Board of Directors
President: Vinci Au, M.Sc.
Vinci (she/her) has dual passions: genomics and conservation. She completed her M.Sc. in Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of British Columbia in 2021. She has worked in the genomics field for over a decade, and is currently a molecular biologist at the BC Cancer Research Centre helping other researchers understand tumour evolution using single-cell sequencing and CRISPR screens. When she’s not in the lab, she’s engaged in outreach, fieldwork, and lots of behind-the-scenes work at WildResearch.
Vinci has been a member of WildResearch since 2011, served on the board since 2018, and as President since 2022.
Secretary: Kiirsti Owen, B.Sc., M.Sc
Kiirsti (she/her) completed a B.Sc. in Ecological Restoration at BCIT, followed by a M.Sc. at the University of Windsor in Ontario. Her master’s research focused on monitoring bird community and behavioural responses to tropical forest regeneration In 2020, she started a Ph.D. at the University of New Brunswick and Acadia University monitoring wetland bird responses to anthropogenic habitat drivers in Atlantic Canada.
Kiirsti has been a member and volunteer with WildResearch since 2014 and has served on the board since 2018.
Treasurer: Viktorija Juciute, B.Sc
Viktorija (she/her) completed her B.Sc. with a major in Biology in 2020 and is currently working at the University of British Columbia. She joined WildResearch after discovering some beautiful blackbirds in her backyard and wanting to learn more about birds of the Pacific Northwest. In addition to learning about birds, she discovered her passion for outreach and organization.
Viktorija has been a member of WildResearch since 2019, and served on the board since 2022.
Director: Florian Reurink, M.Sc.
Florian is a PhD student at Simon Fraser University developing a procedure for environmental impact assessment through the eyes of a behavioral ecologist. Florian is originally from the Netherlands, he has been passionate about nature for as long as he can remember, and has been involved in conservation efforts for over a decade. He enjoys exploring and employing science-based solutions for conservation and uses a similar approach for environmental impact assessments to have humans and nature live in harmony.
Florian has volunteered with WildResearch since 2014 and has served on the board since 2019.
Director: Myles Lamont, R.P.Bio, C.W.B, E.P, A.Sc.T.
Myles Lamont is a wildlife biologist, zoologist and naturalist hailing from the west coast of British Columbia. He completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of the Fraser Valley majoring in biology and ecology, a past recipient of Wildlife Preservation Canada’s fellowship program, recipient of the International Wild Waterfowl Associations outstanding service award and an active member in many wildlife organisations and NGO’s.
Myles has served on the board since 2016.
Director: Melanie Wilson, M.Sc.
Melanie is a graduate from Dalhousie University and has been working as a biologist for over 10 years. She currently works at the BC Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, responsible for implementing recover and habitat protection for avian species at risk in the South Coast region.
Melanie has served on the board since 2018.
Director: Devin de Zwaan, PhD
Devin (he/him) received his PhD from the University of British Columbia in 2020. He is a behavioural ecologist that specializes in the life-history strategies of songbirds breeding in harsh, variable environments like the alpine. He strongly believes that understanding bird behaviour can better inform conservation decisions. For fun, Devin is a passionate birder and loves exploring remote mountain habitats.
Devin has volunteered with WildResearch since 2013 and has served on the board since 2020.
Director: Quinn McCallum, B.F.A, B.Sc.
Quinn (he/him) graduated from University of British Columbia with his B.Sc. in 2021. He conducted the field work for his honours thesis, on genomic differentiation between Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrows, at IIBO in 2019. Quinn currently works as a curatorial and digitization assistant in the Cowan Tetrapod Collection at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, and holds a B.F.A. from Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
Quinn has been a WildResearch member and volunteer since 2018 and has served on the board since 2020.
Director: Matthias Bieber, B.Sc., M.Env.
Matthias (he/him) grew up in rural Nova Scotia before moving to Montreal to complete a B.Sc. majoring in Applied Zoology at McGill University, followed by a Masters of Environmental Assessment at Concordia University. Since then he has worked with birds and other wildlife across western Canada, obtaining a decade of field experience that includes avian monitoring, consulting, banding, and citizen science for many different projects including IIBO, where he is now a co-program manager. His passion for birds started at childhood and to this day birding continues to be one of his favourite pastimes.
Matthias joined the WildResearch board in 2021 and has been a member since 2015.
Director: Paul Preston, B.Sc., M.Sc.
Paul (he/him) completed his B.Sc. in Animal Biology at UBC in 2011 and his
M.Sc. in Behavioural Ecology at the University of Regina in 2015. His masters research was conducted in the South Okanagan studying Common Poorwills. This interest in nightjars lead him to being involved in the WildResearch Nightjar Survey Program, which has since been transferred to Birds Canada. He has been working at Langara College teaching biology labs since 2015. In his spare time he is an avid birder and gamer.
Paul has been volunteered with WildResearch since 2012 and has served on
the board since 2022.
Director: Sarina Clay-Smith, B.Sc., M.Sc.
Sarina (She/Her) was born and raised in Vancouver, completing a B.Sc in Biology from UBC and completed her M.Sc from the University of Exeter in Conservation and Biodiversity. She has worked and volunteered with many different environmental organizations in B.C., the Yukon, Costa Rica, and the U.K. She is currently the program coordinator with Community Programs at the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
Sarina has been part of WildResearch since 2014 and has been on the board since 2022.