ICO Friends with roles
...above all, we are friends working together...
 Sarah Alam
Facilitator, Young Persons Centre
Sarah is pursuing her Masters degree in Mass Communication with specialization in Electronic Media from University of Karachi. She received her bachelors degree in International Relations from University of Karachi. Sarah has worked as a Student Facilitator and an Academic Facilitator as well as a Youth Representative for the International Assembly of International Education and Resource Network for over six years.
She has been working for more than two years as honorary Secretary General of Young Social Reformers a non governmental organization working for youth empowerment. She also had the opportunity to work as a Higher Education Program Coordinator for a leading school system of Karachi on a short term contract. Her areas of interest are International Relations and Social Services as well as writing, debates and reading.
Sarah is based in Karachi, Pakistan
 Lindsay Baigent
Facilitator, ICORD Centre
Lindsay Baigent spent her early days studying Latin and music theory, an unusual occupation for a girl born and raised in a gold mining town in South Africa. In retrospect, this was time well spent, as it set the foundation for a long career developing and debugging software code in support of decision making. Lindsay has the privilege of being the middle child in a family of 4 boys, with a mother who still encourages her to follow her heart and a father who still encourages her to remain grounded, 40-something years later. Lindsay relocated to Victoria, Canada in 1997 with her sons, Kyle and Ryan, her greatest love and inspiration. She is presently gearing up to do her Masters degree in Data Warehousing and Data Mining.
Lindsay is based in Victoria, BC, Canada
 Chris Bailey
Member, International Board of Advisors
Born in Norwich and brought up in rural England, Chris obtained an honours degree in Law from London University and was admitted to the Bar in London. Involvement in executive and management training resulted in his becoming a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a staff member of the Parliamentary Ombudsman before joining an international firm of accountants to set up a specialist business valuation department. Since 1993 he has been a valuation specialist for businesses worldwide. He is a Founder Member of the Society of Share and Business Valuers and a Member of its Governing Council.
As a child Chris was shown life in post-war slum areas of London and Leeds, a far cry from his rural upbringing, and ever since he has been concerned to work to improve the lot of those who suffer through inequality and injustice, particularly young people. He was involved in the Scout Movement for over 45 years and founded a Scout-based initiative offering training and practical initiatives to socially deprived children and young people. He has also been a co-ordinator for Operation Raleigh and a trustee of a charity established to encourage the development of underprivileged young people.
Chris has a vision of a world of tolerance and caring. He acknowledges that greed, hatred and selfishness will always militate against this, but does not regard this as an excuse to allow these evils to go unchallenged, or those who suffer from them to be unrepresented or friendless.
Chris lives in Essex, England with his wife, Ann, and son Tom.
 Janine Bandcroft
Homelessness Advisor
ICO Vancouver Island Community
Janine attended the University of Victoria and graduated with a BA in English, BEd . and a BC Teacher's Certificate. Prior to her social justice awakening - around 1987 - she was employed in the computer software industry, providing technical and customer support for Vancouver's Basic Software Group and their ACCPAC integrated accounting software.
Nowadays, Janine is the publisher and editor of Victoria's Street Newz which she founded in 2004. Victoria Street Newz is an alternative print media focussed on issues of poverty, homelessness, and environmental sustainability, and it's printed on 100% post consumer recycled newsprint. Street Newz provides employment opportunities for vendors, who sell the newspaper by donation on the streets of Victoria, and it offers a chance for writers to examine some of the concerns surrounding poverty and homelessness. Janine is also a board member with the Prometheus Institute which supports an on-line alternative news source promoting peace, earth, and justice.
Janine is based in Victoria, BC, Canada
 Betty Blount
Member, International Board of Advisors
Betty Blount is the owner of Zena Design Group, an architectural firm which focuses on hospitality and specialty interior architecture and interior design. A few of her projects include the Bellevue Club and Hotel in Bellevue and the Elliott Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seattle, Another aspect of her design focus has been on "homes and houses" for people-in-need. She has designed children's facilities which have provided abused and abandoned children and families a safe, long-term home. She has conducted research on how the design of facilities can act to enhance and support the lives of children-at-risk.
She graduated from the University of Washington with a master's degree in Architecture, and also received a master's degree in Business Administration. She has worked in the fields of architecture, interior design, and facilities planning over the past twenty-five years. She has worked with commercial, institutional and non-profit organizations.
