Want to gain valuable board experience while helping the environment?
The Board of Directors of COTERC hold elections of the Directors every year during the Annual General Meeting. The Board is elected in a fashion of 50% of the Board Members being elected each year. A Board Member is obliged to hold a position for a minimum of two consecutive years.
We are currently looking to fill the following positions on the Board:
- Director of Marketing
- Director of Special Events
- Director of Grant Writing
- Director at Large (always welcome)
If you are interested in becoming a Member of the Board of Directors for COTERC, please send a letter indicating your interest along with a resume to our Chair, Dr. Kym Snarr, chair@coterc.org
Who are we looking for?
COTERC is interested in persons who have a deep passion for the environment and more specifically tropical ecosystems such as rainforests and tropical marine environments. We are looking for individuals who have experience with environmental charities or non-profit organizations and who have the enthusiasm and self-motivation to take on tasks and complete them in order to meet the goals and objectives of the organization. Experience in the fields of biology, ecology or environmental studies are beneficial but not required. If you think that you can provide the same dedication then we would love to hear from you.
The Board of Directors of COTERC hold elections of the Directors every year during the Annual General Meeting. The Board is elected in a fashion of 50% of the Board Members being elected each year. A Board Member is obliged to hold a position for a minimum of two consecutive years.
We are currently looking to fill the following positions on the Board:
- Director of Marketing
- Director of Special Events
- Director of Grant Writing
- Director at Large (always welcome)
If you are interested in becoming a Member of the Board of Directors for COTERC, please send a letter indicating your interest along with a resume to our Chair, Dr. Kym Snarr, chair@coterc.org
Who are we looking for?
COTERC is interested in persons who have a deep passion for the environment and more specifically tropical ecosystems such as rainforests and tropical marine environments. We are looking for individuals who have experience with environmental charities or non-profit organizations and who have the enthusiasm and self-motivation to take on tasks and complete them in order to meet the goals and objectives of the organization. Experience in the fields of biology, ecology or environmental studies are beneficial but not required. If you think that you can provide the same dedication then we would love to hear from you.
Meet the Board
The Board of Directors of COTERC are a dedicated few who are willing to volunteer their time and energy to help conserve one of the most beautiful, diverse, fragile and vitally important ecosystems on the planet.
Dr. Kymberley Snarr (Chair)
Kymberley has known the station since its inception and joined the Board in 2007, originally in the role of Director of Conservation and Research, and now sitting as Chair. Having earned her collaborative PhD from the University of Toronto as an Environmental Anthropologist, she has carried out research on primates in southern China and Honduras. Taking the anthropological perspective, she has examined the interface between mammals, forests, and people, looking for conservation management solutions. It is her lifelong passion and work in research, conservation, and education which she brings to COTERC and their supporting role for Caño Palma Biological Station.
The Board of Directors of COTERC are a dedicated few who are willing to volunteer their time and energy to help conserve one of the most beautiful, diverse, fragile and vitally important ecosystems on the planet.
Dr. Kymberley Snarr (Chair)
Kymberley has known the station since its inception and joined the Board in 2007, originally in the role of Director of Conservation and Research, and now sitting as Chair. Having earned her collaborative PhD from the University of Toronto as an Environmental Anthropologist, she has carried out research on primates in southern China and Honduras. Taking the anthropological perspective, she has examined the interface between mammals, forests, and people, looking for conservation management solutions. It is her lifelong passion and work in research, conservation, and education which she brings to COTERC and their supporting role for Caño Palma Biological Station.
Greg McLean (Director of Finance)
Greg joined the Board in December 2018 and now serves as Director of Finance. He works as a fund manager at Realstar Group, a private equity real estate investment firm, and holds the CFA and CAIA designations as well as a BCom from the University of Toronto. He is passionate about snowboarding, language learning, and the environment - both built and natural. Greg has scuba certifications from PADI and loves turtles, which is one of the things that attracted him to COTERC.
Greg joined the Board in December 2018 and now serves as Director of Finance. He works as a fund manager at Realstar Group, a private equity real estate investment firm, and holds the CFA and CAIA designations as well as a BCom from the University of Toronto. He is passionate about snowboarding, language learning, and the environment - both built and natural. Greg has scuba certifications from PADI and loves turtles, which is one of the things that attracted him to COTERC.
Doug Durno (Director of Raphia)
Doug has been editing Raphia as a member of COTERC’s Board since 2016. Upon earning a BSc in biology from LSU, Doug promptly headed off into the marketing world. After working for Coca Cola for many years, he retired and took up cycling - long-distance cycling. Following a grueling trek covering 20,000 kilometers and 7 months, friends urged him to write a book about it. And so a book about pain came to pass. That led to a more general interest in writing and a natural progression into editing Raphia. Doug is also a volunteer at the Toronto Zoo.
