CHAIR

Jen has always lived by the ocean, having spent time in Canada, Australia and England. She is a Divemaster and loves diving in our beautiful waters and frequent local sites in Howe Sound and on the Island.

Jen serves as the Chair for the Surfrider Foundation Vancouver, where she passionately drives efforts to secure the resources necessary to support the foundation’s initiatives. With a background working in the corporate world (in HR & Business consulting), she is hoping she can put her skills and experience to work to protect where we play!

When not blowing bubbles underwater, Jen loves exploring the mountains with her painting set, finding the best cafe in a new exotic place, and hanging out with loved ones - the best of them all being her Aussie Shepherd Ollie.

SECRETARY

Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, I have a deep connection to the ocean and my community. I hold diplomas in Business Administration, Legal Administration, and Paralegal Studies from Vancouver Community College.

I currently work as an Office Manager for a teachers’ union, where I support operations and engage in union advocacy and equity-focused work. For the past three years, I’ve been an active member of Surfrider, participating in shoreline cleanups and environmental advocacy. I focus on keeping our shores clean because that’s where ocean pollution starts.

As I continue growing in advocacy, I am exploring opportunities in municipal politics to create meaningful change in Vancouver.

I’m also an inventor with a patented children’s product and a proud parent who enjoys community involvement, beachcombing, and bringing my daughter along to cleanups. In my spare time, I enjoy performing arts, dancing, astrology, and heavy bag training.

TREASURER

Yumi has learned so much from the coastlines and mountain ranges of BC having lived here since she was four.
Preserving our waterfronts and advocating for healthier oceans is important to her.

She has a passion for all things finance and has 15+ years of experience in Government / NFP accounting.
When she's not behind a screen, you can bet she's playing outside.

TREASURER

Kate didn’t grow up near the ocean but she’s always been most happy spending time in the water. Working for years as a lifeguard and whitewater rafting guide, she saw firsthand the importance of protecting the waters where we live and play. Having now been in Vancouver for ten years, she’s experienced the magic that comes from living by the ocean and understands the importance of advocating for coastal health.

As a Treasurer for the Vancouver team, Kate works to keep the behind-the-scenes numbers in great shape and helps to ensure that our finances enable us to deliver impactful events and community projects.

Outside of work, she’s most likely to be hiking, camping, paddleboarding, or cycling which she believes are some of the best ways to explore and appreciate the beautiful coastlines in British Columbia.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Growing up near the Great Lakes and enjoying many family canoe trips, Leslie has always had a strong tie to water. Her passion for environmentalism led her to study environmental studies, and joining the Surfrider Vancouver team was the perfect way to give back to the local community while building new connections.

As the chapter’s Volunteer Coordinator, Leslie works to bring people and programs together. She’s always happy to hear from anyone looking to get involved—no commitment is too small!

Leslie loves spending time at the beach (especially anywhere along the Pacific Ocean), joining friends for the occasional yoga or fitness class, and getting outdoors, often hiking along the British Columbia coast whenever the opportunity arises.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATION

Julianne (“JJ”) is a born-and-raised British Columbian who grew up swimming in the Pacific - long before cold dipping was cool - because it was simply how she connected to home (and because she was fairly certain she was a mermaid).

As Volunteer Coordinator for Surfrider, she creates meaningful volunteer experiences, strengthens public engagement, and supports the chapter’s growth and operational success. Julianne pairs her love of the ocean with a systems-oriented mindset to cultivate a connected ocean advocacy ecosystem committed to protecting and improving equitable access to our coastlines.

COMMUNICATIONS & DESIGN COORDINATOR

Katelyn fell in love with the wild & beautiful west coast immediately after moving to Vancouver 12 years ago. The mountains, oceans and forests are so special and she feels privileged to be able to spend time in them. Her dedication for environmentalism drove her to volunteer with Surfrider initially through beach cleanups, which quickly expanded into a more core volunteer position.

As Communications & Design Coordinator of the chapter, Katelyn works with Emma and the rest of the communications team to create impactful visuals to help promote the events, campaigns and causes Surfrider Vancouver supports. A graphic designer by day, her creative skills are put to good use for a great cause.

Katelyn loves travelling, hiking, backcountry camping, skiing, walking along the seawall, and honing her skills at spotting whales, seals, and other marine life! Indoors she enjoys baking, board games, playing the piano & lounging with her partner and their cat Lola.

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Although she grew up in the mountains of Alberta, Emma has always loved the ocean. She’s an avid swimmer, a terrible surfer, and is always happy to talk about orcas. She joined Surfrider Vancouver for the beach clean ups and stayed for the WSL Fantasy League.

Emma puts her professional experience in communications, outreach, and design to good use to help promote Surfrider Vancouver events and campaigns through content creation and storytelling. If you message the Surfrider Vancouver Instagram, it’s Emma who will respond!

In the winter, you can usually find Emma at a hockey game. In the summer, you can find her at the beach, talking about hockey.

BEACH CLEAN LEAD

Hayley grew up in Ontario, spending as much time as possible at her family’s cottage in Muskoka Lakes. She always felt a deep connection to nature and a strong urge to protect it. After completing her studies and deciding on a career in the environmental field, she chose to move to BC to build a life where she could work and play by the ocean and mountains.

After participating in several beach clean ups, Hayley had the opportunity to become more involved with Surfrider as a Beach Clean Lead. Now, she helps organize the clean ups.

In her free time she enjoys spending time with her dogs, paddleboarding/kayaking, hiking, and trying matcha lattes from different cafes.