Our Team

Surfrider is led by passionate people motivated to protect their local coastline and surrounding marine environment.

Surfrider Foundation is guided by folks who know their voices and actions are amplified when contributing to a collective network. Our community is made up of a team of dedicated staff, a Board of Directors, special advisors and volunteers.

Our capacity to achieve environmental victories grows stronger with every new volunteer that joins the crew! To find out how to get involved, please visit our volunteer page.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • David Boudinot

    President

    David is a librarian, citizen scientist, litter picker, and e-bike cyclist with over 7 years experience volunteering with Surfrider Foundation Canada. He enjoys working on policy solutions to reduce litter, and maintain protection of the ocean and coastlines.

  • Carolyn Whittaker

    Vice President

    As an entrepreneur, ecology researcher and film producer, Carolyn develops stories, builds teams and finds ways for science to further social justice and conservation. Her current work as producer with Handful of Films and as director at Reciprocity Restoration builds on more than a decade of work as co-founder and director of ecology research at the Firelight Group. 

  • Gillian Montgomery

    Director

    Gillian Montgomery Has been involved with Surfrider Foundation Canada (SFC) for over 15 years. Having held past positions as Vice Chair and Chair person (Vancouver Island Chapter) as well as Chapter Manager, Gillian brings 1st hand experience as a grassroots activist as well as an unwavering passion to the organization.

  • Nicole Bresser

    Director

    Niki Bresser, is Red River Metis and the Deputy Supervisor for the Indigenous Legal Relations Team, Ministry of Attorney General British Columbia. Prior to this position, Niki worked in various roles serving Indigenous Peoples including private practice, national organizations and in social services.

  • Gerald Hartwig

    Director

    Gerald is educated in business administration, with over 35 years as a builder and developer. He is the President and CEO of Hartwig Industries, a boutique real estate development and property investment company that also invests in start-up companies.

  • Hanna Hatherley

    Director

    Hanna is a CPA, with over 13 years experience working in public practice accounting. Professionally, her background is in non-profit and public sector financial statement audits. Hanna is passionate about environmental reporting and balancing finances with environmental sustainability. She has also worked in tourism and resort management in both the ski and dive industries. She enjoys diving, surfing, biking and snowboarding and lives in Victoria with her two sons.

  • Caralee Murphy

    Director

    Caralee (she/her) is the Partner Lead for the Public Funding Office at Cisco. Caralee has been working in IT for 17 years. Caralee's history includes entrepreneurship, non-profit youth programming, the music industry, and project and event management. Caralee is from Mi'kma'ki (Nova Scotia) where she resides. Caralee holds two somewhat recent Nova Scotia Longboard titles (2019 and 2022). Caralee has graduate degrees in education and business.

Volunteers

  • Rana Keen Zandbeek

    Rana created and operates Keen Designs where she offers graphic/web design and photography services. Since 2004, Rana has worked with various businesses, charities, not-for-profits and nonprofits to help achieve their visual brand goals. She is excited to be apart of the Surfrider team!

  • Matt Miller

    Matt is a PhD student in Oceanography at the University of Victoria, where he helped establish the Surfrider Foundation UVic Club. Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Matt is passionate about solving the plastic pollution crisis here on the coast.

  • Julianne Berg

    Jules (she/her) is an undergraduate student at the University of Victoria doing a major in Biology with a Marine Concentration and a minor in Environmental Studies. She is an executive member for the Surfrider Uvic chapter and have recently joined as the social media rep for Surfrider Canada!

  • Lucas Hayes

    Lucas Hayes is our new membership benefits coordinator! Lucas is a mental health worker at Victoria Cool Aid Society and is studying non-profit management at SFU. With a background in history from UVic, Lucas found transitioning into non-profit work a refreshing change due to his passion for solving real-world issues. Outside of work, Lucas enjoys surfing, playing basketball and making music.⁠

Staff

  • Lilly Woodbury

    Regional Manager

    Lilly has been working with Surfrider in Canada for 7 years, beginning as the Chapter Manager for the Pacific Rim Chapter on the central west coast of Vancouver Island. Lilly is currently completing her Master’s of Arts at the University of Victoria’s School of Environmental Studies.

  • Lucas Harris

    Executive Director

    Lucas has been involved with Surfrider Foundation in various ways for over 15 years, including serving as an Executive Committee member of the South Vancouver Island Chapter for six years. Prior to joining Surfrider Foundation Canada, Lucas served as a regulator with the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, where he led the introduction of several groundbreaking pollution reduction policies and programs Lucas currently lives in Victoria BC with his wife and two sons. When he is not working, Lucas enjoys surfing, cooking, bike touring and spending time with his family at the beach.

  • Katie Keats

    Beach Cleanup Manager

    Katie has been part of the Surfrider family for several years. She completed her Master’s in Geography at Uvic, where her studies focused on using citizen science as a way to reduce the amount of plastic litter in coastal communities. Her studies increased her passion for working with communities to address the issue of marine plastic pollution, and hopes to apply the lessons learned to her new role as the Beach Cleanup Manager for Surfrider Canada. When not advocating for a plastic-free lifestyle, Katie can be found walking a beach with her dogs Daisy & Yogi or tending to her plant babies.

  • Daniel Raab

    ReSurf Surfboard Coordinator

    Daniel has spent a large part of his life residing within Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim, surrounded by its thriving environment, beaches and complex ecosystems. Daniel Has been apart of Surfrider Canada for the past year, working with the team to support overall operations.


  • Adam Gilmer

    ReSurf Program Manager

    Adam Gilmer is a Victoria based entrepreneur and is the co founder of lightwell photography and Wheely Clean mobile Dental.   He is also a stay at home Dad to Frida (6) and Oscar (8).  In his spare time he loves to surf, mountain bike and grow Dahlias. 

  • Karen Hendry

    ReSurf Wetsuit Coordinator

    Karen has been a longtime volunteer with Surfrider, starting over ten years ago in Vancouver. Drawn by her love for surfing and the stunning landscape, she has called Tofino home for the past six years. With a background in Marketing and UX Design, Karen is passionate about connecting with people and making a positive impact on the environment.