Core Team
Oliver M. Brandes
Project Lead
Oliver M. Brandes is an economist and lawyer by training and a trans-disciplinarian by design. He serves as Co-Director of the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance, based at the University of Victoria’s Centre for Global Studies, where he leads the POLIS Water Sustainability Project.
Rosie Simms
Project Manager & Researcher
Rosie joined the POLIS Water Sustainability Project in June 2015, where her work includes research and outreach on legal/policy options to advance freshwater protection; convening B.C.
Laura Brandes
Communications Director
Laura Brandes leads the Water Sustainability Project’s communications, outreach, and knowledge mobilization activities.
Natasha Overduin
Program Manager & Research Associate
Natasha Overduin discovered the wide and complex field of water governance and management during her undergraduate studies at Carleton University in the Bachelor of Public Affairs & Policy Management program.
Jon O’Riordan
Strategic Advisor, Water Policy
Dr. Jon O’Riordan is a former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management in the British Columbia Provincial Government.
Kelly Bannister
Water Ethics & Values Initiative
Dr. Kelly Bannister is Co-Director of the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance and heads the Water Ethics and Cross Cultural Values Initiative at the POLIS Water Sustainability Project.
Roleen Sevillena
Events and Special Projects Coordinator
Roleen joined the POLIS Water Sustainability Project in August 2017 as its Events and Special Projects Coordinator.
Thomas Cinnamon
Communications & Research Assistant
Thomas is completing an undergraduate degree in Physical Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria.
Associates
Jesse Baltutis
Research Associate, Transboundary Governance
Jesse Baltutis joined the POLIS Water Sustainability Project in November 2011 as its Water Policy and Governance Project Coordinator.
David B. Brooks
Research Associate, Water Conservation & The Water Soft Path
David advises several Canadian non-governmental organizations on Canadian and international issues related to fresh water.
Randy Christensen
Research Associate, Water Law & Policy
Randy Christensen is a lawyer with a focus on water law and policy, qualified to practice in the United States and Canada.
Kirk Stinchcombe
Research Associate, Water Conservation & The Water Soft Path
Kirk Stinchcombe is a founding partner and sustainability specialist with Econics, a company that works with water service providers to help them set rates, control water demand, forecast revenue, manage their infrastructure, and sustain their watersheds.
