Lori Pickering, President

Lori has been a legal stenographer, court reporter, and official court transcriber. She was the owner of an organic subsistence farm for 12 years, with farm-gate sales of herbs. She is the owner of Jurassic Plants Nursery, the only cycad nursery in Canada, growing rare and endangered cycads from seed. She has volunteered as an administrative secretary for B.C. Association for Regenerative Agriculture, is a founding director of B.C. Herb Growers Association, is a committee member of Save Our Sunshine Coast, and has been a contributing member of Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society since its inception in 2002.

Paul Schouw, Vice-President

Paul is a practicing architect and project manager at James Schouw and Associates. He has designed an architectural concept for the Interpretive and Visitor Centre building in the proposed Botanical Garden.

Celia Paris, Secretary

Celia is a self-employed consultant in project management, planning, and administration. She has worked as a Project Manager for Streamline Restoration in Vancouver, as Home Improvements Manager for 9000 homes, and as Project Manager for the City of York Council, in York, England. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Politics from the University of York, UK. She is also a volunteer with Gibsons Landing Fibre Arts Festival.

Mary Blockberger, Treasurer

Mary is the owner of Double Dog Landscaping. She has worked in accounting in a family printing business and for Secret Cove Resort Limited. She has experience in horticulture, and has volunteered with the United Way and the Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing project.

Amanda Offers

Amanda is a retired horticulturalist, Treasurer of the Alpine Garden Club of BC, and a software tester.

Glenn Lewis

Glenn is a former owner of the nursery Fragrant Flora, in Roberts Creek, BC. He has worked as an artist, horticulturalist, teacher, and cultural management consultant. He has instructed in the Education Faculty and Fine Arts Departments at the University of British Columbia, and has been Head of the Media Arts Section of the Canada Council in Ottawa and Executive Director of the Western Front Society in Vancouver. He has been a trustee and is a life member of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Harry Graat

Harry has been in land development and construction for over 30 years in Ontario, and is now involved in construction on the Sunshine Coast. He has worked as a real estate broker, is a past director of the Optimist Club, and has served on the advisory board of the Gibsons and Area Community Centre.

Arthur Geike

Arthur is a management consultant and president of Presidents Network. He has an executive-level background in the utility, mining, cement, electronics and consumer product industries. He also has extensive general management experience specializing in start-up and business success strategies, and organization design and human resources issues. Arthur is founder and president of the Canadian electrical utility's energy conservation company PowerSmart, and was president of Powertech Labs, BC Hydro's applied research and technology laboratories.

Committees

Fundraising Committee and Capital Campaign Sub-Committee Chair: Paddy Wales and Glenn Lewis
Land Acquisition: Lori Pickering and Mary Blockberger
Publicity/Marketing/Communications/Internet Committee: Amanda Offers, Harry Hill and Mary Blockberger
Horticulture/Gardens/Design Committee: Lori Pickering and Glenn Lewis
Membership and Volunteer Committee: Alice Coleman
Program/Events/Education Committee: Alice Coleman
Operations/Governance/Finance/Nomination Committee: Arthur Geike, Mary Blockberger and Alice Coleman
Project Management Committee: Harry Graat, Celia Paris
Newsletter Editor: Lori Pickering
Webmaster: Amanda Offers
Past Webmaster (2003 to 2007): Harry Hill