She is a board member of the Pilchuck Glass School, and is also on the board of the Bellevue Art Museum (soon to reopen), and was a board member of the American Society of Interior Designers. She has volunteered with the Seattle Chamber of Commerce - Business Volunteers for the Arts, Project Business for Junior Achievement, and the Northwest AIDS Foundation. Traveling has always been one her passions which has included a few countries in Africa, such as Kenya, Morocco, Madagascar, the Comoros Islands, and Tanzania.
Betty is based in Seattle, Washington, USA
 Kathy Bowes
Facilitator, Friends Centre (Projects)
Hi I am Kathy Bowes and I am a joyful person who loves life. My main career to this point in life was with Air Canada as a Flight Attendant, I love to travel and learn about different cultures, and people. I am currently working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with a goal of becoming a Psychologist.
I have three wonderful teenage boys, 13, 16 and 19 years of age. It is with their encouragement that I am returning to university. My hobbies include gardening, reading, travelling, and volunteering with passions. As my children grew up I was able to volunteer at schools, gyms, clubs and community levels, however I am now honored to be able to give myself to something global. ICO is both a wonderful challenge and an inspiration. I look forward to growing with it and hearing from you.
Kathy is based in Shawnigan Lake, BC, Canada
 Kimara Brilling
Facilitator - Communications
Kimara hails from Vancouver, BC, where she works in television as an editor. Her background in Journalism and Film Production has lead Kimara down a road of discovery and creative storytelling.
In 2007 Kimara was fortunate to spend time in Guatemala working on various initiatives in the Lake Atitlan area. This experience, as well as documentary projects based on humanitarian efforts, have inspired her commitment to a life time of spreading love, compassion and equality for all people.
Kimara is based in Vancouver, BC, Canada
 Geoff Carrow
Facilitator, Special Projects
Geoff is a biologist who found his career niche as a Park Warden on the West Coast Trail of Vancouver Island. He holds a degree in Natural Resource Management from UNBC and a Masters in Environmental Management from Royal Roads University. He was born in Victoria and recently returned to live with his wife, Jody.
Over the last few years, Geoff has been waking to a growing concern within himself about the issues of housing and homelessness in Victoria. As a very grateful homeowner, Geoff believes that everyone has the right to experience a safe, consistent and nurturing home environment no matter their personal circumstances. To Geoff, having a home is not an exclusive privilege, it a basic human right that must not be denied to anyone. These concerns and beliefs eventually led him to ICO where he welcomes the opportunity to lend his energy and ideas and open mind to affecting positive social change in his community and worldwide.
Geoff is based in Victoria, BC, Canada
 Bob Chapman
Secretary, Board of Directors
Born in West Ham in the East End of London, Bob entered the accounting field in 1952 and continued in that field until his "retirement" in 1993. Bob has since operated his own small accounting/book-keeping company and now has one employee.
Since his "retirement" Bob has been very involved in his church in Sooke having been the Rector's Warden for two years. He was also a founding member of Vital Vittles Soup Kitchen. Bob recently formed the Sooke Celtic Society and is it's first Treasurer. Bob enjoys the theatre, music (currently learning bass and guitar) and making wine.
He believes in working to make a better world for those less-advantaged than himself and wants to share his knowledge and commitment with the ICO Team.
Bob is based in Metchosin, BC, Canada
 Kathleen (Kit) Chapman
Treasurer, Board of Directors
A Victoria born Certified General Accountant (CGA), Kit has a long career working for the Federal and Provincial Governments. She headed the B.C. Government's project to move to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
Kit was Director of the group responsible for preparing the financial statements of the Province of B.C. Her position gave her a major say in the development of the accounting systems of the Government of B.C.
Kit was an active member of her church and sat on the Parish Council. The church opened Vital Vittles in Sooke and through this connection she has become aware and interested in the plight of the homeless and disadvantaged.
Kit is based in Metchosin, BC, Canada
 Kathy Coster
Facilitator, Atitlan Communities
Kathy was born on Long Island, NY, raised in rural New Hampshire, attended the University of New Hampshire and Institut de Touraine, Tours, France. She lived and traveled in Europe for 2 years and is fluent in French.
After living in the San Francisco Bay area for three years, she married and settled in Vancouver in 1969. She moved to Duncan, Vancouver Island two years later. In early 1972 she opened Volume One Bookstore, which after many transformations, both personal and professional, was sold in 1999. Her son, Andrew, was born in 1977.
