Our Team
EYA is committed to maintaining a staff team and board of directors who represent the youth who participate in our programs. We centre positionality and lived experiences and are working to nurture an equitable, anti-oppressive, and culturally-safe workplace.
Staff
Carmen Wong
Co-Executive Director, Fundraising & Operations
(They/Them)
Carmen is mixed European and Secwépemc on their mother’s side, and Chinese and Japanese on their father’s side. They were raised and currently live along the river on the agricultural flats of Burnaby on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), sc̓əwaθen (Tsawwassen), Qayqayt, q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Kwantlen, & Stó:lō peoples. Carmen has a B.Sc. in Global Resource Systems from UBC and nearly 10 years of experience working with nonprofits. They enjoy exploring the region on their motorcycle, cooking with friends, and spending summers on the softball diamond.
carmen@eya.ca
236-334-0587
Erica Ellis
Co-Executive Director, Programs & Operations
(She/Her)
Erica is 2nd generation Japanese on her mother’s side and 6th generation mixed European on her father’s side. She grew up as an uninvited guest on the traditional lands of the Skwxwú7mesh Peoples in North Vancouver where she fell in love with nature. An upbringing on these lands inspired Erica to pursue a degree in Natural Resource Conservation, then a Master’s in Education for Sustainability at UBC. Erica can now be found in Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) with her partner Brennan and dog Valley, where she spends her time cooking Japanese food, spending time outside with family, and tending to her garden.
erica@eya.ca
604-318-1272
Sophia Nguyen
Manager, Sites & Stewardship
(She/They)
Sophia is second-generation Vietnamese on her father’s side and mixed European on her mother’s side. She was raised on a small farm and continues to gratefully reside on the unceded traditional territories of the Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), Kwantlen, S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Semiahmoo First Nations. Sophia studied Global Environmental Systems, Resource & Environmental Management, and Sustainable Community Development at Simon Fraser University. She is passionate about engaging youth and those who experience marginalization in local environmental action. Sophia has eight years of experience working in environmental nonprofits, focusing on environmental education for children, youth, older adults, and immigrants, as well as on ecological restoration, sustainable agriculture, and community outreach. When she isn’t working, you can find Sophia outdoors—whether she’s gardening, camping, snowboarding, or teaching yoga!
sophia@eya.ca
604-689-4446
karmella benedito de barros
Manager, Land-Based Education
(They/Them)
karmella is a two-spirit plant lover, gardener, occasional artist and co-founder of the art ecosystem collective. They are of mixed Afro-Brazilian and Mistawasis Nehiyawak (Treaty 6 Cree) decent, and were born and raised in diaspora as an uninvited guest on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. In their free time, you can find karmella lazing around with their cat bell, wandering around the forest, working with plant medicines, playing with clay and sporadically making art/films with friends. karmella holds a BA in Psychology, Counseling & Human Development from Simon Fraser University, and is passionate about the relationship between land, people and intergenerational healing.
karmella@eya.ca
604-689-4446
phin
Manager, Employment Training
(He/Him/They)
phin grew up as a settler with Lebanese, Scottish, and Irish ancestry within unceded land of the q̓ə́yc̓əy (Katzie) and qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen) peoples. Over the past three years, phin has been engaged in land-based and frontline work in the DTES, and appreciates the generosity of relationships, teachings, and skills gained through this work. Drawing from both personal & professional experience, phin integrates trauma-informed practice, harm reduction, and land-based learning into his work. During his free time, you can find phin tending to tiny meadows, munching on clovers before his partner, Tanner, can intervene, and making medicine for his mobile herbal library. phin is grateful to be here, living on shared and unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.
phin@eya.ca
604-689-4446
Vivian Cheung
Manager, Fundraising & Communications
(She/Her)
Vivian is a second generation refugee Chinese-Canadian, with ancestors from Guangdong and parents born in Vietnam. Born and raised in East Vancouver on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations, she earned her BSc in Biology at UBC. She discovered her passion for community stewardship through years of working within nonprofit operations, fundraising, and engagement. When she’s not geeking out over spreadsheets and data systems, she is an award-winning filmmaker, passionate about telling underrepresented stories in the Asian diaspora. Vivian also enjoys playing guitar, bass, and cello, and has a hedgehog named Boba.
vivian@eya.ca
604-689-4446
Aril Yeo
Program Coordinator
(They/Them)
Aril is first-generation Chinese Malaysian, with parents being born close to Kuala Lumpur. They love to connect to their cultural roots through food, community, and conversations. Aril comes from a culinary background and is a recent UBC graduate from the faculty of Forestry. Aril was born and Raised on traditional, unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) first nations. Their focus in this role is to show a fun approach to ecology in a low barrier and trauma informed setting. Aril specializes in fungi and plant ID so if you see them around they would love to chat about it! Outside of work, Aril loves cooking Malaysian food and organising mushroom events around the city.
