Research and Services that Support Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems
BC CAHS Board of Directors
BC CAHS has an amazing Board of Directors who generously give time and utilize their diverse experience to provide direction for the Centre's ongoing activities. Drawing upon their experience and affiliations, CAHS Board Members are able to address the needs of a wide variety of stakeholder interests and needs. This experience includes: academic institutions, environmental and conservation organizations, salmon aquaculture, shellfish aquaculture, government, fish health products and consulting services.
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Jim Brackett, DVM
Aquaculture Veterinarian and President, Aquatic Life Sciences
Jim received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Canada in 1980. He has worked with health management in farmed and wild fish and shellfish since 1987.
Dr. Brackett's experience includes health management practices, pathogen identification and control, and the regulatory environment affecting fish health, welfare and the use of pharmaceuticals in the aquaculture industry. He has directed registration efforts for products in Canada, Chile, India, China, Australia and the United States.
Jim obtained funding and started up the non-profit BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences in Campbell River, BC and serves as the Chairman of the Board. He established the fish pharmaceutical contract research company, Atlantic Fish Health Inc. at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island; and served as Chair of the External Advisory Committee of the Canadian Aquaculture Institute.
As Special Advisor to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, he prepared a draft document on revised fish health regulations for Canada. Dr. Brackett has been the principal investigator in a series of surveys to establish a baseline for disease incidence among salmon farms in the Pacific Northwest.
He is a past Board Member of the Mid-Island Science and Technology Innovation Council, a founding member of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association and President and founding member of the Canadian Association of Aquatic Veterinarians. He is a representative of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association on the Consultative Committee for Canada's National Aquatic Animal Health Program and the American Veterinary Medical Association Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee.
Rupert Gale
Fisheries Program Manager - Ritchie Foundation
Rupert spent most of his youth on Salt Spring Island where he developed a passion for salmon fishing. While working on his BA in Economics at the University of Victoria, Rupert took a summer job as a fishing guide at Stuart Island and fell in love with this part of the coast and the lifestyle. After twenty years of pursuing his passion for fishing, travel and skiing, Rupert found that it was time to take on some of life's other adventures and over the last 5 years he has built a home with his partner Diane and is busy raising two young children.
In 2006, Rupert was fortunate enough to be offered the job of developing a fisheries program for the Ritchie Foundation, a private foundation concerned with recovering salmon stocks to healthy levels, especially in the Mainland Inlets area. This is an exciting challenge requiring Rupert to draw on his communication and interpersonal skills in building relationships with a variety of stakeholders, government agencies and First Nations. Rupert has long had an interest in fisheries and the marine environment and studied at the School for Natural Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University as well as working for an environmental organization on marine issues around the Strait of Georgia.
Larry Hammell, DVM, MSc
Professor, Department of Health Management, Director, AVC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island
Dr. Hammell obtained a BSc (Biology) in 1984 from Univ of Guelph, DVM in 1988 from Ontario Veterinary College (Univ of Guelph), and MSc (epidemiology) in 1992 from Atlantic Veterinary College, (Univ of PEI).
Larry worked in private terriestrial animal veterinary practice in Nova Scotia from 1988- 1990.
Larry Hammell, DVM, MSc (Epidemiology), is Director of the AVC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences and Professor in the Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI. Dr. Hammell has been a faculty member in the Department of Health Management at AVC since 1992 and was Coordinator of Fish Health at AVC from 1996 to 2002. As a specialist in finfish health management, Dr. Hammell has a particular interest in applying epidemiology research tools to evidence-based management of aquaculture health issues, and has taught and worked with veterinarians and farmers in many parts of the world, including both coasts of Canada, Chile, Australia, Thailand, and the United States. As an epidemiologist, Dr. Hammell carries out both applied and clinical research in aquatic food production settings, including risk factor studies, clinical field trials, and the development and evaluation of surveillance programs.
Larry participates in the OIE ad-hoc group for aquatic disease surveillance. He led the disease technical working group of the Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue (WWF coordinated) and participated in several national and international steering committees, including the National Aquatic Animal Health Program. In 2009, he was awarded the PEI Innovation Research Chair in Aquatic Epidemiology.
Jim Powell, PhD
Head, Fish Culture Department, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC
Dr. Jim Powell has over 25 years experience in the areas of fisheries and aquaculture sciences and is an established authority on fish reproduction and broodstock management. His primary work has been in the area of fish physiology and adaptive management strategies of fish culture for a range of fresh- and salt-water species. He has extensive experience in aquaculture drug development, testing, registration and implementation. Dr. Powell is a founding Board member of the BC CAHS and has served on the board since inception. His current involvement in fisheries and aquaculture is managing fish conservation and recovery programmes with the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC and maintains a private practice of aquaculture management consulting through Fidelis Aquaculture Management.
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Clare Backman, BSc
Director of Environmental Compliance and Community Relations, Marine Harvest Canada
Clare’s marine biology degree from University of British Columbia and five years of post-degree experience working on fisheries conservation and enhancement surveys and restoration projects set the stage for an aquaculture career that has spanned more than 20 years and that has focused on improving environmental interactions of salmon farming and communicating this work to individuals, communities and First Nations.
As Director of Environmental Compliance and Community Relations for Marine Harvest Canada, Clare’s work responsibilities are vastly diverse. He oversees all aspects of First Nations relations, corporate and external communications and the monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure compliance with all federal, provincial and regional district acts, regulations, licenses and permits. This direct responsibility encompasses the needs of 70 marine farm leases, eight hatcheries, and three lake operations. Despite the demanding requirements of his role, Clare has found time to become a Registered Professional Biologist of BC, to act as a Director for both the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance and the BC Salmon Farmers Association and to provide his expertise as a CAHS board member.
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John Douglas Belshaw, PhD
Associate Vice-President of Education and Research, North Island College
John Belshaw is the Associate Vice-President of Education and Research at North Island College. Based at the Campbell River campus, his role at NIC is to explore and facilitate collaborative research and education opportunities between NIC faculty and students on the one hand, and non-profits, small-to-medium-size employers (SMEs), and local government on the other. Dr. Belshaw was born and educated in British Columbia, has a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and is the author of several books on BC resource and population history.
Stephen Cross, PhD
Associate Professor/Director Coastal Aquaculture Research & Training (CART) Network, University of Victoria and President & CEO, SEA-Vision Group of Companies
Dr. Cross received his M.Sc. at the University of Victoria in marine quantitative ecology and his Ph.D. at the Aquaculture Institute, University of Stirling (Scotland). Although primarily a private-sector research scientist - who has worked with the aquaculture industry for the past 24 years (founder and current President/CEO of the SEA-Vision Group of Companies) - he is also an Associate Professor and Director of the Coastal Aquaculture Research & Training (CART) Network at the University of Victoria in western Canada. His developing research program and commercialization efforts focus on the design and testing of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems - a Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture approach to aquatic food production.
In addition to a director with CAHS, Dr. Cross is also a current Director on the boards of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, the British Columbia Shellfish Growers Association, the Pacific Sablefish Association, the Pacific Organic Seafood Association, and the Land-based Aquaculture Association of Western Canada. He is also President/CEO of the Pacific SEA-Lab Research Society, a not-for-profit that provides a working linkage between the aquaculture industry and academic research communities.
Peter McKenzie, DVM
Aquaculture Veterinarian and Owner/Operator, McKenzie Aquatic Veterinary Services
Dr. McKenzie is a graduate of veterinary medicine from Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. Previous to this, he completed his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. For the past five years, Dr. McKenzie has operated his own veterinary consulting practice specializing in aquaculture health management. Prior to this, Dr. McKenzie spent two years as National Manager Import/Export, Aquatic Animal Health Division with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and three years as an aquaculture veterinarian for a BC salmon producer.
