Dr. Tomascik’s work is tied to the ecologically sustainable use of marine resources within the National Marine Conservation Areas concept, which is working to harmonize conservation practices with human activities. He is the Parks Canada liaison to the National Marine Conservation Areas Science Network, which is advising Parks Canada and the Canada‐ BC Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Implementation Team on national marine conservation area initiatives on the West Coast, a project that includes government and academic participants.

Dr. Tomascik has extensive international experience, having worked on marine conservation and coastal zone management in Indonesia, as well IUCN marine protected areas projects in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Mark Zacharias is an Assistant Deputy Minister with the Province of BC, and he is responsible for Provincial mapping and geographic information programs as well as its ecosystem-based management programs.

Mr. Kucera is an advocate for collaboration between academia and industry. He participated in the creation of R&D Centres in Canada and Ireland, and he has served on Advisory Boards for GEOIDE (Geomatics for Informed Decisions) Network Centre of Excellence, and GeoConnections. Mr. Kucera continues to participate in many government and industry forums, including the Defence Science Advisory Board of Canada and the Canadian General Standards Board.

From 1996 to present, Mr. Kucera has worked with his company, Swiftsure Spatial Systems (Victoria, BC), amassing knowledge of ecosystem-management issues of the private sector, government and other organizations in Canada and abroad.

Mr. Kucera is experienced in developing collaborative networks and start-ups. His contacts range from researchers to industry experts across Canada and internationally; through his experience he has developed in-depth knowledge of strategic systems-based approaches to organizational development, planning and project management. He has a track record of addressing complex scientific, societal, and business issues across sectors and domains.

Henry has a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of British Columbia and M.SC in Geography from the University of Victoria. He is a Registered Professional Geo-Scientist in BC and Alberta.

Mr. Kenk’s experience includes providing strategic provincial direction, advising legislation, setting policy and standards, leading organizational change, establishing needed governance, and delivering and operating land-related information systems. Mr. Kenk, a Registered Professional Forester, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the PacMARA team.

Dave Nicolson is a geographic consultant who specializes in the use of geospatial data to support land and marine planning. Over the past 20 years, he has worked on projects for the Federal government, BC Provincial government, municipal governments, industry, First Nations, ENGOs and academia. His work has allowed him to interact extensively with, and in many cases necessitated the creation of, spatial data representing marine uses and values for Canada’s Pacific Waters.

Mr. Nicolson was co‐editor of Taking Nature’s Pulse: The Status of Biodiversity in BC, and closely involved in the Marxan Good Practices Handbook. He is Project Manager for the BC Marine Conservation Analysis. He has a Bachelor of Science in Geography (resource planning) and a Masters Certificate in Project Management – both from the University of Victoria. Mr. Nicolson has been a Director of PacMARA since 2005.

Andrew has worked in the Arctic, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico participating in various projects such as water quality studies, sediment quality studies, fishery and benthic invertebrate studies, and marine mammal surveys. Andrew is experienced in working with oceanographic instruments, computer programming, Geographic Information Systems, and is aware of the plights facing the world’s oceans and coasts.

Andrew currently operates an independent consultancy called Spatial-Conserve Inc., which conducts marine and coastal spatial ecology services for non-profit organizations, research groups, government departments, and consultants. He also works as an Executive Director for the Alliance for Resilient Coastal Habitats, a developing non-profit organization with a mission to conserve the world’s coastal habitats through alliances, research, and education. Andrew is a member of the Coastal Zone Canada Association and C-FOAM (Canadian Fisheries, Oceans, and Aquaculture Management), a research cluster providing the analysis of management, policy, strategic planning, as well as innovation and governance systems related specifically to the oceans, marine fisheries, and the aquaculture sector

As a researcher at the University of British Columbia’s Marine Mammal Research Unit, Mr. Gregr built decision support systems for clients in government and industry. Mr. Gregr has a Master of Science in Zoology from the University of British Columbia, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Simon Fraser University. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at the Institute of Resources and Environmental Science at the University of British Columbia.

The focus of his thesis work is the west coast of Vancouver Island, combining spatially explicit population models of key species and ecosystem dynamics, examining the ecological and socio-economic impacts of different management scenarios.

Michele Patterson works within Vancouver Island University’s Institute for Coastal Research, as Program Lead, Aquatic Foods Initiative.  The new VIU Aquatic Foods Initiative (AFI) launched in July 2011 and is working toward the creation of innovative research, collaboration, and communication strategies to increase the economic, cultural and social values of BC’s aquatic food resources.

Michele has been involved in resource management, community economic development and conservation in British Columbia for over 20 years.  She has expertise in: rural and aboriginal community issues, sustainability, external and government relations, and tools and approaches for marine protected areas and area-based management.

She has a Master of Arts Degree from Royal Roads University’s Environment and Management (MEM) Program (Victoria, BC) where the focus of her thesis was improving governance for science and research to better inform marine policy development and planning.

After nine years with WWF-Canada, concluding as Acting Regional VP, Michele moved to Vancouver Island in January 2010 for a new career at Vancouver Island University (VIU).  She was VIU’s first Manager of Environment and Sustainability and launched a new sustainability program for VIU across their four Vancouver Island campuses.  After 1.5 years in this position she recently moved to a new appointment in the VIU Institute for Coastal Research as Program Lead, developing VIU’s new Aquatic Foods Program.

Michele is a founding Director of the Pacific Marine Analysis and Research Association (www.pacmara.org) and also a Director of the Science and Management of Protected Areas Association (www.sampaa.org).  She has a 15 year old son and enjoys exploring Vancouver Island’s beaches and parks from her new base in Nanaimo.

In addition to PacMARA, Jeff serves on the IUCN World Commission on Protected areas as Advisor on MPA Design, Tools, and Software, and also serves as a Scientific Advisor on the High Seas MPA Task Force. He has an MSc in Environment and Management. He has worked in the fishing sector, NGO sector, in federal government, and within international conventions. Most recently, he is an active member of the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative (GOBI.org), serving on its Science Board. A specialist in marine spatial planning, systematic conservation design, and international maritime policy, a central theme throughout his work is the bridging of marine science with policy development.