aril@eya.ca
604-689-4446
Cy Cho
Fundraising & Communications Coordinator
(He/They)
Cy is second generation Taiwanese-Canadian, born and raised in BC on the unceded territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqayt, and Tsawwassen First Nations. With a deep passion for creative arts and nature & wildlife, Cy pursued a Graphic Design degree in Toronto before moving back to BC and completing a Fish, Wildlife & Recreation program. Cy’s goal is to synthesize the fields of art and science and to use the power of storytelling to make a meaningful difference. In his spare time, Cy is usually playing video games, drawing, walking his dog (Somi), or cuddling his cat (Boki).
cy@eya.ca
604-689-4446
Emily Hodgson
Jr Manager, Employment Training
(She/Her)
Emily is Métis with Cree, Dene, and European ancestry. Emily grew up on traditional Sahtu Dene & Métis territory in Tłegǫ́hłı̨ (Norman Wells). Today Emily is grateful to be living on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territory. Emily relocated here to attain her Bachelor of Commerce from UBC, but has since been dedicated professionally to youth empowerment. Emily enjoys being outside whether it be walking, skiing, or indulging in a picnic at the beach! Emily loves connecting through food; you can often find her cooking a new recipe for her loved ones or trying out a new restaurant.
emily.h@eya.ca
604-689-4446
Keenan Marchand
Program & Sites Assistant
(They/Them)
Keenan Marchand is of Syilx, Secwepemc and Mixed European heritage and grew up on traditional, ancestral and unceded land of the q’ʷa:n̓ƛ̓’ən̓, q̓ic̓əy̓ and səmyámə peoples as well as summers on Nkmapelqs, Head of the Lake in Syilx territory in the Interior. They are currently living on səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Stó:lō land. They are a multidisciplinary artist with a deep love of nature and revitalizing Salishan cultures and languages and can often be found compulsively making art, music and writing. They are grateful to be able to learn, create and work on traditional, ancestral and unceded land of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.
keenan@eya.ca
604-689-4446
Mahki Pelletier
Sr Program Coordinator
(They/Them)
Mahki is Indigenous and mixed-settler: Métis and Cree descent with roots in the Qu’Appelle valley on their father’s side as well as Romanian and Irish descent through their mother. Born and raised primarily on Stó:lō territory, their love for trees and native plants led Mahki to pursue a degree in Environmental Sciences at SFU. Nowadays Mahki lives with family on Katzie, and Qayqayt territory in Surrey where they volunteer with the Surrey Indigenous Youth Advisory Council. An artist by blood, Mahki spends freetime beading, crocheting… and jigging – so don’t be alarmed if you hear sudden horse gallops!
mahki@eya.ca
604-689-4446
Trisha Barbarona
Program Coordinator
(Any pronouns)
Trisha is a non-binary immigrant settler from the Philippines. They settled on Musqueam territory (Richmond) in June 2010 and have since called these territories home. Their pedagogy is to have the land and water as our teacher and to always centre community, decolonial practices and Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Their knowledge and experience lies in native plant horticulture, agriculture, food systems and child and youth education. When not working, Trisha takes nature walks with their dog, Tanya, cuddling their cat, Momo, and fiddling about in their balcony garden like a garden fairy.
trisha@eya.ca
604-689-4446
Niki Westman
Accountant
(She/Her)
Niki is a 3rd/4th generation settler of western European ancestry. She spent her childhood on unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory. Before becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant, Niki wrote a Master’s thesis in English Literature on the pedagogy of Indigenous ecological principles in fiction by First Nations’ authors. Inspired by the teachings of northwest coast Indigenous voices, Niki transplanted herself to Coast Salish territory in 1997 where she enjoys growing beans in the community garden that she founded, as much as she loves counting beans for EYA.
niki@eya.ca
604-872-7745
Board of Directors
Amy Nugent
At-Large
(She/Her)
Amy Nugent is a sixth-generation Irish settler who grew up on the Algonquin territory known as Pembroke, Ontario and has lived as an uninvited guest on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations for 18 years, currently near Cottonwood and Strathcona Community Gardens with her family. Amy works as the Executive Director at Urbanarium, serves as a board member for the Black and Indigenous Design Collective, and enjoys growing The Sculpture Fund, gardening, and taking off swimming.
Madi Bourette-Knowles
Co-Secretary
(She/Her)
Madi is a white queer settler with English and French ancestry entangled in local food on Lək̓ʷəŋən lands where she lives on sxʷeŋxʷəŋ family lands. Her tired, full, silly days in the dirt started as a youth in the juicy berry fields of Ka’tarokwi on Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee lands. These days, Madi works as one of the Co-Executive Directors at Growing Chefs while her two doggos lie at her feet. If she’s not mid-culinary indulgence, catch her biking, jumping into water, or in full lizard-mode soaking up the mid-summer sun.
Max Kittner
Co-Chair
(He/Him)
Max is a third-generation settler of Ashkenazi Jewish and German/Irish heritage. Prior to settling in Coast Salish territory for school at UBC, he was raised and grew up in Piscataway territory (so-called Washington, DC). Since graduating from university in Geography and Urban Studies, Max now works at a local First Nations administration as a research assistant analyzing land rights. In his free time, he camps on summer weekends, and occasionally DJs at CITR. At home, Max can be found planning his next getaway or drawing fictional maps while watching TV and eating M&Ms on his couch.
