Faye Ilsley

Faye Ilsley

Executive Director

Summer Sharma

Summer Sharma

Operations and Program Coordinator

Vanessa Leibel

Vanessa Leibel

Programs & Outreach Coordinator

Daphne Chalmers

Daphne Chalmers

Education and Grants Coordinator

Stephanie Tamkee

Stephanie Tamkee

Program Assistant

Faye Ilsley

Executive Director

Faye spent her childhood between the UK and the traditional ancestral territories of the Coast Salish peoples along BC's west coast, sparking a lifelong interest in environmental protection. Through her Bachelor of Arts in Languages & Political Science from the University of British Columbia and her Master's of Science in International Development from the University of Edinburgh, she fostered a deep interest in the inextricable links between the world's social and environmental issues, and the holistic approaches necessary to face them.

With a professional background spanning teaching, youth work, higher education, and operations, Faye is excited to bring her passion for fostering just and sustainable mindsets amongst future generations to the work of Be the Change Earth Alliance.

Beyond her work, Faye can almost always be found outside and enjoys hiking, camping, running, paddleboarding, and anything else that lets her explore BC's beautiful mountains and coastlines.

Summer Sharma

Operations and Program Coordinator

Summer grew up in London, England, and Kelowna, on the traditional, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan people, where she first became involved in youth climate and civic action. With a strong interest in human geography and systems thinking, she completed a BA in Environment & Sustainability with a minor in Geographic Information Systems from the University of British Columbia.

She is passionate about environmental justice, sustainable urban planning, and supporting communities on the frontlines of environmental challenges. Knowing that future generations are part of these communities, Summer is excited to help Be the Change Earth Alliance educate and engage young change-makers.

Outside of her work, Summer enjoys cooking, climbing and exploring the outdoors.

Vanessa Leibel

Programs & Outreach Coordinator

Vanessa grew up in Calgary, Alberta and Victoria, BC, on the traditional ancestral territories of the Tsuut’ina Nation and Songhees Nation, respectively. Her family’s farming background sparked her passion for sustainable food systems and resource management, leading her to pursue her B.Sc. in Global Resource Systems with a minor in B.A. Spanish Studies from the University of British Columbia.

Vanessa is enthusiastic about fostering climate literacy, food security, and resilient community networks. She is excited to work with Be the Change Earth Alliance to help youth and educators connect with their environmental and social environments and inspire collective action.

Outside of work, Vanessa loves baking, gardening, doing crossword puzzles, and going to as many farmer’s markets as possible!

Daphne Chalmers

Education and Grants Coordinator

Daphne grew up outside of Seattle, Washington, on the traditional territory of the dxʷdəwʔabš (Duwamish) and sdukʷalbixʷ (Snoqualmie) Nations. She fostered a deep love for the land and nature’s interconnections while playing alongside her siblings in the forest of her grandparent’s backyard in so-called Vancouver, BC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Arts in Education and Society from McGill University, where her research explored how hope in environmental education can empower students to become changemakers and counter climate anxiety. 

With years of experience in youth programming including nature mentorship in a forest school, educational research and program design, language teaching, and STEAM education, Daphne is passionate about supporting young people to cultivate action, hope, and nature connection through her work with Be the Change Earth Alliance.

Daphne spends her time outside of work wandering the forest and mountains, crafting, reading and practicing yoga.

Stephanie Tamkee

Program Assistant

Stephanie lives on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and Səl̓ilwətaɁɬ peoples where she grew up building a strong connection and passion for the environment. Stephanie is currently working towards a BSc in Environmental Sciences with a Certificate in Climate Studies and Action where she hopes to build connections between climate solutions and social justice.

Volunteering with organizations like the Environmental Youth Alliance and City Hive has inspired Stephanie to support youth engagement and Indigenous rights in climate action through positive education and relationship-building. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys swimming, trying new foods, and crafting!

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Our Volunteers

Valeria Vega

Valeria Vega

Professional Development Coordinator

Zainab Sayedain

Zainab Sayedain

Youth JEDDI Wisdom Circle

Gunda Miclaus

Gunda Miclaus

Strategic Support

Gavin McPhee

Gavin McPhee

Workshop Facilitator

Chelsea Taylor

Chelsea Taylor

Workshop Facilitator

Valeria Vega

Professional Development Coordinator

Valeria grew up in El Salvador and now resides in Vancouver, BC, the unceded traditional territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. Her passion for biology, ecology, and environmental protection led her to pursue her B.Sc. in Applied Animal Biology from the University of British Columbia and her Master of Resource Management (MRM) with a specialization in environmental toxicology from Simon Fraser University. She researched the toxicological effects of Alberta’s oil sands tailings on freshwater organisms and nature-based mitigation methods to reduce impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Valeria has learned how to sustainably manage natural resources in a way that balances human needs and the protection of our ecosystems. Through her volunteer work, Valeria wants to help educators and the youth become more environmentally and socially conscious. In her free time, Valeria enjoys birdwatching with a group of biologists in Stanley Park, Vancouver as well as baking healthy recipes.

Zainab Sayedain

Youth JEDDI Wisdom Circle

Zainab (she/her) grew up on the unceded and ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations in Vancouver, BC. She currently works as a Community Engagement and Strategic Projects Specialist at UBC Campus + Community Planning, supporting students, staff, and faculty to take climate action on campus.

Through organizing in climate, housing, anti-racist, and gender equity spaces since the age of 14, Zainab has had the honour of learning from, and working with, diverse communities and individuals from across the Lower Mainland. She is excited to educate (and be taught by) children and youth as a volunteer facilitator for BTCEA's programs, and hopes to support program participants to deepen their connections with themselves, the land, and the people around them. Some of her other passions include music, arts and crafts, and the people she loves.

Gunda Miclaus

Strategic Support

Gunda is a People & Culture professional passionate about creating inclusive, empowering workplaces where individuals can thrive. With an MBA and experience working across Germany, China, and Australia, she brings a global perspective to her work and a deep commitment to meaningful organizational impact.

Inspired by the growing impact of climate change on wellbeing—especially within the environmental sector—Gunda is inspired and excited to support BTCEA’s mission to empower youth and educators to take positive action for a sustainable world while fostering resilience, connection, and wellbeing.

Outside of her professional life, Gunda enjoys exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with her two daughters—whether on paddle-boards, hiking local trails, or sharing picnics by the ocean.

Gavin McPhee

Workshop Facilitator

Gavin grew up in rural Ontario and completed a degree in Geological Engineering at the University of British Columbia. He now lives in Vancouver where he enjoys the stunning views and outdoor culture!  Through his career, Gavin hopes to make a positive impact in the mining industry by committing to environmentally conscious and sustainable decisions. Some of Gavin's other interests include basketball and chess.

While volunteering with Be The Change, Gavin hopes to help educate students about how they can make a positive environmental impact in their lives, while also learning about how he can make an impact through his career and everyday life.

Chelsea Taylor

Workshop Facilitator

Chelsea is a Vancouver-born environmental enthusiast. Having just graduated from UBC with a degree in Environmental Science, she hopes to use her geomatics skills to support climate change adaptation and environmental assessments, and to advise companies on sustainable development. Most recently, Chelsea worked as a Climate Reporting Analyst at UBC, calculating company carbon footprints and recommending strategies for emission reductions. She is really excited to join Be The Change Earth Alliance to spread climate literacy and engage communities in her hometown! In her spare time, Chelsea likes to curl (the sport), figure skate, watch movies and hike with her friends!
Email:
Phone: 604-269-9874
Address:
949 W 49th Ave
Vancouver, BC V5Z2T1