Our Staff & Board
Staff (Paid & Volunteer)
Jeh Custerra - Director and Lead Organizer
Jeh is from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Treaty 6 Territory, and he has organized and campaigned professionally for environmental justice for more than 2 decades. In solidarity with front-line Indigenous communities, Jeh has stood against toxic contamination and destructive extraction related to nuclear proliferation, unsustainable oil and gas production, plastic pollution, harmful mining projects, unhealthy industrial food systems, and clearcut logging. Since 2015, Jeh has led Friends of Clayoquot Sound to build and contribute to movements that protect culture and biodiversity. He is inspired to be living in Tla-o-qui-aht territory and directing a place-based, member-sustained group to advance reconciliation and conservation in Clayoquot Sound.
German Ocampo - Director and Organizer
German is originally from Quindío, a renowned coffee region of Colombia. He has a rich background in community organizing, advocacy, education, and initiating community-based projects. Throughout his career, he has been deeply involved in advancing initiatives that promote Indigenous food sovereignty, protect the environment, advocate for decolonizing cultural spaces, and view education as a crucial tool for social justice and combating poverty.
German believes that the foundation of thriving communities lies in fostering healthy relationships with ourselves, with each other, and with our natural surroundings. His academic journey has covered a broad spectrum, including Community and Regional Planning, Human Geography, and Ecological Restoration, reflecting his commitment to supporting grassroots movements aimed at creating a sustainable and equitable future.
Chandra Custodio – Outreach Coordinator
Chandra was born and raised in British Columbia. After graduating she moved abroad where she spent the next few years traveling, working a variety of jobs and acquiring a range of skills. Throughout those years, she became extremely aware of the diverse environmental issues that different countries face today.
Realizing that global issues start with local initiatives, Chandra moved back to Canada and began her journey in environmental conservation. While searching for possibilities to get more involved, she volunteered with various NGO’s on Vancouver Island.
Chandra’s goal as the outreach coordinator for FOCS is to educate people on the environmental issues Clayoquot Sound is currently facing. Her customer service and public speaking experience empower her to be an enthusiastic voice for the protection of all marine and terrestrial life in Clayoquot Sound.
Maryjka Mychajlowycz – Forest Watch
Before Maryjka found her calling as an environmental activist, she worked in archaeology and zooarchaeology. Maryjka joined FOCS in 1991, first as a volunteer, then as office manager, and since 1994 as Forest Watcher. She monitors logging in Clayoquot Sound and does her best to decrease it. She also keeps track of other industrial activity, such as mining exploration, fish farming and river diversion hydro.
Eileen Floody — Director
Eileen has a background in public libraries and fundraising. She has always cared about the natural world, and first connected with Clayoquot Sound in 1991. Since moving to Tofino in 2006, she has been a sustaining volunteer on the FOCS Board. In addition to local volunteerism, Eileen enjoys gardening and music.
