board of Directors
Are you interested in joining our board, and contributing your skills to our food security work, increasing access to local food & education for Revelstoke? Want to participate in & help to organize food events & celebrations? Please fill out our expression of interest form, or email our executive director for more information at info@revelstokelocalfood.com
Melissa Hemphill - President
Melissa's passions are all things food related, with a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Guelph and a diploma in Natural Nutrition. She helped to create Revelstoke's first community garden and establish the Local Food Initiative as a society, and continues on in a board member position.
Melissa works to build socially just and environmentally sustainable local food systems within British Columbia through a variety of projects, studies, and collaborations. When she isn't busy tackling community food security issues you can find her in the garden, on the trails, or teaching her kids the wonders of the world.
Sammy Blair - Vice President
Sammy has worked in many roles across the food system; in gleaning, food security, waste management, food education, and farming. She has a Master of Science Research degree in Integrated Land and Food Systems from the University of British Columbia. Sammy specializes in community-based work, and recently has been involved with developing school farm implementation resources for Farm to School BC and working as the food security coordinator for Land to Table's regional community food hub. Sammy moved to Revelstoke in 2022 and is excited to work with the LFI to engage the community in our local food system. During her free time you can find Sammy gardening, skiing, hiking, and playing outside with friends and family.
Kari Martin - Treasurer
Kari joined the LFI first as a member and volunteer, then as a contractor for the Garden and Art Tour. Raised in the prairies, she had an early understanding of the importance of growing and foraging. From helping on her grandparents farm, to berry picking and fishing with the family, there were always things to do surrounding food. After travelling for a bit, Kari moved to Revelstoke in 2008. She was eager to settle in, plant a garden and get back to her roots.
Claire Davies - Secretary
Claire has several years of diverse food systems experience, including farming, food education, gleaning, food security, and agriculture policy research. Claire holds a Master's in Public Policy, where her thesis focused on identifying and reducing barriers to the adoption of agricultural nature-based solutions in British Columbia. She has also been involved in sustainable agriculture efforts with organizations such as the National Farmers Union and La Via Campesina. During her free time, Claire can be found in the mountains or gardening in Revelstoke, located on the traditional territories of the Sinixt, Secwepemc, Syilx, and Ktunaxa Peoples.
Claire joined the LFI board in April 2023.
Taniell Hamilton - Director at Large
Taniell is the Destination and Sustainability Manager for Tourism Revelstoke and is responsible for the implementation of the community’s destination management plan. She holds an advanced certificate in Strategic Energy Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainability Studies.
Taniell’s experience spans a variety of different roles, including Sustainability Consultant, Program Manager for an environmental non-profit, and Sustainability Manager for Whistler Blackcomb Resort. By combining her background in sustainability with destination management, she aims to create enriching experiences for visitors while ensuring the preservation of Revelstoke’s natural beauty and cultural heritage for future generations.
Taniell joined the LFI board in January 2025.
Nat Segal - Director at Large, Marketing & Fundraising
Nat Segal is a professional skier, filmmaker and ACMG hiking guide living in Revelstoke, BC. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, after completing her BA in Fine Arts Nat spent the next 8 years travelling the world as a professional athlete. When Nat moved to town in 2018 she had never owned a house plant, let alone grown her own veggies. Several years later, thanks to seeds and inspiration from the LFI, Nat is a passionate gardener and keen supporter of local food and sustainability.
Nat has worked with several local non-profits in Revelstoke including Arts Revelstoke as a producer for LUNA Fest and operations and community manager for Open Mountains Project. It is her hope to bring her experience from these roles to support the LFI in its mission.
Nat joined the LFI board in June 2026.
The Team
Executive Director - Amanda Cockburn
Amanda is bringing her passion for community building and helping others to the Revelstoke Local Food Initiative. With 20 years of leadership and project management experience behind her, she is enjoying being able to make an impact on the community. She joined the LFI as the events coordinator in the summer of 2023, hosting the midsummer night’s green fundraising dinner, and the inaugural LFI “Revelstoke Garlic Festival” at Queen Elizabeth Park.
When she’s not working, she’s walking her wiener dogs in the mountains (or maybe they’ve barked at you at the flats), snowboarding at RMR, honing her gardening skills, watching her kids’ sports, or cheering at a Grizzlies game. Say hi if you see me out in the community :)
info@revelstokelocalfood.com
Isabel Kessi - Market Manager
Isabel loves food, anything from bigger scale productions to growing her own carrots in the garden excites her. Isabel is a trained Chef with a BSc in food science and technology. She immigrated from Switzerland in 2017 and now consults food manufacturers in BC. For over ten years Isabel has been selling food at farmers markets in Europe and Canada. Now market days are her social days where she gets to leave the home office and work with vendors to create a successful market.