Being "at liberty" has allowed her to participate more in community organizations, activities, elections, and women's groups. She has devoted much time to travels in Mexico and Central America, mainly focusing on learning Spanish. Tutoring English, making pottery and observing elections (in El Salvador) were also highlights of her trips. Last winter she spent 3 exciting months volunteering (stove project, school supplies etc), learning about and connecting with villagers in Guatemala. She looks forward to returning this winter to continue with these projects.
Kathy is based in Duncan, BC, Canada
 Heather Currie
Friends Centre, OurWorld Mag Technical Asst
Heather was born in Saskatchewan and spent the duration of her childhood years in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, BC. She now resides in East Vancouver where she is responsible for marketing and fundraising for a local theatre company. It has always been Heather's vision to find ways to inspire and empower people to create change within their own communities.
In Heather's words..
Through my volunteer experience with various high-profile charitable organizations, I have come to realize that a traditionally structured NGO does not have room for those who have new ideas and new ways of doing things. I am encouraged by the concept of ICO. What better way to work towards change than to shift the balance of responsibility from a head office back to the volunteers! Through the power of communities, I am confident that ICO will assist to produce the results that are so desperately needed in our world.
Heather is based in Vancouver, BC, Canada
 Wally Eamer
Organizational Facilitator
Wally Eamer has worked for 20 years within governments on sustainabilty, environment and protected area issues in western Canada. He currently works in these issues with a group of First Nations/aboriginal peoples of northern Vancouver.Island and adjacent mainland as they implement Ecosystem Based Management with other governments, communities and the private sector.
In 1997 and 1998 Wally also lived and worked in Honduras. He has a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. He loves wilderness hiking and lives in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Wally is based in Metchosin, BC, Canada
 Kerri Elford
Facilitator, Friends Centre
Animateur, Support Collegial Team
Kerri was born in Alberta and spent her childhood/teenage years in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, BC. She has resided in Victoria for over 20 years and considers it home. She works as a Registered Nurse for VIHA at Withdrawal Management Services. Kerri received her training here in Victoria and plans to pursue her Masters in Business Admin within the next year. Kerri€™s career as a nurse has found her in many areas of the health care system, but she feels she has found her true calling working closely with mental health and addiction issues and clients. Kerri is the proud mother of one son Trey, which she considers her biggest achievement to date.
Kerri is based in Oak Bay, BC, Canada
 Lasha Elkuf
Facilitator, Support Centre
Lasha is a Web Developer and Office Administrator with Chemistry Consulting Group Inc. where she is responsible for developing and maintaining various websites, prepares various brochures, advertisements, electronic newsletters and office administration. Lasha has been doing web development for over four years and is always interested and eager to learn new technologies.
Lasha enjoys traveling, walking, Qigong, golf and trying to learn how to play the djembe. On weekends, she spends time giving hot stone massage treatments and learning acupressure techniques.
Lasha is based in Victoria, BC, Canada
 Debbie Futter
Director, New Hope Schools Society
Debbie Futter, born in England but has lived in the Victoria area for most of her life, has many different 'roles' depending on which hat she is wearing. First and foremost she is a single-mother of two grown daughters. Recently Debbie acquired a senior business analyst position with the Emergency & Health Services Commission where she will be working with the BC Ambulance services. Prior to that Debbie was employed at the Ministry of Health for 18 years in the information management division.
Debbie is an alumni of Leadership Victoria but her most fulfilling and challenging role is one of the directors of New Hope Schools Society (NHSS); www.newhopeschoolssociety.com. Debbie co-founded this small but dedicated society with her friends John and Nedra Gates and they have been busy working on a primary school/community development project in rural Uganda since 2000. Debbie uses her skills in administration and project management to oversee the running of NHSS here in Victoria in tandem with the Gates' who have had the main role of overseeing things in Uganda. A person of faith, Debbie knows this work makes up a large part of her life's calling but it is challenging being half-way around the world from the project most near and dear to one's heart.. Debbie's long-term goal is to see the building of the school completed and related other community development projects in place before she retires in the next 8-10 years and then be able to go and visit for longer periods of time as well as enjoy other parts of the globe.
Debbie is based in Victoria, BC, Canada
 Luz Gonzalez
Web 2 Designer
Luz is an Information Technology professional with a Bachelor of Computer Science.
Luz will be working with John Mitchell and Lasha Elkuf to develop online applications and databases to enable Web 2 fully within ICO. Luz will also be designing the ICO Spanish language website as well as liaising with the ICORD Centre for future database developments.
