David Crockett, Chair
VP, Integrated Planning, London Health Sciences / St. Joseph's

Cindy Graeme, Secretary
Program Coordinator, London Community Foundation

Kate Graham, Director
Municipal Policy Specialist, City of London

Ian Greasley, Director
Owner, Bloomers at the Market

Paul Knill, Director
Partner, Siskinds

Director Biographies

Stephaine Lentz, Treasurer
Chartered Accountant, Deloitte & Touche

Kate Rhodes
Vice President and Producer, Wizards of Video

Mitchell Schurmans, Director
Vice President, Oak Trust

Dean Sheppard, Vice-Chair
Environmental Consultant, Axent Consulting

Carolyn Young, Director
Communications Manager, University of Western Ontario

Julie Ryan
Executive Director

Julie Ryan is the Executive Director of ReForest London, an organization she co-founded in 2004. Previously, Julie has worked in various positions as a writer, educator, and non-profit organization manager. She was a regular columnist with the London Free Press for 2 years, and has consulted with several environmental organizations in Ontario. Julie has a Master's degree in Education from the University of St. Thomas, and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Carleton College.

Julie serves on the Board of Directors for the London Potters Guild, and volunteers with school, church, and neighbourhood organizations. In 2003, Julie received Special Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson for her work building a coalition peace organization in Dallas Texas.

Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Julie has also lived in Cleveland and Dallas. She moved to the Forest City in 2003. She is married with three children and lives in London’s Old South neighbourhood.

Julie Ryan

Bill DeYoung
Technical Director

Bill DeYoung moved to London in 1979 and has called it "home" ever since. At that time Bill was employed by the Ontario Public Interest Research Group with a focus on community organizing on environmental and social issues. Since then he has worked in technical roles in the Department of Medicine at the University of Western Ontario and has continued his studies in biology, geography and sociology.

Bill received a Masters degree in Geography at University of Western Ontario. Currently, Bill specializes in ecological restoration, invasive species management and provides ecological consulting to municipal, private, and not-for-profit organizations. He has also consulted on issues of environmental policy, and has presented at international and national forums on his work in invasive species management, agricultural land use change, and protection of woodlands and wetlands. Bill co-founded ReForest London in 2004.

Bill DeYoung

Gabriele Sanio
Project Leader

Gabriele Sanio is trained as a landscape architect from the University of Guelph, 1988.
Gabriele has practiced in Canada, Ireland and Australia with both private firms and governmental agencies. Gabriele’s design experience has involved both public spaces such as riverside amenity walks, large scale planting projects for highways and public parks and private projects ranging from industrial landscapes, commercials settings and many private gardens.

Over 15 years Gabriele has a monthly design column for “The Irish Garden” magazine where she presents topical issues that influence the design of outdoor spaces and planting considerations. She specializes in native plantings and expanding the provision of food as a design element in residential and community gardens. Gabriele teaches various design courses and studio’s at Fanshawe College.

Gabriele Sanio resides in her home town of London, Ontario and runs a landscape design practice “Microenvironments” with support from her husband, 3 children, 1 dog, 2 Budgies, 1 turtle and all the fish and frogs in the pond. 

Gabriele Sanio

Katie Van Den Berg is the newest member of the ReForest London team as the Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator. Born and raised in London, Ontario Katie attended Sir Wilfrid Laurier S.S. where she discovered her interests in the creative arts. After high school Katie continued to develop her creative talents and in 2007 she graduated from Fanshawe College with an Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design. Throughout high school and college Katie was employed for 8 years as a bookkeeper at Food Basics. Prior to joining the ReForest London team Katie worked as a Creative Assistant at Scholar's Choice Moyer.

Katie has always felt a strong connection with the outdoors and in particular animals and devotes time each week volunteering at the London Humane Society where she walks and socializes the dogs. Katie enjoys giving back to her community by devoting time each week volunteering at the Women's Community House. Katie also volunteers at events such as the Bark in the Park, ChangeCamp London, Jane's Walk London, and Jump Rope for the Heart.

Katie continues to develop her artistic talents by drawing, painting, attending art classes, and most recently learning photography through the monthly London Photowalk. Katie lives in London's beautiful Old South, with her long time boyfriend, Kevin Van Lierop.

Katie Van Den Berg