President

Phil has worked in the outdoor, adventure travel & tourism industry for over three decades in a variety of capacities; from instructing mountain skills to developing the precursor to the North Island College’s Adventure Guiding Certificate. He is well known on Vancouver Island for his series of guidebooks to hiking, climbing and backcountry skiing and his publishing and communication skills have been put to good use on a variety of projects from politics to product marketing.

Phil  migrated to sea to work in the marine tourism sector in 2012, joining Maple Leaf Adventures as a guide. He continues to work with MLA and splits his guiding seasons between the British Columbia coast and winters in Antarctica. Phil is a Polar Tourism Guides Association Assessor and was the first guide to be certified by the Marine Guides Association of Canada.

Treasurer

Given has spent a lifetime educating and advocating for safety at sea. He has spent time managing a charter company in Vancouver, acted as instructor and yacht delivery captain, managed a 60 ton passenger ferry business in Barkley Sound, worked as a Transport Canada marine safety instructor, run the simulator training program for Royal Canadian Marine SAR, and managed the operations of remote wilderness expedition companies. Recently, Given spent time at the Canadian Coast Guard in Incident Management and as a Search and Rescue Training Officer for the Coastal First Nations.  

Given is currently a Visitor Safety Coordinator for Parks Canada, where he facilitates land and marine incident response as well as coordinates the marine training program for staff.  Meanwhile, Given continues his adventuring with maritime based wilderness expeditions, and sits on the board of directors for the Marine Guides Association of Canada.

Vice-President

Gaelen is a life-long sailor and has been professionally guiding since 2017 with Bluewater Adventures, where he is a skipper on 70' expedition sailboats running multi-day ecotourism expeditions and is responsible for coordinating the maintenance for the fleet. In addition to his work with Bluewater, Gaelen teaches introductory courses for Safer Ocean Systems and spends a lot of time exploring BC on his 30’ sailboat, skis, and surfboards. He is focused on bringing value and increasing the transparent sharing of information for our guide members.

Secretary

Marlo has worked in the Marine Guiding industry since the year 2017. She has worked on 6 different vessels in British Columbia, Greenland, and Antarctica. When she is not out guiding, you can find her in her home town Terrace, British Columbia.

Associate Member

Kathy is a seasoned leader in the ecotourism and marine adventure industries; currently, she is the Executive Director of the Commercial Bear Viewing Association of BC. Her career spans international waters, including time as a dive instructor in Roatan, Honduras, and as a sailing instructor and First Mate with Odyssey Expeditions in the Caribbean. Katherine also serves as President of the Wilderness Tourism Association and Co-Chair of the Adventure Tourism Coalition. An alumna of Bishop's University (1999), she holds a Master of Arts in Tourism Management from Royal Roads University (2016) and passionately advocates for sustainable tourism and marine conservation.

Associate Member

Brettt, a lifelong resident of Victoria, is the co-owner and lead captain of Eagle Wing Tours, boasting over 28 years of experience in the whale watching industry. His background combines award-winning hospitality with a creative artistic flair, all paired with a contagious enthusiasm reminiscent of the Crocodile Hunter. Brett's warm demeanor and signature smile create an inviting atmosphere aboard his tours, leaving guests both entertained and informed.

Brett goes above and beyond, passionately sharing the intricate tapestry of the Salish Sea ecosystem and ensuring that every guest enjoys an experience that exceeds their expectations. Driven by an unwavering passion for the ocean and its wildlife, Brett is a strong advocate for education and proactive conservation efforts.

He actively fosters relationships throughout the tourism industry and the community, serving on several boards, including those for Destination Greater Victoria and the Pacific Whale Watch Association. Additionally, he is the president of the Wild 4 Whales Foundation. Join him on a tour to witness firsthand that for Brett, whale watching is not merely a profession—it is a profound way of life.

Drew is the Marine Operations Manager at Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the captain's Raincoast’s research vessel, Achiever, as well as meticulously plans all the trips the ship makes. Coming from a variety of work backgrounds, from tourism, advertising photography, large ship construction/repair, and remote field work, Drew brings his passion for adventure and environmental conservation together in his role overseeing crew and operations as the research vessel Achiever travels around the coast, engaging with first nations communities, researchers, and mariners. 

Since her first job, the various work Marlie has done has always had one common denominator – the ocean. Marlie has worked along the coast in ecotourism for over a decade. She has worked as a kayak guide, bear viewing guide, at sports fishing lodges, as a whale watching captain, and more recently as first mate on a research vessel.  Her guiding career has taken her to New Zealand, Antarctica, and to the far reaches of our stunning BC coast.  Currently, Marlie works full time for Raincoast Conservation Foundation. 

Marlie believes the marine guiding community not only needs, but deserves, a better and more connected, supported network.  From her own personal experiences, both good and bad, the benefits of standardized best practices and training, along with further social support, has the potential to make a big impact on not only current, but aspiring marine guides as well.  She is grateful to be able to contribute to building that network with MGAC.

From the rugged beauty of the Great Bear Rainforest to the nutrient-rich vibrant waters of the Salish Sea and the vast tundra on the edge of Hudson Bay, I've had the opportunity to share my passion for nature with countless adventurers. My experiences as a Grizzly and Polar Bear Guide, and Whale Watching Captain have equipped me with the knowledge and skills to create truly immersive and life-changing experiences. I pride myself in a safety first approach to all my adventures. 

I'm excited to continue inspiring others to explore the wonders of the natural world and to promote sustainable tourism practices. Join me on this adventure!