Board of Directors

Malcolm Inglis – President

A long-time visitor to Mayne Island, Malcolm retired here in 2010 from a long and varied career in information technology, having worked in the private sector and at all levels of government. On Mayne, Malcolm gets to indulge his love of the natural world by working on restoring the natural state of his own property as well as helping out with the Conservancy’s restoration and invasive-species removal projects. He also coordinates the production of the Conservancy’s annual newsletter.

Adrienne Brown – Vice President

Adrienne Brown is a Landscape Architect, garden designer and Mayne Island resident who believes in the importance of reconciling the biophysical aspects of a site with programming that addresses social and cultural requirements. The climate crisis has prompted her to better understand changes already occurring in the distribution of plant species in BC and threats to the quality of our soils.  Adrienne’s goal as a Director with the Mayne Island Conservancy is to help strengthen the human community, establish respect for and reciprocity with the natural world in all its glorious complexity, and to take advantage of the unprecedented number of opportunities for societal change we see today.

Margaret Cornish – Secretary

Margaret Cornish has lived part-time on Mayne for 16 years. She is a priest in the Anglican Church of
Canada and, for over 20 years, has served the communities of Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver, and
St. Alban, Richmond. Margaret was a Chaplain in the Canadian Navy (retired) and has degrees in Music,
Theological Studies, and Divinity, with a strong interest in Ethics.

Margaret has a history of humanitarian work and community building, serving on a number of
Vancouver boards, Community Meal programs, and co-founding the first Drop In, Shower Program and
Emergency Shelter in Richmond, BC, for people experiencing homelessness. She has received a number
of awards, including the Ethel Tibbets Woman of the Year (Richmond) and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
Medal for community building.

Margaret has a special interest in environmental ethics and the values that shape community attitudes,
policies, and social action to protect and sustain biodiversity and ecological systems. For Margaret,
environmental justice and social justice are intrinsically interconnected. Living in Zimbabwe, Margaret
experienced first-hand how environmental degradation due to decisions made by the state
disproportionately affected marginalized groups. She is excited to be part of a Board committed to a
thriving, just and sustainable future.

Margaret is married to Andrea. They are mothers to 5 children and grandmothers to 6. She grows
dahlias in the Mayne Community Garden.

Helen O’Brian – Fundraising Chair

Helen has lived on Mayne Island since 1998, a steward of one of the original Japanese farms and has been a director of MICS since year one. She has a MA in Children’s Literature, co-founded the Vancouver Storytelling Society and is the author of Fin’s Swim, a book about the Fraser River. Helen believes that through land conservation, mindful stewardship and education our planet will be a healthier place for all the life it supports.

Rob Percival – Treasurer

Rob and his family have been enjoying coming to Mayne for many years to the “cabin” as part-time residents, and in 2019 he and his wife Ivana moved full time to the island.

Rob has for over 26 years been working in providing accounting software solutions to a diverse client base in construction, retail, manufacturing, and warehouse distribution industries. With a degree in Computer Business System and Finance, Rob is now working with the Conservancy team and for the island.

Rob enjoys his daily morning walks with his dog “Bernie” around Georgina Point and the natural beauty of Mayne – its forests, beaches, and plant and animal life. The preservation of this natural world for future generations to see and experience is why Rob joined the Conservancy.

Deb Foote – Program Chair

Deb came to Mayne Island in 2007, initially as part-time seasonal resident. It was not long before island life got the better of her and she became a part-time Surrey resident, focusing her time on Mayne Island based initiatives.

Deb’s passion for community and for the health of the environment, made her a natural fit for the Conservancy Board of Directors, currently serving as Chair of the Programs Committee, and Secretary of the Governance Committee.

Coming from a background in the Distribution and Retail Organic Food Sectors, Deb has brought with her a diversity of skills and a willingness to apply them where they best fit.

Peter Robinson – Volunteer Chair

Peter Robinson and his wife Kristine Webber own Hedgerow Farm, where they are combining sustainable agriculture and restorative land stewardship in their vision for the property. Prior to moving to Mayne Island, Peter led the David Suzuki Foundation through a decade of work focused on climate change and sustainability. Before his work with DSF, he was the CEO of both Mountain Equipment Co-op (when it was still a co-op!), and BC Housing. He began his career as a park ranger, during which he was decorated for bravery by the Governor General of Canada. Peter has a long history of humanitarian work, including monitoring prisons with the International Red Cross in Rwanda. He holds a Doctor of Social Sciences and a Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Management.

