Meet The Team

Kathryn Gold (she/her)

Mark Mattson (he/him)

President & Waterkeeper

Mark is one of Canada’s most seasoned environmental lawyers and the founder of several water charities, including Swim Drink Fish. In addition to being Swim Drink Fish’s President, he is the Waterkeeper for Lake Ontario, a water quality advisor to the International Joint Commission, a board member for the US-based Waterkeeper Alliance, and a member of Ontario’s Great Lakes Guardians Council. Mark’s watermark is the St. Lawrence River.

Lauren Brown Hornor (she/her)

Founding Member

Having launched the Vancouver Swim Drink Fish office in 2006, Lauren draws on her deep understanding of environmental law and experience in cultivating and maintaining strategic partnerships as Swim Drink Fish's Senior Development Officer. Through her work with fundraising, partnerships and donor relations, Lauren cultivates, nurtures, and secures major partners, sponsors, and donors. She is based out of BC and launched and led Fraser Riverkeeper as it merged with Lake Ontario Waterkeeper to become Swim Drink Fish Canada. Lauren began her career in water protection by providing legal support to hundreds of Waterkeeper organizations across North America as Waterkeeper Alliance's Staff Attorney in New York. She moved to Vancouver in 2006 and served as the Executive Director of Fraser Riverkeeper in Vancouver, B.C. for 11 years. Lauren was named one of the original twelve Swim Drink Fish Ambassadors in April 2016 and received the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Environmental Sustainability in Vancouver. She is also the co-founder of Miami Waterkeeper in Miami, her hometown, and served as its Board Chair for 10 years. Lauren’s Watermark is the Atlantic Ocean by Miami Beach.

Chief Operating Officer

As the COO at Swim Drink Fish, Kathryn drives the effectiveness of the organization by leading human resources, administration, finance, and strategic and operational planning. Kathryn is deeply committed to the conservation movement and has spent her entire career working for environmental not-for-profit organizations. Kathryn holds a Masters of Environmental Studies degree from the University of Waterloo and a Certificate in Management and Leadership from Laurier University. She currently volunteers as a board member for the Ontario Land Trust Alliance. Kathryn grew up believing that it was not safe to swim in her local waters and imagines a future where freshwater is valued and protected by all. Kathryn’s watermark is Christie Lake.

Matt Brown (he/him)

Director of Western Watersheds (Fraserkeeper)

As the Director of Western Watersheds, Matt brings nearly two decades of experience working with clients ranging from professional sports, outdoor recreation companies, community organizers and grassroots environmental non-profits. Growing up in Ontario's boreal forest, Matt often says he was raised by the river. Now living in British Columbia on the unceded, traditional, and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations, his fortune continues being surrounded by hundreds of streams, rivers, lakes and the Pacific Ocean. Matt’s watermark is the Green River.

Carol McDonald (she/her)

Donor Relations Officer

Carol started working with Swim Drink Fish in October of 2020 as a Board Liaison. Carol retired from Ecojustice Canada after 30 years but was not ready to retire from the environmental movement, and the opportunity of working with Swim Drink Fish came along. A perfect fit because of her years of working towards swimmable, drinkable, fishable water for everyone. She is a current board member of Fraser Riverkeeper. The Fraser River means a lot to Carol. She had the honour of going up the Mighty Fraser with her partner Doug Chapman (the first Fraser Riverkeeper) on his boat a number of times. She will never forget those journeys. Carol’s watermark is the Pacific Ocean.

Josette Lamoureux (she/her)

Director of Partnerships

As Director of Partnerships, Josette manages the relationships between Swim Drink Fish and the incredible partners that are aligned with our movement. Some of these partners include the generous artist community, which continues to support our work by participating in Artists for Water, the main annual fundraiser for Swim Drink Fish. Artists for Water is a powerful evening where the entire Swim Drink Fish community gathers in support of art and water, and where all funds raised support restoration efforts, our monitoring hubs, community science initiatives, and more. With an extensive background in the art industry and expertise in Canadian art, Josette brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in transforming art auctions into both fundraising and engagement platforms for swimmable, drinkable, fishable water. Josette’s watermark is Georgian Bay.

Head of Special Projects

Prior to joining Swim Drink Fish in 2020, Bryan was a volunteer with SDF for many years, acknowledged as a SDF Steward in 2012, and served on the annual Gala Advisory Committee since its inception. Bryan has leadership experience in business development, marketing and partnerships: having worked in the advertising industry in Toronto and Chicago, digital startups in Canada and the US and an environmentally focused startup based in Europe. Bryan’s watermark is Lake Muskoka.

