Michele has been involved in resource management, community economic development and conservation in British Columbia for 20 years.  She has expertise in: rural and aboriginal community issues, external and government relations, and tools and approaches for marine protected areas and area-based management.  Michele has a Master of Arts Degree from Royal Roads University’s Environment and Management 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, Michele accepted a new position in January 2010 as Vancouver Island University’s first Manager of Environment and Sustainability.  She will be responsible for developing and managing a new sustainability program for VIU across their four Vancouver Island campuses.  Previously, with WWF-Canada, from offices in both Vancouver and Prince Rupert, Michele led a diverse BC conservation team in developing broadly supported, science-based conservation solutions that would support sustainable coastal communities in BC.  At the time she left WWF- Canada she was also WWF’s Acting Vice-President, Pacific Region.

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 13 year old son and they are looking forward to exploring Vancouver Island from their new base in Nanaimo, BC.