Doug has been editing Raphia as a member of COTERC’s Board since 2016. Upon earning a BSc in biology from LSU, Doug promptly headed off into the marketing world. After working for Coca Cola for many years, he retired and took up cycling - long-distance cycling. Following a grueling trek covering 20,000 kilometers and 7 months, friends urged him to write a book about it. And so a book about pain came to pass. That led to a more general interest in writing and a natural progression into editing Raphia. Doug is also a volunteer at the Toronto Zoo.
Shelley Hutchinson (Vice Chair)
Shelley learned of the station in 2011 while completing her Ecosystem Management placement. She was familiar with Costa Rica after teaching English in Heredia and as a long-term volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary in Osa. Shelley has been on COTERC's board since 2015, holding the position of Vice-chair. Her undergraduate thesis examined 'factory farming.' Following her undergrad, she was accepted into law school to pursue Environmental Law, including promoting animal rights, though her studies were cut short by a severe motor vehicle accident. Subsequently, she completed a Master's degree with an Interdisciplinary Study (MIS) in Ethnoecology, the scientific analysis of relationships between cultures and the ecology of the environments in which they live. Her ethically based research focuses on responding to the political, economic, and cultural issues raised by specieism. Shelley advocates changing society's attitudes and ethics towards all species through education and policy reform to fight speciesism. Besides volunteering with COTERC, she is active with many other not-for-profit organizations, including the SPCA and the Toronto Zoo. In her association with COTERC, Shelley sees her values aligning with Caño Palma Biological Station's educational goals.
Shelley learned of the station in 2011 while completing her Ecosystem Management placement. She was familiar with Costa Rica after teaching English in Heredia and as a long-term volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary in Osa. Shelley has been on COTERC's board since 2015, holding the position of Vice-chair. Her undergraduate thesis examined 'factory farming.' Following her undergrad, she was accepted into law school to pursue Environmental Law, including promoting animal rights, though her studies were cut short by a severe motor vehicle accident. Subsequently, she completed a Master's degree with an Interdisciplinary Study (MIS) in Ethnoecology, the scientific analysis of relationships between cultures and the ecology of the environments in which they live. Her ethically based research focuses on responding to the political, economic, and cultural issues raised by specieism. Shelley advocates changing society's attitudes and ethics towards all species through education and policy reform to fight speciesism. Besides volunteering with COTERC, she is active with many other not-for-profit organizations, including the SPCA and the Toronto Zoo. In her association with COTERC, Shelley sees her values aligning with Caño Palma Biological Station's educational goals.
Dr. Emily Khazan (Director of Research & Conservation)
Emily joined the COTERC board in early 2020 as the Director of Research and Conservation. Since her tenure as research coordinator in 2015, Emily has maintained connections with the station while working on her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology at the University of Florida. Emily’s research interests include tropical conservation, landscape ecology, and physiology. Her Ph.D. work centered around butterfly community ecology and physiology in the Colombian Andes. Emily now works as an ecologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. She works closely with the research staff at the station and seeks out interested researchers to publish studies from Caño Palma’s robust datasets and to develop new projects to learn more about the ecology of Caño Palma. She is always hoping to return to Costa Rica to visit with giant damselflies, agami herons, and the wonderful residents and neighbors of CPBS!
Emily joined the COTERC board in early 2020 as the Director of Research and Conservation. Since her tenure as research coordinator in 2015, Emily has maintained connections with the station while working on her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology at the University of Florida. Emily’s research interests include tropical conservation, landscape ecology, and physiology. Her Ph.D. work centered around butterfly community ecology and physiology in the Colombian Andes. Emily now works as an ecologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. She works closely with the research staff at the station and seeks out interested researchers to publish studies from Caño Palma’s robust datasets and to develop new projects to learn more about the ecology of Caño Palma. She is always hoping to return to Costa Rica to visit with giant damselflies, agami herons, and the wonderful residents and neighbors of CPBS!
Jess Sutton (Director of Web Services)
Jess joined the board in 2022 as the Director of Web Services. She first visited Cano Palma as a Turtle Monitoring Intern in 2014 and returned as a Research Assistant in 2015, reveling in the rich company and tropical diversity that the station has to offer. Jess now works as a Field Scientist for an environmental consulting company in Monterey, California, where she is also completing her master’s degree in Environmental Science. She is especially passionate about tropical and coastal conservation and hopes to continue pursuing these passions in a professional setting.
Jess joined the board in 2022 as the Director of Web Services. She first visited Cano Palma as a Turtle Monitoring Intern in 2014 and returned as a Research Assistant in 2015, reveling in the rich company and tropical diversity that the station has to offer. Jess now works as a Field Scientist for an environmental consulting company in Monterey, California, where she is also completing her master’s degree in Environmental Science. She is especially passionate about tropical and coastal conservation and hopes to continue pursuing these passions in a professional setting.
