Our Board of Directors

Abnash Kaur Bassi

Director

Abnash, BASc-EngSci (she/her) has a passion for sustainability and environmental justice and was in Be the Change’s first batch of Climate Fellows, where she learned new approaches and met a community of like-minded youth looking to make change and further their impact in advocacy and action around climate change. Recently graduating from the U.Toronto where she led several sustainability projects, Abnash is focused on the intersection of sustainability and technology as a Hardware System Engineer for an electric vehicle company that developed Amazon’s electric delivery vehicles and the first mass-produced electric pickup truck. As Bassi shares, “I am excited by the goals of BTCEA and the powerful impact of BTCEA’s initiatives focused on climate education, as I both contributed to and benefited greatly from this work.

Abnash grew up on the unceded territories of the scəw̓ aθən (Tsawwassen), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and other Coast Salish Peoples, otherwise known as Delta, BC

Michael Goodman

Director

As the Chairman of the Tri City Group of Companies, Michael, BFA (he/him) manages the Ruth and Henry Goodman Fund for Social and Ecological Justice which supports progressive Canadian change-makers, including Be the Change Earth Alliance.  Michael leads the Fundraising Advisory for BTCEA.

Maureen Jack-LaCroix

President

With a wild love for the Earth, Maureen, PhD. (she/her) co-founded Be the Change Earth Alliance after completing a Master in Eco-Psychology and Creation Spirituality in 2005. Her dedication to designing and delivering environmental education in community and the schools resulted in the Student Leadership for Change (SLC) learning resources and recently culminated in a PhD in Transformative EcoSocial Education through SFU Faculty of Education. Formerly CEO of Jack of Hearts Productions, Maureen created many cultural events including the Music West Festival, Slam City Jam skateboard championships and the Tears are Not Enough fundraiser.

Maureen is grateful to have grown up and live in the traditional and unceded shared territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Derek LaCroix

Vice-President

A strong advocate for social justice and spiritual well-being, Derek, LLB, KC, PhD Therapeutic Counselling (he/him) brings his life experience as a lawyer and therapeutic counsellor to the board. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Lawyers Assistance Program BC, the President of Haven Foundation, President of Galiano North Firehall Assoc. and is on the board of the UBC Law School Alumni.

Derek is grateful to have grown up and live in the traditional and unceded shared territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Dr. Michelle LaFlamme

Director

As a young woman, Michelle worked with the Western Canada Wilderness Committee and Greenpeace and she is honored to be a part of the BTCEA circle at this stage in her life. Michelle is a BIPOC educator/activist, environmentalist and heart-centered communicator committed to principles of social justice. Michelle has a PhD. from UBC and is an Associate Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley where she teaches Canadian literature and Drama. Michelle has also taught at The Justice Institute of BC, UBC, SFU, the University of Stuttgart, the University of Silesia and the University of Amsterdam. Michelle is grateful to have grown up in the traditional and unceded shared territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She has been informed by Indigenous ways of knowing and ceremony and she brings her understandings of Indigenization in education to the board.

She also rides horses, visits her grandchildren and plays music in her spare time.
See: soundwater.ca

Sarah Newton

Director

Sarah BA, BEd, Dip. Climate Change Ed. is an avid environmental educator and lover of the wilderness. After teaching for two decades in Revelstoke, she now lives and teaches on Wet'suwet'en territory in Smithers. Sarah was a pioneer with her waste free classroom and inspires students to become forces for good in the world through place-based learning, community activism and fostering their development of pro-social attitudes. Sarah also serves on the BCTF Social Justice Committee for Environmental Action and leads the Education Advisory for BTCEA.

David Pel

Treasurer

David, CGA, CPA (he/him) is very active in community service and an avid cyclist. In addition to being the CEO of Pel and Company accounting firm, who serve over 500 clients annually, David is founder and treasurer of Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Assoc, on the board of Elim Housing Society, treasurer of Burnaby Tennis Club and an active fundraiser for Burnaby Family Life, serving youth at risk.

Robert Stowe

Director

Bob Stowe, MD, FRCPC (Neurology), UCNS (Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry) (he/him) is a behavioural neurologist and neuropsychiatric genetics researcher at UBC, where he is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, and a member of the Clinical Research Ethics Board. From personal experience as a social justice and environmental student activist, Bob understands the importance of engaging with and empowering youth to become change agents. He was raised as a Quaker by key Greenpeace founders and has participated in nonviolent direct actions. Bob also volunteers with Doctors for Planetary Health–West Coast, CAPE, Frack Free BC, Dogwood, Wilderness Committee, and Greenpeace.

Bob is grateful to have grown up and live in the traditional and unceded shared territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Hillary Graham

Secretary

Hillary (she/her) is a community-minded events and marketing professional with a deep commitment to fostering meaningful connection to the Earth and to one another. Her experience across private and nonprofit sectors includes leading and supporting purpose-driven gatherings and initiatives designed to engage audiences and strengthen community.

As Secretary of the Board, Hillary brings strong organizational leadership, clear communication, and thoughtful stewardship to Be the Change Earth Alliance. She is inspired by BTCEA’s dedication to climate education and youth empowerment and is proud to support the organization’s governance and continued growth.

Hillary lives in Coe Hill, Ontario, on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe peoples.

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