OSCA Voluntary Board of Directors

Chair - Sally Kilburg (BS, JD)

Sally moved to the Okanagan after a 25 year career as a lawyer. She has worked on several environmental initiatives over the last 20 years, including the restoration of a degraded urban stream, construction of a native plant nursery, and a commission to limit firestorm hazards in the urban, parkland and open space interface. She currently works as a real estate professional with Sutton Power 1 Realty in Penticton.

Vice Chair - Liz Dieter (MEd, BEd)

Liz holds a post-graduate certificate in Gifted Education and post-graduate diploma in Systems Analysis. She is an International Educational Consultant, with many years education experience in Australia in Music (K-12), Science and Technology (K-8), then as a consultant organizing curricula, conferences and workshops for teachers.  She and moved to the Okanagan in 2001 and is currently a Realtor with Re/Max Penticton Realty.

Treasurer - Pat Evans (BA)

Pat has had a long career in financial services and is currently a mortgage broker with Verico Complete Mortgage Services. She grew up in Montreal and Vancouver and, like many people, moved to the Okanagan to enjoy the weather and fantastic lifestyle. She loves exploring and learning about the Okanagan Valley, and enjoys spending time in her garden and with her dogs. Pat is a member of Penticton Women In Business and Penticton Okanagan Rotary Club

Judy Brock (BA, CEd)

Judy moved to the Okanagan over 40 years ago and taught at OK Falls Elementary. She and her husband bought part of the historic Oliver ranch in 1970 and became immersed in agriculture and the environment. She served on the board of the South Okanagan Civil Liberties Society and Legal Services Office--active in the “Law talks” series. She has been on her local RDOS Advisory Planning Committee for 30 years and was a founding director of OSCA and former chair of the SOSCP outreach team.

Sharon Mansiere (BSc, BA, MSc)

Sharon is a biology professor at Okanagan College in Penticton and conducts ongoing research on bird vocalizations and vertebrate fossils. Sharon has worked as a biologist in Mexico, California, Vancouver Island, and Haida Gwaii where she found the first active Marbled Murrelet nest. Sharon is active in the Summerland community and Summerland schools where she promotes conservation and awareness about habitats and species.

Fraser Sime (ASc, BSc)

Fraser recently retired as a Senior Environmental Scientist with the California Department of Water Resources where he was Chief of the department's Water Quality and Biology, and Watershed Management programs for Northern California. He has over 35 years experience providing technical assistance in program design and administration, restoration project design and implementation, and grant program management in watershed, water and natural resource management fields.

Ellen Simmons (BSc)

Ellen works with Forrex (Forum for Research and Exchange in Natural Resources) as an Indigenous knowledge extension specialist with a focus on habitat enhancement and restoration. She is also a biology teacher with the En’owkin Center, using an integrative approach to science from Indigenous and western views. Ellen is the biologist at ECOmmunity Place. Her interests include boreal forest fauna, silviculture, restoration, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge.