Solutions for the International Waters of the Salish Sea

Mindy Roberts joined the Washington Environmental Council (WEC) in 2016 to lead the People For Puget Sound program, where she can dedicate time to improving and maintaining the health of our unique ecosystem. Her previous work focused on identifying sources of contamination to Washington’s waters – streams, rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound – and designing management plans for the Department of Ecology. She has a serious nerd background, with environmental engineering degrees from Berkeley (BS), MIT/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (MS), and UW (Ph.D.). Mindy’s specialties are tackling complex problems and communicating solutions with decision-makers. In her spare time, she can usually be found teaching mountaineering, climbing the high peaks of the Cascades and Olympics, kayaking Puget Sound, managing a forest preserve on the Kitsap Peninsula, or traveling and diving around the world with her husband Jim. Mindy is a proud Tacoma resident.

 Christianne Wilhelmson has been the Executive Director of the Georgia Strait Alliance (GSA) since 2010 after spending 6 years as the organization’s Clean Air and Water Program Coordinator. She is an Ontario transplant who came to BC in 1995 to pursue a MSc in ecology at UBC and, like so many, stayed on after graduation. Past experience includes time as a lab technician and freelance science writer. Christianne leads Georgia Strait Alliance’s government and media relations efforts, along with supporting GSA’s strategic campaigns and programs. She has a deep passion for social change and connecting with people across sectors to build a better future for our communities. Christianne sits on the Advisory Board of the Salish Sea Institute and is a Founding Board Director and Vice-President of The Elbow Theatre Society. She was a 2018 nominee for the YWCA Women of Distinction Award – Metro Vancouver (Environmental Sustainability). In the past, she has been a Director of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Canadian Women Voters Congress, and the Conservation Voters of BC. In her time off, she enjoys yoga, cooking/baking, kayaking, gardening, reading and sailing with her husband. She is an aunt to 7 amazing kids and godmother to 3 more.