Board Members

Our Board Members

Interested in a position with Clay Tree? Volunteer to be a Clay Tree board member!

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Travis Sippel

Travis Sippel

President of the Board

Travis Sippel is a member in good standing, with a great understanding and passion for the mission and work of Clay Tree. He is an experienced lawyer who primarily practices in the areas of insurance litigation, personal injury, and employment law. Travis grew up outside of Kelowna, British Columbia, and completed his undergraduate studies at both the University of Victoria in Victoria and Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. He attended the University of Alberta in Edmonton for law school and practiced with a regional law firm in Alberta before relocating to Nanaimo in 2018. Travis also advises Boards on governance and will bring this expertise to the Clay Tree Board.

Lisa Nissinen

Lisa Nissinen

Vice President of the Board

Lisa graduated from Vancouver Island University with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Anthropology as well as from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Social Work with a specialization in child protection. She also has a diploma in leadership development from Camosun Collage. In her early career she owned and developed a series of retail business employing up to 50 people and importing goods from overseas.
Lisa has worked within the community living sector for the past 18 years. Her career began as a community support worker, and later as a home share coordinator for VITAL society in the Cowichan Valley. Upon completion of her Bachelor of Social work from the University of Victoria, Lisa took a position with Community Living BC as a quality service analyst where she spent the next decade working with agencies throughout Vancouver Island to deliver services to individuals with Autism and developmental disabilities. She holds extensive knowledge of government contracting, policy, and guiding principles.
Lisa is an avid hiker, having finished the west coast trail in 2021, and finds joy in the practices of yoga and meditation. Lisa is currently attending school full time with the California College of Ayurveda. Lisa is island raised, and has lived in Nanaimo, for the past 10 years with her 16-year-old son. She spent 7 years volunteering her time with Scouts Canada in Nanaimo
supporting youth to engage with the outdoors.

Catherine McHardy

Catherine McHardy

Treasurer

Mother to a future clay tree participate; fun loving 7 year old with a 1 on 1 designation. She grew up being around kids with special needs as her dad was a special needs teacher back home in Ontario. Catherine has over 18 years experience in the financial industry, from investing, real estate, day to day back to current where she is a Relationship Manager at the BMO. She prides herself on putting the customers first, being proactive and helping medium size business on Vancouver Island grow to their full potential. Catherine is a Certified event planner and enjoys using her skills to benefit her community. She wants to make sure these programs are around for her son and accessible to everyone who needs them. She is an ongoing advocate for her son and other parents of young children trying to access support.

Kellina Lang

Kellina Lang

Board Member

I have lived in Nanaimo since 2000, I moved here after I graduated from the University of Victoria where I specialized in English and Social Sciences. Soon after moving to Nanaimo, I started my career in call centre management where I worked for 4.5 years before deciding to return to school to obtain a Master’s Degree in Business Administration where I specialized in Marketing. After this, I worked in Marketing for 2.5 years, then changed career paths and accepted a position in Human Resources at Fisheries and Oceans Canada where I have been employed for the last 13 years.

I have volunteered in this community periodically since 2003 at a number of different organizations such as the Vancouver Island Crisis Line, as a family counsellor at Nanaimo Family Life, as a unit leader at Girl Guides Canada and most recently have started fostering cats at the Cat Nap Society

I hope Clay Tree will benefit from my work experience in Human Resources, Management and Marketing. I take a common-sense approach to solving problems, have a straightforward attitude, and enjoy working with others in collaboration towards a common purpose.

Dione van Beynum

Dione van Beynum

Board Member

I am the parent and primary caregiver of a special needs adult who attends one of the Clay Tree programs, which I feel puts me in a unique position to understand and present the caregiver/advocate perspective. I feel that my unique background, experience and perspective will be an asset to the Board.

Professionally, I have had considerable experience as a Registered Nurse and currently own a retail shop in downtown Nanaimo.

Additionally, I have served on the boards of several volunteer organizations in the past, including the Parent Advisory Committees of three elementary schools, the Vancouver Island Children’s Book Festival, and the Island Stitchery Guild. I have held positions as President, Treasurer, Web Developer, and general volunteer on committees both within those organizations and also with the Downtown Nanaimo Business Association. More recently I have been involved in Re-Imagine Nanaimo and other downtown improvement consultations.

