WHELM KING
Whelm is the Program Manager for the Nanaimo Climate Pledge. He is a seasoned entrepreneur and business manager, having founded or managed businesses in diverse fields including law, agriculture, artist management and song administration. He sits on numerous boards and has founded several community organizations, including Nanaimo’s biggest farmers market and the Mid Island Climbers Association. He has published two books, including a national bestseller.
HEATHER BAITZ
Heather is a Registered Psychologist (PhD) working in a private practice in Nanaimo. She was a co-founder of the BC Climate Alliance, has served on the board of the West Coast Climate Action Network, and currently chairs the Nanaimo Climate Action Hub.
GUY DAUNCEY
Guy works to develop a positive vision of a sustainable future, and to translate that vision into action. He is the author of ten books, including The Climate Challenge: 101 Solutions to Global Warming (2009) and Journey to the Future: A Better World is Possible (2016). He is founder of the BC Sustainable Energy Association, co-founder of the West Coast Climate Action Network, and founder of the Community Climate Connectors.
MICHELLE HAK HEPBURN
Michelle is a PhD candidate of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, and her work supporting the Nanaimo Climate Pledge is possible through UBC’s Sustainability Scholars program. She loves spending time among trees. Her love of plants is why her research explores how people in the Peruvian Amazon relate with trees and forests – including how they contribute and respond to deforestation.
VALLEY HENNELL
For 50 years Valley has combined creative skill and business acumen in every aspect of the arts in Canada: writing, production, broadcasting, artist management, publishing and promotion. She writes and produces for radio, television, page and screen and has produced a dozen recordings honoured with four Juno nominations and countless awards. In 2021 she was inducted Star Meritus in the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.
RUTH MALLI
Ruth is a retired local government CAO. She is proud to be a founding co-chair of Leadership Vancouver Island. Ruth enjoys learning, sharing and working together with people who care about things that matter.
GAIL MORTON
Gail is a retired teacher and children's book writer/illustrator. She actively engages with our municipal government and community members on a variety of climate change and environment related project, including Estuarine cleanup facilitation.
SHELLEY SEREBRIN
Shelley has been an advocate for the environment for over 30 years. Her involvement in environmental justice and solutions to the climate emergency intersect at many levels from family, friends, neighbourhood, school district, municipality, province and nation. She is now focusing on substantive climate solutions that can be taken by the many wonderful people in her neighbourhood and with assistance from local climate activist groups and the city.
BRENDA STEWART
Brenda is a retired teacher who volunteered for 10 years in Africa. She is an active member of many environmental groups, spends a week each summer cleaning Vancouver Island beaches of marine debris and is as gentle as possible in her time on earth.