Zac Whyte (BA, DipT) has been a consultant with the Forestry Council since 2022 and officially joined the team in the fall of 2024 as our Engagement Specialist & Storyteller. Zac brings expertise in creative communications and media production, with over 25 years of professional experience working with BC First Nations and Indigenous populations worldwide. In his previous roles, he managed communications for corporate forestry companies, facilitated land transfer agreements for the federal government, and produced stories for hundreds of organizations, governments, and First Nations.

Zac holds an Honours Diploma in Broadcast & Media Communications from BCIT and a Bachelors Degree with Distinction in Liberal Studies from VIU. When you meet him, he is a curious person who will invite you to share what is true to you and hold that story close to his heart. He is a married father of three and a 6th generation non-Indigenous Canadian adopted culturally by the Chief of the K'ate'mot E'iksʷən, near Courtenay, BC.

Maïa Mercure joined the Forestry Council's workforce development team in January 2023. She is a certified HR professional specializing in Talent Management and HR digitization. Maïa will be guiding students through their career exploration journey and helping them chart their potential career trajectories in the forestry industry. Prior to joining the Forestry Council, she spent 5 years working as an HR Advisor and Business Analyst in engineering consulting firms. She is a strategic thinker that loves to help people and organizations reach their optimal potential. She most recently worked at a clean energy company that helped Indigenous communities build their own capacity and reduce carbon emissions by transitioning to geothermal, solar and hydropower technologies. Maïa is originally from Guelph, Ontario, and moved to BC to be closer to nature. She currently lives in Nanaimo, where she feels fortunate to be surrounded by majestic forests, awe-inspiring mountain landscapes and the glistening Salish Sea. In her spare time, Maïa enjoys exploring local hiking trails, paddleboarding, yoga and learning new culinary skills.

Isa White joined the BC First Nations Forestry Council in May 2022, initially as the Workforce Program Assistant. Isa has since worked with the policy team, where she contributed to key initiatives and gained experience across multiple program areas. Now, she serves in the executive branch as the Executive Assistant and Board Liaison, supporting leadership and ensuring effective communication with the Board.

Before joining the Forestry Council, Isa worked in administration at Kw’umut Lelum Child and Family Services, where she provided services that promoted safe children and healthy families and upheld children's rights and dignity.

Outside of her professional commitments, Isa is passionate about acting. She has appeared on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network's program, Coyote’s Crazy Smart Science Show, where she teaches youth how to bridge Western and Indigenous science in today’s world.

Claire joined the Forestry Council in August 2024 as our Engagement & Marketing Coordinator. In this role, she manages media channels and enhances external engagement to increase awareness and support for the Forestry Council's mission.

With a marketing, communications, and public relations background, Claire has a proven track record of enhancing outreach programs. In her previous position with a multinational industrial tool manufacturer, Claire led a pilot project on Vancouver Island to expand operations. Her primary responsibilities included implementing marketing initiatives and managing relationships - delivering reports on the brand's effectiveness and sustainability.

Currently pursuing a Professional Diploma in Ecological Restoration from the University of Victoria, Claire applies her expertise in strategic planning, resource management, and silviculture to drive impactful engagement initiatives that support First Nations stewardship within British Columbia's forest sector.

Claire has lived in Toronto, Montréal, and now Victoria since late 2023, seeking a more active lifestyle closer to nature. Outside work, you can find her playing soccer, snorkelling, or running with friends. 

Margaret was born in London, Ontario and moved to Vancouver Island along with her young son in 1995. She brings to Forestry Council over 20 years experience in all aspects of the accounting cycle in Government, Not-For-Profit, and Private Sector. 

When Margaret isn’t crunching numbers she can be found paddling on the ocean in either a Dragon Boat or an Outrigger Canoe.  She has been slowly visiting some of the nearby islands and a top priority on her bucket list is to eventually visit every island surrounding Vancouver Island. That is one tall order!

Jordan joined the BC First Nations Forestry Council, in February 2022, as an Administrative Coordinator. A recent transplant to Vancouver Island, Jordan has lived in Victoria and now Nanaimo.  A graduate from York University with a BSc in Science and Technology Studies, Jordan has had a diverse and highly technical career path. Before moving to Vancouver Island, Jordan spent years working in the Facebook office in Toronto, helping organize events and public engagement.  

When he isn't working, he is enjoying life on Vancouver Island, hiking the forests and hills with his two dogs, Bear and Light.