A focus on fish health and welfare underscores Peter’s research and collaborative interests. His projects include several studies for the Canadian National Aquatic Animal Health Program. He is a member of numerous committees including: the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) scientific grants review panel; the Aquaculture Management Directorate’s National Committee on Fish Health Management; and the BC Salmon Farmers Association’s Fish Health Technical Committee. Peter’s knowledgeable and practical approach to problem solving make him a valuable addition to the CAHS board.
Bruce Swift, MSc
Manager, TRI-GEN Fish Improvement Ltd.
Bruce’s educational background (Master of Science degree in Animal Science and an undergraduate Biology degree from the University of Guelph) and ‘think outside the box’ abilities provided the framework for leadership in the aquaculture field. His entrepreneurial skills have contributed to:
- early salmon farming development in BC;
- various genetics programs for salmonids and Atlantic cod (as manager of TRI-GEN Fish Improvement Ltd Bruce continues to work on salmonid selective breeding programs); and
- integrated land-based polyculture of coho with waste nutrient utilization by wasabi, watercress and hybrid poplar (as owner-operator of Swift Aquaculture).
His small scale aquaculture facility has received considerable attention from organizations promoting alternative farm, slow food and 100 mile diet production. Bruce brings great ideas and vision to his CAHS board position.
Terry A. Tebb, CMA
Vice-President Operations, Pacific Salmon Foundation
Terry has transformed his Certified Management Accountant (CMA) education into an incredible fisheries management career that has included roles as: Regional Comptroller for Department of Fisheries and Oceans; Head, Aquaculture Division (Research Manager) at the Pacific Biological Station; Regional Director, Management Services Branch, DFO; Director of Operations, Canadian Coast Guard, Pacific Region; Acting Regional Director, Fisheries Management, Pacific Region; Special Advisor to the Assistant Deputy Minister Fisheries Management; and Assistant Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Pacific Region.
Terry’s latest role as Vice President Operations and Chief Operating Officer for the Pacific Salmon Foundation allows him to concentrate his leadership, accounting and communications efforts on PSF’s salmon conservation work. Not surprisingly, Terry’s insightful management and financial input as a member of the CAHS board is much appreciated.
Sean Irvine, P. Eng. (Observer)
Senior Officer for Aquaculture Industry Development (Innovation), Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Today, Sean works for Fisheries & Oceans Canada with the Aquaculture Management Division managing innovation investments aimed at achieving excellence and sustainability in the sector. He also teaches “Intellectual Property and Business Strategy” as adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business in the Strategy and Business Economics Division.
Sean Irvine is a professional engineer who started his career as a project manager and consulting engineer working from eastern Ontario to Baffin Island.
In 1988 he joined the Canadian Patent Office as a patent examiner where he negotiating thousands of Canadian patents. He specialized in the technology arts of vehicle structures and solar power systems. During this time he also became licensed to sell investment securities, real estate, and mortgage finance.
He moved to Vancouver in 1992 as Industry Canada’s advisor for Western Canada on intellectual property. In addition, in 1993 he was appointed to serve the National Research Council as an associate industrial technology advisor specializing in matters relating to intellectual property and technology commercialization.
Between 1999 and 2009, Sean worked with Industry Canada’s Life Sciences Branch. He was responsible for briefing on policy concerns and acting on business development interests. He worked with business interests in the pharmaceutical sector, medical device sector, health IT sector, and across a wide range of biotechnology interests. In this role, he managed investment attraction projects, trade development projects, and acted in several corporate governance roles. These efforts ranged from being on the board of directors for a small biopharma venture capital firm to coordinating community economic development projects supporting life science technology clusters in Western Canada.
Sean volunteers time to several organizations ranging from helping nonprofits with web based software development needs to delivering continuing legal education in BC. He also belongs to several professional associations including the Association of Professional Engineers and Geologists of BC (APEGBC), the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC), the International Licensing Executive Society (LES) and the Product Development Management Association (PDMA).