About Us

Ivan Thompson is a program officer with the Wild Salmon Ecosystem Initiative.

Prior to joining the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Ivan worked as a senior advisor with Tides Canada Foundation and as a Northern Rivers project director with the Sage Centre providing strategic and organizational support to collaborative conservation initiatives in British Columbia’s wild salmon ecosystems. He also worked as ForestEthics' Community and Economic Advisor on the Great Bear Rainforest campaign which led to the protection of large tracks coastal rainforest, a new ecosystem-based approach to forest practices, and significant new public and philanthropic investments in conservation-based economic development for indigenous communities. Ivan's earlier conservation efforts included the development and implementation of new consensus-based public participation models in resource management as well as work with BC Wild in a process that led to the doubling of British Columbia's protected areas network. Ivan began his professional life in the 1980's as a counselor and educator, working in treatment centers, alternative programs and Outward Bound schools in Ontario, British Columbia and Australia. Over time he moved to the post secondary system and educational leadership. He worked as Dean of Education with Northwest Community College focusing on natural resource programs and as a private community and workforce training consultant.

Ivan holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Economics from the University of London, an M.Ed in Counselling from University of Victoria, a B.Ed in Outdoor and Experiential Education from Queens University, and a B.A. in Psychology from McMaster University.