Laura Loomes – President

Laura Loomes brings a unique breadth of experience to her role as President of the FMCBC, spanning healthcare, public health, and emergency management. Her Master of Public Health, with a focus on Indigenous health and policy, has anchored a career defined by a single question: who gets access, and who doesn’t. That lens extends beyond healthcare; Laura believes deeply that BC’s wild spaces should be fiercely protected and accessible to all, and she brings the same systems-level thinking to her advocacy for the outdoor community that she has applied throughout her career.

As hiker, climber, trail runner, and cyclist, she has a deep personal connection to the landscapes the FMCBC exists to protect. She is raising two young daughters in Victoria, and is driven by the hope that they – and all British Columbians – will always have the same access to BC’s extraordinary backcountry that she has been so lucky to enjoy. That conviction is what brought her to the FMCBC, and what drives her work as President.

Liz Bicknell – Past President

As Past President of the Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC, Liz remains committed to working collaboratively with Indigenous communities, governments, recreation organizations, land managers, and others who share an interest in protecting and enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities in BC. Liz retired from the BC Public Service in 2015 after a senior leadership career spanning 30 years. Her work focused on public engagement, community outreach, and strategic planning. Earlier in her career, she served with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in East Africa from 1973 to 1983, working in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya.

Liz has a long history of volunteer leadership in the outdoor recreation sector and is currently the President of the Vancouver Island Trail Association, and the Past President of the Outdoor Club of Victoria. Liz is passionate about building partnerships that support access to non motorized recreation opportunities, including the backcountry and our wonderful trail networks.

Robb MacDonald – Secretary

Robb MacDonald is an experienced leader in tourism and economic development, currently serving in a senior role with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. He brings over two decades of experience working with governments, non-profits, and community partners to advance sustainable economic growth and destination development.

Robb is passionate about fostering resilient communities and promoting responsible, nature-based recreation. Outside of his professional work, Robb is an avid outdoor enthusiast, deeply committed to encouraging active, healthy lifestyles in natural settings.

Monika Bittel – Director

Monika has been an advocate for backcountry recreation since the 1990s, inspired by mentors who were passionate, self-propelled explorers of BC’s wilderness, mountains, glaciers, old-growth forests, and wild coastline. That same spirit of curiosity — always keen to see what’s on the other side, to summit an elusive peak, or ski one more line —has defined her own adventures ever since. Hiking, mountaineering, ski touring, and ocean kayaking are her preferred ways to explore BC’s remote terrain, from glaciated peaks to the outer coast. For Monika, stewardship, responsible recreation and advocacy are how she gives back — ensuring the privilege of experiencing true wilderness is protected for future generations. Monika is a member of the North Shore Hikers Society.

Anastasia Stolzenberg – Director

Anastasia is extremely passionate about getting outdoors! She has a background in neuroscience & forest therapy, and runs a landscaping and pest control business in Mission, BC. In her free time, she loves to hike and explore parks/backroads in BC. She would hike every day if she could! Anastasia also runs a non-profit called Fridays Hike Club in Metro Vancouver, which organizes weekly hiking meet-ups. Anastasia joined the board in 2026 and is excited to dedicate her time to support the Federation.

Greg Watson – Director

Greg has been involved with the Caledonia Ramblers Hiking Club for 10+ years (previously in the role as Club President and Director). He remains an active member of the Ramblers Trail Crew, carrying out various trail maintenance activities including chainsaw and brush saw work as well as some infrastructure improvements and replacements such as the ongoing plankway projects within the Sugar bowl – Grizzly Den Provincial Park. Greg looks forward to further his advocacy work, especially around forest service road access for recreational purposes.

Simon Priest – Director

Simon is a former university Full Professor of adventurous and environmental outdoor learning in Ontario. Internationally, he has been a university Dean, Provost, Vice-Chancellor, Senior Vice President, President, Commissioner, and Advisor to a Minister of Education. He has received numerous awards for his research and teaching and has accepted over 30 visiting scholar positions at institutions around the world. Today, early retired in BC, he spends his time hiking, biking, gardening, researching, teaching, and writing.

Simon was involved with the Federation from 1976 to 1982, serving as Chair of the safety and education committee and supported leadership development and risk management work. For example, he developed a basic backpacking course as a prerequisite to the basic mountaineering course and rejected a call for the Federation to certify outdoor leaders. He was also employed by the FMCBC for one month before going to graduate school, when he drove around the province, recruiting new clubs to join the Federation.

Judy Carlson – Director

Although Judy grew up on the Sunshine Coast (Powell River), she has lived on south-central Vancouver Island (Port Alberni) for nearly 60 years now, and been a member of the Alberni Valley Outdoor Club for over 50 years. She likes having the opportunity to discover new places, which we can still do here – exploring unflagged routes, and sharing them with others. Judy is very aware of the need to protect the wilderness we still have, and of the balancing act between making these areas more accessible and creating greater public awareness.

When it comes to defining trails, Judy finds the use of a pair of secateurs more appropriate than a roll of flagging tape. She is discovering that the joys of recognizing the flowers of the rounded bluffs and the shady forests will have to compensate for the rocky peaks that are getting out of reach now.

Adam Steele – Director

Adam Steele is a recent UBC Political Science graduate and former President of the Varsity Outdoor Club (2024/25). From 2023 to 2026, he took a leading role in fundraising and grant writing efforts for the VOC, securing over $50,000 for backcountry infrastructure projects while engaging with diverse stakeholders across BC’s outdoor recreation community.

Outside of school and volunteering, Adam works in ski patrolling and wildland firefighting, and also enjoys mountain biking and learning languages. Adam is passionate about advocacy and is committed to collaboration across user groups; to this end he represents the FMCBC and nonmotorized recreation on the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC’s Board of Directors. He currently lives in Lillooet.