Meet The Founders
Sarah Verstegen
Founder
Although Sarah Verstegen passed away in 2021, her passion and dedication live on as we continue to grow what she and Nikki and all the dedicated volunteers and staff of SeaChange have built over the years. She was the Facilities Operator for 24 years, realizing all the Society’s visions for a healthier Salish Sea.
Nikki Wright
Founder
Nikki has been engaged in community organizing since the 1970’s. She is an environmental educator, conservationist and leader. In 1998, she began her journey as the Executive Director of SeaChange. With the support of the Canadian Wildlife Service in 2001, she initiated and has helped guide the Seagrass Conservation Working Group. She passionately believes small groups in community are the real agents of change for a more protected coast.
Meet The Board
Kitty Lloyd
President
I came to the SeaChange Board with a background in marine biology and marine education, after retiring from the Capital Regional District in March 2020. There, I coordinated community stewardship initiatives on the Gorge Waterway, Esquimalt Lagoon and Bowker Creek for 10 years. As part of that work, I participated in the Green Shores Local Government Working Group and the CRD’s Abandoned Boat Program. Prior to that, I worked in the non-profit environmental sector with the World Fisheries Trust, Gorge Waterway Action Society, and SeaChange’s EcoRowing program in Tod Inlet. I spent earlier years living in Bamfield where I worked as a kelp farmer, marine educator, and naturalist on sailboats doing multi-day trips along the BC and SE Alaska coasts.
My knowledge and interests include native plants, ecological restoration, shoreline ecology, and gardening. In addition to my work with SeaChange, I also volunteer with the Friends of Tod Creek Watershed in their restoration work in Whitehead Park and recently joined the board of Peninsula Streams Society.
Ken Josephson – he/him
Vice President
As an architectural technologist, I work as a cartographer, graphic artist, and community mapping specialist in the Department of Geography of the University of Victoria, where I have worked since 1980.
Since 1998, I have been a partner in the Common Ground Community Mapping Project, participating in and/or coordinating over 70 community-engaged mapping projects both in print and online. In 2008, I helped to establish and manage the community mapping collaboratory, now called the UVic Map Shop, within the Department of Geography. I also co-teach Community Mapping and Community-Based Participatory Research, which facilitates action-based and community-engaged projects through various university-level courses and field schools.
Previous to working at the University of Victoria, I worked for the Canadian Hydrographic Service drawing nautical charts of the southern BC coast and Canada’s western Arctic.
Garry Fletcher
Director
Having retired from teaching Biology, Marine Environmental Systems, and SCUBA diving at Lester B. Pearson College for 28 years, I now live on a farm in Metchosin, a community where I serve on the Environmental Advisory Select Committee. I have been the Ecological Reserve warden for the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve since 1980 and continue to do consulting in Marine Education.
After serving as an intervenor for the Board of Friends of Ecological Reserves on the National Energy Board Trans Mountain Pipeline hearings, one of my ongoing concerns is that the current and projected increase in oil and bulk tankers, container ships, cruise ships, and other marine traffic poses an unmitigated risk for sensitive marine ecosystems around the southern half of Vancouver Island. Any cleanup of spills from a marine disaster would be near-impossible given the usual prevailing wind speed and current conditions in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Through my work with SeaChange, as well as the marine-focused websites I manage (see https://racerocks.ca, https://metchosinmarine.ca, and https://ecoreserves.bc.ca), I hope to raise awareness about this issue and continue to contribute towards restoration efforts in the Salish Sea.
Pauline Finn
Director
From the Richmond Nature Park to Science World British Columbia, I have been working with schools, science centres, nature centres, museums and aquaria for more than 25 years.
In my current role as the Executive Director for the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, The dedicated crew of staff and volunteers and I have navigated six challenging and rewarding years of revitalizing the organization. This work has included digging deep to rethink, reset, rebuild and reimagine the Centre’s viability and role in the community.
Born and raised in Sydney, Nova Scotia “Canada’s Ocean Playground” I participated in community service activities at an early age through Girl Guides and Key Club and developed my love for the outdoors and passion for the environment. My career pathway to experiential learning and community engagement was inspired by experiences at the Marine Ecology Station, the Vancouver Aquarium and the SeaChange Marine Conservation Society.
I have studied science and education from coast to coast through Cape Breton University, UBC, SFU and Langara College and am a Fellow of the Noyce Leadership Institute (NLI) along with over 100 senior-level leaders from science centres, children’s museums and other science-intensive institutions from around the world.
I am passionate about collaborating on creative projects that connect people and energize communities.
Meet The Crew
Sarah Cook
Executive Director
I have been fascinated by the oceans and what lives in them for as long as I can remember. After high school, I studied marine biology at the University of Victoria and completed my Honours thesis on the epibiota of introduced and native eelgrass beds before starting my Master’s thesis on the ecology of the glass sponge reefs off the coast of Northern British Columbia. I am now a Registered Professional Biologist with experience in coastal habitat mapping, environmental assessment, and restoration of nearshore communities.
