OuR Team

Mark Maftei

Executive Director

He/Him

Biography

Mark has a lifelong passion for nature and the outdoors. Growing up, he divided his time between paddling the lakes and rivers of northern Ontario and his studies at the University of Toronto. Mark has worked for a number of universities and government agencies in both Canada and the US. Before joining the RES, he worked for Environment Canada studying colonial seabirds along the BC coast. Mark’s passion for birds has taken him around the globe, but he but always eagerly looks forward to returning back home to the coast.

Alys Potter

Operations Coordinator

She/Her

Biography

Alys has lived in ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ territory since 2017, drawn initially by the ancient trees and wild coastline, she stayed for the community. Alys is a passionate advocate for place-based education, its role in fostering a sense of connection crucial for driving action to protect natural spaces, and in empowering individuals and communities to engage in stewardship activities. She is deeply curious about the ecosystems we participate in, and can usually be found nosing around in tidepools, rooting around in the forest, or hanging over the sides of docks checking in on the local invertebrate community.

Sarah Timberlake

Communication Director

She/Her

Biography

Sarah has joined the RES staff after being a board member for more than 10 years. Tofino has been home for over 35 years, and she loves living here. The ocean, rainforest, and the community have all become part of who she is. She feels fortunate to have raised two children in this amazing place. With a background in fine art, Sarah enjoys observing and learning about the natural world around her. She spends her time walking, hiking, kayaking, gardening, camping, and hanging out with friends and family. She is forever soaking up all there is to learn in this place she is so lucky to call home.

Molly Johnston

Tofino Field School Coordinator

She/Her

Biography

Molly grew up in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Summer camps on the coast—and later working as a camp leader—helped shape her passion for the outdoors and for outdoor leadership and education. After traveling internationally, she returned to the West Coast to complete a degree in Communications. She is especially passionate about working with children and creating meaningful, place-based learning experiences. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring tide pools, cooking, and trying new crafty projects.

Alice Kennedy

Ucluelet Field School Coordinator

She/Her

Biography

Alice's relationship with nature took root in childhood, exploring the forests and waters of Southern Ontario. Working in the overnight camp industry, she saw firsthand how connecting with the outdoors could change young people's lives. Arriving in Tofino in 2023 as a sea kayak guide, Alice fell in love with the west coast's abundance and diversity, inspiring her to pursue an MA in environmental anthropology. She's passionate about the wisdom carried by the land and learning to live in better relation with all life. Off the clock, you'll find her hiking a mountain, taking an icy cold plunge, or on a beach with a good book.

Samantha Brunt

Ecological Ambassador

She/Her

Biography

Sam grew up on a small farm in the Gulf Islands which encouraged her love of animals and nature from a young age. Her curiosity has lead her around the world and back to the West Coast where she now lives with her family in Ucluelet. She has years of guiding experience in both Barkley & Clayoquot sound and is always observing the subtle changes of the seasons. In the meantime, Sam is excited to be a member of the Raincoast Education team and is eager to share her love and knowledge of the west coast.

2026 Summer Education Outreach Program Coordinators

Izzy Abdurahman

Biography

Izzy grew up on Vancouver Island, spending lots of time in the forest and ocean near her home in Nanoose Bay. Ever since she was a kid, she’s had a curiosity about nature and a passion to learn more. A high school field trip to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre sparked her decision to pursue marine studies. She just graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Science in marine biology. A field school semester at the Haida Gwaii Institute sparked a passion for environmental education and inspiring stewardship in others. Izzy has worked as a teaching assistant, restoration technician, and surf instructor. In her spare time, she loves beachcombing, surfing, and painting. She's thrilled to share her curiosity with the RES community this season!

Chloe Vaughan

Biography

Chloe has spent her life exploring and learning from the diverse ecosystems and landscapes of the West Coast being from Surrey, BC, on the traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. She's completing a Bachelor of Science at UBC in Environmental Science, with an interest in blending Western Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge for holistic stewardship. Chloe has worked as a Science Outreach Instructor delivering STEM programming across BC, a Research Assistant with Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, and a Marine Ecology Research Assistant with the Department of National Defence in Nanoose Bay. In her free time, she loves hiking, climbing, swimming, and learning to surf. Chloe can't wait for a summer with RES!

Hannah Zumwalt

Biography

Hannah grew up in Calgary, on the traditional land of the Treaty 7 peoples, camping across Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, and Idaho. A competitive swimmer growing up, she's always been drawn to water, now living in Victoria for four years, grateful to be by the ocean full time.

She's completing her final year of Biology at UVic, researching deep-sea sponge gardens and narwhal vocalizations, and writing her honours thesis on harbour seals. She's spent summers in California running camp programming for kids with medical conditions.

In her free time, she loves camping, hiking, road trips, guitar, and ocean dips. Hannah can't wait for her first summer with RES, exploring Barkley & Clayoquot Sounds!

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Ella Ahier

Biography

Ella Ahier was raised on the ḥaḥuułi of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation in Tofino/Načiqs. Growing up on the wild west coast fostered a love of nature from a young age. Ella is a former Raincoast Education Society student, enrolled in camps nearly every summer of her youth, which greatly shaped her understanding of the natural world and the beautifully complex ecosystems that keep it all going!

Ella now resides in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, beginning her fourth year at Concordia University, pursuing a Bachelor's of Arts and Sciences, honours in English Literature, with plans to become a secondary school teacher.

Grateful for the education she received, Ella is excited to give back by running educational youth camps with Raincoast Education Society this summer.

Abbi Venizelos

Biography

Abbi grew up between Tofino, BC and Hamilton, ON, splitting her childhood between the coast and lake country. Growing up, canoe camping and surfing sparked a curiosity about the natural world from a young age. This led her to pursue a degree in Geography at the University of Victoria. As a child growing up in Tofino, Abbi was a participant in Raincoast Education Society programs, which was an experience that stuck with her into adulthood. Now, Abbi is excited to offer other children that same opportunity and to foster that same love of the natural world in others. In her spare time, Abbi loves surfing, skateboarding, swimming, and hiking. Abbi can’t wait for a summer of exploring with RES!

Past Staff

Derek Zandvliet

Tofino Field School Coordinator

Hannah Richards

Ucluelet Field School Coordinator

Savannah Lincez

Ucluelet Field School Coordinator

Sophia Lloyd-Jones

Tofino Field School Coordinator

Kira de Leeuw

Ucluelet Field School Coordinator

Board of Directors

Our board is comprised of six dynamic local residents who reflect a range of educational backgrounds, experiences, and expertise in natural and social sciences, non-profit governance, and education.

Karyssa Arnett
Marine Biologist and Ecotourism Guide

Kira de Leeuw
Learning Facilitator

Dennis Morgan
Business Owner

Tom Stere
Tofino Coast Guard & District of Tofino Councillor

Tim Webb
Environmental assessment and emergency management professional

Colin Zacharias
Certified Mountain Guide, Risk Management Consultant

Supporters

The Raincoast Education Society would not exist without the generous support of our community donors and partners. We are incredibly grateful that you’ve decided to join us in our efforts to conserve Clayoquot and Barkley Sound’s old-growth forests, streams, shorelines, and waters, and maintain our region as one of the most ecologically rich landscapes on the planet. Thank you for being with us every step of the way.

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