Nick Humphreys (Director of Grants)
Nick joined the board in 2022 as the Director of Grants. He began his involvement with COTERC in 2015 when he came to Caño Palma Biological Station as a mixed-taxa intern with an intent of staying for eight weeks, but stayed on for six months, accepting a role as assistant coordinator for the sea turtle monitoring program. He returned in 2016 as a staff member for a full season as the lead sea turtle monitoring coordinator, while also supporting many other monitoring and research initiatives as time allowed. Needless to say, after nearly one and half years at Cano Palma, he viewed it as his second home and still does to this day. He has held positions with the Pennsylvania Game Commission as a whitetail deer biologist aide, as well as with the Florida Department of Agriculture ensuring regulatory compliance with pesticide use. Nick now works as a full time staff wildlife biologist at a renewable energy company supporting the responsible siting and development of solar energy and battery storage projects across the United States. He is also completing a masters degree in the School of Forests, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences at the University of Florida. He continues to have a strong affinity and dedication to conservation and aims to get back to Cano Palma as much as possible, while supporting it from afar in any way he can.
Nick joined the board in 2022 as the Director of Grants. He began his involvement with COTERC in 2015 when he came to Caño Palma Biological Station as a mixed-taxa intern with an intent of staying for eight weeks, but stayed on for six months, accepting a role as assistant coordinator for the sea turtle monitoring program. He returned in 2016 as a staff member for a full season as the lead sea turtle monitoring coordinator, while also supporting many other monitoring and research initiatives as time allowed. Needless to say, after nearly one and half years at Cano Palma, he viewed it as his second home and still does to this day. He has held positions with the Pennsylvania Game Commission as a whitetail deer biologist aide, as well as with the Florida Department of Agriculture ensuring regulatory compliance with pesticide use. Nick now works as a full time staff wildlife biologist at a renewable energy company supporting the responsible siting and development of solar energy and battery storage projects across the United States. He is also completing a masters degree in the School of Forests, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences at the University of Florida. He continues to have a strong affinity and dedication to conservation and aims to get back to Cano Palma as much as possible, while supporting it from afar in any way he can.
Amy Cocksedge (Director of Development)
Amy joined the board in 2022 as the Director of Development. She first visited Cano Palma as a Mammal Monitoring Intern in 2016. Since then she has completed a Master of Environmental Studies and a Master of Science in biology where she focused on wildlife conservation. She currently works for the Government of Ontario. She is interested in multidisciplinary conservation strategies and the interaction between the social and biological sciences for developing sustainable management programs.
Amy joined the board in 2022 as the Director of Development. She first visited Cano Palma as a Mammal Monitoring Intern in 2016. Since then she has completed a Master of Environmental Studies and a Master of Science in biology where she focused on wildlife conservation. She currently works for the Government of Ontario. She is interested in multidisciplinary conservation strategies and the interaction between the social and biological sciences for developing sustainable management programs.
Dr. Roberta Fulthorpe (Director of Data Integrity)
Roberta (Bobbi) Fulthorpe is an Emerita Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Toronto. Her area of expertise is microbial ecology and the study of bacterial genetic elements that encode for xenobiotic degradation, and the nature of bacterial communities in soil, water, wastewaters and in the interior of plants. She has travelled to Costa Rica as a partner instructor in various environmental science field courses, and joined the Board in 2016 after participating in one such course at Cano Palmo. On the board, Roberta is currently archiving the stations data from its numerous monitoring programs. Nothing is more important to her than the protection of biodiversity.
Roberta (Bobbi) Fulthorpe is an Emerita Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Toronto. Her area of expertise is microbial ecology and the study of bacterial genetic elements that encode for xenobiotic degradation, and the nature of bacterial communities in soil, water, wastewaters and in the interior of plants. She has travelled to Costa Rica as a partner instructor in various environmental science field courses, and joined the Board in 2016 after participating in one such course at Cano Palmo. On the board, Roberta is currently archiving the stations data from its numerous monitoring programs. Nothing is more important to her than the protection of biodiversity.
Dr. Nathan Lovejoy (Director of Station Advancement)
Dr. Sarah Ivers (Director at Large)
Brandee Diner (Director at Large)
Dr. Sarah Ivers (Director at Large)
Brandee Diner (Director at Large)
Contact Us
We will do our best to respond to your inquiry as soon as possible. Please note however that our office and administration consists of one person. The information you require may be included in our website.
Mail:
Canadian Organization for Tropical
Education and Rainforest Conservation
P.O. Box 335
Pickering, ON
Canada L1V 2R6
E-mail: chair@coterc.org
Mail:
Canadian Organization for Tropical
Education and Rainforest Conservation
P.O. Box 335
Pickering, ON
Canada L1V 2R6
E-mail: chair@coterc.org