Colleen Brown, Vancouver

Colleen is currently completing a master's degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Her areas of interest include community energy systems, energy security, and the development and appropriate application of sustainable energy. Colleen is an active member of the BCSEA Vancouver Chapter Steering Committee, a member of the Environment, Energy and Resources Section of the American Bar Association and a provisional member of the Planners Institute of British Columbia.

Prior to returning to graduate studies, she practiced law in New York City. It was through this professional practice and work overseas that she came to understand the ineluctable linkages among human rights, social justice, sustainability and intelligent energy planning.

Eric Doherty, Vancouver

I am very interested in taking a leadership role in BCSEA'a work on energy and transportation. Transportation is one of the fastest growing sources of unsustainable energy consumption, and an area of great potential for change.

I am a MA candidate specializing in transportation planning at the UBC School of Community and Regional Planning. Previously I worked as a researcher and environmental consultant dealing with energy issues. My experience includes pedal powered vehicle development for the Salvadoran Center for Appropriate Technology (CESTA) in El Salvador, and coordinating production of BC Hydro’s Green Electricity Resources of BC map.

I have has a BA in Geography from Simon Fraser University, a diploma in Environmental Studies from Langara College, and hold a 3rd class marine engineer certificate.

I am a board member of the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) and a spokesperson for the Livable Region Coalition. I have taken an active role in promoting sustainable solutions in opposition to the Ministry of Transportation's plan to expand Highway 1 into Vancouver, including authoring the LRC's paper Transportation for a Sustainable Region: Transit or Freeway Expansion.

John Stonier, Vancouver

John Stonier is a strong advocate of resource conservation, renewable energy, and sustainable practices for building development and community planning. As an energy efficiency consultant based in Vancouver, BC, he provides his clients with economic, cost effective solutions to save utility and operations costs and reduce greenhouse gases.

An avid fan of hybrid automobile technology, John currently pursuing his goal to own a fully electric automobile for urban transport. He has also explored the newly emerging biodiesel sector, and is trained in photovoltaic system design.

Prior to focusing on his current activities John spent more than eighteen years taking senior financial officer and entrepreneurial roles in the telecommunications, internet and alternative energy sectors. He was active in the startup of two notable BC companies, GT Group Telecom (1996) and Day 4 Energy Inc. (2002), the latter an emerging manufacturer of leading photo voltaic technology based in Burnaby, BC.

John is a Chartered Accountant (1987) with KPMG in Vancouver and Toronto, and received a BA (Economics, 1980) from the University of BC. He is also active with the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association and the Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op.