When Isabel isn’t working at the market or at home you can find her in the woods, skiing, biking or walking her dog Yeti.
market@revelstokelocalfood.com
Georgie Hyland - Food Security Coordinator
Georgie grew up and went to school in Edmonton where she attended University of Alberta school of business. After realizing that she wanted to stay far away from the corporate world, she moved to Revelstoke in 2020. After becoming more aware of the lack of food security and increasing impacts of climate change, she found her way to the UBC Farm Practicum in 2022 where she gained an education in small-scale, organic vegetable farming. Farming combines her passion for food, working outside, sustainability, and community building. In 2023 she started working for First Light Farm and is with them for a second season as the Greenhouse Manager and Post-harvest Lead.
You can find Georgie biking or skiing in the mountains, but her biggest joy comes from sharing food with fellow farmers, friends, and family. She is also tomato obsessed!
foodsecurity@revelstokelocalfood.com
Jess Booth, Education Coordinator (youth & workshops)
Jess grew up on a farm in Australia and has carried that love of the land and of sharing what it grows into nearly everything she does. Since making Revelstoke home in 2019, she has worked as an environmental educator with the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society and the Wildsight Regional Education Team, building programs and partnerships rooted in community and care for local ecosystems. She also works in early childhood education, believing that a relationship with the natural world is something best started young. Jessica is the founder of Mildly Wild Flowers, a small Revelstoke cut flower farm grown with biodiversity and soil health in mind. When she's not educating or growing things, you'll likely find her on a horse, on the slopes, or soaking up the sunshine. She is thrilled to bring her love of food, land, and community to her new role as Education and Workshop Coordinator with the Revelstoke Local Food Initiative.
education@revelstokelocalfood.com
Teal Randle - Food Commons Coordinator
"Teal is an articling agrologist with an educational background in environmental and soil science. With two years of farming experience at an organic vegetable farm and two years of teaching soil and earth sciences at UNBC, Teal is deeply committed to sustainable farming practices that work in harmony with the environment to ensure resiliency within her community. Teal is excited to help foster a local food system that integrates traditional foodways with regenerative practices that can be enjoyed by the whole community for generations.
You might run into Teal and her dog June biking through the local trails, touring up the mountains, or paddling down the river."
foodcommons@revelstokelocalfood.com
Isaac Burkam - Commercial Compost Coordinator
Isaac moved to Revelstoke from rural Nova Scotia, where he grew up on an organic farm. Isaac has a masters of science in sustainability and business from the University of Leeds in the UK, as well as a bachelor of arts in economics and environmental studies from McGill University. Isaac is passionate about diverting food waste, improving the sustainability of rural Canadian communities, and helping people learn about the benefits of sustainable practices. In his free time, Isaac enjoys snowboarding, climbing, mountain biking, gardening, and cooking yummy food.
Isaac is also a contractor for the City of Revelstoke, consulting on the residential compost program coming in 2027.
compost@revelstokelocalfood.com
Maggie Rodwell - Indoor Hydroponics Coordinator
Originally from Salmon Arm, Maggie grew up outdoor adventuring throughout the Revelstoke community, located on the traditional territories of the Sinixt, Secwépemc, Syilx, and Ktunaxa Peoples. Her experience working as a wildland firefighter gave her a firsthand view of the impacts of climate change and deepened her awareness of how closely getting folks to engage with the land is tied to community well-being. She also completed her Philosophy degree at Saint Mary’s University, focusing on environmental ethics and collective care that led to a variety of experience within education and climate resiliency building. On her down time, you’ll find Maggie fly fishing, trail running, or playing games of crib with friends!
beesee@revelstokelocalfood.com
Erin Code - Bookkeeper & Committee Member
Erin first joined the LFI in 2021 as a member of the Board of Directors. Her background with a BSc in Agronomy and a certificate in Accounting is what sparked her passion to get involved with the financial side of the LFI. She sees the importance maintaining, educating, and celebrating the local food community in Revelstoke.
accounts@revelstokelocalfood.com
COMMITTEES
This is a great way to give back to our food community if you do not have the capacity to be a board member or there are not any current job openings. Committees that we are currently accepting expressions of interest for are:
Garden & Education committee: We are currently seeking committee members who have experience in farming, gardening, food workshops and/or are educators. This committee helps to shape the direction of our education programs + community gardens.
Marketing & Fundraising committee: We are currently seeking 1 x community member, and 1 x business community member to join our committee who have an interest in fundraising, events, marketing and sponsorship.
Food Security Advisory Committee: Do you work in food security, the food-system, agri-food, social services or have an educational background in food? This committee serves as strategic advisors to our food security coordinator.
Please email info@revelstokelocalfood.com for more information.
