IWRS TEAM
OUR DIRECTORS & BOARD
Photo credit: Jamie Long
Eva Hartmann
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Eva has worked in various capacities with domestic and wild animals in Australia, Africa and Germany. Shortly after completing her bachelor degree in Ecosystem Management, she moved to Victoria, BC where she started working as a veterinary assistant. Inspired by this work, she was intrigued to gain knowledge and experience about wildlife rehabilitation – when cardboard boxes with chirping and scratching and fluttering wild animals got dropped off at the veterinary emergency hospital.
Interning at Victoria’s WildArc facility was the start and the rest is history. Currently, Eva is working as a Registered Veterinary Technician in Kelowna. She continues to grow her wildlife rehabilitation knowledge as a mentee under the Northern Lights Wildlife Society (Smithers, BC) and biologist/senior rehabilitator Melanie Whalen (Calgary, AB). Eva is a student with the BeaverCorps program learning about co-existence strategies with beavers. Most recently, she also studies wetland delineation and assessment at UBCO.
Eva’s life’s mission is to elevate wildlife rehabilitation in BC’s Interior. She is deeply committed to increasing understanding and tolerance for living amongst wildlife in the Okanagan. “The care of individual wild animals shows how we relate to nature, wildlife and each other!”
Jonathan Laumer
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Jonathan moved to Kelowna in 2013 to pursue his Masters in Engineering. He continued his scientific career and received his Ph.D. from the UBC Okanagan in 2019. He is a passionate teacher and enjoys his new role as a professor at the engineering department of the Okanagan College.
With his work experience as an Operations Manager for a local company, he brings experience of budgeting and financial reporting to this society.
He feels honoured to be part of IWRS, to provide technical support as well as offering a practical hand whenever needed.
Mandy McDiarmid
PRESIDENT
Biologist Mandy McDiarmid from Shuswap Bird of Prey is the owner of a falconry based wildlife management and raptor education company. Her company uses falconry techniques to provide a natural and humane method for diminishing “pest” bird species that are causing problems. Her trained raptors are free flown to scare off and intimidate birds that are unwanted to frequent e.g. orchards, landfills and airports. Mandy is an advocate for conservation and shares her fascination of raptors regularly.
Linda Erdei
VICE-PRESIDENT
Linda always had a passion for wildlife and animal care. She grew up in Vernon, BC and back then, injured wildlife always found her, especially birds.
She started volunteering in the pet health industry in elementary school and worked for local animal shelters, on farms and in veterinary clinics throughout the Okanagan Valley. She completed the ‘Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation Certificate’ with IWRC in 2022 and brings a lot of valuable experience of having worked with different species to the society. Including waterbirds, songbirds, corvids and small mammals.
Linda is excited to grow her wildlife care know-how and supports our society already with practical animal nursing care and giving tips on do’s & dont’s of co-existing with wildlife around us.
Christina Carrières
DIRECTOR AT-LARGE
Christina is a veterinary technician and a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of work experience in her field. Shortly after completing her VT program in 2003, she moved to Victoria to complete a double major in Biology and Environmental Studies at UVIC. She worked at the BC SPCA Wild ARC for 8 years, and currently divides her time between companion veterinary care and wildlife rehabilitation. Animal welfare is a passion of hers, which led her to be an active instructor for the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC), President of Wildlife Rehabilitator’s Network of BC (WRNBC), and the Program Coordinator for the Oiled Wildlife Society of BC.
Over the years, she has completed numerous training courses, attended conferences, and has gained experience volunteering in various wildlife rehabilitation centres in different countries such as Guatemala, Belize, Hawaii, and South Africa, where she worked with endangered and local wildlife. Originally from Montréal (Quebec), Christina now lives on Vancouver Island, BC.
Jill McMahon
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Passionate about wildlife rehabilitation, Jill volunteered as a Rescuer and Carer for Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services throughout her time in Australia from 2006 to 2016. Back in BC, she completed the ‘Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation Certificate’ (IWRC) in 2018 and recently volunteered as a rehabilitation assistant at the BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops.
