ABOUT US

Pacific Peoples’ Partnership is a Canadian non-governmental organization and registered charity that since 1975 has worked with Indigenous and civil society partners across the Small Island Developing States of the South Pacific (Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia) and First Nations across Canada on rights-based sustainable development initiatives that enable communities to harness their own creativity to address poverty, environmental degradation and loss of culture.

As a longstanding member of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation we are committed to the very best practices of the sector and in full compliance with their code of ethics.

Click here to view our latest audited financial statements.

Pacific Peoples' Partnership's current memberships, affiliations and accreditations include:

The Canadian Council for International Cooperation
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Consultative Status)
The Climate Action Network
One Percent for the Planet

Staff and Board of Directors

April Ingham – Executive Director
April Ingham has an extensive background and body of experience in the non-profit sector, most pertinently with the First Peoples' Cultural Foundation, public art galleries, the BC Arts Council and the BC Museums Association. Throughout her career, April has successfully managed complex projects in a cross-cultural and multi-stakeholder context. She was especially successful at fostering meaningful involvement by First Nations. Prior to joining the Pacific Peoples’ Partnership, she worked for 3 years as Production Manager for the nationally broadcast Indigenous arts and culture television show "The New Canoe". She is also credited as part of the development team for the web based Indigenous language archiving system First Voices.

April spent three years living in Caribbean, where she gained valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges facing small island developing states. This experience coupled with 16 years of northern British Columbia living has given her a unique perspective into the importance of community and partnerships when facing social and environmental concerns.

Todd Biderman - Papua Programme Coordinator
Todd holds a BSc. in Ecology and Environmental Studies from UVic and is nearing completion of his MSc. at Schumacher College in the UK, where his research is in linking traditional and emerging scientific approaches to ecological sustainability and social justice.

In 2001 Todd served as a Community Forestry Facilitator in Flores, Indonesia, through Silva Forest Foundation. He returned to Indonesia for 18 months in 2003 as a CUSO sponsored Community Development Advisor in West Kalimantan, supporting capacity development of community forestry initiatives. This included linking traditional and emerging scientific approaches to ecosystem-based stewardship, Indigenous rights and governance, as well as facilitating community process and participatory planning across a diverse network of CSOs and indigenous Dayak communities.

Since returning to Canada in 2005, Todd has been an active in the Canada-Indonesia Working Group (CAGI). Fluent in Bahasa Indonesia, he participated in and served as an interpreter for the 6th International Solidarity Meeting for West Papua in 2006. Todd also served as the interpreter for Indonesian Human Rights Defender Suciwati during her 10-day visit to Canada in 2007, meeting with Members of Parliament, CSOs and the public concerned about Human Rights and development.

Todd returned to Indonesia in May and June 2008, to meet with partners in Papua and Kalimantan and conduct research for PPP's new initiative Papua: Land of Peace – Civil Society Leadership in Conflict Transformation.

Susan Albion - Financial Officer
Susan brings a background in sociology and a passion for social justice to her work assisting PPP to make the most of our limited resources. 

Glenn Raynor – Strategic Advisor
Originally from traditional Nuu-chah-nulth territory off Vancouver Island's Pacific Coast Glenn joined Pacific Peoples' Partnership in 2004 as Coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples Abroad Programme. He was promoted to Executive Director in early 2006, a position he held until August 2009 when he was awarded a Rotary World Peace Fellowship. Glenn is currently based in Tokyo where he is completing a masters in conflict analysis and peace-building.

Amy Mawdsley - Cultural Events Coordinator
I am a third year Political Science and Philosophy student at UVic and have spent time in the Cook Islands, Vanuatu, and New Zealand. Being of Cree ancestry, I am aware of the challenges faced by First Nations in Canada. I have enjoyed learning about the Pacific region through Pacific studies courses and am excited to learn more through the coordination of cultural events. I am passionate about supporting PPP’s important work to support human rights, health, and environmental concerns in the South Pacific and Canada.

Stephanie Saleliye'naat Peter - Climate Justice Coordinator
My ancestral name is Saleliye'naat and I am a member of Cowichan Tribes, the largest Indian Band in British Columbia. In 2002-2003, I participated in Pacific Peoples' Partnership's Indigenous Peoples Abroad Programme, living and working for six months on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. My placement was with the Cook Islands National Environment Service where I was privileged to work in the Education and Outreach Department gasining insight into the environmental challenges faced by Cook Islanders. Upon my return from the South Pacific, I completed my undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria with a double major in Anthropology and Geography. Since then I have been working for the Cowichan Tribes Environment and Natural Resources Department and the Cowichan Tribes Treaty Department. In November 2005, I was selected as one of 100 youth delegates to participate in an International Youth Summit on Climate Change in Montreal where we developed a youth declaration that was presented at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, Montreal 2005 (COP11 and COP/MOP1).