Njoki Mburu
At-Large
(She/Her)
Njoki Mbũrũ is a grandchild of subsistence farmers who was born & raised in Kenya’s Rift Valley region. She graduated from the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in International Development. Informed by her experiences and observations of the evolving political and environmental landscape in the places she has lived, Njoki feels drawn to public policy & social impact, focusing on land justice and food sovereignty for Indigenous communities across the world. She currently lives on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Paula Hay
Co-Chair
(She/Her)
Paula is a 12th generation settler with European ancestry, grateful to be living and working in the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations. She currently lives on Nexwlélexwm (also known as Bowen Island) in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh territory. Paula has lived in several countries, including South Africa where she explored her interest in community-driven solutions to climate change. She loves her current work as a community planner with Indigenous communities and she is passionate about engaging Indigenous youth in planning. Paula spends much of her free time supporting various environmental initiatives and also loves hiking and dancing.
Pravallikha Samuthirarajan
Co-Treasurer
(She/Her)
Pravallikha is a third culture kid from Chidambaram, India. Her social confidence and ability to thrive alongside people convinced her to pursue MBM in Aotearoa. Her passion for creating a fair and equitable world led her to become a policy advisor, helping with economic recovery efforts from the pandemic in NZ. Now, she works as a senior policy analyst in BC. On top of her involvement in environmental and climate justice initiatives globally, she promotes low impact living through her social enterprise. She is often found snorkeling, swimming, diving, or dreaming about her next backpacking adventure.
Sahar Zandieh
Co-Secretary
(She/Her)
Sahar is a second-generation settler with ancestry from Iran; joining the EYA Board is an extension of her eagerness to learn how to live well on these lands. As an uninvited guest on the unceded territories of the Tsawwassen, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, her training and work are continually shaped by the remarkable landscape and complex history of these territories. With a background in Sustainable Agriculture, Sahar’s work has ranged from farming to ecological restoration, and teaching students from K-12 and beyond. Currently, she is the Instructional Associate for the Department of Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Sahar loves sharing meals around a table, and being in nature—especially the ocean.
Raymond Au
Co-Treasurer
(He/Him)
Raymond is a first-generation settler from Hong Kong with ancestry from China. He is grateful to be living and working on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. As a Chartered Professional Accountant, Raymond enjoys working with people in the not-for-profit sector. He has been in various leadership roles and is currently the Finance Manager at YMCA BC, working on financial planning and analysis, scenario modeling, and performance reporting. Raymond can be found biking or exploring new restaurants in the city, and possibly playing badminton with his friends during Sundays.
Shogofa Alizada
At-Large
(She/Her)
Shogofa is a Hazara who moved to the traditional and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations in 2017. She is pursuing a BA in Environment and Sustainability and a minor in GIS and Geographical Computations at the University of British Columbia. Shogofa is passionate about community development and is currently involved in youth volunteer programs focusing on climate adaptation, conservation, and community engagement. She currently works with non-profit organizations to support refugees and newcomers with their settlement process across the lower mainland. Shogofa enjoys connecting with friends while exploring the city and the nature outside it.
Wendel Vistan
At-Large
(She/Her)
Wendel is a first-generation settler from the Philippines who was raised on her grandfather’s rice farm on the traditional lands of the Aeta Magbukún peoples. She grew up as an uninvited guest on the unceded territories of the Tsawwassen, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, where she was able to explore her expanding interest in nature and community. She is currently a student at KPU studying Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. In her spare time, Wendel loves to go on bike rides, make art, and go on walks around her neighbourhood admiring people’s gardens.
Shambhavi Arora
At-Large, Legal Specialist
(She/Her)
Shambhavi Arora is a fourth-year student at the University of British Columbia. Born and raised in India, she hails from a small village with a farming family, fostering a deep connection to the land of her upbringing. Shambhavi is pursuing a degree in Political Science and Law, with a strong focus on environmental advocacy. Her academic journey is complemented by her active involvement in activism and technological research, aiming to create sustainable solutions for environmental challenges. When she’s not immersed in her studies of environmental law, Shambhavi enjoys exploring dierent parks and beaches, and indulging in the diverse culinary delights the city has to oer. She feels a deep sense of gratitude to live and work on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.
Amber Grant
At-Large
(They/Them)
Amber Grant is a white, queer, non-binary settler with mixed Ukrainian and Irish ancestry. They grew up on Treaty 20 territory, the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations (includes Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations). Amber is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of British Columbia in the Urban Natures Lab. Their research explores how environmental justice is prioritized and neglected in urban forest planning and practice , as well as the socio-political and institutional conditions that influence community-based urban forest stewardship. You can often find Amber playing basketball, cycling around the city, exploring the outdoors, or dancing to techno with friends.
Youth Advisory Circle
EYA’s Youth Advisory Circle consists of 8-10 youth who have previously participated in our programs. Youth Advisory Circle members meet four times each year, and offer their skills, knowledge, and lived experiences to advise EYA on various aspects of our operations and programming.