empowering Canadian youth from coast to coast to coast to make a difference towards ocean conservation. Mike brings a wealth of familiarity in environmental matters and public engagement for conservation.

Janet has background in Biology and Microbiology. She is Professor and Department Head of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology at University of Saskatchewan. She’s a passionate bird enthusiast, Great Canadian Birdathon supporter and has participated in Project FeederWatch since 2016.

Since 2010, Amr has offered advisory services to financial institutions on developing investing strategies, serving on investor sustainability advisory boards, and working with groups that highlight Montreal as a global hub for sustainable finance. This includes the Finance and Sustainability Initiative, Finance Montreal’s Sustainable Finance Working Group, and the advisory committee for developing a sustainable finance roadmap for Quebec. In 2025, Amr was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his work in advancing sustainable finance in Canada. Amr has an MBA from the University of Michigan and a B.Sc. in mechanical engineering from the American University in Cairo.

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

Michael J. Bonnick is a career finance professional, currently serving as Director, Loyalty & Partnerships at Scotiabank, following 12 years at Loblaw Companies Limited. He has a Bachelor’s degree in business from Lakehead University and an MBA from Queen’s. In addition, he has earned several post-degree accreditations, such as in finance (CPA), project management (PMP), and the field of social impact. He has been central to a number of Loblaw initiatives, including the creation of the PC Optimum loyalty program and the establishment of a digital program called Loblaw Media. Michael notes that his favourite bird is the Bald Eagle, which he saw frequently when he lived in Thunder Bay! As a volunteer, Michael has helped establish, finance, and govern the Nia Centre for the Arts, which is the only Black-owned and Black-operated theatre company in Toronto. He looks forward to helping Birds Canada wherever his skill can be best used, including in the financial aspects of governance.

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.

Pierre Gratton is President and CEO of the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) on June 1, 2011. Based in Ottawa, MAC is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry. Its members are engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication. Prior to his appointment to MAC, Pierre was President and CEO of the Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC), where he served on a special multi-stakeholder Species at Risk Task Force established by the B.C. government. From 1999-2008, Mr. Gratton served as Vice President, Sustainable Development and Public Affairs for the Mining Association of Canada (MAC). In this capacity, he was instrumental in the development of Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM), MAC’s flagship program that has gained international recognition and adoption. Core to TSM are mandatory commitments related to biodiversity conservation. While Vice President at MAC, Pierre also served on the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and supported bird conversation programs working with MAC members through the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

A wannabe birder, Pierre has travelled extensively and has photos of birds from all over the world. In retirement, Pierre intends to formalize his birder status, going so far as to potentially starting a list.

Mr. Gratton holds an M.A. degree in political science, a B.A. from McGill University, and a third-degree black belt in Karate.

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.

Arlette is a lifelong birder and senior public‑sector leader with deep experience in advancing reconciliation and collaborative stewardship in various roles in Alberta, northern Ontario, and British Columbia. She has contributed to birding citizen science for decades, including Breeding Bird Surveys, Christmas Bird Counts, Project FeederWatch, and Nocturnal Owl Surveys. As a director in the British Columbia public service she has led multi-year strategic initiatives in land use planning, watershed health, and operational programs for species at risk recovery, wildlife management and habitat protection, while working in close partnership with First Nations, environmental organizations and communities. At home on Vancouver Island, Arlette and her husband are naturalizing their half‑acre suburban property and are pleased to see an increasing number of bird species stopping by and successfully raising clutches year over year.

Trish is a rancher in British Columbia with strong ties to the prairies. She recently retired as Vice-President, Purchasing and Distribution at A&W. Her forward-thinking approach led to A&W’s progressive procurement policies and support of Birds Canada grasslands conservation work.