Board of Directors
Who are we?
The Directors of the NSMBA are community members dedicated to advocating for the goals of the Association and its members as outlined in the Constitution and bylaws. They are all volunteers, and responsible for planning for the future of the organization, as well as managing its day to day activities. Each director has a duty to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the society.
Curious about what’s being discussed at the monthly Board of Directions meetings?
Check out the minutes of the meeting here.
Directors partake in the planning, organization, execution, and follow-up of the following activities:
- advocacy
- trail planning
- operations
- fundraising
- events (trail days, member meetings, special events)
- races
- marketing and promotion
- education
Give a Director a high five the next time you see them out on the trails. They all volunteer significant amounts of their time to support mountain biking and the community of trail users on the North Shore and in British Columbia.
Cooper Quinn
President
The Shore’s trails are a primary reason I moved here 15 years ago. I grew up in Jackson, Wyoming as part of a tight-knit community of builders and riders. I learned early on that trail access is a privilege, not a right, and in the value advocacy; working together with land managers and other stakeholders to build solutions that benefit the entire community.
There’s a long, involved history in the forests here—a patchwork of land managers, a complex stakeholder environment, and 1400 mm of rain annually all overlay our frontcountry network of multi-use trails, all within a stones throw of the 3rd largest municipal area in Canada. And, it’s The Shore—we’re legendary across the world for our legendary progressive trails.
As your President, I’ll try and balance the needs of NSMBA members, environmental stewardship, maintaining our position as a leader in progressive trails, and the community at large. Our community, mountain biking, and outdoor recreation are things I care deeply about; if you ever want to talk about them, email me, and lets get outside somewhere and talk!
Corey Brennan
Co-Director of Communications & Design and Secretary
I grew up on a farm in Alberta, riding dirt bikes and generally getting as dirty as possible. After moving to Calgary in the 1990s I switched to leg power and started mountain biking the local trails. Eventually, I upgraded to a full suspension bike and discovered the Canmore Nordic centre and trails around Bragg Creek. I moved to North Vancouver in 2017 and fell in love with the trails in my new backyard. Now I can ride year round, work on the trails and generally, get as dirty as possible.I own ELEVATE Design, a branding, and graphic design company. I am also an investor in Work Nicer, a Calgary-based coworking community. I am excited to work with my partner, Morgan Mallett to promote the NSMBA by using my experience in community building, brand strategy, and graphic design.
Laura Tacchi
Treasurer
After learning to mountain bike in the Rockies, I moved to North Vancouver in 2017. Having lived in three other provinces I can confidently say that we spoiled for choice when it comes to trail and riding areas in the Sea to Sky. Since moving here I have tried to ride the local mountains as much as possible. I have been blown away by how much work goes into the trails and how well maintained they are. It is not unusual to roll onto some fresh gold or a new feature and I love that! I am so excited to be a part of the NSMBA and to be able to give back to this community.When I am not outdoors I work in the banking industry and for the past 9 years, I have worked directly with businesses helping them grow and achieve their goals. Two years ago a group of us from RBC leveraged our community program to adopt Lower Oil Can. It has been so much fun working with the NSMBA and Michael Stormer to help them realize their vision for the trail. As Treasurer I hope to have an even bigger impact and work to ensure the long term success of the Association.
Brent Hillier
Director of Youth
I’ve been living and working on the North Shore for the better part of a decade, and am proud to call it home and raise my family here. In my professional life, I’m the host of the Front Lines MTB Podcast, a bi-weekly show aimed at Trail Advocates, Builders and Non-profit volunteers and employees. In addition, I work as the Community Manager at Trailforks, where I work with over 1400 Trail Associations all over the world.I’m passionate about trails and the people who recreate on them. Like public libraries, trails are not only a crucial community asset, but a public right. But unlike our roads and social services, I believe they should always be maintained and managed by the community. Having community members maintain an integral community asset, provides us with the opportunity to learn, grow and socialize; ensuring a legacy of stewardship for generations to come. Like everything it starts with the youth. The future of Mountain Biking, and the trails in general, will be determined by the generation that follows us but like building or maintaining a trail we can still play a huge roll in pointing that path in the right direction.
