Our People

Christoph Schultz is the Executive Director of the Recycling Council of British Columbia. A strategic leader with a strong background in sustainable development and organizational management, Christoph has extensive experience in addressing global environmental and economic challenges through innovative approaches and forming collaborative partnerships.

Before joining RCBC, Christoph was the Managing Director of Fig Tree Foundation, where he spearheaded programs to support international development organizations advancing sustainable development. He also served as Executive Director of Light Up The World (LUTW), a non-profit organization focused on energy access, deploying solar home systems to remote communities in 17 countries. He is passionate about public education and has developed and taught seminars on solar energy, battery storage, and energy efficiency.

Having lived and worked in seven countries, Christoph has firsthand experience with the challenge of effective waste management around the world. These experiences deeply influenced him and shaped his commitment to sustainability and advancing a circular economy. In addition to this role at RCBC, Christoph is a Sessional Instructor at UBC, co-teaching a course on Humanitarian Engineering. He holds a Master’s Degree in Development Economics and Policy from the University of Manchester and a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of Calgary.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography with Environmental Specialty from Simon Fraser University. Since joining RCBC in 2017, she has held a number of roles including working as an Environmental Advisor on the BC Recycling Hotline. Jennifer loves learning and is continually working to learn new skills, having recently completed Toronto Metropolitan University’s Applied Analytics and Statistics for 21st Century Decision Making professional development program and now pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Sustainability through University College Dublin.

Jennifer is passionate about sustainability, with a particular interest in advancing the transition to a circular economy where waste is viewed as a resource rather than a residual. In her spare time, you can find Jennifer reading, experimenting with interior design, and taste-testing her way through Metro Vancouver’s best veggie burgers.

Eileen Xu holds a Bachelor in Natural Resources Conservation and a Master of International Forestry at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, focusing on strategic planning particularly about complex planning challenges on natural resources management.

Eileen is interested in waste reduction and sustainable development. As an Environmental Advisor, Eileen supports the RCBC Recycling hotline, maintains the currency and accuracy of the database, fact sheets, research reports, and other reference materials, and researches new issues and unusual enquiries while keeping current on developments in the waste reduction field. In her free time, Eileen likes baking and reading.

The severity of the environmental issues facing us demands a serious shift in our collective values and behaviors, and Justin strives to broaden this movement through his work. Justin pursued this interest by completing a graduate degree in the subdiscipline of environmental microbiology at the University of British Columbia after getting an undergraduate degree in biochemistry at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON. Over the years, Justin has also come across a great wealth of knowledge about living in a low-waste fashion by continually trying to improve upon his own everyday routines.

Sukhman is an Environmental Advisor with the Recycling Council of BC, advising communities on best practices for waste management & recycling. Previously, she worked with a provincial government and PRO on a number of waste management initiatives, including planning and implementing strategic evaluation of programs, work plans and waste reduction regulations, and strategic policy advice and recommendations.

She graduated with a Masters of Natural Resources Management from the University of Manitoba. Her other certifications include GHG Protocol Corporate Standard (World Resources Institute), ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System, and Monitoring & Evaluation of Climate Change Mitigation Strategies (World Resources Institute).

In her free time, Sukhman volunteers with international environmental organizations including the United Nations Development Programme.

Beatrice studied Environmental Science at the University of British Columbia and at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Before joining the Recycling Council of BC, she did a variety of jobs including nature guide, concert hall front of house, science presenter and natural interpreter. She supports stronger legislation to limit unnecessary packaging, the inclusion of more sectors in extended producer responsibility framework, public funding for resource recovery R&D, and mindful consumer habits.

Aliyyah Abdullah has worked in finance for the last 15 years. She is both a qualified international accountant and a qualified canadian accountant by profession. While her background is in accounting, Aliyyah believes in supporting the organization and taking on a more business oriented approach. She believes in sustainability whilst also supporting the value chain or all of the activities necessary in creating a product or services.

This value chain journey has led her to have numerous roles within her career. Most recently, Aliyyah joined the Recycling Council of British Columbia as the Finance and Administration Manager in October 2022 and she has found her values aligned in this role.

Outside of this, Aliyyah is an avid volunteer and has worked in her spare time as an advisory council member for the CPA Canada (Trinidad and Tobago) Charter. She also writes and most recently launched an ebook for finance professionals to increase their influence within the workplace. She currently resides in Vancouver.

Colleen Matte stepped into the role of Operation Manager in 2024 and brought over 15 years of leadership in nonprofit organizations and a strong commitment to sustainability. Previously, as the Executive Director of Kootenay Carshare Cooperative, Colleen successfully managed operations, optimizing staff efficiency and fostering a collaborative work environment. Her strategic oversight led to enhanced service delivery and positive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.

A graduate of the Master’s program in Environmental Management from Royal Roads, Colleen has dedicated her career to advancing environmental solutions and promoting sustainable change. She has also played an active role in community engagement through her work with Selkirk College, where she helped lead major events and strengthen relationships with local donors and alumni.

Colleen is excited to bring her experience in operations management, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability to the Recycling Council of BC. She is eager to contribute her skills to drive impactful change and support the organization’s mission of fostering a sustainable future world without waste.