Sarah McNeil is our Acting Executive Director!

CPAWS-BC is delighted to announce Sarah McNeil as Acting Executive Director, effective September 09, 2024.

Sarah joined CPAWS-BC in May of 2017, and has previously held the roles of Development Manager and Operations Director within the organization. To her new role of Acting Executive Director, she brings a wealth of experience in donor relations and nonprofit management, a passion for building strong teams, and an unwavering commitment to the CPAWS-BC mission.

“It’s an honour to be stepping into the role of Executive Director right now,” Sarah says. “I’m incredibly proud of the work that the CPAWS-BC team has done over recent years to build momentum for Indigenous-led conservation, advocate for the permanent protection of lands and waters, and hold the government to account to safeguard Nature right across BC. We’ve seen important gains in a number of places, including the signing of the Trilateral Nature Agreement and the release of a Coastal Marine Strategy to protect biodiversity and the well-being of coastal communities.

“At the same time, we recognize the continued threats to lands and waters right across the province. There’s so much work to be done to ensure that Nature is protected in a way that supports habitats, wildlife, and humans now and into the future. I’m excited to be leading such a strong team at this important moment.”

Prior to joining CPAWS-BC, Sarah worked for numerous environmental nonprofits, and holds a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Education. She credits her nuanced perspective on conservation to growing up in a small town in BC’s interior, where outdoor recreation, nature appreciation, and resource extraction exist side-by-side. She also has the greenest thumb on the team, and will bring tomatoes and zucchinis to meetings in August.

Sarah looks forward to sharing more about her vision for CPAWS-BC in the weeks and months to come. In the meantime, the CPAWS-BC team remains focused on their core work of advocating for Nature.