Board of Directors
Shawn Steele (Board Chair)
Shawn is the Owner and Events Manager of Prospect Lake Golf Course and the President of Charity Gift Ltd. Shawn is a social entrepreneur, born and raised in Victoria, who is passionate about positive community development. In 2007 Shawn founded then chaired the Prodigy Group, an emerging professionals group affiliated with The Chamber. Shawn has facilitated planning retreats and workshops for non-profits. Each year Shawn coordinates many fundraising events for local non-profits and organizes community events bringing together diverse groups within the Greater Victoria Area. Shawn has been recognized with a “Top 20 under 40” award, a Victoria Leadership Award, and in 2010 he won the Rotary District Governors Award with his team.
Lara Green (Secretary)
Lara is completing her final year of Law School at Dalhousie University. She has a bachelors degree in Environmental Science from Dalhousie University and is a graduate of the Redfish School of Change, a field school for environmental and social leadership. Lara's passion to protect the environment has been shaped by her time in the outdoors, so she is thrilled to be working with FUN Society to provide invaluable outdoor experiences and essential environmental education to Canadian youth.
David Miller
David Miller is President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund – Canada. He was Mayor of Toronto from 2003 to 2010 and Chair of the influential C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group from 2008 – 2010. Under his leadership, Toronto became widely admired internationally for its environmental leadership, economic strength and social integration. He is a leading advocate for the creation of sustainable urban economies, and a strong and forceful champion for the next generation of jobs through sustainability.
Anita Girvan is an Interdisciplinary PhD Candidate on the traditional Lekwungan territory of the University of Victoria. Her PhD dissertation critically explores the carbon footprint metaphor as a crucial mediator in the cultural politics of climate change. She has been a teacher of elementary, high school, and most recently, a sessional lecturer in Environmental Studies at UVic. Anita became the coordinator of a local elementary school Green Team of grade 4s & 5s as a result of her daughter's pitch for an EarthFest event as a FUN Champ! She is looking forward to combining her interests in education, social change, and ecology as a FUN Society Board Member.
Alison Nicholson
Alison, an ecologist with a Masters degree from Oregon State University, is an organic farmer and management consultant. She has many years of experience in policy and program development, strategic and business planning, and program evaluation as well as forest and grassland ecology. Alison is extremely interested in environmental awareness and has worked on a number of related projects including a children’s ecology series for Knowledge Network. She is excited to be part of the talented team at FUN.
Alison McLean
Alison has experienced the powerful impact of FUN Society from Victoria to the Wild Coast of South Africa. During her time as the Victoria FUN Camps Coordinator, FUN Champs volunteer and ThandaMandla volunteer, she has witnessed the innovation, leadership and teamwork of children and youth who have the common goal to make our planet a better place. Alison has a Bachelors degree in Ecology and Environmental Biology with a Minor in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia and is now at the University of Victoria working towards her Bachelors of Education. She is thrilled to continue to be part of FUN Society Team!
