Our Team

The Centre is operated by the New Marine Centre Society and its volunteer Board of Directors. As a not-for-profit organization (registered Canadian charity), the Centre relies on community support through admission fees, membership, partnership and donations. The Centre is operated by an Executive Director and a team of highly dedicated staff and over 150 volunteers. View the Centre’s leadership below.

Management Team

Executive Director

PAULINE FINN (She/Her)

Pauline joined our team in August 2018. For more than 20 years, she has been working and volunteering with public schools, nature centres, museums and aquaria. Born and raised in Sydney, Nova Scotia “Canada’s Ocean Playground” she engaged in community service activities at an early age through Girl Guides and Key Club and developed her love for the outdoors and passion for the environment.

Her career pathway to experiential learning and community engagement was inspired by experiences at the Marine Ecology Station, the Vancouver Aquarium and the SeaChange Conservation Society.  She recently completed 14 years of service with Science World British Columbia as Vice President Community Engagement and Visitor Experience where she enthusiastically managed a diversity of teams and initiatives in the areas of education, outreach, exhibits and community partnership.

Pauline studied science and education from coast to coast through Cape Breton University, UBC, SFU and Langara College and is a Fellow of the Noyce Leadership Institute (NLI) along with over 100 senior-level leaders from science centres, children’s museums and other science-intensive institutions from around the world. The NLI program was designed to expand the impact of science-based organizations in their communities by increasing capacity of their leaders to manage change, focus outward, engage peers and form key partnerships.

Pauline is passionate about collaborating on creative projects that connect people and energize communities.  She is thrilled to be back on the Island and focusing her attention on the Salish Sea Bioregion.

Director, Business Operations

Deanna mathewson (She/Her)

Deanna began with the Centre as Interim Deputy Director, Operations in August 2017 (to cover a one year maternity leave) and became a permanent member of the staff in July 2018. She brings 14 years of senior management experience and more than a decade as a director in the not-for-profit sector. A passionate scientist, educator, and conservationist, Deanna has set up and managed educational volunteer programs in endangered species conservation and humanitarian assistance for university and high school students around the world.

After earning a B.Sc. in Applied Zoology from McGill University, Deanna came to the West coast to pursue opportunities in wildlife conservation fieldwork and eventually graduate school. She earned a M.Sc. at the University of Victoria studying the contribution of salmon-derived nitrogen to riparian forests on Vancouver Island and the mid-coast of BC. Deanna is strongly committed to experiential education and spent more than 12 years as International Education Director and later Acting Program Director with International Student Volunteers, and previously as the Program Manager for the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team. She has worked mostly in not-for-profit organizations in management, grant writing and planning, leadership training, educational programming, and volunteer management.

Director of Exhibits & Engagement

Leah Thorpe (She/Her)

Leah joined the Centre in October 2015, but was already very familiar with the organization as a guest presenter and collaborator. Leah was previously the Director of Education and Communications for Cetus Research and Conservation Society running day-to-day operations, fundraising, and staff management. She has spent may years with different organizations dedicated to cetacean research and conservation of the Salish Sea.

Leah is also a founding director and current Chair of the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), and has volunteered in the past with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Goldstream Hatchery, and Civil Air Search and Rescue.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Geography from the University of Victoria and a Masters in Environmental Education and Communications from Royal Roads University. She also has certifications in Small Vessel Operator Proficiency, Marine Emergency Duties, and Marine First Aid.

Leah brings a passion for marine education and the Salish Sea and is a well-respected leader, educator and colleague in the wildlife and environmental fields. Leah currently oversees the development of exhibits at the Centre.

Director of Learning & Communications

TINA KELLY (She/Her)

Tina was born and raised in Victoria where two of her favourite pastimes were visiting the Royal British Columbia Museum and spending hours on the beach in front of her grandparents' Cordova Bay home. She considers herself fortunate to have a job that blends these two components — marine science in an educational setting.