Luz is based in Victoria, BC, Canada
 Anthony Hendriks
Member, Board of Directors
Anthony has been a Victoria native since the age of nine. For the major part of his working life, he has been employed in the financial services industry, first with a major trust company and more recently as an independent advisor.
Anthony is a family man with three children and is a member of St. Philips Anglican Church in Victoria. He is a published songwriter and trumpet player. Anthony first became involved in ICO through relationships developed while a member of Faith in Action in Victoria.
Anthony is based in Saanich, BC, Canada
 George Holmes
Animateur, Housing Canada Collegial TeamFacilitator, Operations Centre
George was born in Lethbridge, Alberta. Interested in construction, he took an Architectural Technology course in Calgary before moving to British Columbia in 1970.
Working in the mortgage industry for over 25 years, he also became involved in non-profit housing in the early 1980€™s and has continued in that field to the present time as a board member, in management, or as a consultant for several different societies. George€™s involvement with other housing providers brings ICO his unique background in developing and managing affordable housing projects for families, seniors and persons with mental illness or addictions.
In George€™s current role, Director, Operations Centre, he is responsible for the physical operation of our existing housing facilities, and is working collectively with other ICO Friends on the re-development of our Gorge Road property in Victoria.
George has done several renovation projects, and built a number of residential units in the €œfor-profit€ field. His educational credits also include Property Management and Strata Management.
A resident of Sooke, BC since 1995, George has served as a volunteer with many organizations in his community. He is currently the Unit Leader of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary -Pacific, Unit 37 Sooke; and the President of the Juan de Fuca Marine Rescue Society. This Society is a registered charity and raises all of the funds required for the purchase and maintenance of their rescue vessel and safety equipment used by the search and rescue crew of Unit 37.
George is based in Sooke, BC, Canada
 Johanna Kalkreuth
Facilitator, Sustainability Centre Johanna was born in rural Alberta but spent some of her childhood in Aachen, Germany, and much of it traveling to visit family. From an early age Johanna was interested in discovering new people and places and she continues to explore. Johanna completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Halifax, NS, combining sciences with the arts by majoring in both Environmental Science at Dalhousie University and Contemporary Studies at the University of King€™s College. Johanna€™s interest in the environment and issues of sustainability began with the development of an €environment club€™ at the age of 9, and was carried forward into her work at the university. She completed a thesis on forestry and forest succession, coordinated Dalhousie€™s first annual Environmental Research Symposium (which subsequently granted her and fellow organizers the Dalhousie Senate Environment Award), and wrote extensively on the philosophy of science, calling for a more holistic and dynamic approach to environmental issues. Johanna also found the opportunity in Nova Scotia to work on several organic and biodynamic farms, thus gaining some hands on experience in the art of sustainable living. She is keen to join the Innovative Communities Institute team in order to put some of her experience with issues of sustainability to use and to continue to learn and explore new ideas. Johanna€™s other great passion in life is horses, and she recently began an Equine Facilitated Mental Health internship at Healing Hooves in Cremona. This allows her to work with horses with the goal of working with them to help people. It is her eventual goal to go back to school and complete a Master€™s of Counselling in order to be able to run her own practice. She currently also works at an environmental consulting firm doing contaminated site assessment and remediation work. Johanna is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at this time.
 Richards (Victor) Karunairajan
Ambassador for South Asia
Volunteer community work has been a part of my life as a parallel activity with my profession as a journalist. My main areas of concern have been focused on children, young people and their families. Apart from these, as a journalist I have done a great deal of work with organic agriculture, appropriate technology, rural communities, temperance and drugs, and community social volunteerism and that in Canada is very much involved with the problems of Tamil migrants in Ontario, especially Toronto.
I have actively worked in Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, the Philippines where I did a diploma programme in Rural Social Leadership, the Republic of Seychelles, Sweden and Canada. In 1972 I set up with my own funds a rural community project (Serendeebam) mainly to provide early childhood education but also to be actively involved in grass root community programmes like Home Farms, Biogas Technology, Free Legal Services etc.
In October 2007 I am joining up with a project working with orphan children in India as a resident volunteer. This is an educational complex that has also encouraged non-orphan children to participate in it along with the orphans who are residential. My main task would be to help with the teaching of English and for this encourage young university graduates and undergraduates to be volunteers for terms of six months to an year from Canada, USA, the United Kingdom and Australia mainly from the South Asian Diaspora. The volunteers will be encouraged to do their own research in various areas of their interests focused wherever they are doing their volunteer work.
