Herman Surkis - President
Herman Surkis is a retired Psychotherapist and currently working part time as a Future Trends Consultant for a European company. He has spent years as a professional photographer and currently indulges his love of nature photography in BC. He is originally from Montreal and comes to Victoria via Toronto, Central America and lastly the American South West. He has had an interest in the outdoors and animals since childhood. His volunteer activities in Victoria ranged from Kids Options, Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society and others, however his activism gained a new focus with the closure of the Crystal Garden Conservation Centre. He has been president of OASES since early in its inception.

John Creviston - Vice-president
Growing up on Texada Island in BC gave John an intimate connection with nature. He cared for and raised various animals when unwanted by previous owners. His fascination with wildlife and the natural environment ultimately led to John beginning a professional career at the Calgary Zoo in 1979 where he was soon appointed to manage the Australasia and Nocturnal sections While in Calgary, John also served as president of the Swift Fox Conservation Society and as a board member of the Calgary Humane Society (SPCA). In 1996 John become the Curator of Animals at Victoria's Crystal Garden Conservation Centre where he modernized the facility's exhibits and animal collections to reflect its wildlife conservation efforts. With the facility's closure in 2004, his efforts shifted toward leading sustainable development initiatives with a local resort company, where he served as their director. Today he serves as vice-president of OASES, and hopes to see the development of a conservation centre in the Victoria area that can serve to connect people with nature.

Nancy MacNab - Treasurer

Eric Grace - Director
Dr. Eric Grace studied zoology in the UK before a brief period teaching at the University of Toronto and studying wolves in the arctic. He subsequently worked as editor at the Ontario Science Centre. For the past 20 years has been a freelance science writer, producing both popular books about animals and high school science textbooks.

Steve Milpacher - Director
Steve’s interest in animals began early in life and has continued into his adulthood. Although his formal education focused primarily on biological sciences, he has a strong entrepreneurial background in web development and marketing in the education industry. He is currently employed by the World Parrot Trust, an international wildlife charity, as their Director for Business Development.

Rob Cairns - Director

Ron MacIsaac - Director

Chris Collis - Director