Isabelle Deguise
Director of Advocacy
I started mountain biking over a decade ago when I moved to Vancouver from Ontario for grad school. Considering the major falls, bruises and tears that first year, it’s surprising it’s become such a big part of my life. But the community, the trails and the adrenaline rush just can’t be beat.I moved to North Vancouver four years ago specifically to be closer to the mountains and now I use the trails on the North Shore almost every day to ride, run or walk my dog. I’ve been so impressed with the work the NSMBA has done over the past several years, I’ve decided to get more involved. My day job involves permitting and managing environmental aspects for the development, construction and operation of renewable energy projects in Western Canada, which involves a lot of regulatory work, government relations, stakeholder consultation and First Nation relationship building. I plan to transfer these skills as your new Director of Advocacy.
Morgan Mallett
Co-Director of Communications & Design
Born and raised in Whistler and the North Shore, and having lived all over Canada, I’m proud to call the West Coast home. I started mountain biking in the mid 90s when my classmates needed a girl to ride on their high school team for points. Armed with zero mountain biking experience, a fully rigid Norco Kokanee with a stripped saddle, kick stand, and loose headset, I (mostly!) ran next to my bike to come 5th at provincials. Once I discovered that one could run in the mountains without a bike, I started trail running and racing in ultras. I now have a fully-functioning mountain bike—with no kickstand—and ride, run and fall, all over the North Shore.When I moved back to the North Shore in 2011, I wondered how I could help restore and maintain the trails I loved so dearly. I’ve been volunteering maintaining and building trails with the NSMBA ever since.
My background is in graphic and fashion design, and I’ve been working in these industries since 2005. As owner and Creative Director of Design + Conquer and Graphic Design Director at a local fashion and design school, I’m passionate about interconnectivity, communication design, and helping others.
I am excited to work with my partner, and fellow board member, Corey Brennan to nurture the NSMBA’s design realm, and to promote connection between all trail users.
Don "Buck" Halliday
Director of Events
As a new member of the Board, I am excited about another great year for the association. I will specifically focus on special events that will attract new members and keep our existing membership having fun and riding first class trails.Like all of our members, I am involved because I love to ride! In 2018, I completed a few fivers, the Spakwus, and the epic BCBR. These events required a lot of riding which increased my appreciation for the amazing trail work done on the North Shore and led me to get more involved.
Prior to becoming a mountain bike fanatic 20 years ago, I played rugby as my main sport for the Meralomas, UBC, and BC. I also grew up playing soccer, skiing, baseball, and other sports. I have coached soccer, hockey and field hockey and I currently help coach the North Shore Special Olympics floor hockey team.
I was one of the lucky ones who was born and raised in Vancouver and moved to the North Shore in 1994. I graduated from UBC a long time ago with a teaching degree, which fully prepared me for my first professional job in advertising and then in the exploration and mining business.
Ken Coopland
Director at Large
I moved to Vancouver from Winnipeg in 1989. In Winnipeg, I was an avid runner and sailor so Vancouver was a natural fit for the water but I never knew I would love the trails as much as I do. Trail running led to Knee Knackers trail race, trail knowledge led to hiking and climbing and the local North Shore mountains led to backcountry skiing and snowshoeing. I moved to the North Shore in ’93, and for the last 15 years, the majority of my time is spent on my mountain bike, with my dog, my neighbours or my friends. Now, most vacations up and down the coast include riding, my wife rides with all her friends, and it’s one of the few things that makes me scream and laugh like a 7-year-old again.
In the last 5 years I’ve joined the NSMBA and helped out building trails but feels like it hasn’t been enough. I’ve realized trails don’t build themselves. As a Director of the NSMBA, I want to grow the membership and the rider engagement that will allow all existing and newly introduced riders to enjoy the use of the trails forever.