I love Indian classical music and dances and recently published a book titled Dances of India. I have two more books almost ready for publication, one of which is "Essays for children and young people."
I have just reached the 71st milestone and quite healthy and active and I intend to die with my boots on!
Victor is based in Brampton, Ontario, Canada
 Sol Kinnis
Facilitator, Cooperatives Centre
I came to ICO-CHRF through combined interest in housing, ecological sustainability and co-operatives. I'm passionate about finding innovative solutions for making my home town of Victoria a healthy, livable and socially just city and creating models that can be applied in other parts of the world. While much of my work has been as a researcher, I like the adventure of participation and creating something new.
I have been active in the environmental and social justice movements both at home and in Latin America. Currently, I'm working for both the BC Institute for Co-operative Studies and am helping develop the Roofs and Roots Housing Co-operative. My greatest love is being a mama.
Sol is based in Victoria, BC, Canada
 Sheldon Kitzul
Facilitator, Social Development Centre
Sheldon has been involved in affordable housing initiatives and issues in Kamloops, BC before moving to Victoria, BC, Canada. As administrator for a small non-profit agency, he developed a governance structure to carry them into the future. More recently, he has worked as the Housing Coordinator for a non-profit agency to develop a guide to maintaining and locating housing for clients in Kamloops.
Sheldon worked with the local Working Group on Homelessness and continues to sit on the Sustaining Community Partnerships Committee, a province-wide group dedicated to developing partnerships with business and governments to address homelessness in BC.
His background as a social worker with a passion to eradicate homelessness and to build a more inclusive and compassionate community reinforces the strong pro-active mandate of the ICO Social Development Centre. Sheldon, his wife and two children live in Victoria, BC, Canada.
Sheldon is based in Victoria, BC, Canada
 Yvon LaChapelle
Resource Advisor
ICO Institute
Yvon Lachapelle has 25 years experience in Organizational Development and Employee Training and Development mostly in large national organisations. Yvon has spent the last 10 years as an independent consultant providing individual and group coaching to leaders, managers and supervisors to support them in the attainment of business goals and competency development.
Yvon is Past-President of the International Coach Federation, a professional association of personal and business coaches and is also a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) of the Order of Human Resources Professionals of Quebec.
Yvon is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
 Sabine Laubental
Facilitator, Micro-Credit Centre
I received my Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Victoria and have long been interested in advocacy work and empowerment issues. Prior to my degree, I was, for many years, a foster parent for children with special needs. After graduation, I worked in a variety of positions, including teaching life skills, counselling abused women and as an employment counsellor. More recently, I initiated and helped develop an eye care program in Kapasseni, Mozambique. Learning more about the needs in developing countries has led me to be inspired by the effectiveness of microcredit. And the huge difference it can make in the lives of individuals, families and communities.
Despite being legally blind, I enjoy singing in a community choir, am an avid listener of Talking Books, enjoy good music and film, and love to get €down and dirty€™ in my garden.
 Jacqueline Mealing
In Jacqueline's words...
I am a retired school teacher living in Kaslo B.C. Over the last 14 years, I have been fortunate to find a great purpose, and fulfillment in my life, through the organization of Hand to Hand Cooperative, working around the Lago de Atitlan area of Guatemala.
I enjoy the challenge of discovering a needy situation in a village, doing a lot of listening, then working together with the people, on a plan to bring back vitality and prosperity. This requires finding creative ways to help people overcome obstacles, and to discover the creative passion in each person, that will ultimately become the energy force that empowers.
My teaching background in art enables me to see the potential often hiding in the individual. My greatest joy is to see the light in the eye when the individual discovers the confidence that makes the difference. I am eternally grateful for the gift of love I have been given by these people.
Jacqueline is based in Kaslo, BC, Canada
 Dr. David Millar
Chair International Board of Advisors
David is a University Professor (now semi-retired in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.) Most recently David taught at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. David also taught Internet Research for Athabasca University online, and a wide range of subjects at the University of Alberta - Canadian studies, Canadian history and literature, world religions and cultures, environmental issues and research methods.
His original specialty was labour and social history and over the past thirty years has organized a number of oral history projects in various parts of Canada. David has also been a naval officer, navigator, scuba diver, union organizer, film maker (National Film Board), librarian and health food wholesaler. He is active in peace and environmental movements and is fluent in both French and English and a smattering of other languages.
