About rivers without borders
Our Team
Our diverse and talented team includes Staff, Steering Committee and Special Advisors
Staff
Will Patric, Executive Director
Will brings two decades of conservation campaign experience in the western U.S. to RWB. This includes many years with the Mineral Policy Center (now Earthworks) helping communities confront environmental impacts of mining, and more recently with The Wilderness Society’s Northern Rockies office advocating for visionary, conservation oriented management by public lands agencies. As Executive Director, Will hopes to advance the efforts of all those before him who have worked tirelessly and passionately to protect North America’s wildest watersheds and the interests of people that have long called this magnificent transboundary region home.
Chris Zimmer, US Field Coordinator
Chris moved to Alaska, and the position of US Field Coordinator, in 2001. At RWB, he draws upon his skills in organizing and coalition-building, as well as extensive knowledge of and passion for salmon, to coordinate the diverse interests in our campaigns.
Karin Sparks, Office Coordinator
Karin moved to Whitehorse in 1998 after a holiday in the Yukon captured her heart. She joined our team in 2006 and we are very grateful for her organizational skills and creative input.
Andre Gagne, BC Campaigner
Andre’s background in communications, research and writing brings versatility to our Whitehorse office. Andre is monitoring mining developments and liaising with groups in the NW BC transboundary area. He is honoured to be involved in the upcoming Atlin/Taku land use planning process.
Alan Young, Interim Canadian Campaign Director
Alan has worked with conservation and native organizations across Canada for the last 15 years. He has worked in North America, Latin America and Europe on policy reform and campaigns to design and implement integrated conservation solutions. In the last few years Alan has worked on corporate engagement programs in the finance, energy, mining and forestry sectors for the Canadian Boreal Initiative and developed mining-related strategies for Yukon First Nations. He currently serves as Chair of the Forest Stewardship Council of Canada.
Steering Committee
Tim Bristol
Tim is the Alaska Program Director of Trout Unlimited, and is based at TU’s main Alaska office in Juneau. Prior to joining TU in June 2005, Bristol served as the Executive Director of the Alaska Coalition, worked as a grassroots organizer for the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and as the Alaska Representative for the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition. When not working he can be found fishing the rivers and streams of the surrounding Tongass National Forest, playing hockey, or yelling at a television as he follows the failings of his beloved Buffalo Bills.
Ben Kirkpatrick
Ben completed a 20+ year career with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. As the Area Habitat Biologist for northern SE Alaska he reviewed all mining projects in the region including the Kensington and Tulsequah Chief Mines. Ben was project manager for the Community Watersheds Project that established local watershed councils throughout SE Alaska and provided technical support regarding salmon habitat restoration projects.
Katya Kirsch
A skilled facilitator, Katya has over 25 years of experience with Alaska conservation issues, including more than 3 years as SEACC’s Executive Director and 8 years as their Board President. Katya is our Steering Committee Chair and has been part of RWB since before it was born.
Dan Ritzman
Currently the Northwest and Alaska Regional Director for the Sierra Club based in Seattle, Dan has a long history of advocacy for northern environments. After 5 years in the wilds of Washington DC helping keep the Bush Administration from despoiling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, he is happy to be back in the mountains of the west.
Patricia Thomson
A naturalist and educator, Patricia Thomson is the Executive Director of the Stanley Park Ecology Society. She is also an expedition raft guide and has rafted all of the southern transboundary rivers, except the Whiting.
Special Advisors
David MacKinnon, Former Executive Director
David began as our Canadian Field Coordinator in 2000, focusing on communications work, relationship building, and engagement with the Canadian government. He moved into the role of Executive Director late in 2003 and incorporated elements of his previous work into this role. He has been the primary mover of the organization from 2003 to present.
Bart Koehler
Bart is Director of The Wilderness Society’s Wilderness Support Center. He is a storied activist, with conservation victories under his belt from Wyoming to Alaska.