Board of Directors

James Boutilier - President Emeritus
Dr. Boutilier established the South Pacific People's Foundation, the forerunner of the Pacific People's Partnership, in the 1970s and served as the president of SPPF for many years. He is currently Special Advisor (Policy) at Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC), the Canadian Navy formation on the West Coast. He received his PhD from the University of London (UK) in 1969 and taught at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, from 1969 to 1971 before taking up an appointment at Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, British Columbia. He served on the staff of RRMC until 1995 as a professor of history and Dean of Arts. He was an adjunct professor of Pacific Studies at the University of Victoria during the same period. He was instrumental in the establishment of Royal Roads University.. He joined MARPAC in 1996 and travels widely on behalf of the Navy, primarily in Asia.

Eugene Lee - President
Eugene was born in the city-state of Brunei, Northern Borneo. He is of Kadazan, Dusun, and Chinese ancestry, Eugene immigrated to Canada in 1988 with his family. Like many Canadians, David Suzuki and the Nature of Things influenced his interest in the Environmental movement. Torn between a career in music or Environmental studies, he pursued neither and went home to the island of Borneo. This trip was the catalyst to his decision to attend the School of Business at the University of Alberta. There he spent his formal training in the study of non-governmental organizations and Social Entrepreneurship. As chair of the Alberta Students’ Association for Social Entrepreneurship, he attended the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship in Oxford, England. There he heard inspiring stories of triumph and justice for peoples of the world and has decided to dedicate his energy to organizations such as the Pacific Peoples’ Partnership. Today when not earning his keep with the McPherson Theatre and Royal Theatre in Victoria, Eugene works on musical soundscapes on his laptop or spend what little time he has daydreaming.

Ronald Vance Gardner - Vice President
is a retired lawyer and current MA Candidate in the Department of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University. His research Interests include: Oceanic archaeology and ethnology, exchange, shell valuables and shell technology in Oceania, especially in Lapita archaeology.

Albert Zalazar - Treasurer
was raised a first generation Canadian in Edmonton, by his parents and grandparents who immigrated to Alberta from the Philippines. The oldest of three boys, he had a an opportunity to be immersed in his parents’ and grandparents’ culture and heritage from an early age.  He studied accounting at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and was among the first students to graduate from the new Bachelor of Applied Business Administration-Accounting degree program in 2002. He went on to receive his professional designation as a Certified General Accountant in 2004. Now Albert spends his daylight hours as a manager of the Independent Business Group at Grant Thornton in Victoria, B.C., where his focus is on owner managed business and small not-for-profit organizations.

Albert is the Treasurer of the Greater Victoria Film Commission and volunteer bookkeeper for The Canadian Scottish Regiment 2136 Royal Canadian Army Cadets Corps Sponsoring Committee. He returned to the Philippines on family vacation in 2009, which renewed his profound interest in the Philippines and their cultures. He hopes to give back to the community by providing his expertise to the budgeting process and aid in the interpretation of financial information for the Pacific Peoples’ Partnership.

Erin Armstrong
Erin graduated with a law degree from the University of Victoria in 2009, where her studies focused on Aboriginal law and environmental law. While in law school, Erin worked in the Environmental Law Clinic, researching treaty rights for the Douglas Treaty Nations. Erin is currently the Gallery Co-ordinator at Alcheringa Gallery, a gallery that specializes in art by Indigenous artists from the Northwest Coast, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Australia.

Melissa Kingan Grimes
Melissa is an M.A. student in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Victoria, Her fieldwork has been focused in Kingcome Inlet and the Broughton Archipelago of British Columbia where she has been documenting the Kwak'wala relationships between, language, environment and traditional food. This has included in assisting in the restoration of a traditional root garden.

