Board of Directors

Aeriol Alderking – Vice President

Aeriol is passionate for young people and their environment. She has demonstrated this passion through her participation at district and provincial levels of the Parent Advisory Council. She has proudly represented parents views and needs in the public education system for over a decade.

Tackling difficult issues such as suicide, gang prevention, hunger and homelessness in youth culture is nothing new for her. As the founder of Radically Free Youth, an organization that promotes  positive inter-generational cooperation, she has fostered the goals of empowering creativity and freedom of expression in a healthy, fun environment. Building on the success of the 2009 and 2010 Abbotsford youth events, Aeriol anticipates future events will enhance the awareness of the positive culture of Radically Free Youth.

A recent appointed Director to the Fraser Valley Conservancy Board (FVC), Aeriol brings her passion for youth, skills as an employment consultant, and the love of nature to promote the new Youth Stewards initiative. Aeriol, a firm believer in asset-based community development, is confident FVC’s initiative will contribute to enriching education, while assisting vulnerable children in overcoming life’s challenges.

Andrew Innis – Treasurer

Andrew Inniss is a long-time resident of the Fraser Valley, raised in a family with a keen interest in the natural world.  He holds an M.A. from the University of Washington and is a Certified Insolvency Administrator and Qualified Insolvency Counselor.  Prior to his current employment with the Ministry of Social Development, he has managed a tropical fish store and bred tropical fish, has worked for several years as a credit counselor,  and also as an Insolvency Administrator and Counsellor.  Though Andrew has many times assisted the Glen Valley Watersheds Society, both at the annual Bradner May Day Parade, and with their salmon fry release programme, with his recent election as Treasurer of the FVC, he is looking forward to a larger and more active involvement in ecological and heritage conservation.

Mike Pearson – Director

Mike Pearson  is an Agassiz based conservation biologist. He runs Pearson Ecological, a small consulting firm specializing in species at risk and aquatic habitat restoration. He holds a Ph.D. in Resource Management and Environmental Science from UBC for his work on the biology and management of two SARA listed fishes, the Salish sucker and the Nooksack dace. He continues to coordinates a variety of research, habitat restoration, and public education initiatives related to them. He is also lead author of the web site Species at Risk and Local Government: A Primer for BC (www.speciesatrisk.bc.ca).  Mike has been active in local NGO’s since the 1990′s and  is former chair of the Langley Environmental Partners Society and of the Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition.

Jeanne Hughes – Director

Jeanne Hughes is a resident of and contracting biologist in the Fraser Valley. She has about 15 years experience as a field biologist conducting wildlife surveys including raptor and breeding bird, amphibian, winter track, browse-pellet, and small mammal surveys. She also has many years experience with various not-for-profit organizations and was the coordinator for the Bird Studies Canada’s BC programs, the Lower Mainland coordinator for the Wildlife Tree Stewardship Program, and currently coordinates the Fraser Valley Invasive Plant Council. In these capacities she collects data, corresponds with funders, manages contracts/contractors, and coordinates land managers involved in invasive plant management. Jeanne has great respect for the land protection, stewardship, and education programs undertaken by the FVC and is excited to be involved with this organization.