Nathan Flower

Nathan Flower

Board Member

My name is Nathaniel Flower, everyone calls me Nathan. I am a recent graduate from was of John Barsby Secondary School. I was valedictorian and won a scholarship for my undergraduate degree, $55,000 over the next 5 years for any university in B.C. I have chosen VIU to begin my university studies. I will be taking a Bachelor of Science, majoring in chemistry. I then plan to use this undergraduate degree to get into law school. Clay Tree is an organization that is very involved with the community and have a high respect for the work they do in the community. I have my own personal experience with family members living with disabilities and believe that I will bring a fresh perspective to the Clay Tree board.

Tanya Assaf

Tanya Assaf

Board Member

Tanya Assaf is a dedicated advocate for neurodiverse individuals and an accomplished educator with over 15 years of leadership experience in inclusive post-secondary programming. As Program Chair of the Workplace Essential Skills and Training (WEST) Program at Vancouver Island University’s Faculty of Academic and Career Preparation, Tanya has led transformative initiatives that empower students with disabilities to pursue meaningful employment and education.

Her achievements include founding the WEST Foundation Account to provide direct financial support to students, securing grant funding to eliminate barriers to unpaid work practicums, and serving on VIU’s AccessAbility Committee to advance inclusive institutional policies. These efforts reflect her commitment to creating lasting impact through innovation and collaboration.

Tanya helped launch two exciting practicum sites in the WEST Program that work like social enterprises, with all profits supporting the WEST Foundation. Through the Car Detailing Service and the WEST Café Training Lab, students gain real-world experience while giving back to the program

Tanya brings to the Clay Tree Society Board a wealth of experience in program development, stakeholder engagement, and inclusive policy design. Her work is informed by deep partnerships with neurodiverse learners, educators, employers, and community organizations. She is passionate about fostering autonomy, dignity, and full community inclusion for all individuals.

Joining the Clay Tree Society Board aligns seamlessly with Tanya’s professional mission and personal values. She is honored to contribute her strategic insight, fundraising expertise, and unwavering commitment to inclusion to support the organization’s continued growth and impact.

Dr. Omar Karim, EdD, MBA, MScIB

Dr. Omar Karim, EdD, MBA, MScIB

Board Member

Dr. Omar Karim is the founder of the Global Emerging Leaders Program (GELP), an organization dedicated to empowering students and young professionals to lead with purpose and integrity. Recognized as a National TD Scholar and National Millennium Scholar, he has a longstanding commitment to youth leadership, community service, and education. His passion for inclusion began early in his career, when he founded Mind Over Autism, developing social and inclusive programs for children with diverse abilities in British Columbia. He later established “YES WE CAN program” at the Canucks Autism Network, helping youth with autism access empowering opportunities to build leadership, confidence, and community connections.

Additionally, he is the founder of the BC MBA Games, led the 2017 Canada MBA Games, and served as National Director and Education Lead for Post-Secondary Engagement with the Moose Hide Campaign, where he led national efforts in fundraising, community engagement, and advancing reconciliation across Canada. Currently, he teaches Work Integrated Learning in the MBA program at Vancouver Island University and though national and international relationships, he collaborates with over 120 academic partners across Canada and more than 50 institutions worldwide.

He recently completed his Doctorate in Higher Education, focusing on integrating Indigenous perspectives into co-curricular learning, reflecting his commitment to equity and inclusion. His expertise in leadership development, education, and building inclusive communities aligns strongly with Clay Tree Society’s mission to support individuals in achieving their full potential.

Brandon Bonnetplume

Brandon Bonnetplume

Board Member

Brandon Bonnetplume is a dedicated advocate for inclusion and community well-being. Born and raised in Nanaimo, he brings a strong connection to the region and a deep commitment to supporting organizations that make a meaningful local impact.

Before entering the legal profession, Brandon worked as a social worker and housing coordinator, helping individuals experiencing homelessness access housing and essential services. This experience continues to shape his practical and empathetic approach to advocacy.

Brandon has held leadership roles in the non-profit sector, including serving as Vice President of Outreach for Best Buddies, an organization that promotes inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He led fundraising efforts and built partnerships with student and community groups to advance the organization’s mission.

While attending law school, Brandon contributed to the Law Centre Legal Clinic and participated in HARD Law, a student-led initiative focused on evidence-informed drug policy and supporting the rights of people who use substances.

Brandon’s values align closely with the Clay Tree Society’s mission of promoting dignity, inclusion, and meaningful community participation for individuals with developmental disabilities. He is eager to contribute his experience and passion to support the Society’s work in the Nanaimo community.