Sayuri Holman
Sayuri recently completed her MA in Pacific and Asian Studies at the University of Victoria. She also holds a BA in Geography from SFU and a diploma in Journalism from Kwantlen University College. From May 2008 – October 2008 she worked as a Program Assistant for the Micronesia Challenge with the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT) in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia as part of Centre for Asia Pacific Initiatives 2008-09 Internship Program.  Over three trips, Sayuri has spent time in Fiji as an exchange student at the University of the South Pacific, a volunteer with the Fiji Red Cross Society and as a researcher for her MA thesis. She has a deep committment to the region of Oceania and looks forward to sharing her passion with others.

Michele Noulett Mofitt
I am Cree, English and French. I was born here in Coast Salish Territory, growing up in Kwakwaka'wakw territory of Campbell River, I have now been a visitor in Coast Salish territory for the past 8 years. I was lucky enough to have participated in the PPP IPAP program in 2003/2004, bringing me to New Zealand to work at the Kaupapa Maori Learning Centre at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic in Tauranga. From there, I began working with the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres as the Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council Coordinator and played a lead role in bringing 11 Mayan youth to BC and accompanying 5 Aboriginal youth to Guatemala, as well as writing a successful proposal that sent 3 Indigenous Aboriginal post-secondary graduates to Guatemala for 6 months. I then spent a short period of time at the Ministry of Advanced Education, Aboriginal Programs Learning Branch before jumping over to where I am presently, the University of Victoria. At UVic, I work as the Indigenous Recruitment-Admissions Liaison connecting communities to possibilities in post-secondary education. I also work closely with a team of Aboriginal recruiters from other BC Post-Secondary institutions, together we are called: Strengthening Connections. I also sit on the Employment Equity advisory group for UVic. With PPP, I was a board member from approximately 2006-2008, and also spent a year as board president.

Elaine Monds
Elaine first joined Pacific People's Partnership’s board in 1989. She has served as Vice President, and is an important pillar of several Committees, including the Personnel and Tok Blong Pasifik committees. Elaine is the director of Alcheringa Gallery, a gallery specializing in Indigenous art from Papua New Guinea, Australia and the West Coast of Canada. She initiated PPP’s involvement with a primary health care project in Papua New Guinea and is a strong supporter of PPP’s work with indigenous peoples here in Canada and overseas.

Dr. John Moore
Dr. Moore is a retired geologist and professor with experience as an educational development advisor in Ethiopia, Mongolia and, for eight years, in Western New Guinea (Indonesian Papuan Provinces). He has an active interest in indigenous arts, language and culture. He lives on Salt Spring Island, where he and his wife Pip are part of the choral and jazz music communities. They continue to travel to Indonesia, where their son operates a dive resort in North Sulawesi.

Sonya Pighin
Sonya is a member of the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation although she is actually of Wet'suwet'en ancestry mixed with Italian/French blood. She is currently a student at UVIC's Faculty of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. Sonya's main academic interests are in Restorative Justice, International, Human Rights & Criminal Law. Sonya worked and lived in New Zealand with the Pacific Islander's and Maori's of South Auckland. After that experience she came back to Canada with much hope for the growth and expansion of First Nations culture and has become a member of the Pacific Peoples’ Partnership with hopes of being part the progressive journey. During her own time, Sonya enjoys scuba diving, snowboarding, camping, travel, and outdoor recreational activities. She also enjoys supporting the local Victoria music scene as well as artists who promote world and individual peace in their lyrics.

Johnny Thiessen
Johnny is owner and founder of Ambient Source Energy Systems, a Victoria based company providing innovative renewable energy solutions to individuals and communities on the BC coast. In particular he has been working with the Nuu-Cha-Nulth First Nation to implement renewable energy systems. Johnny is also a founding member of the non-profit BC Sustainable Energy Organization and currently sits on their board, helping to build a strategic framework that will enable it to effectively meet its mandate. In addition he serves on their Policy Committee and is currently working to draft a policy document that will help guide Political as well as industry leaders on matters of renewable energy, and their integration. Johnny is a passionate sailor and currently lives off grid on his sailboat.

Kat Zimmer
Kat is an undergraduate student in Political Science at the University of Victoria. She joined Pacific Peoples' Partnership in the summer of 2009 as their Cultural Events Coordinator. In this role she organized the second annual One Wave Festival, which raised awareness about the richly diverse cultures and challenges within the South Pacific. The two-day festival featured performance art, musical acts, spoken word, and dance. Kat is also active in the lead role for the UVIC student chapter of Rights and Democracy, an organization dedicated to the promotion of human rights. Her passions are snowboarding, the outdoors, and music, and she is motivated by a desire to affect positive change, locally and globally.