David is based in Montreal , Quebec, Canada
 John Mitchell
President
Chair, Board of Directors
John's career as a human resources executive, management consultant and lecturer led him to the challenges of integrating communications technologies to enable positive social change and bring about a more just and compassionate world. To that end he started in 1989 the conceptualization and planning of what became ICO and began to assemble a worldwide team connected together by the Internet. He is Co-Founder of ICO along with Bill Robson. John focusses to human resources and organizational development with strong and open fiscal management. (Bill focusses to Facilities and Property Development).
In his career as a human resources executive, John developed and introduced the first Employee Assistance Program in the BC Forest Industry as well as Employee Involvement Programs which flattened traditional organizational structures. Responsible for the largest operations department at Expo 86 with 650 employees, John enabled quality circles and devoluted management which received wide notice in the media. John has taught organizational behaviour, management and labour relations on the part-time faculty of the School of Management of the British Columbia Institute of Technology as well as other colleges and universities as a guest lecturer.
Whilst in the UK 1994-8, John was a co-founder and was responsible for the management and development of CARLA which successfully orchestrated the changes to Residential Leasehold laws and brought positive fundamental change to millions of households by introducing Commonhold. During that period, John was appointed by Lord Lytton as Chairman, to the Board of the Leasehold Advisory Service. CARLA was recognized in the House of Commons for it's work and capability as the largest leasehold reform organization in the UK.
John believes that governments, public servants and non-profits should be open and accountable. His work has received considerable media coverage including the Times of London, featured in TV and Radio programs as well as numerous newspaper and magazine articles.
He volunteers with ICO and enjoys sailing, travelling, music, researching and writing a 5 volume socio-historic study of his family back to 1600. John has been involved with the Scout Movement as a President and District Commissioner. He and his wife, Christina, live in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He has two adult children and three grandchildren.
John is based in Victoria, BC, Canada
 Heather Murphy
Facilitator - Administration (World Centre)
Heather is a retired Executive Administrative Assistant having worked mostly with the British Columbia Provincial Government. In 2002 I had the privilege of touring Guatemala with Jacqueline Mealing witnessing first hand the amazing work being done by her and other volunteers in the villages surrounding Lake Atitlan but principally in San Antonio Palapo. I have been supportive of this initiative ever since and am happy to have been asked to assist in an administrative capacity.
 Isaac Andrew Musake
Facilitator, Busabaga Community
Isaac is based in Busabaga, Uganda
 Sean Peters
Member, Board of Directors
Sean is currently completing the final year of his studies in both Business and Anthropology. As a student on campus, he has held executive positions in the Business Administration Student Society, and is also the founding member of the International Business Association. He has also competed against MBA students from UBC and Royal Rhodes in a CESR Case Competition, in which his team received first place.Off campus, Sean has also been active in his community. In January of 2007, Sean took two semesters off of his university career. He joined together with Shawn Smith and Christina Wu to co-found Global Agents for Change. Their goal was to make an impact on the world, by improving the lives of impoverished people worldwide and encouraging youth in their own communityto get involved in social change. Their first project, Riding to Break the Cycle, raised $31,000 to build Canada's largest youth-built microcredit fund. In their second year, they're expected to raise this fund to $120,000.Sean is also very active in his research into material culture, and is a founding member of the Vancouver Material Culture Research Group. Their ongoing projects include an investigation into how the bicycle is contextualized within different cultural environments, and an in-depth historical and ethnographic investigation into the production of tea in India. Sean will be presenting his findings in Liverpool in September 2008.
 Bill Robson
Vice-President
Executive Vice-Chair, Board of Directors
Bill studied Commerce at Simon Fraser University and has been a realtor for over 25 years. He is the Co-Founder of ICO along with John Mitchell. Bill focusses to Facilities and Property Development (John focusses to human resources and organizational development). Bill's professional insights and wide-ranging mind coupled with a deep sense of integrity bring a great capability to the InnovativeCommunities.Org Foundation.
Bill has a passion for sustainability and the environment and social justice. He has visited Guatemala on many occasions and was the driving force behind the first ICO Inititiatives in Guatemala which eventually led to more comprehensive partnerships and involvement of existing organizations into ICO.
Gardening, nature and ultra micro-brewing (a passion he shares with John Mitchell) are just some of his hobbies.
Bill and his wife Jackie live in Victoria, BC, Canada.