My background is in Sales, Product Marketing, Consulting and designing superior Customer Experiences through technology. I’m looking forward to continuing and contributing to the excellent work the NSMBA has delivered to date and going forward.
Sarah Fix
Director at Large
I grew up on the south end of Okanagan lake in the beautiful little town of Penticton. Despite growing up with the Three Blind Mice mountain bike trails traversing from my back door, I never stepped foot there until the last few years. One of the things that I love most about the Okanagan, despite how small it is, are the endless places to discover and explore.
My first exposure to riding a mountain bike was in 2013 when I decided to switch from road to dirt. I can remember the first time I rode my Giant Trance on the back road that connects Cawston to Oliver B.C., I was sent there through a recommendation from a local rider who raved about how amazing it was, however; they failed to mention the maze of switchbacks and steep gradients. That was both a gruelling experience as well as a great choice for testing out my brand new bike. That ride was the moment I realized mountain biking was far more rewarding and satisfying than road biking. Needless to say, I never went back to the road.
I’ve been living in Vancouver for 11 years and truly fell in love with mountain biking over the last 3 years. Through this sport I have gained immense amounts of strength and confidence that has been extremely beneficial to racing cyclocross. Cyclocross has been a big part of my life. Through both of these sports I have met incredible people who share the same passion for the forest, trails, and suffering on long climbs to satisfy the best descents.
Now having ridden the trails in Pemberton, Whistler, Squamish, Fromme, and most recently Seymour; I find it even more difficult to ever consider living anywhere else. I feel grateful to have all of this incredible landscape to live in and ride.
Through my past experiences working in the youth education sector and now as a teacher; I believe in creating a strong sense of community. Community is built through meaningful connections, creating coalition, and searching for all resources in order to reach shared goals.
I am grateful to have been given this opportunity to be a part of an association that promotes sustainability and bridging gaps to create an inclusive community for all trail users.
Ben Lovie
Director at Large
For the past number of years, I have been really impressed by the work done by the staff, trail day volunteers and Board at NSMBA. The advocacy, rider community and trail work on the Shore is simply awesome! It is a world-class mountain bike association that do amazing work for all types of trail users.
Like all NSMBA members, I love to be in the mountains on my bike. I left Australia in 2002 to chase mountain trails around the world before settling in East Vancouver where I live with my wife and 3 kids. With my kids becoming more active in the mountains and also supporting me to get more involved in the community, it is great to be able to contribute to further the NSMBA mission – trails for all, trails forever.
The last 14 years I have worked as a Marketing Director and now as a General Manager of a luxury automotive dealership. In my 20’s I worked as a rafting guide and snowboard instructor. This combined with experience on another Board, I can hopefully add some sustainable value to the Association and its Members.
I look forward to representing the NSMBA, particularly in the areas of Membership, Sponsorship and behind-the-scenes Association development work.
See you on the trails!
Gavin Kennedy
Director at Large
Growing up on the West Coast of Canada I’ve always had a passion for the mountains and exploring the wild places in our backyard. I cut my teeth North Shore mountain biking at 12 when my family moved from Whistler to Vancouver, and I’ve enjoyed watching the sport grow to accommodate different abilities, genders, age groups, and create economic opportunities and tourism for the lower mainland.
Travel on bicycles showed me first hand that great trails are often created through advocacy, and the lobbying efforts of organizations like the NSMBA – who urge government and land managers to consider the many benefits of mountain biking to the community, and to help protect these places for our future. I’ve mountain biked and bike toured in Europe, North, Central, and South America, and New Zealand. I hold a Political-Science degree from UBC and Slovenia, and ski patrol part time at Whistler- Blackcomb. I was a Canadian Forces reservist in communications for 11 years, and now make my living in documentary film.
As a board member, I will use my skills and experiences to help build new relationships and strengthen existing ones by approaching new sponsors, write grant applications, help organize events, and continue to work with land managers and government.
When I’m not working, you can usually find me and my dog Maddox on the North Shore.
Ben Organ
Director at Large