Our Support Team

Merv, a member of the Dzawad a'enuxw First Nation, has been working with the Nanwakolas member First Nations in various capacities since 1996, and has served as the Nanwakolas Council Executive Director since February 2007.

For all media inquiries please contact Katherine at ksagordon@gmail.com Katherine is a writer and freelance journalist living on the unceded homelands of the Snuneymuxw First Nation on Gabriola Island. She is of French descent on her mother’s side and Scottish on her father’s side.

Susan began working with Nanwakolas member nations with KDC Health in 1996. She has been with Nanwakolas since March 2008. Susan has an Associate Degree in Commerce, a Business Management Diploma and is a Certified Accounting Technician. She has been a resident of Campbell River for the past 24 years

Barb brings over 20 years of experience working in natural resource fields for both private and public sectors. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Earth and Ocean Sciences from UVic and an advanced diploma in GIS from BCIT.

Mairead is a marine biologist working with the member Nations on the Ocean Protection Plan, Marine Planning Partnership, the Marine Protected Area Network and any other projects happening out on the water. Originally from Boston Massachusetts, Mairead moved to Vancouver in 2016 where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in both Marine Biology and English Literature from the University of British Columbia.

Chris has worked in Marine Oil Spill Response since 2011 and has been part of almost every major response on the BC coast during that time. He has a great deal of experience in both field and Incident Management Team roles, up to and including as an Operations Section Chief and has worked internationally with Australian and US Oil Spill Response Organizations.

Scott has been working with the Nanwakolas member First Nations since 1996 beginning with the Kwakiutl District Council where he worked briefly on the Vancouver Island CORE planning process and then onto the Central Coast Land and Coastal Resource Management Planning process.

Over the past 25 years, Jordan has worked in various aspects of forestry and natural resource management, including as a researcher, teacher, advisor, planner, logger, and small-scale tenure holder. Through these diverse experiences, Jordan has obtained the unique combination of a doctoral degree, designation as a Registered Professional Forester, and certification as a Faller. Currently, as an advisor with the Nanwakolas Council since 2016, Jordan provides technical and strategic support to member First Nations in regional forest planning and research initiatives. Jordan was born and raised on Quadra Island but now live in the Comox Valley with his wife and two children.

James, who works with both the Forestry and Referrals teams as the Large Cultural Cedar Stewardship Coordinator and as a Referrals Officer, grew up in Vancouver but spent a lot of time as a kid at his family cabin on Valdes Island in Lyackson territory. James loves fishing and adventuring (that may be why he chose a career as a Registered Professional Forester that would take him outdoors as much as possible). Before joining Nanwakolas Council, James worked in various roles in forestry, logistics and project management. He and his wife Tash have lived in Campbell River for several years, along with their yellow Labrador dog.

Emily was born in Singapore, raised in Ontario, and is of mixed Taiwanese-European descent. She joined Nanwakolas in 2020, after completing an MSc in Forestry from the University of British Columbia. Her varied experiences working with government, non-profit organizations, forest licensees and First Nations, provide her with a unique skill set to effectively support the Nanwakolas member-Nations and their Guardian programs in their important forest stewardship work. She is registered as a Forester in Training with the ABCFP.

Heidi Kalmakoff is the Training Coordinator with the Land & Marine Resource Management team working with member First Nations, Guardians, and Nanwakolas staff to understand the land and marine resource initiatives to help inform the implementation of the Ha-ma-yas Stewardship Network Guardian training plan.

Johnny was born in Campbell River and is a member of the We Wai Kai First Nation. He received a Fisheries Resource Technicians Diploma from Malispina College and holds many other diplomas in GIS.

Diana is a GIS analyst working to support the member nations with their diverse range of projects. She has over 25 years experience working in the resource sector before joining Nanwakolas in 2018. Diana received an advanced diploma in GIS/Cartography from the College of Geographic Sciences in Nova Scotia before switching to the west coast. She has lived in a few communities along the east coast of Vancouver Island, now calling Campbell River home.

Art was born in Campbell River and is a member of the We Wai Kai First Nation. He received a Natural Resource Technology Diploma and Forestry Certificate from Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in 2003.

Katie was born and raised on Haida Gwaii and is a member of the Haida Nation. She moved to Campbell River in 2011 to further pursue her education.

Casey is a member of the We Wai Kai First Nation.

Ashley was born in Campbell River and is a member of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation.

Rick is a member of the K'ómoks First Nation. His grandparents were Margaret Frank (Wilson) from T'sakis (Fort Rupert) and Chief Andy Frank from K'ómoks.

Erica Roberts is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation and has strong family connections to the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw, her grandparents were Ethel (Wilson) and James Dawson. She is a proud mother of two children, Fisher and Arie, and wife to loving supporting husband, Chief Chris Roberts.