Meet The Team
Derby Reach Brae Island Parks Association is a nonprofit society governed by park association membership and our volunteer Board of Directors.
If you are interested in a leadership role supporting our mission to foster stewardship of the land and education within the parks, please get in touch with us.
Joakim Nilsson
Chairperson
Joakim teaches English at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. He has been a Board member since 2014. He lives in Bedford Landing and frequently runs, cycles, and walks on Brae Island and the Fort-to-Fort Trail.
He enjoys promoting greater awareness and use of regional parks. As a cyclist and a dog owner, he's interested in promoting respectful shared use of trails.
Oliver Cook
Vice-Chairperson
Oliver Cook Studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and will graduate with a Bachelor’s of Horticulture Science, Majoring in Urban Ecosystems and Minoring in Plant Health. Oliver has a passion for nature and conservation. Oliver has lived in Fort Langley for two years and enjoys walking through Derby Reach and Brae Island Regional Parks. Oliver is a co-chair of the ecosystem enhancement committee, where he aims to develop his leadership skills while supporting his local community through environmental stewardship initiatives and education events.
Angie Rai
Secretary
Angie is a dedicated individual with a strong passion for community service and environmental sustainability. Outside of school, she volunteers with various organizations and is actively involved in the Adopt-A-Street program, where she takes the initiative to help maintain clean streets and contribute to environmental care. Angie enjoys spending time outdoors, either by the water or exploring nature trails. By joining the board, she hopes tod eepen her involvement in environmental efforts, build valuable connections, and develop new skills.
Laurel Chiarizia
Treasurer
Laurel is a long-time resident of Langley City. Her professional background is business administration, finance, payroll, and human resources.
She grows a vegetable garden, cultivates various herbs, and flowers attracting bees
and hummingbirds to her yard. Her bird feeders attract a wide variety of species from finches to jays, to woodpeckers and a family of “resident” crows. With a deep-seated love for the natural world, she enjoys daily walks with her dog
Benson, strolls along the Fraser River or forest bathing along the trails at Derby Reach Park.
Sara Alaica
Director-At-Large
Sara Chairs the Langley Bog Restoration Committee hosted by DRBIPA along with community partners Trinity Western University and Metro Vancouver Regional Parks. She helps fund and manage projects to restore the rare species, hydrology, and unique ecosystem of Langley Bog. Sara researched Langley Bog as part of her graduate work in Ecological Restoration from SFU, studying Langley Bog and implementing restoration treatments: reintroducing mosses, and tracking water levels. She is a passionate conversationist and advocate for natural areas.
Lisa Dreves
Director-At-Large
Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) is a long-standing member of the DRBIPA board of directors and they are currently represented by Lisa Dreves. Lisa enjoys dragging her boys for long walks along all the different trails in Derby Reach and Brae Island while taking notes about invasive species and potential planting sites. She has most enjoyed her involvement in the wattle wall plantings along Brae Island with students at BCIT and KPU.
Kunle Adeleye
Director-At-Large
Kunle is a registered professional engineer in the province of BC. He lives in Langley with his family, and they regularly enjoy the outdoors through participation at the various Metro Vancouver Parks events across the lower mainland. One of their favourite parks in Langley is Campbell Valley.
Kunle is also an aspiring runner, having completed several half-marathons, he is now training for a full marathon on the many running trails in Langley. Over the years, Kunle and his family have also volunteered with DRBIPA in planting trees at Derby Reach and bog cleaning at Brae Island. He is keenly interested in contributing to the environmental stewardship efforts of organizations making a positive impact in our communities.
Terri Van Sleuwen
Director-At-Large
Terri lives in Walnut Grove and regularly enjoys walking, with her dog Rosie, on the Fort-to-Fort Trail. She appreciates having access to these beautiful parks and wants to help preserve them so that all of us can enjoy them for many years to come. Terri is a CPA and recently retired from a long career in the B.C. public service who brings strong leadership, financial, and strategic planning experience to the Board.
Nalin Dhillon
Director-At-Large
Nalin has long been passionate about environmental sustainability and volunteering in the local community. His undergraduate degree in Geography at UVic further enhanced his passion, knowledge, and experience with working with the natural environment. The Fort to Fort trail & Derby Reach Park are his favourite spots along the Fraser Salish River, and he is excited and grateful to have the opportunity to make a tangible impact on a local park in his community. He currently work as an epidemiologist with First Nations Health Authority, and during his time working in the public health field, he has grown even more fascinated and aware with how making green spaces accessible and welcoming to the public is important for improving the health and well-being of a community.
Amber McMunn
Program & Volunteer Coordinator
Amber comes from a background in community engagement, event planning, and volunteer management. She is passionate about human rights, environmental conservation, community building, and how they intersect. She has experience working internationally for various non-profits and brings a diverse perspective to the role. She enjoys spending time in the outdoors and strives to make access to nature more accessible.
Amber joined the DRBIPA team in 2024. She loves working with the team to propel our mission forward, supporting community involvement and volunteer engagement in our parks.
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Please contact Amber to get involved with our volunteer conservation program or guided nature walk series.