A graduate of the University of Victoria, Tina has worked as a marine research assistant and educator in four countries — Canada, U.S., Australia and New Zealand. These projects offered valuable experience studying several species of marine life including manatees, sea otters, humpback whales, Dall’s porpoise, harbour porpoise, little penguins and marine invertebrates.

She started with the Centre shortly after it opened in 2009 and with fierce commitment to the organization and a strong work ethic quickly worked her way up to her role as the Director of Learning & Communications. Tina is responsible for formal and informal hands-on educational programs, events, and marketing and communications. She may also be the punny voice of our social media.

A favourite aspect of her job is the relationship she builds with visitors to the Centre, many of whom she knows by name (and vice versa). She is passionate about volunteering in her community and donates her time and skills to a variety of non-profits. Curiosity, literacy, sustainability and conservation guide her in life and work.

Director of Animal Care

Kit Thornton (SHE/HER)

Kit joined the team as Head of Animal Care in August, 2018. From a young age, Kit was passionate about fish and marine wildlife conservation. Her curiosity was sparked at the age of 7 when she visited Exploris Aquarium in Northern Ireland, where she grew up. Kit studied Marine Biology in university and then went on to work at Exploris Aquarium and Exotic Aquatics as an Aquarist. She also spent time serving as the on-board naturalist at Sea Treks Ireland. Kit joined the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in freshwater and marine ecology research before relocating to Canada with her husband in 2012.

After earning a diploma in Veterinary Technology (Honours), Kit worked at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre where she honed her Seal wrangling and Herring sorting skills. After a maternity leave and relocation to eastern Canada, Kit worked in aquatics research at the University of Ottawa, primarily with salmonids, aquatic frogs and zebra danios.

Kit is excited to be back on the West Coast, working with the local marine life, and to be supported in her role by a team of dedicated aquarists and volunteers.  She is deeply committed to animal health and welfare.

Engineering Systems Technician

HUGUES TOUPIN (HE/HIM)

Hugues, or "Hugh" as most Anglophones call him, joined the Centre’s team in November 2018 after retiring as a Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class, Marine Engineering Technician from the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Hugues’ 27 Years of service in the Navy allowed him to acquire the unique and complex skill sets necessary to promptly understand and carry-out significant improvements to our Aquarium’s Life Support Systems.

During his time in the RCN, Hugues spent nearly 1,200 days at sea and was deployed on many occasions.  Some of the most memorable moments in his career include 4 operational tours on OP Caribbe (Canada’s maritime contribution to the war on drugs in the Pacific) and a six month tour in the Gulf of Oman as part of the US-led Coalition Forces on the war on terrorism (Operation Apollo 2002). In his long career, Hugues received Commander of RCN commendations’ on two separate occasions for outstanding performance.

When he is not busy renovating his, or someone else’s house, Hugues and his wife Lisa enjoy traveling the world and partaking in wild adventures in as many countries as possible. When they are not traveling, they enjoy a nice swim or kayak on the lake with their young son Owen.    

Manager, Retail & Visitor Experience

CJ Kinsella (SHE/HER)

CJ joined the team in November 2021, after packing a bag and jumping on a plane to Sidney just the day before her first shift! Born in Vancouver, but raised in Calgary Alberta, she has always felt she belonged by the ocean and is happy to be back (and sooner than planned).

She brings with her 5+ years of retail management experience (primarily focusing on inventory, merchandising and employee training), and even more years in overall customer service. The retail environment is something she has always truly enjoyed and is excited for a new adventure. In addition to retail she has ample experience in administration, ecommerce, digital media, and content marketing.

Her love for supporting & fostering community started young and is still going. CJ has volunteered for a number of organizations in Calgary, and most recently was the president of a community run non-profit. It is there she learned the true value of community support and the importance memberships have.

CJ has a passion working with people, learning about products, and helping others find the perfect item that they may or may not be looking for.  She is excited to be part of the team and support the growing number of artisans featured in the Salish Sea Store.  

The Centre opened to the public on June 20, 2009. Click here to learn more about us.