Board of Governors
Governance serves as the bedrock upon which our organization stands, guiding our actions, decisions, and stewardship of the land with integrity and accountability. Meet our Board members and learn more about the vital role they play in shaping the strategic direction, policies, and practices that safeguard our natural and cultural heritage.
Beth Gilhespy
CHAIR
Executive Director, Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy
Beth Gilhespy has been a conservation professional for over 30 years. In March 2024 she became CEO of the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, an organization dedicated to land preservation. Prior to that she was Executive Director of the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy from 2019 to 2024, an organization that secures funds for Toronto Zoo endangered species conservation programs. Between 2004 and 2018 Beth was Chief Executive Officer of the Bruce Trail Conservancy, where she oversaw the preservation of more than 6,500 acres of land along the Niagara Escarpment. Beth also served on the Niagara Escarpment Commission from 2017 to 2019. Prior to her work at the Bruce Trail Conservancy, Beth worked for 15 years as a consultant specializing in the environmental impact of toxic chemicals. She holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in physical geography and geology from the University of Guelph. She is an avid hiker, traveller, fossil collector and self-professed landscape fanatic, and when not enjoying her time on the land, is currently writing her second book on the geology of the Niagara Escarpment.
Daria Koscinski
VICE CHAIR
Executive Director, Thames Talbot Land Trust
Daria is a passionate advocate for nature and for building collaborative programs to care for land and biodiversity. Daria joined Thames Talbot Land Trust in 2014 as the Conservation Property Manager and moved into the role of Executive Director in 2021. She has been actively involved in conservation and land stewardship in Ontario since 2000 through her education, work and volunteer experience with environmental groups. Daria received her BSc and MSc from Queen’s University and her PhD from Western University with a focus on ecology, population genetics and habitat fragmentation. She brings experience related to ecological conservation, land care, partnership development and non-profit management. Daria enjoys spending time in nature, seed collecting, gardening with native plants and sharing her passion for local biodiversity.
Adrienne James
GOVERNOR
Partner, Wilkinson Rogers
Adrienne was born and raised in Goderich and has lived in London since 2007. She graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2005 and obtained her CPA designation in 2008. Adrienne started at Wilkinson Rogers in 2004 as a co-op student and has been a full-time member of the team since 2009. Before returning to Wilkinson Rogers Adrienne gained experience at KPMG and London Life. Adrienne provides exceptional service to a wide range of clients. A committed community volunteer, she previously served as the Treasurer of the Thames Talbot Land Trust and as the President of the London and District Distress Centre. Adrienne is committed to her community and to her clients.
Jenna Siu
GOVERNOR
Biologist, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Jenna Siu is a biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service Branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada. Previously, she spent 5+ years at the Nature Conservancy of Canada as the Coordinator, Conservation Biology for the Greater Toronto Area. She has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and Biology from Queen’s University and a research based Master’s of Science in Biology from Western University. Jenna developed a passion for the natural world primarily through her education and field experiences. She has worked with several species at risk and invasive species across Ontario. She has been involved with various land trusts in southern Ontario since 2013 as a volunteer, employee and board member.
John Kintare
GOVERNOR
Executive Director, Kawartha Land Trust
John Kintare joined Kawartha Land Trust as its Executive Director in 2019. John has over a decade of non-profit management experience from across the country and brings a broad spectrum of experiences from organizations and communities large and small. A permaculture enthusiast, he is dedicated to integrating elements of complex systems to provide benefit both to the ecosystem and the humans who rely on it.
John holds an Honours Degree in Psychology from the University of Waterloo and is a devoted lifelong learner. John lives with his family in Bobcaygeon.
Joyce Chau
GOVERNOR
Senior Program Manager, Evergreen
Joyce is a senior leader who has been working in the non-profit environmental sector for the past 15 years. Joyce was the Executive Director of EcoSpark, an Ontario-based environmental charity, for eight years. In 2020, she joined Evergreen as a Senior Program Manager leading national programs that help make cities more liveable, green and prosperous. Joyce’s expertise lies in leading multi-stakeholder collaboratives, community-based monitoring, policy and governance, education and fundraising. Joyce has successfully led community education and citizen science monitoring programs across southern Ontario. She has been active in numerous environmental committees including the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance, Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network and the Southern Ontario Stream Monitoring and Research Team. Joyce graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science, Honours, in Biology. Joyce also is on the board of the Small Change Fund, a national charity focused on helping communities raise funds for environmental solutions, community engagement, and Indigenous reconciliation.
Katie Akey
GOVERNOR
Legal Counsel for Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services
Katie Akey is former Coordinator for the Turtle Island Conservation Programme at the Toronto Zoo and is currently a practicing Indigenous child protection lawyer. As a non-Indigenous ally, she has dedicated both her conservation and legal career to supporting Indigenous communities throughout Ontario in their efforts to revitalize their relationships with land and community. After working in private practice law in Thunder Bay for several years, she recently returned to her home in the GTA where she practices as In-House Counsel for Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services.
