The EIS Board
Kathy Code
Chair, Director of Communications
Education: Criminology Diploma; BA in Political Science and Psychology; Masters in Environment and Management (thesis on sustainable community forestry in British Columbia).
Kathy has over thirty years experience in writing, communications and media relations in the public, private and non-profit sectors. She joined the provincial government in 1996 and worked in various capacities (communications, issues management, project management, research, and policy analysis) in the areas of social assistance, gaming policy enforcement and rural economic development in BC. Recently retired, Kathy is eager to devote her energies to her small hobby farm and volunteer activities.
Ben Ziakin
Vice-Chair & Director
With a diverse background in horticulture, education, youth outreach, and mental and public health, Ben brings skills in management, communication, construction, horticulture, and facilitation.
Being a recent neighbour of Wildwood, Ben has demonstrated that he is fit and ready to help in all types of situations.
Sharon Chow
Treasurer
Education: Masters in Regional Planning. Previously worked as a planner in Saanich, then spent 20 plus years as a volunteer, board member and conservation director with the Sierra Club of BC helping to save special places such as the Juan de Fuca Trail, Carmanah Valley, South Moresby and Clayoquot Sound.
Dr. Nancy J. Turner Director
CM, OBC, PhD, FRSC, FLS
Nancy is an ethnobotanist whose research focuses on traditional knowledge systems and traditional land and resource management systems of Indigenous Peoples of western Canada. She is Professor Emeritus in the School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Canada.
Sue Miller
Director
Sue originally hails from Ontario while working as a consultant and project manager for a variety of firms specializing in data management and billing systems. She now resides in Ladysmith and manages to keep busy as a volunteer with various social groups as well working as booking coordinator for Wildwood’s Homestead.
Peter Jungwirth
Director
Peter is a Registered Professional Forester in both BC and Austria (from where he immigrated).
He is also a certified Arborist, tree risk assessor and faller. Prior to immigration, Peter worked in Forestry research.
In BC, he has been active as a forestry and arboriculture consultant and also as a hands-on arborist.
He has designed and instructed several ecoforestry courses and will lead EIS programs in this.
Chris Walther
Director
B.Sc. (Biol), RPF since 2000
Chris has worked in most BC forest ecosystems and with the EIS since 2005. He wrote the Wildwood Management Plan in 2010, which helped the EIS convince the courts that Wildwood would be best managed by our organization.
Chris continues to look for ways and examples of people coexisting with nature.
Kegan Pepper-Smith
Director
Earned his law degree from the University of British Columbia. He currently works as an environmental lawyer for Ecojustice.
Kegan's extensive experience in the non-profit sector includes being a board member and past chair for the Wilderness Committee. He now lives in Nanaimo, BC.