 Richard L. Shorten
Organizational Facilitator
ICO Institute
Richard is currently the General Manager of a Transport Company in Victoria, BC, Canada, an employee owned company with 89 vehicles. He has also maintained an accounting / bookkeeping practice for business clients over the past 12 years. Prior to assuming his current position in 2007, Richard held a variety of sales and marketing management positions over a 30 year period.
These experiences included 7 years as Project Manager with Reader€™s Digest / MacLean Hunter Publishing, where he coordinated fundraising activities in the public school system on the Island and Sunshine Coast. In this capacity he worked with parent groups in conducting motivational speaking engagements to groups as large as 1200 volunteers. Previous to this, Richard was Leader of Sales Training with Meridian Foods in BC, Ontario and Ohio, providing field training and sales rep rejuvenation. As Director of Franchise Development for Eastern Canada with DQFP / DQ, he was charged with facilities design and development, as well as cost / benefit analysis for viable operations.
Through these roles Richard has honed effective planning and organizational management skills. An experienced trainer and presenter, he has developed and delivered a range of training initiatives that include sales techniques and professional development. He is also a strong believer in team building and mentoring.
Richard has a B. Sc. In Commerce from the University of Detroit Mercy and Mechanical Engineering Technology from Ryerson Polytechnic.
An active volunteer in the community, Richard is a Math Tutor with Literacy Victoria and a Mentor with Leadership Victoria. Proud Dad of two wonderful sons, Ryan a Director of Operations, Eastern Canada for Chez Cora, and Rik a Special Effects Supervisor for CSI, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
 Shawn Smith
Vice-President
Member, Board of Directors
Shawn Smith is the Co-Founder and President of Global Agents For Change and is a 2005 Graduate in Business with an extensive educational background in finance from Simon Fraser University in Canada. Shawn is a social change catalyst and social entrepreneur seeking to create massive and meaningful impact on global poverty and has professional experience in communications and strategic consulting, retail banking, and property development. He has reached hundreds of youth and adults with messages of global citizenship and the power to impact our world and was a recent keynote speaker at the UN Symposium on Philanthropy 2.0 in Prague. He also has intermediate knowledge of Spanish and Mandarin and high cultural sensitivity after working, studying and traveling widely in China, South America and Europe.
Shawn set out for a conference in Halifax in 2006 and ended up on the ride of his life. Inspired by conference speaker and microcredit guru Dr. Muhammad Yunus, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, Shawn and his classmates founded Agents of Change (now Global Agents For Change), a BC-based non-profit organization helping to fight global poverty.
GAFC raises awareness and money for microcredit loans which are distributed by San Francisco-based Kiva.org to those in developing countries who need it most. Smith discovered microcredit during his studies in Finance at SFU and the more he learned, the more he came to appreciate the benefits of social entrepreneurship. €œMicro-credit works by extending a small loan to individuals who cannot obtain credit in traditional ways,€ says Smith. €œNobody likes to depend on handouts. Our goal is to provide entrepreneurs with the financial means to lift themselves out of poverty.€
In May 2007, Shawn and his fellow SFU business grads and students embarked on a five-week, 3,000 km bicycle road trip from Vancouver, BC to Tijuana, Mexico to raise funds for microcredit lending. Shawn describes the journey, called €œRiding to Break the Cycle€, as a happy accident and a very organic process. €œIt started with just two of us wanting to bicycle down to Mexico, and our original fundraising goal was just $5,000. As more of our friends learned of the trip, the numbers grew to 21 and we ended up raising over $30,000. Today we have more than 50 people helping out with the organization, either with organizing the bike trips, helping with fundraising events or raising awareness.€ On a personal note, it€™s also opened up a world of opportunities for Shawn. He€™s had the chance to see microcredit in action in Mexico€™s poorest regions and recently traveled to Prague to speak at a United Nations conference.
To date, GAFC has raised close to $40,000 towards its million-dollar goal to provide microcredit loans to more than 50 countries worldwide. And the cycle continues. Global Agents For Change campus clubs began in Fall 2007 as a way to get students involved. And the next €œBreak the Cycle€ tour to Mexico begins on May 31, 2008.
(extracted and edited partly from Simon Fraser University - Alumni Profile, with additions)
 Udara Soysa
FacilitatorInternational Fellow Program
Udara is originally from Sri Lanka and is undertaking an undergraduate scholarship from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. In Sri Lanka he was involved in numerous voluntary activities with non-government organizations including UNICEF, UNAIDS, ILO, Sri Lankan Education Resources Network, Takingitglobal Sri Lanka, World Summit In Information System - Youth Caucus and Idea International.