One of my first jobs out of university was at Archipelago Marine Research Ltd. where I was introduced to the ShoreZone coastal imaging and habitat mapping project. I joined SeaChange as Executive Director in January 2023, moving from my position as General Manager of Coastal and Ocean Resources, a Victoria-based consulting company. I was proud to serve my community as a Director at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea for six years, and was a Director at SeaChange for a short time before moving into the Executive Director position.
In my free time, I enjoy singing in a local choir, spending time in my garden, and hanging out with my family and four cats.
Alison Prentice
Office Administrator
After moving back home to Victoria in 2015 after helping to run a successful business in White Rock, I started working with SeaChange in 2016 as a part-time Office Administrator/Administrative Assistant. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking with my dog, camping, and volunteering—namely helping conduct Coastal Waterbird Surveys for Birds Canada, and collecting water samples from Coles Bay for eDNA analysis by the Hakai Institute.
I have a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Victoria and an M.Sc. from the University of British Columbia where I studied salt marsh vegetation in estuaries around British Columbia—a background that makes me right at home with SeaChange.
Justin Lisaingo
Operations Manager
I am proud to have joined the SeaChange team and am especially keen to explore how multidisciplinary sciences and cultural knowledge can collaboratively benefit coastal and ocean ecosystem management.
I have worked extensively in the marine public aquarium industry where I received my Nerd certification for Pacific Northwest marine species identification and specialization in equipment and logistics management. This diverse work included taxonomic surveys by scuba diving in frigid Arctic waters, rearing of undescribed larval fish species, and creation of complex simulated habitat displays; During this time, I learned to appreciate the indispensable value of being part of a team of passionate dependable people.
I can often be found with my head under a bush, examining a cryptic leafhopper; or lost in the forest, flinging pointy sticks with my bow. I am highly food motivated, and I would argue that Marine biology is the most delicious of the sciences.
Kendra Nelson
Outreach Coordinator
Growing up in Arizona, I always dreamed of working in the marine biology field. After high school I attended Brigham Young University Hawai’i and have completed my Bachelors of Science in biology. While in university, I worked as a teaching assistant and lab assistant and spent my free time conducting beach cleanups or diving with sharks. I absolutely adore invertebrates (preferably ctenophores) but my favorite animals are killer whales. Ocean conservation became my biggest passion and I decided that I wanted to spend my career working to help marine ecosystems. I dedicate so much of my time to ocean conservation issues and am currently the Board Secretary for Orca Conservancy.
I am so excited to be working here at SeaChange! I am eager to use my experience in ocean conservation to help SeaChange as well as develop new skills in this roll to help make me a better steward for the ocean.
When I am not working you can find me out looking for salmon or whales, reading, and freediving!
Susan Anthony
Project Manager / Researcher – RESS Project
I am a passionate and curious scientist, natural historian, and conservationist. I have a BSc from the University of Victoria in Biology with a minor in Ocean Sciences. I studied at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre for my final year and then went straight into an MSc at BMSC through the University of Alberta where I studied the ecology of sea slugs. I then took a sharp turn research-wise, and studied thermal physiology in Northern arachnids, gaining an understanding of the less visible effects of climate change on ectotherms. Now, I am truly fortunate to be able to use my experiences and knowledge for SeaChange.
Aside from my work, I love doing outdoor things with my family (dog included) like beach combing, biking, camping, and gardening. But I am not opposed to a bit of hygge: hammocks, books, and art.
Thomas Armitage
Co-op Student, Mapping Technician – RESS Project
I am a third-year Geography student pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Victoria. I am enjoying mapping in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), learning about landscapes and how they change over time, and learning about ecology. In my professional career, I hope to continue to work in the field of conservation and restoration.
Outside of work, I enjoy cycling, camping, hiking, skiing, and birdwatching. When at home I like to read and play board games with friends and family.
Sean Daley
Project Manager / Mapping Specialist
With a Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in Geography from the University of Victoria, I have over sixteen years of experience working in the coastal environment in British Columbia, Alaska, Florida, South Carolina, Washington, and the Canadian Arctic. I have been involved in and led many marine projects including the ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping program, Seabed Imagery surveys, aerial surveys, and Arctic Oceanography programs. I have experience in database management, project management and geographic information systems.
I grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, and have lived in Victoria, British Columbia for the last twenty-three years. I enjoy being a part of a team that helps preserve, protect, and understand the health of our coastal ecosystems.
Laurie McCormick
ShoreZone Coordinator / Biomapping Team Lead
I have always been interested in the natural environment, and my enthusiasm towards marine ecosystems grew while completing my Bachelor of Science at the University of Victoria, where I double majored in Biology and Anthropology. Since graduating, I have been excited to learn and take on new challenges and opportunities as they arise.
