Okanagan Basin Water Board Staff

Executive Director

Anna Warwick Sears PhD; is responsible for the day to day operations of the Okanagan Basin Water Board including the new coordinated water management initiative, water quality improvement programs and aquatic weed management. Anna has a background in population biology and watershed planning, and was previously the Research Director for an environmental organization in Sonoma County, CA. In her free time, Anna likes to cook exotic food and go berry picking.
E-mail: anna.warwick.sears@obwb.ca

Water Stewardship Director

Nelson Jatel BSc; works with the Okanagan Water Stewardship Council to develop practical solutions that reflect the best available science, innovative policy and consensus approaches. Nelson has a background in freshwater science and was previously the Executive Director of the Okanagan Partnership. In his spare time, Nelson and his wife Monika manage their family vineyard in Naramata.
E-mail: nelson.jatel@obwb.ca

Office and Grants Administrator

Genevieve Dunbar BSc, coordinates the Water Conservation and Quality Improvement Grants program and helps administrate the Watermilfoil program. She is also responsible for the smooth operation of OBWB's logistics and office systems. Genevieve’s background is in Environmental Science, and before coming to the Water Board, she worked with the B.C. Lake Stewardship Society and the Allan Brooks Nature Centre. For fun, Genevieve likes to run with her dog and also instructs a variety of fitness classes. If the OBWB ever has to compete in a footrace or triathlon, Genevieve is our ace in the hole.
E-mail: genevieve.dunbar@obwb.ca

Communications and Research Coordinator

Corinne Jackson, B.A.,  is responsible for getting the word out about Okanagan water issues and the activities of the OBWB, and is the staff lead on the Okanagan WaterWise communication strategy.  Corinne is uniquely suited for this role – with an education in political science, and work experience in journalism and public relations.  In her off-hours, she loves to read, play and explore with her two young children, and garden as much as possible!
E-mail: corinne.jackson@obwb.ca

Eurasian Watermilfoil Field Supervisor

Ian Horner supervises the year-round Eurasian watermilfoil control program, and has been part of the watermilfoil control crew for more than 30 years. This includes summer harvesting of weed beds around public beaches and boat docks, and in the winter, using specially-designed rotovator machines to till up watermilfoil roots on the lake bottom. In his free time, Ian is active in search and rescue and a great variety of outdoor recreation activities – from kayaking to rock climbing and telemark skiing.

Eurasian Watermilfoil Control Crew

Pat Field has been working on the watermilfoil control crew since the early 1990s: building and rebuilding the harvesters and rotovators, trucking the machines to different lakes in the Okanagan, and running equipment. Both Pat and Ian are commercially certified scuba divers, and have been required to dive extensively as part of the watermilfoil control program. Pat spends his summer vacation fishing for salmon off Port Hardy. He likes to enjoy life and always eats dessert.

Gord Greer has been operating watermilfoil harvesters and rotovators for the OBWB since the 1980s, primarily working on Osoyoos and Skaha Lakes, and the southern end Lake Okanagan. After spending most working hours in a boat on a lake, Gord prefers to spend his vacation on ocean cruises for a refreshing change of pace.  He hopes to someday take a trip through the Panama Canal.

OBWB Emeritus – gone but not forgotten

Kellie Garcia BSc, CCEP, coordinated research and communications for the OBWB in 2009 and has now returned to private business running her own company, Insight Environmental Consulting LTD.  Kellie continues to stay actively involved with OBWB projects as a member of the Okanagan Water Stewardship Council’s communications committee.  When she is not doing research and writing on environmental topics for local government, the winegrape industry, and other clients, Kellie enjoys hiking the Okanagan parks and wild lands and traveling in BC and beyond.  Email: kgarcia@insightenv.ca.

Monique Stone BA, was the OBWB’s Administration and Communication Specialist until January 2009. With a degree in Business Administration, she is the former owner of a professional sports scheduling business, with clients including the NFL and Major League Baseball (and no, she was not responsible for the schedule of the Canucks). Monique enjoys horseback riding and other outdoor activities with her sons Jaden and Darius and hosting great house-parties for her friends and colleagues.

Greg Armour BSc, RP Bio; was the OBWB’s long-time Program Manager, developing programs for aquatic weed management, wastewater treatment and water quality improvement on a basin-wide scale from 1976 to 2007. Greg retired at the end of August 2007 and spends his new-found free time cross-country skiing in the winter and bike touring in the summer. We also hear he has become a very productive woodworker (watch out for that table saw, Greg!).