Board of Directors

BCSEA's Board of Directors

The BC Sustainable Energy Association is governed by a Board of Directors, who are elected by its members annually.

The BCSEA board of directors is an all-volunteer working board, and these members work hard to fulfill the mission of our organization. We thank all board members, past and present, for their dedication to the BC Sustainable Energy Association and our vision of a sustainable energy future in the province.

BCSEA Board of Directors 2011 - 2012

At our Annual General Meeting on December 10, 2011, our members elected a new board for 2012.

Ainaz Bozorgzadeh, Vancouver

Bachelor of Applied Science, UBC, 2007. Training and personal development in Energy Monitoring and Verification protocols and the GHG protocol. BCSEA Vancouver Steering Committee Event Coordinator and Events Planning Committee Chair since 2008. Energy Management Engineer in Utility Monitoring at Prism Engineering Ltd. since 2008. Wholeheartedly devoted to minimize our dependency on fossil fuels and inspire a future of renewable energy through how I choose to live my life and discussing my commitment with friends and co-workers and fellow citizens every day.

Bill Demopoulos, Vancouver

While completing an MBA in the late 1990s, Bill became interested in sustainability and energy issues ranging from land-use to transportation. He has served on several non-profit boards of directors to address complex municipal policy and planning issues such as electrical utility privatization. To address climate change, Bill spent several years developing environmental education that included professional workshops, employee engagement programs, and conferences for youth and civil servants. A certificate in sustainable energy management adds technical skills to Bill’s business, policy and change management credentials. A management consultant and contract project/program manager, Bill has worked with Fortis BC, Hydro and UBC’s Sustainability Office and serves BCSEA as Vice President.

Cheryl Kabloona, Kamloops

PMP Credential in project management, Masters in Anthropology from UCLA.  Cheryl chairs the BCSEA Kamloops Chapter and has enjoyed helping to build the Chapter’s capacity and influence in the community.  She served on the Sustainable Kamloops Committee (2008-2010), assisting in the development of the City of Kamloops Sustainability Plan.  She is retired after a career as accountant and policy analyst for the BC Lottery Corporation.  Cheryl spent 14 years living in Baker Lake, Nunavut, and participated in traditional activities including travel by snowmobile and boat, hunting and fishing, and making caribou skin clothing. She has visited many communities in Nunavut and speaks elementary Inuktitut. She serves on the BCSEA Climate Change Showdown’s Oversight Committee and supports the program locally. She serves as Treasurer on the BCSEA Board.

Erika Harrison, Vancouver

Erika is a Vancouver-based consultant who helps people, partnerships and socially and environmentally responsible organizations develop programs and projects that amplify their influence and impact. She has led change initiatives, knowledge sharing programs, and strategic communication planning to complement organizational development in research-policy partnerships, educational, not-for-profit, and media organizations. Erika has an MA in Communication from Royal Roads' School of Communication and Culture and a BA in Cultural & Social Anthropology with a minor in Environmental Studies. She is an accredited Cognitive Edge practitioner and is dedicated to critical thinking, authenticity and lifelong learning.

John Locher, Fort St. John

President and CEO of Ethix Consulting Inc. a consulting firm that provides Project Management, Government Relations and Municipal Management services to businesses, communities and developers in northeast British Columbia. Prior to his current position, John worked with Municipal Government with a career culminating as City Manager for the City of Fort St. John. Raised in Alberta, John has spent the past 30 years in BC. He and his wife reside in Fort St. John and their two sons, graduates of Simon Fraser and Athabasca Universities, have chosen to remain in the west. Throughout his career John has assisted municipalities and developers work towards more sustainable communities, alternative energy options and energy efficient construction. Northeast BC is home to much of the province’s energy production including hydroelectric, wind, and natural gas. John is familiar with the current shale gas production methods and is currently participating in the Joint Panel Environmental Assessment of the Site C Clean Energy Project.

Laura Patrick, Salt Spring Island

Registered Professional Geoscientist in British Columbia and President of Patrick Environmental Inc. Graduated B.Sc. in Geology from University of Idaho in 1983. Her environmental management experience comes from working within the electric utility and airport industries. From 1995 to 2006 she worked with the Vancouver Airport Authority and managed the Environment Department since 2000. Laura currently specializes in identifying environmental risks and developing practical environmental management solutions primarily for airports who are responding to demands from financial institutions, regulators, communities and their own governing boards to improve environmental performance and become more sustainable. Laura is experienced in developing and implementing environmental management and program plans to meet and exceed objectives and targets. Laura uses a common sense approach to encourage her clients to make good decisions that try to balance economic, social and environmental costs. She is secretary of the BCSEA Board.

Mike Seibert, Peachland

Professional metallurgical engineer with Association of Professional Engineers and Geologists of BC. Vice Co-Chairman of the Okanagan chapter. During tenure with BCSEA has manually installed two solar hot water heating systems with Habitat for Humanity in Kelowna, and presented seminars on energy management principles and implementation through Okanagan chapter public workshops (SEEDS) series. Presently owner/president of Systemetric Energy Management, an energy management consulting company which does GHG measurements and energy related project management projects. Emphasis on operational and behavioural changes in employees to maximise energy utilisation and efficiency in municipal and industrial environments. Previous experience also energy and operational management projects throughout Canada and the United States.

Patsy Bourassa, Kamloops

Patsy has been Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Interior Local (CHBA CI) for the past eight years. This Local continues to grow in membership, influence and profile with its innovative projects and activities. She won Executive Officer of the Year Award in 2008 from the provincial CHBA, and CHBA CI won Association of the Year in 2004/5, 2005/6 and 2009/10 under her leadership. CHBA CI in partnership with Thompson Rivers University School of Trades & Technology has been building Training Houses annually for 20 years, which have been built as Built Green Gold or higher homes for the past 5 years. The partnership was awarded the opportunity in 2008 to build an Equilibrium™ Sustainable House in Kamloops by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Patsy manages the sponsorship development, administrative and financial aspects for all the Training House projects. She is a Distinguished Toastmaster, and has been a member of Toastmaster for 20 years.

Paul Save, Vancouver

Paul graduated from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia with a specialization in International Business, Transportation and Logistics in May 2009. A highlight of his undergraduate experience was going on exchange to the University of Osaka, where he had the opportunity to take regular business classes in Japanese. He is now a M.A.Sc. candidate in the Faculty of Engineering at UBC with the goal to leverage what he learns in the Project and Construction Management specialization to bring him closer to being able to create sustainable “living” cities. Paul enjoys adrenaline pumping sports such as back country skiing, rock climbing, and downhill snorkeling. He has served on the Board of the BCSEA for two years and is the President.

Peter Robinson, Kelowna

MSc Renewable Energy and the Environment. Community Energy Planner for the Community Energy Association since October 2008. Worked on guides on energy sustainability topics for Canadian local governments, support to local governments with district heating and renewable energy development. Peter worked for several years in the UK’s renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green building movement, including in-person support to about 100 community organizations, consulting on best options for energy sustainability.

Robin Macqueen, Vancouver

Robin is an instructor of physics and past chair of the Physics and Astronomy department at Langara College in Vancouver. He has taught physics for 25 years. He is a former President of the BC Association of Physics Teachers. He holds an MSc in Physics from UBC, and a BSc in Applied (Co-op) Physics from the University of Waterloo. As a co-op student and afterwards, he gained experience with eight different academic and industrial research institutes. He enjoys visiting his son’s elementary school classroom to bring physics alive for the kids. In 2010 he took a leave from teaching to learn more about sustainable energy. He is currently developing a first-year college physics course on sustainable energy. He is an active member of the BCSEA Vancouver chapter.