Meet our Directors

Our Board ensures a diversity of perspectives are brought to bear on RCBC’s work by having designated seats for representatives from governments, businesses, non-profit organizations, and individual members of the public. Directors are elected for a two-year term, with the government and business sectors alternating election periods with non-profit and individual sectors.

Ken Ingram

RCBC Past-Chair

He/Him

Ken Ingram is the Director of Technical and Environmental Services at West Coast Reduction Ltd, where his roles include capital project management, development of recycling technologies, quality assurance, regulatory compliance and stakeholder engagement. He has 35 years of experience in the organics recycling industry. He has extensive experience in policy development processes around recycling and resource management at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. He currently serves on the National Zero Waste Council’s Circular Economy Working Group.

Karen Massicotte

RCBC Director

She/Her

Karen is a part of the senior executive team at the PNE, where she has worked since 2014. In her role, Karen oversees many aspects of the company including business development, brand and digital marketing, corporate communications, and community engagement. She has over 10 years of experience working with membership based organizations responsible for communicating with multiple stakeholder groups. Karen served on the International Board of Directors for Meeting Professionals International for 5 years, and has 7 years of experience serving on local board of directors for several events associations.

Laura Midan

RCBC Chair

She/Her

Laura has been with the Abbotsford Mission Recycling Program (Archway Community Services) for over 10 years, first as Education Coordinator and currently as Director. As Education Coordinator, she was responsible for developing and implementing environmental education programs, public relations, and other marketing. As Director, she oversees the operation of a single-stream Materials Recovery Facility. Laura has served on the board of the Mission Adopt-a-Block Society, Mission Communities-in-Bloom, and local Toastmasters groups.

Mairi Welman

RCBC Secretary

She/Her

Mairi Welman is a career strategic planning and communications professional with over 30 years’ experience across a variety of industries within the private and public sectors. She has brought her insightful and practical approach to working with organizations and clients in the private sector in heavy transportation, emergent technology, and TV/film, and has also spent many years working with all four levels of government. Mairi brings a rare breadth of experience, capacity and knowledge to the table, and through Welman Communications currently provides strategic advisory services on contract for clients seeking assistance with intergovernmental relations, communications, public engagement, stakeholder strategy, and staff and executive training in issues management and media relations.

Jamie Benton

RCBC Vice Chair

Jamie is an environmental professional with over 10 years’ experience in solid waste in both the UK and Canada. His expertise includes environmental compliance, pollution prevention, and behaviour change relating to solid waste. Jamie is active with a number of professional associations, including working with the Waste Management Association of BC and routinely sitting on the Metro Vancouver REAC Solid Waste Sub-Committee.

Marcia Dick

RCBC Director

She/Her

Marcia has worked as a Solid Waste Analyst with the City of Kamloops since 2016. Prior to beginning her work with the City, Marcia operated Waste Naught BC, performing waste audits and providing waste management planning services for institutions, businesses, and non-profits. She has led many successful projects in her tenure at the city, and has been crucial in the development of an upcoming curbside organic waste collection program. Marcia is active in promoting waste reduction in her community – speaking on the topic at community events, volunteering at Repair Café events, and administering a Zero Waste Kamloops Facebook page.

Karen Mason-Bennett

RCBC Treasurer

She/Her

Karen was previously the Executive Director for NEAT since 2010, working on grass roots, community-based waste reduction program development across the northeast. She currently serves on the board of the Child Development Centre in Fort St. John. She is also the Vice-Chair of the North Peace Cultural Society, a coach for the Special Olympics Swimming and the Co-Chair of Communities in Bloom.

Louise Schwarz

RCBC Director

She/Her

Co-founder and co-owner of Recycling Alternative, a Vancouver-based recycling and waste management business serving the ICI (Institutional, Commercial, and Industrial) sector, since 1989, Louise has pioneered innovative solutions by delivering best practices sustainable waste management systems, stakeholder education and engagement related to waste reduction and recovery, and forging community impact around waste through community-based models and collaborations including Vancouver Biodiesel Co-op, Food Scraps Drop Spots, Recycle in Strathcona, Zero Waste Events and the greenHUB co-location facility with community partner United We Can. Louise sits on the National Zero Waste Council’s Management Board, Share Reuse Repair Initiative Steering Committee, the Encorp Pacific Community Advisory Committee and Metro’s Solid Waste Management Plan Public/Technical Advisory. Louise is currently working with local green innovators to create Vancouver’s first Green Industrial Innovation District (the GrIID) focusing on the local circular economy and inclusive, green jobs.

Ed Walsh

RCBC Director

He/Him

Ed Walsh has over 25 years of experience in the waste diversion industry and has held several important positions in several waste management companies in BC. Ed currently acts as Director of Operations – Vancouver Island for Return-it Encorp Pacific.

Sarah Willie

RCBC Director

She/Her

Sarah Willie is a professional with over 15 years of experience in multiple sectors of environmental management. Currently a Solid Waste Analyst with the Comox-Strathcona Waste Management service on Vancouver Island, Sarah works to ensure efficient and fiscally responsible service for residents with a focus on diversion and extended producer responsibility programs. Her experience includes developing online tools for local government reporting and completing financial analyses to determine environmental handling fees for EPR programs across Canada.