Working with You for BC’s Communities

We are pleased to announce Zita Botelho as FBC’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective August 18, 2025. Zita brings a depth of experience in sustainability leadership and cross-sector collaboration, with a focus on water governance, environmental policy, and reconciliation. She joins FBC as the founding director of Watersheds BC and previously served in a senior leadership role at the BC Ministry of Environment. She steps into the role at a pivotal time, as the organization prepares to enter its next strategic chapter.

We are excited to announce that Janet Austin — who recently completed seven years of service as Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and is now a private citizen — is the new Chair of the Fraser Basin Council. In addition to her service as Lt. Gov., Janet comes to FBC with a wealth of community leadership service, including 15 years as Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA Metro Vancouver, one of the province’s largest and most diversified non-profits.

She succeeds Colin Hansen, FBC’s Chair since 2014, whose earlier public service included the roles of Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance for British Columbia. The FBC Directors and staff thank him for his excellent leadership and service to the Council these many years. We also greatly look forward to working with our new Chair Janet Austin as we bring people together to advance sustainability in B.C.

FBC is delighted to announce Courtenay Campbell as the first recipient of the Chief Roy Mussell Bursary.

Courtenay, a First Nations student at Thompson Rivers University, is integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with scientific methods in a research project to explore culturally significant plant regeneration after wildfires. Through her research and her work on sustainable forestry, Courtenay exemplifies what it means to care for the land and future generations.