Team Members

Lesley Fox is the Executive Director of The Fur-Bearers. She holds a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies from Royal Roads University, a certification in Humane Education, and multiple credentials in nonprofit management, marketing and communications. Lesley lives with her partner on Vancouver Island, on the traditional territories of the Hupacasath and Tseshaht First Nations.

Michael Howie is an award-winning journalist and Director of Communications at The Fur-Bearers. He supports campaigns through storytelling, education, and strategy. He also hosts Defender Radio and The Switch. Michael lives in Hamilton, Ontario, on the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Mississaugas.

Christine is a development professional with a deep admiration for animals and a dedication to improving their lives. She holds degrees in English, Biology, and Zoology from U of T, and a Journalism post-grad from Concordia. She lives in Toronto on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit and Haudenosaunee peoples.

Marcy has been helping wildlife since 2003—from rehab to advocacy. She worked on the Burrard Inlet oil spill response and served on multiple wildlife and humane science boards. Marcy lives and works in North Vancouver, BC, on the traditional territories of the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, and Musqueam First Nations.

Sydney is a graduate of BCIT’s Marketing Communications program. She blends her love of storytelling and advocacy to help build change through social media. Sydney lives in Vancouver, BC, on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples.

Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Guelph where she studied human-African wild dog conflict and conservation in Botswana, Africa. Valli has always been interested in the human dimensions of wildlife, in particular, humans’ relationships with large carnivores, she collaborated with The Fur-Bearers on a research project exploring Canadians’ perceptions of and knowledge about wolves. Valli is also passionate about dogs, and advocates for dog welfare through her Instagram channel @thelivesofwilddogs. In her spare time, she runs a pet pantry at her local community centre for pet guardians experiencing pet food insecurity. Valli lives on Treaty 1 Territory, the Treaty Territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline and Nehethowuk Nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis.

Jeffrey Phillips is Lead - Government Relations at the Fur-Bearers. He is Managing Director of Dawson Strategic, a policy research consulting company. Jeff is a Fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, an Expert on the Technical Support Group for the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime, and an Ambassador for Wild Tomorrow. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management from Carleton University, and a Master of Arts Political Science from the University of British Columbia. He is passionate about nature and the outdoors and currently lives in Toronto, Ontario, on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.