Jill’s ‘day job’ as a graphic and web designer keeps her busy, she has founded two successful agencies over her 18 year career and currently operates Frankie & Boyd in Kelowna (Canada) and Sydney (Australia).
She is using her skills in business and graphics to help gain exposure for IWRS through marketing. Jill helps with our annual fundraisers as well as to increase awareness of our society’s mission via physical signage, print material and online.
Stacy Wolfenden
DIRECTOR OF FUNDRAISING
Outside of her role as fundraising chair, Stacy is an interior designer by trade and enjoys pottery, sketching, and anything art+design related. With a big heart for wildlife and focus on sustainability, she brings a unique perspective and energy to every aspect of her work. She grew up in Montreal but has lived in Toronto, Vancouver and now calls the sunny Okanagan her home.
Stacy’s commitment goes beyond just raising funds. She fosters meaningful relationships with donors and partners, cultivating a supportive network to sustain our mission for years to come. With her keen understanding of philanthropy and dedication to our cause, Stacy helps ensure that our organization has the financial resources needed to thrive.
OuR CORE VolunteerS
Jody
Volunteer Co-ordinator, Lead Central Okanagan, Animal Care, Transport
Jody start volunteering with us in 2022. She now also co-ordinates volunteer schedules, tasks and introduces new volunteers to the team. How does Jody keep up her passion for animals and teaching?
“I have always loved animals. I worked at two different vet clinics when I graduated from high school – if I could go back I would’ve become a vet tech! I just want to give back and be part of the recovery and release of wild animals. It’s the least I can do as we quickly take over their habitat!”
Basic Wildlife Rehab Course, IWRC (2023)
Wound Management Course, IWRC (2025)
Ryan
Facility Maintenance, Animal Care
Our volunteers at IWRS are at the heart of what we do and why we can follow our heart and make dreams come true. Ryan has been instrumental in the building of our society, construction of enclosures and lending a helping hand in just about every aspect of our work since day 1. In fact, it was Ryan who gave us the confidence in being able to start IWRS back in 2020!
We are so very grateful for Ryan to show up consistently over years, even when the work isn’t always easy or fun. His dedication to wildlife, protecting the forests and animals we are lucky to live with means the world to us.
Ryan lives outside of the Okanagan, but he is an example for the support of our core volunteers we rely on and an example of what it means to being an all-round kind and humble human being and champion for wildlife!
Shannon
Lead South Okanagan, Communications, Animal Care
Shannon has been with us every summer since 2022. She felt that “…having worked in the rehabilitation field previously, it was incredibly fulfilling.” When Shannon moved into the Okanagan, she was “looking to contribute to local conservation efforts as a means of both meeting new like-minded people, but also being part of something bigger in the community.”
Lending a hand on-site, off-site, after work, before work, or on a Sunday morning, Shannon’s commitment to us is amazing!
Michelle
Lead North Okanagan, Communications, Education, Animal Care, Transport
Michelle began volunteering in the spring of 2025. Her passion for dedicating time to the protection and conservation of local native wildlife species and the environment inspired Michelle to join IWRS. She proudly will tell anyone that joining our team “has been an extremely rewarding opportunity” with a big smile. Michelle is also the Vice President of the North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club. She adds “I’ve been able to combine both of these passions in a truly beneficial way. I’ve learned so much from IWRS about our native species, and the experience of rehabilitating and successfully releasing an animal into its native habitat has been one of the highlights of my life”. We are so lucky to have Michelle on our team!
Tiffany
Communications, Education, Animal Care
In 2023 Tiff joined IWRS because she wanted to be part of helping wildlife, and loves assisting the public with questions on how to help injured or orphaned animals they have encountered. Tiffany volunteers at the Penticton SPCA as well and we couldn’t be more proud to have her support us. She always a kind word for people that care about animals as much as we do. Tiff feels that “Seeing an animal returned to the wild because someone cared is truly gratifying.” We couldn’t agree more.
How to Donate
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V0H1Z0, Summerland,
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