Michael McDonald
GOVERNOR
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC)
Michael McDonald is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC), one of Ontario’s largest land trusts and steward of Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath, the iconic Bruce Trail.
Before Michael joined the BTC as CEO in 2019, he spent over ten years as a volunteer for the organization. Under Michael’s leadership and with the support of the BTC’s staff, Board of Directors, and over 1,400 volunteers, the BTC has been regularly named one of Canada’s Top 100 Charities by Charity Intelligence.
Michael leads a talented team of staff and volunteers who manage over 18,000 acres of protected natural lands along the Niagara Escarpment and more than 1,300 kilometres of trail. Together, these dedicated individuals work to fulfill the BTC’s mission, preserving a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever, while responsibly bringing Ontario communities and people from all across Canada into greater connection with nature.
Michael is a proud graduate of McMaster University and has earned a Master Naturalist Certificate from Lakehead University. In addition to his early volunteer efforts for the BTC, Michael was one of the founding members of the Hamilton Burlington Trails Foundation, previously sat on the board of the Ontario Trails Council, and currently volunteers for the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark. In 2024, Michael was honoured to receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his tireless work to preserve irreplaceable Niagara Escarpment lands and help Ontario communities foster a deeper relationship with our natural heritage through sustainable access to near-urban nature.
Michael formerly achieved the rank of Private in the Canadian Armed Forces (reserves) and is a certified Hike Leader in Ontario. Michael is a lover of nature and deeply values people’s personal connections to natural environments.
Patricia Wilson
GOVERNOR
Founder, Diverse Nature Collective
Patricia Wilson is an environmentalist, community leader and social justice advocate who is passionate about diversifying the environmental field and advocates for proper representation and inclusivity in this sector. In 2021 Patricia founded Diverse Nature Collective (DNC) – a grassroots organization that works to empower, mobilize and create space for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour within the environmental movement and reduce barriers to racialized folks in accessing nature.
Through workshops, collaborative events and gatherings, Patricia creates BIPOC-centered spaces that help racialized folks gain confidence, build skills and connect with each other. She also works with academic institutions, environmental non-profits and other organizations to promote diversity,equity & inclusion practices within their work through an intersectional lense. Prior to her work with DNC, Patricia worked with Kawartha Land Trust ( KLT) for almost 6 years in a variety of roles but most recently as their Community Conservation and Outreach Coordinator. In 2020 she was the recipient of OLTA’s ‘Emerging Land Trust Leader’ award for her work on creating initiatives that promote diversity, equity & inclusion at KLT.
Patricia is now the Community Advocate & Outreach Coordinator for the Community Race Relations Committee of Peterborough which centers her in anti-racism / decolonization education work and advocacy for BIPOC community members.
Samantha Whiteye
GOVERNOR
Community Consultant
Samantha Whiteye is a community leader from Eelūnapéewi Lahkéewiit. She is very passionate and dedicated to her work within Southern Ontario and the Indigenous Communities she actively serves. Samantha comes from grassroots immersed experiences which she utilizes her lived experience and understandings to create space, advocate and lead conversations centering on Truth and Reconciliation. Leading with an ethical two eyed seeing approach Samantha demonstrates leadership as a changemaker in the environmental sector.
Samantha is very knowledgeable and connected to her Lunaapeew/Lenape culture as she continuously weaves the medicine and teachings into her work and daily lifestyle. She is also passionate about ancestral seed sovereignty and hopes it helps build bridges back to identity for her people.
Over the past year Samantha has worked closely with Carolinian Canada Coalition and continues her work in a new role as Indigenous Leadership Director to help shift the narratives in conservation.
Terra Duchene
GOVERNOR
Municipal and Environmental Lawyer
Terra is a practicing municipal and environmental lawyer, and has been committed to caring and learning with the land and nature since a young age when she began growing food and composting. Terra completed her LL.M. with the University of California, Los Angeles, where she specialized in Public Interest Law and worked with the Food Law and Policy Clinic. Terra obtained her J.D. with Windsor Law, where she held positions including Editor-in-Chief for the Windsor Review of Legal and Social Issues, president of the Environmental Law Society and Cycling Association of Windsor Law, and board member of the Campus Community Garden. Terra enjoys foraging and fermenting, and is dedicated to stewardship of land through de-colonial practices, community partnerships that value and prioritize Indigenous ways of knowing, and fostering relationships with land through principles of reconciliation, respect, and reciprocity.
Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) is a registered charity focused on providing community, knowledge sharing and support to land trusts and other groups committed to land conservation across Ontario.
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Connect With Us
- P.O. Box 54, Acton, ON L7J 2M2
- 905-208-OLTA (6582)
- [email protected]