MABRRI has an amazing team of Project Coordinators, full-time Research Assistants and Student Research Assistants. We value our team members as they help with ongoing projects and daily operational tasks.
Dr. Pam Shaw, Research Director
Pam is MABRRI's Research Director as well as the Director of the Master of Community Planning Program at Vancouver Island University. Pam has more than 35 years of experience in land use planning and facilitation, and is currently researching human/nature connections. She brings ideas, connections, and experience to the research team.
Graham Sakaki, Regional Research Institute Manager
After moving from Vancouver to Nanaimo in 2011 to further his education at VIU, Graham has been involved with MABRRI since it was established in 2014. Graham oversees the management of the research institute including partner engagement and project development. Graham is also responsible for securing and administering research funding, financial administration of research grants and service contracts, supervision of staff, resource management, planning, reporting, and knowledge mobilization. His educational background includes a master’s degree in Community Planning, a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Geography and diploma’s in both Forestry and Hospitality.
Jessica Pyett, Assistant Manager Administration
Jessica graduated from VIU’s Geography program in 2018, specializing in Natural Resource Management. Her current research focus is on environmental protection and analyzing the impacts of climate change on vulnerable plant and animal species. Jessica’s role at MABRRI is to assist and lead research projects on the ground.
Jenica Ng-Cornish, Assistant Manager Projects
From being a student at VIU to becoming a full-time employee at MABRRI, Jenica has gained a variety of experience in supporting, leading, and promoting interdisciplinary research. Jenica helps oversee the development, execution, and completion MABRRI’s research projects. She also has a role in engaging with partner organizations, supervising staff, and knowledge dissemination. Jenica currently holds a Bachelor of Science, with a major in Geoscience.
Courtney Vaugeois, Engagement and Education Coordinator
Courtney holds a BA in Sociology from VIU and a MSc in Cultural Anthropology from Utrecht University, the Netherlands. Her academic journey has fueled her passion for understanding socio-cultural perspectives and behaviors surrounding sustainability and climate change. Currently as the Engagement and Education Coordinator at MABRRI, Courtney applies her expertise to bridge academic knowledge with community engagement. Since joining MABRRI as a Research Assistant in 2017, Courtney has supported various applied research projects addressing local sustainability needs. Central to her work is a commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Courtney is focussed on educating local communities on the SDGs, empowering them to embrace and adapt these global objectives to their unique contexts.
Sonal Deshmukh, Planning Project Coordinator
Sonal is a graduate of the Master of Community Planning program from Vancouver Island University. She holds an undergraduate degree in Architecture and has developed a set of skills as a practicing architect for almost a decade. Hailing from the central parts of India and relatively new to Canada, Sonal has acquired a keen interest in Canada's Indigenous history. She was inspired by and impressed with the resilience of Indigenous people and believes there are valuable lessons learned from Indigenous ways of living. She is an ambitious designer with hopes of improving urban issues through responsive community-led designs. Sonal brings her passion, entrepreneurial spirit, and fresh perspective to further the goals of MABRRI's diverse array of initiatives.
Ariel Verhoeks, Financial Coordinator & GIS Specialist
Ariel is a graduate from VIU’s GIS Diploma program and is MABRRI’s GIS Specialist and Financial Assistant. After graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and Geography, she decided to further her education and enroll in the diploma program. Alongside MABRRI, she is excited to be working on the spatial analysis components of MABRRI’s projects. Having lived in Nanaimo her whole life, she believes that working with the MABR and with the MABRRI team is a wonderful opportunity for her to do hands-on work in her home region.
Kirsten Bent, Planning Project Coordinator
Kirsten has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and will complete the Master of Community Planning program at VIU in 2024. While working as a Student Research Assistant with MABRRI during her time as a student, Kirsten gained valuable experience supporting planning-related projects with communities across Vancouver Island. She has a passion for promoting healthy communities through community-led initiatives and projects, and looks forward to contributing to the ongoing work of MABRRI in advancing sustainability through community planning.
Anna Lawrence, Project Coordinator
Anna's educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Geography and a MA in Sustainable Leisure Management, both at VIU. Prior to her work here at MABRRI, Anna's research focus has ranged from the implications of deforestation on primates to the implications of gardening on psychological wellbeing. Since joining MABRRI, she feels fortunate to have been involved in a number of projects that continue to expand her understanding of human-environmental relationships. Anna is grateful to be working and collaborating as a guest within unceded Qualicum, Snaw-naw-as, Snuneymuxw, K'ómox, Tseshaht, Hupacasath, and Ditidaht territories, in which the MABR is situated within.
Mandy Fraser, MABR Governance Officer
After graduating from VIU with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 2019, Mandy transitioned from a student employee into the role of MABR Coordinator. Mandy manages the MABR’s internal and external communications, coordinates community engagement events, and facilitates Roundtable meetings and community forums for the MABR. Mandy is grateful to be working and collaborating as a guest within unceded Qualicum, Snaw-naw-as, Snuneymuxw, K'ómox, Tseshaht, Hupacasath, and Ditidaht territories, in which the MABR is situated within.
Ray Woroniak, MABR Program Officer
Ray's passion has always been advocating for our youth, social justice, and the natural environment. After a long history volunteering to create opportunities for youth, bringing awareness to our natural environment, and leading data gathering and restoration projects, Ray is excited to join the MABR team. Ray’s focus is to bring awareness, education and programming to our community about sustainable development and the biosphere region we share.
Dr. Justine Townsend, IPCA Planning and Research Lead
Justine holds a cross-appointed position with VIU and the IISAAK OLAM Foundation. Justine is leading engagement, planning, and research activities for the development of an IPCA Research Centre at VIU. The research centre is a program of the Pacific IPCA Innovation Centre that will support research on Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). Justine is also an instructor in the IPCA Planning Certificate at VIU.
Justine has 20 years’ experience working as an environmental professional and has a background in conservation, environmental assessments, and community engagement. In 2022, she completed a PhD on IPCAs as potential processes of reconciliation.
Justine is a second generation Canadian of European ancestry who gratefully resides in K’ómoks territory on Vancouver Island.
Sydney Boyachek, Project Coordinator
Sydney completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of New Brunswick and her Master of Science in Biology at Acadia University. Her academic and professional experiences have focused on aquatic fish ecology and invasive species management. Sydney is excited to bring her background in research to MABRRI as a Project Coordinator and contribute to the Ecological Accounting Process projects.