Jennifer Iredale – Indigenous Relations Chair

As a guest on Straits Salish territory I am grateful to the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations for their generosity in sharing this beautiful place. Jennifer has a multi-generational connection to Mayne Island /SḴŦAḴ, sharing the family property at Campbell Bay since childhood and raising her children (along with sheep, horses, and a donkey) on the family farm. 

Jennifer’s career is as a heritage professional, curator and former Director of the provincial Heritage Branch where she worked on provincial, national, and local heritage initiatives. Currently Jennifer sits on the Board of Heritage BC and is involved in heritage and cultural projects in Victoria,  Mayne Island, and the Fraser Canyon and sits on the Campbell Bay Music Festival Society Board. Recent projects include curatorial work at the Mayne Island Museum and fundraising for the Ag Society Heritage Revitalization Initiative. Jennifer is interested in strengthening relationships with Indigenous people and organizations and exploring the intersection between Indigenous and Western knowledge around environmental conservation, land stewardship, and caring for the natural and human environment.

Robin Walsh – Communications & Membership Chair

In 2020 Robin moved to Mayne from Ottawa where he held senior positions in public relations at Oxfam Canada, on Parliament Hill, and with several national business associations. Prior to retiring he taught public relations for five years at Algonquin College in Ottawa. He has a degree in Political Science from York University and a graduate diploma in International Relations from the University of Ottawa.

Robin has been a supporter of nature organizations at the national level and is an active volunteer with the Conservancy. His interest in the Conservancy is to be involved in helping conserve our local environment and to engage our community in supporting this work.

His passion for nature means that you are likely to find Robin hiking, cycling, or bird watching somewhere on Mayne. He and his partner Michael are also keen gardeners and have added many native plants from the Conservancy nursery to their garden.

Vacancy – Director at Large

Are you looking to be part of a dynamic group of volunteers who are providing leadership for a well-respected organization working with the community to conserve the ecology of Mayne Island and its surrounding waters for future generations? If that’s you, our President of the Board of Directors would really like to hear from you and have a chat about roles, responsibilities, and the rewards of being part of the Conservancy Board. Please contact Malcolm Inglis mming987@gmail.com

Conservancy Staff

Michael Dunn – Executive Director

Michael worked for 30+ years for Environment Canada, retiring in 2007. His experience was varied ranging from coastal mapping to wildlife habitat conservation. As a life-long learner and avid naturalist, he has been engaged in learning about and communicating the wonder and lessons of nature for over 40 years.Michael had been president of the Conservancy up to the beginning of April 2013 but has now undertaken the hands-on direction of the Society’s activities and will answer emails addressed to ed@mayneconservancy.ca

Rob Underhill BSc RPBio – Biologist

Rob joined the conservancy in September 2011. His previous work experience is varied and includes work in hospitality, landscaping, forestry, and resource conservation. Rob has an educational background in tourism, horticulture, and botany. He completed a certificate of Travel and Tourism at Kwantlen University in 2002, a certificate in Landscape Horticulture at Capilano University in 2004, and a BSc in Biology at the University of Victoria in 2010. Before coming to Mayne Island, Rob managed an ecosystem restoration project for Parks Canada at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site. He can trace his love of plants and nature to family vacations on Pender Island, and entering a plant collection in the Pender Island Fall fair when he was nine, in which he placed 2nd due to an incorrect spelling of “Arbutes menziesii”. Contact Rob at biologist@mayneconservancy.ca

Justine Apostolopoulos – Stewardship Coordinator

Since she was a 7 year old, feigning illness to stay home from school and bird watch, Justine has fostered her love of the natural world through writing, photography, music and community engagement. Justine has always been drawn to the natural beauty of the Southern Gulf Islands, moving from Vancouver to SḴŦAḴ/Mayne Island in 2017. She is inspired by the encouraging spirit of the community here and has since volunteered/worked in environmental stewardship, heritage, performing arts, customer service, childcare, agriculture and community development. She is currently the president of the Mayne Island Little Theatre, a Creative Writing major at the University of Victoria, and is excited to bring together arts and sciences within the Stewardship Coordinator position. For information about youth education programs, contact stewardship@mayneconservancy.ca.