Council Members

ws_council_2016The Okanagan Water Stewardship Council is a broad-based advisory body to the OBWB, with representatives from diverse water stakeholder groups and a local source of technical expertise.

Council members are nominated for 18 month terms by their respective organizations, and ratified by the OBWB.

The Council meets monthly to provide independent advice and policy recommendations for sustainable water management.


Current Council Members:

Term 12, 2025 – 2027


Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Kristen Hannam / Jesse MacDonald

BC Agriculture Council
Hans Buchler

BC Cattlemen’s Association
Lee Hesket / Keith Manders

BC Fruit Growers Association
Katie Sardinha

Ministry of Forests – Research
Sheena Spencer (Chair)

Ministry of Forests – Resource Management
Kelly Chiatto / Ray Crampton

BC Groundwater Association
Marta Green

BC Water Supply Association
Patti Meger / Bob Hrasko / Shawn Grundy

BC Wildlife Federation – Region 8
Lorne Davies / Bill Bosch

Canadian Water Resources Association
Brian Guy (past chair)

City of Kelowna
Rod Maclean / Ed Hoppe

City of Penticton
Alistair Wardlaw / Jonathan Chu

City of Vernon
TBD

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
TBD

Environment and Climate Change Canada
Jeremy Fyke (past chair) / Dave Hutchinson / Alyssa Charbonneau

Emerita
Denise Nielsen (past chair)

Engineers & Geoscientists of BC
Greg Courtice

Interior Health
Rob Birtles / Judi Ekkert

Irrigation Industry Association of BC
Bruce Naka / Ted van der Gulik (past vice-chair)

Ministry of Agriculture
Stephanie Tam

Ministry of Environment & CC Strategy
Kym Keogh / Dennis Einarson

Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship
James Telford

Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program
Scott Boswell (past chair)

Okanagan College
Alison O’Neill / Rob St. Onge

Okanagan Indian Band
Raymond Marchand / Patrick Riley

Regional District of Central Okanagan
TBD

Regional District of North Okanagan
Zee Marcolin / Tricia Brett

Regional District of Okanagan–Similkameen
Shelley Fiorito

Shuswap Okanagan Forestry Association
Matt Scott / Bryan Darroch

Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Association
Eve Layman

UBC Okanagan
Craig Nichol / Marnie Turek

Chamber of Commerce – Kelowna
Derek Gratz

BC Institute of Agrologists
Scott Smith / Theresa Loewen




Okanagan Water Stewardship Council – Photo Gallery