Bryan Bean (he/him)

Isabel Fleisher (she/her)

Madeleine Ankenman (she/her)

Vice President

Gregary is an award-winning and passionate water leader dedicated to protecting Canadian waterways. Driven by a firsthand encounter with a harmful algae bloom in Lake Erie, he champions collective governance approaches to address the impacts of climate change, urbanization, and fragmented governance. An innovator and leader in community science, Gregary's work empowers communities through tools and platforms that enable them to report observations, collect data, and collaborate on protecting coastal health. As Vice President, Gregary spearheads the expansion of the Swim Drink Fish movement, ensuring communities across Canada have the resources they need for swimmable, drinkable, and fishable waters. Gregary holds degrees in Environmental Planning, Natural Resource Management, and Ecosystem Restoration, further solidifying his commitment to finding innovative solutions for a healthier aquatic future. Greg’s Watermark is Lake Erie.

National Manager of Water Monitoring Hubs

As the National Manager of Swim Drink Fish's Water Monitoring Hubs, Isabel uses her passion for inclusive and anti-colonial science, collective knowledge production, and all things water to help communities across Canada become meaningfully connected to their local waters. Isabel has spent time living near all sorts of water bodies but originally returned to her hometown of T'karonto/Toronto to get involved with Swim Drink Fish and support the initiatives that connect and protect the people and the waters that were formative to her. Isabel’s favourite apple is an Ambrosia, and her watermark is Woodbine Beach on Lake Ontario.

Western Watersheds Manager

In her role as the Western Watersheds Manager, Madeleine helps communities monitor their waters in British Columbia and Alberta. Through water monitoring and advocacy, the projects aim to increase food sovereignty, water access, and foster connections to water. Madeleine has a degree in Ecology from the University of British Columbia and has since turned it into a career dedicated to combatting the issues facing our natural environments. Madeleine is bringing diverse local and international experiences to help inspire communities to monitor, advocate, and protect their water. Madeleine’s watermark is the Salish Sea.

Toronto Water Programs Coordinator

Megan started as the Toronto Hub Assistant in the spring of 2022, moved into the Toronto Hub Coordinator role that Fall, and has now moved into the Water Programs Coordinator role. She is responsible for the operation of the Toronto Monitoring Hub and engages actively with the volunteers and other stakeholders in the Toronto Region. She completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science and Geography at McMaster University and a Graduate Certificate in Ecosystem Restoration at Niagara College. She is passionate about protecting and restoring our natural spaces and educating people about the environment in ways that are both engaging and impactful. Megan’s Watermark is Hurds Lake.

Gregary Ford (he/him)

Megan Coad (she/her)

Great Lakes (Biinaagami) Engagement Coordinator

As the Great Lakes (Biinaagami) Engagement Coordinator, Heather develops and fosters meaningful relationships with project partners, and helps to amplify the stories of environmental initiatives within the Great Lakes watershed. Heather grew up in northern Ontario with a love of the outdoors, and a keen interest in the interconnectedness of people, land, water, and wildlife. This led her to pursue degrees in restoration biology, environmental science, and science communication. She is intensely passionate about community-based advocacy and monitoring in all aspects of ecosystem health, accessible and engaging communication, and the recognition of multiple ways of knowing in environmental research and stewardship. Her watermark is Lake Laurentian in Sudbury, Ontario.

Heather Patterson (she/her)

Communications Specialist

Danica is a Communications Specialist at Swim Drink Fish. As part of the Communications team, she helps set forth stories highlighting the work and people around the SDF movement. With a background in Digital Communications, Danica has learned a lot about the power of storytelling. She is excited to use her skillset to make a positive impact and work towards a swimmable, drinkable, and fishable future for everyone. Danica’s watermark is Mazinaw Lake, Ontario,

Danica Abrams (she/her)

Intern, Artists for Water

Christine has recently joined the Swim Drink Fish team as an intern for the annaul Artist for Water fundraising event. Currently pursuing her studies in Event Management at Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Christine brings a unique blend of passion for both music and art-related events, coupled with a commitment to global causes. Her personal connection to the cause is reflected in her watermark, which is The Credit River in Mississauga, Ontario.

Christine Roberts (she/her)