Advisory Board

The Fur-Bearer’s Advisory Board helps to provide scientific advice and guidance regarding our many projects and campaigns. We would like to recognize and thank the following individuals for contributing their expertise on an ongoing basis to help further the protection of fur-bearing animals:

Matthew Brown

Advisory Board Member

Matthew is an Osgoode Hall JD Candidate. He is completing his final year of study at the University of Victoria. Matthew also holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alberta.

Before law school, Matthew worked for seven years in the energy industry in North America and Southeast Asia. During law school, Matthew has completed summer work terms with the Department of Justice and Animal Justice. His summer work focused on administrative law, crown liability and animal rights legislation.

Christina Carrières

Advisory Board Member

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.

Alison Cuffley

Advisory Board Member

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.

Chelsea Greer

Advisory Board Member

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

Born and raised in Vancouver, Chelsea completed her undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia, with a focus in animal welfare and applied biology. As a practicum student at the Ocean Wise Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, Chelsea assisted in the rehabilitation of over 100 marine mammals along the coastline of British Columbia. Since graduation, Chelsea has worked in marine ecotourism, advancing the education of the public on the diverse wildlife of the Pacific coast in their natural habitat. She has also volunteered her time at animal shelters within her community and developed impactful communications for a local charity to promote the reduction and replacement of animals in teaching, research, and testing. While in Thailand conducting preliminary research for her graduate work, Chelsea managed an international research team piloting a study on the behaviour and ecology of rewilded Asian elephants. Chelsea’s current program of study explores the spatial, political, and ethical dimensions of animals' lived experience and human-animal encounters. Specifically, Chelsea’s thesis investigates the behaviour and ecology of semi-free-roaming elephants in a compassionate model of conservation that respects the individual animal’s perspective and well-being.  

Amelia Porter

Advisory Board Member

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.

David Stanford

Advisory Board Member

University of Leicester, PhD Student, Department of Criminology 
Carleton University, Canada - Norman Paterson School of International Affairs-
Masters Certificate in International Critical Infrastructure Protection, 2011
Coventry University, MSc Disaster Management, 2010
Brunel University, MA Intelligence and Security Studies, 2006
Fordham University, Postgraduate Diploma - Humanitarian Assistance, 2006
Kings College, London, BA (Hons) - War Studies, 2005

David is a passionate supporter of animal rights and the need to increase laws protecting endangered species and their habitats. David currently works in Emergency Management and was previously employed as a Conservation Officer with the BC Conservation Officer Service where he was awarded Valedictorian at the Western Conservation Law Enforcement Academy. Prior to his immigration to Canada he served with Thames Valley Police as a police constable, and with the UK military including active service with 29 Commando Regiment RA and 15 (UK) Psychological Operations, 1 Military Intelligence Brigade.

His current research is, Information Exploitation: Criminal Intelligence and Green Criminology. Specifically researching and comparing the practises employed by conservation law enforcement organizations in Africa and British Columbia. Considering various questions regarding the collection, analysis and dissemination of intelligence the research will determine if these methodologies support strategic conservation law enforcement policies.

David lives in beautiful British Columbia with his wife Jenny, two children, three dogs and a goldfish.

Dr. Chris R. Shepherd

Advisory Board Member

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.

Dr. Kristen Walker

Advisory Board Member

University of Calgary, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 2011
University of British Columbia, PhD in Animal Welfare, 2010
Portland State University, MSc in Biology, 2005
San Diego State University, BSc in Biology, 1999

Dr. Kristen Walker has studied wildlife for the past 20 years. She holds a PhD in Animal Welfare and she is currently on faculty in the Applied Animal Biology program at the University of British Columbia.  Kristen teaches and conducts research in the area of compassionate conservation – a discipline that aims to address the issues in the conservation of wild populations of animals by respecting the inherent values of individuals. Kristen has studied a variety of species including giant pandas, sea otters, and sea lions. Currently Kristen’s work is focused on identifying humane deterrents systems for urban coyotes that allow for greater co-existence in Vancouver. 

Help Make A Difference

Join The Fur-Bearers today and help us protect fur-bearing animals in the wild and confinement. To become a monthly donor (for as little as $10/month – the cost of two lattes) please click here and help us save lives today. Your donation is tax-deductible.

About Us

Established in 1953, The Fur-Bearers is a charitable, non-partisan organization whose goals are to end the commercial fur trade and promote solutions for wildlife coexistence in communities. Your donation is tax-deductible. Charitable registration number: 130006125RR0002

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