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TJ is a Co-Founder, Campaigner, and Photographer with the Ancient Forest Alliance. Combining his passion for conservation with professional photography, TJ explores and documents endangered ancient forests in BC to help save them. His images have been pivotal in protecting important areas, such as the renowned Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, and exposing the before and after impacts of old-growth logging. From the country’s biggest trees to its widest stumps, TJ’s photos have been featured in museums, magazines, news stories, and art exhibits across Canada and worldwide.

In 2021, he was named a National Geographic and Royal Canadian Geographical Society Explorer through his work with the Trebek Initiative. An avid ‘big-tree hunter,’ you’ll find him driving rough backroads and exploring remote regions of Vancouver Island in search of the last old-growth giants. In 2024, he stood on the TEDxVictoria stage and delivered a passionate talk about his life’s work titled One Last Shot to Protect Old-Growth Forests in British Columbia.

TJ was born and raised in beautiful Metchosin, BC, and graduated from the Western Academy of Photography in Victoria. A lifelong skateboarder, he enjoys many of the more adventurous activities his position at AFA provides! His favourite tree? Western redcedar.

Issy joined AFA in the fall of 2024 as a Forest Campaigner, leaving the hustle of London for the mountains of Vancouver to be closer to the nature she’s passionate about protecting.

Her love for the outdoors started early, exploring the woodlands of Suffolk, England, and the cedar forests of southern France growing up. This early connection led her to study Anthropology to better understand the complex relationship between people and the natural world. Her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology included a semester abroad in Sydney, Australia, gaining an appreciation for Indigenous environmental knowledge, and her master’s degree in Environmental Anthropology focused on community-led conservation approaches.

For the past three years, Issy worked in London as an environmental communications consultant, raising awareness about climate and nature-based solutions. While she loved this work, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being far from the critical ecosystems she was advocating for, which sparked the move to Vancouver.

Now, Issy is thrilled to be helping protect irreplaceable old-growth forests in BC and spending her free time exploring the beauty of these ancient ecosystems firsthand.

Coral fell in love with big trees after visiting the Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park when she was just out of High School and immediately decided that she wanted to be a “professional tree hugger” when she grew up. By joining the Ancient Forest Alliance Team as an Administrative and Development Assistant in 2021, she feels like she has finally reached this goal!

With a Technical Diploma in Environmental Chemistry and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental Studies, Coral has dedicated her life to preserving the natural world in a variety of educational institutions and government departments. But she prefers the non-profit sector because of the amazing folks accomplishing so much in a short time with relatively little funds.

As a Program Naturalist at a nature sanctuary for over a decade, Coral inspired a new generation of environmental stewards by sharing her love of nature. She looks forward to continuing this work by supporting the Campaigners and chatting with donors. When not working from home on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen peoples, Coral may be found exploring forests near and far with her family.

Ken Wu is the former Executive Director and co-founder of the Ancient Forest Alliance. He has worked to protect ancient forests in BC for over a quarter century, after first seeing the Walbran Valley as a teenager in 1991.

Previously he worked as the Executive Director and Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee’s Victoria chapter, from 1999 to 2010, and before that for a variety of small environmental groups. He graduated from the University of British Columbia’s ecological science program and has also worked as a biologist, tree-planter, math tutor, and door canvasser.

Kerrie Blaise is an environmental lawyer, passionately dedicated to advancing environmental rights and justice. She is the founder of the non-profit, Legal Advocates for Nature’s Defence, and maintains an active practice representing First Nations and grassroots groups on matters of urgent climate and environmental protection.

Kerrie has acted in matters before the Federal Court and Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and many administrative tribunals including the Ontario Land Tribunal, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and environmental assessment Joint Review Panels.

Kerrie also maintains an active public speaking roster, making guest appearances in communities, conferences and law schools on topics addressing Indigenous land management and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). She is an invited member of the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership and Domestic Law and Policy Stream and works alongside many Indigenous nations in advancing IPCAs, with the goal of achieving long term protection for lands and water.