Meet Our Board
The Society is served by a dedicated Board of Directors, elected by and from the general membership at the Annual General Meeting. All are volunteers.
Sharon Daly
Chair
Sharon has a Master’s degree in environmental planning with many years of work experience in government and private consulting. She has also owned a successful yoga studio and yoga therapy practice.
Sharon is interested in helping reshape understanding of the human-nature relationship and working collaboratively with others to ensure urban ecosystems are healthy and life sustaining now and in the future. Sharon joined the Board in October 2020 and has been Board Chair since May 2022. She is an avid cyclist, hiker, fitness enthusiast, nature lover and regenerative gardener.
Maureen Butler
Treasurer
Inspired by her children’s enjoyment of Swan Lake’s programs and visits to Swan Lake with their Grandma, Maureen rejoined the Board in May 2024. She was appointed by the Board as Director and Treasurer to complete the term of the previous Treasurer and is now standing for election for a two-year term.
As a CPA, Maureen has considerable experience accounting for charities and businesses and brings that strength to the Board. She welcomes the challenges of helping charities organize their financial information.
Lynn Young
Secretary
Lynn is now retired from a career as Educator and Executive Director at a thriving non-profit Early Learning Centre in Saanich. She has a solid background in non-profit board governance.
Lynn is passionate about connecting children, families, and all members of society with nature. She has a keen interest in protecting the environment and creating native gardens that attract and support birds and pollinators.
Lynn was elected to the Board in October 2020 and has been Board Secretary and Governance Chair since June 2022. She is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to an organization that supports education, restoration and stewardship of the Nature Sanctuary lands and beyond.
Pablo Melo
Director
Pablo Melo pursued a BSc in Applied Ecology, leading to work as a Naturalist Guide in two of the top 10 eco-lodges within the Amazon Basin. Interestingly, both lodges incorporated significant Indigenous worldviews and practices into the client experience, providing Pablo with insights into Indigenous strengths and needs.
After gaining experience in non-profit organizations, he transitioned to the for-profit sector and founded his own green company, inspiring him to get more knowledge by studying for a Master of Business Administration.
Pablo's key skills include strategic planning, product design, and business development. He is committed to advocacy and responsible actions to accelerate the growth of the environmental sector for a healthy and sustainable future.
Rick Marshall
Director
As a Director, Rick is pleased to volunteer his time, energy and ideas to support the Nature Sanctuary’s mission to foster community understanding and appreciation of nature and provide an urban sanctuary bringing people and nature together.
Rick has served on several non-profit Boards besides a career in public service. He is interested in natural areas conservation in our community and has gotten his hands and knees very dirty in that pursuit.
Shamus Reid
Director
Shamus’ passion is strategic leadership, guided by strong values, and focused on benefits to people and communities. He holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management in Leadership and Change Management and is a Certified Change Management Professional.
Over a varied career, he has worked in the nonprofit, for profit, and public sectors. Shamus co-founded and was Chief Operating Officer of a values-driven advocacy and public engagement technology company that has grown to service environmental and social causes on 4 continents.
With a young family and renewed passion for making an impact close to home, Shamus recently returned to the public sector, joining the BC Public Service. Shamus grew up in Victoria. He returned with his wife and daughter to set down roots in an urban setting that values nature. The Nature Sanctuary is a favourite spot for his daughter’s adventures with her grandma.
Sharlot Beatty
Director
Sharlot is a Training and Development Specialist with over 10 years of experience. She has worked for several local not-for-profit organizations including the Vancouver Island Construction Association, Beacon Community Services, Worklink and the Cool Aid Society.
She is extroverted, creative and prioritizes fun. Sharlot is motivated by helping others define and reach their goals. She has a deep love of and respect for the natural world and is excited about the opportunity to contribute to its preservation and protection through her efforts as a board member.
Jane Cameron
Director
Following a lifelong passion for the natural environment, Jane recently completed the Restoration of Natural Systems Program at UVic. Jane spends as much time as possible outdoors, exploring new elements of the Victoria-area coastal environment. As a trained educator, it is a pleasure to support the effective stewardship and ongoing management of this special urban Nature Sanctuary, which affords visitors of all ages rich environmental learning opportunities.
AJane’s background includes professional experience in non-profit board governance, strategic planning, organizational development and project management, as well as public sector and private consulting work.
Brian Lawson
Director
Brian’s introduction to nature was through bird watching and hiking, and later, as a volunteer with habitat restoration and land preservation. These activities always felt rewarding and impactful. Prior experience as an employment lawyer, and as a board member on a variety of conservation and community Boards, in different capacities, has helped shape his perspective.
Brian is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, and its precious urban natural oasis, through participation as a Director on the Board.
Matthew Wilson
Director
Matthew is an ecologist who works in the non-profit sector in the field of wetland conservation and restoration. He has been working with wetlands since completing his master’s degree at the University of Alberta, first as Alberta's provincial wetland biologist, leading the development and implementation of provincial wetland assessment and management. In his current position, he leads planning and implementation of large-scale wetland and floodplain restoration projects.
Through his past and current experiences, he has gained skills in leadership, project management, program and policy development, financial planning and budgeting, Indigenous and stakeholder engagement, environmental outreach and education.
He continues to be inspired by the wonders of our environment and spends as much personal time in nature as he can. Matthew believes it is vital for each person to find their own way of connecting with nature. This can help each person better understand their individual relationship to the environment and how they can help to care for nature's immense resources and values.