He is currently the President of Rotaract Club of Oglethorpe. Udara is also a free lance journalist, an editor, an international correspondent for several Sri Lankan and foreign online newswires. He is the author of the non-fiction book "The Lost Cause".
Udara is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
 Sharleen Thompson
Facilitator - Future Communities
I am excited about being part of team that is truly innovative in creating a useful network that matches needs in Lago Atilan to resources around the world. It is my hope that these innovative communities will be practical, effective and resistant to abuse. Lake Atitilan Project is just the start of a dream I hope to grow in Guatemala and beyond. The intellectual aspects of my personality are dominant and will be used in these creative projects.
I have a MSc. in neurochemistry from the department of Psychiatry at University of British Columbia, but really am a Jack of all trades and Master of none. My work has been in both medical research and in various counselling roles. My jobs have included teaching at the University and college levels as well as working for NGO's and governments. As a volunteer, I have coordinated a lot of events including handicapped games, church events, Environmental Justice Camp and the Commonwealth Games. I have worked as a volunteer hospital chaplain and as a missionary for the Anglican Church in Honduras. Currently I am involved with several aspects of Search and Rescue as a team leader, instructor, and Critical Incident Stress Team member. I can function in Spanish though I am not fluent.
As the mother of three young adults, I continue being involved in their lives. I love cooking, gardening, particularly growing most of my own food. Photography, outdoor sports, including back country hiking, canoeing, skiing and other water sports are my ways of relaxing. I also workout regularly and do several forms of dance. Sharleen is based in Metchosin, BC, Canada
 Geoffrey Thornburn
Member, International Board of Advisors
Geoffrey has degrees in Economics from the University of Victoria (BA Hon) and Queen€™s University (MA). Now retired, his entire working career was in the areas of natural resource and environmental economics and policy. For 22 years, he was a Senior Advisor to the International Joint Commission involved in a wide range of environmental and resource management issues along the Canada-United States boundary. A major concern was to encourage integration of science, economics and policy within the developing framework of sustainability. Subsequently, he was a Senior Advisor to Environment Canada€™s Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative concerned with progress towards sustainability and integration of programs at local, regional and international scales in the Vancouver-Victoria-Seattle region.
He was also Adjunct Associate Professor at the School of Public Administration, University of Victoria, and has chaired working groups of the Capital Regional District€™s Roundtable on the Environment as well as the Greater Victoria Community Social Planning Council€™s Quality of Life Challenge, developing and integrating indicators of various aspects of the Capital Region€™s quality of life. Recently, he has focused his interests on local food security and is Secretary of the Board and a Director of the Keating Community Farm Co-operative near Duncan, B.C. with specific responsibility for strategic planning. Geoff is also a professional musician, and he and his wife Olivia are avid gardeners, travelers and dog owners
Geoffrey is based in Langford, BC, Canada
 Lesley Wicks
Facilitator, Micro-Finance Centre
Lesley hails from Portsmouth, in the UK. After graduating from the London School of Economics, she became a solicitor with a national firm, specializing in personal injury litigation, principally for Trades Union members.She resigned from her position as equity partner in 1987, to join her life partner in France, where they restored an old farmhouse, close to Aix en Provence. Just under a year later their son, Alexandre, was born.
Lesley felt he needed a more "English language influence" so she started a bi-lingual pre-school, which she ran until 1993, when the family set sail on what was intended to be a world cruise. They got as far as the Carribbean, thought "nice ere in" and spent the next 3 years cruising, Venezuela,Tobago and Trinidad, where they applied for, and were granted, immigration to Canada.
Upon her arrival in Victoria, Lesley developed a passion for our native flora, becoming involved in a rehabilitation project to remove invasives and replant with native species. She also started a small organic farm, at her home in Central Saanich, growing vegetables and figs.
For the last couple of years, since her partner's death, Lesley has been waiting for something to turn up. Over the 2006 winter she was working in Guatemala on various projects, with the group which has now become the "ICO Atitlan Community" and the "ICO Institute". I'm really excited to be a part of this amazing network of hearts and minds, and even though the techie aspect terrifies me, I can see the vast potential it offers to help "bridge the gap".
Lesley is based in Saanich, BC, Canada
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