My diverse background includes many years as a research assistant in labs at UVic applying molecular biology techniques on various alpine plants and marine organisms to learn more about species diversity. One of my favourite experiences over the years was teaching the field component of an adult education class where I introduced people to the wonders of the intertidal zone.
I was first introduced to ShoreZone when I worked at Archipelago Marine Research, Ltd. and was excited years later to have the opportunity to join Coastal and Ocean Resources, Inc. as a bio mapper and be able to learn and work with ShoreZone again. It is with much enthusiasm that I am now part of SeaChange and all the new experiences that come along with it.
When not working, I enjoy playing ice hockey, wandering local beaches, and spending time with my family.
Cole Rader
Mapping Technician
I first learned about ShoreZone during a field school at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre while completing a degree in Biology and Oceanography at the University of British Columbia. My enthusiasm was sparked by the scale and ambition of the project, so when the opportunity to contribute to ShoreZone emerged, I grabbed it. After taking to the skies on my first survey in Alaska’s Kenai Fjords National Park, I was hooked. I have since participated in two other surveys along British Columbia’s beautiful coastline.
I am thrilled to be part of the SeaChange team, as they provide an invaluable opportunity to work on projects that will help restore and preserve marine life. I look forward to learning from the diverse perspectives of my colleagues and contributing meaningful work that will positively impact local ecosystems.
When I’m not mapping shorelines, I am enjoying the outdoors—from a hike in the woods to relaxing on the beach with a good book—making Victoria a perfect place to call home.
Seanie Malcolm
Mapping Technician
I graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Science in Geography, where I studied whales and their spatial behaviour—igniting a passion for marine conservation and spatial data. This led to my work as a naturalist for a whale-watching company for several years where I gained valuable experience in the field and expanded my understanding of marine ecosystems.
Now, in my current role as a mapping technician, I continue to build upon my mapping skills and utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to support my work and to help protect the coastal environments I love.
When I’m not working, I can often be found outside, hiking, camping and playing disc golf (terribly), enjoying a sunny patio drink, or getting The Longest Road in Catan.
Diego Vega
Mapping Technician
As a recent graduate from the University of Victoria, I am eager to learn how to better manage water systems in Canada. Growing up in Chile, some of my fondest memories are of the beach, where I loved to spend a warm day splashing around in the cold water or walking on the pier at sundown.
Since childhood, I knew I wanted to help manage pollution and help keep our environment cleaner. Being so grateful for nature, it seemed a perfect fit for me to become an environmentalist. At SeaChange, where maintaining a healthy ecosystem for future generations is a main goal, I’m very excited to learn more about mapping software and how it can be used to strategically maintain our ecosystems. Coastal ecosystems are very complex and always changing, so my objective is to make use of technology to better track and study water systems.
Besides being an environmental activist, I enjoy watching movies at the cinema and rock climbing. I am also an avid collector, so my own movie collection is always growing!
Jamie Smith
Dive Team Lead
As a professionally trained commercial diver specializing in scientific diving, I have worked with SeaChange for over 10 years as an eelgrass transplant specialist and commercial boat operator. I am also professionally trained as a photographer through the Western Academy of Photography, and the owner/operator of Coastal Photography Studio. In this capacity, I capture underwater footage during transplants and marine debris removals, as well as above water as an aerial drone photography technician.
From diving to great depths in the emerald sea to flying high in the mountains with an aerial ROV, I continue to push the boundaries of creativity.
Justin Bland
Dive Team
After spending much of my early twenties travelling around the world—receiving my Padi Certification in Indonesia in 2009—I knew that being underwater was more than just a hobby. After returning from my travels, I settled in southern Vancouver Island in 2010 and went on to get my commercial certification the following year. I have since been a commercial scuba diver for almost a decade, working primarily in science-based diving.
When I started working with SeaChange in 2014, I knew I had found a group of like-minded people who cared about the coastline as much as I did, and I have been working with the team ever since. Alongside my dive work with SeaChange, I have worked with film crews, helping to capture the beauty of the underwater world in the Salish Sea.
Since 2012, I spend a couple of months each spring living aboard a vessel supervising a dive team to survey BC’s Western and Central coastlines as the Herring return to spawn. When I’m not logging bottom time, I work part-time as a sheet metal worker, designing and installing forced air systems in commercial and residential properties. In my spare time, you can find me surfing the South Island, riding my bike through the forest, or dreaming up my next delicious meal.
Viki Kolatkova
Dive Team
In 2021, I joined the SeaChange team as a marine biologist and commercial SCUBA diver after volunteering in several eelgrass transplanting events. I originally moved to the Pacific Northwest from the Czech Republic to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of Victoria. In my research, I focus on understanding the diversity of microbial parasites associated with various seagrasses and marine macroalgae and the role these microorganisms play in coastal ecosystems.
I have participated in numerous scientific diving expeditions worldwide and am very passionate about conserving and protecting marine habitats.
When I’m out of the water, you will likely find me exploring one of the many Vancouver Island hiking trails.
