The 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
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
