Advisory Board

Matthew (Matt) Browne is a criminal defence lawyer practicing in Calgary, Alberta and Victoria, British Columbia. Matt has a JD from Osgoode Hall Law School and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alberta. His law practice focuses on helping people involved with Canada’s criminal justice system. During law school, Matt spent a summer working for Animal Justice, an animal advocacy organization. Matt is passionate about advancing the interests of animals through the legal system.

Christina Carrières is a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) and a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator (CWR). For nearly 20 years, she has been working as a Wildlife Rehabilitator at BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (BC SPCA Wild ARC) on Southern Vancouver Island, BC. Christina is originally from Montréal, QC where she completed her VT program. Shortly after graduating, she worked with marine mammals and other aquatic and marine species at Parc Aquarium de Québec. She moved to Victoria, BC in 2003 to complete a double major in Biology and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. She currently works in companion and exotic animal care, as well as continuing to support Wild ARC, and teaching wildlife rehabilitation courses for International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC). In addition, she works as a Professional Marine Mammal Observer and Wildlife Specialist for Sea View Marine Sciences (SVMS). She is the president of Wildlife Rehabilitators’ Network of BC (WRNBC), a director at large for Oiled Wildlife Society of BC (OWS), and a director at large for Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (IWRS). In 2018, she had the privilege to be an instructor for the first Workshop on Animal Care and Handling of Live Animals Confiscated from Trade, offered by International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in Morocco. Beside her wildlife interest, Christina volunteers with Vets for Pets, a local organization that provides free basic veterinary care to low income and homeless people's companion animals, and with Canadian Animal Assistance Team, an organization that provides free veterinary care to remote communities by conducting animal health and sterilization clinics in Canada and abroad. Over the years, she has completed numerous training courses, attended and presented at conferences, and has gained experience volunteering in various wildlife rehabilitation centres in different countries such as Guatemala, Belize, Hawaii, and South Africa, where she worked with endangered and local wildlife. Her passion for wildlife care and welfare has always been a strong driver in her life.

A lifelong advocate for animals, Alison has been involved within the animal welfare sector for most of their career. Currently the Indigenous Relations Manager with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, Alison is a certified Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) planner, and is passionate about uplifting Indigenous-led land care practices and promoting Ethical Space and Etuaptmumk (two-eyed seeing) in all of their work.

University of Calgary, MSc in Critical Animal Geography, 2022
University of British Columbia, BSc in Applied Animal Biology, 2016
Capilano University, Human Kinetics Diploma in Exercise Science, 2013

Chelsea is a wildlife biologist and an advocate for animal welfare in scientific research. She is particularly interested in the welfare concerns that arise from the lethal management of predators and better understanding the role wolves play in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience. Chelsea currently works with Raincoast Conservation Foundation where the focus of her work is to support the protection and conservation of wolves in British Columbia through peer-reviewed research, public education, and wildlife management reform. This includes scientific and ethics-driven initiatives that are working toward the implementation of provincial policy that respects the welfare of large carnivores and their important role in functioning ecosystems. Chelsea completed her master’s degree in Geography at the University of Calgary where she studied the behavioural ecology of rewilded Asian elephants in northern Thailand. Her graduate research used a compassionate model of conservation to investigate the rehabilitative and ecological requisites of elephants transitioning from captive to free-living settings. Chelsea also holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia where she majored in Applied Animal Biology. It was during this degree that she developed a keen interest in animal ethics and how animal welfare science applies to free living wild populations. Chelsea is based out of Vancouver, BC and can be found seeking out the next adventure with her dog Enzo, hiking the local mountains and swimming in the cold waters of the Salish Sea. She has volunteered at various local environmental and animal advocacy groups including the BC SPCA, Society for Humane Science and Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.

Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio) (College of Applied Biology)
Canadian Environmental Practitioner (EP) (ECO Canada), MSc in Environment and Management, 2014, Royal Roads University
BSc in Ecology, 2009, University of Guelph

Amelia is a Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio) and an Environmental Scientist. She completed a Master of Science in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University, with thesis work conducting a human health risk assessment of contaminants in First Nations traditional seafoods. Amelia previously studied Ecology at the University of Guelph. As an Environmental Scientist, she carries out assessments of contaminants in the environment. Her work involves aquatic monitoring, as well as evaluations of risk from chemicals throughout the environment to human health, ecology and wildlife. Amelia has volunteered and conducted research for various non-profit organizations involved in: conservation, wildlife protection, whale sanctuaries, and alternatives to animal testing. She is a passionate advocate for change in our relationships with other animals, and motivated by a vision of a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

Erin Ryan is a science communications specialist focused on wild animal welfare. She is a Registered Professional Biologist who holds a BSc in Applied Biology and an MSc in Applied Animal Biology from the University of British Columbia. Much of her work experience focuses on urban wildlife, including wildlife and rodent “pest” control. She has experience in research, communications, stakeholder relations, fundraising and event planning. Erin is a proud member of the Syilx nation. Erin has been a passionate follower of The Fur-Bearers for many years with a shared passion for improving wildlife welfare and ending inhumane trapping. In 2019, she was a co-recipient of the Clements Award for “Outstanding Organization”, awarded to the AnimalKind program. Erin is the past president of The Fur-Bearers Board of Directors.

Originally from British Columbia, Chris has spent over two decades in Southeast Asia investigating and researching the illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade. He has a PhD from Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK, and looked at the illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade in Southeast Asia and the effectiveness of the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Chris has played a major role in catalysing many of the conservation interventions for newly emerging threats to Asia’s wildlife, putting the spotlight on issues such as the massive illegal trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles in Southeast Asia, the songbird trade crisis in Indonesia, and the laundering of wild-caught reptiles through bogus captive-breeding facilities from Asia to Europe and North America. He has produced numerous publications, primarily on wildlife trade and strategies to mitigate this threat and has carried out work on a wide range of species around the world and currently focuses on lesser-known species and issues in wildlife trade. Chris is an active member of a number of the IUCN SSC specialist groups, including:
• IUCN SSC Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group (Vice Chair on Trade and Policy)
• IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group
• IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group
• IUCN SSC Freshwater Turtle and Tortoise Specialist Group
• IUCN SSC Hornbill Specialist Group
• IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group (Trade Task Force Director)
• IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group
• IUCN SSC Small Carnivore Specialist Group

Chris now lives in British Columbia and is the Executive Director of the Monitor Conservation Research Society (Monitor). He is currently working on a variety of projects in many parts of the world, including the illegal trade in bear parts and derivatives, the trade in Asian songbirds, the illegal trade in serow, and many more. Chris strongly believes in ensuring sound evidence is available to guide policy change, support enforcement interventions and to inform conservation strategies.