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The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing and managing the spread of invasive species within the Columbia-Shuswap region.  We work with government partners, non-profit organizations and interested parties to document, control and educate the public about the seriousness and impact of invasive species.  We humbly acknowledge that CSISS works on the traditional lands of the Sinixt, the Ktunaxa, the Secwepmec and the Syilx. 

Our Partners

CSISS partners with both regional and provincial organizations to stop the spread of invasives. We are able to deliver our programs with support from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development (MFLNRORD), the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (MoECCS), Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF), Columbia Basin Trust (CBT), the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD), the Shuswap Watershed Council (SWC) and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) and the Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC).

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Our Team

The CSISS staff is supported by a board of directors from a variety of non-profit organizations and government agencies all working to stop the spread of invasives in our region.

Robyn Hooper

Executive Director

Robyn Hooper is the Executive Director of the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society.  Robyn has been working with CSISS since April 2014 overseeing fund development, administration, Board governance, staff management, invasive species outreach programs, field mapping and monitoring programs, and partnership engagement. Robyn has a Dual Masters degree (Masters of Science, SLU and Masters of Forestry, UBC) and has worked throughout BC and Sweden engaging local communities and key stakeholders in climate change adaptation issues. Robyn is a Professional Agrologist, a member of the Columbia Basin AIS Steering Committee, the National Clean Drain Dry Committee, and East Kootenay Stewardship Committee (Kootenay Conservation Program).

Laura Gaster

Fields Operations Program Coordinator

Laura is the Field Operations Program Coordinator for the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society.  She joined CSISS in 2015 and coordinates terrestrial invasive plant inventory, treatment and monitoring.  Laura is dedicated to creating an efficient and effective program focusing on preventing the introduction of new invaders, reversing the spread of existing species and restoring native ecosystems to a healthy functioning level.  Laura has a BSc in Biology as well as a course in environmental monitoring.  She has previously worked as a wildlife biologist for an environmental consulting firm and assisted with woodland caribou studies in the North Columbia Mountains.

Kim Kaiser

Outreach Program Coordinator

Kim Kaiser joined CSISS at the beginning of the 2018 season after working with the BC Mussel Defense program in 2017 and training with the ISCBC job Creation program in 2016. She completed a Bachelors of Science in Biology at The University of Victoria in 2014. She began work with CSISS as the Education officer in 2018 and is continuing with a new role Coordinating the CSISS outreach program in conjunction with Aquatics Coordinator Sue Davies.

Sue Davies

Aquatic Program Coordinator

Sue Davies joined the CSISS team in April 2017 as our Aquatic Invasive Species Program Coordinator. Sue comes to CSISS from previous work experience with the Invasive Species Council of BC's 2016 Revelstoke JCP job training crew. She also has a Masters degree in Ecology from New Zealand and many years work experience in the environmental and education fields. Contact Sue to book outreach presentations and workshops

Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society