Howard Robins, President and CEO
Howie has been involved with the ARSBC since its inception in 1989 and assumed the role of President in 2006. "It's been an exciting and interesting adventure. I'm proud of our accomplishments with regards to BC's marine ecology, and of the recognition the ARSBC has earned worldwide as leaders in the creation of artificial reefs for marine habitat. The precision sinking of the Former HMCS Annapolis on April 4, 2015 is the crowning achievement for the Reef Society thanks to the consistent vision and drive of our Directors as well as the support of countless volunteers." 
Howie has been an active diver since 1973.

Vanessa Tweed, Vice President and COO
Vanessa has a degree in business with a 20 year background in emergency management. She qualified as a diver ten years ago and became involved in special projects in the local Vancouver dive community. She has been fortunate to have dove in many places around the world and has seen firsthand what a difference healthy reef environments can make to the wellbeing of our oceans. In October 2021 she joined the ARSBC and agreed to take on the duties of Secretary Treasurer. Vanessa is excited to contribute to building sustainable underwater habitats for our oceans by working with the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia.

Richard Wall, Director
Rick served 36 years in the Royal Canadian Navy as a Marine Systems Engineer, retiring in Esquimalt, BC at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He had seagoing appointments on HMC Ships Saskatchewan, Mackenzie, Annapolis and Iroquois, as well as shore appointments across Canada and in England. Rick joined the Board in 2009 during the Annapolis Project as the Director responsible for Navy Liaison. With the successful conclusion of the Annapolis Project, he became the Director responsible for Communications and managed the development of the new website as well as creating a presence for the Society on social media (Facebook). Although not a diver, Rick did serve on three of the ships that are now artificial reefs off the coast of BC. In June 2017, he agreed to assume the position of Vice President.

Colin Parkinson, Government Liaison
Colin recently joined the Board after retirement from Transport Canada, bringing a wealth of experience to the Society.  As a Regulator, he became aware of the ARSBC and was subsequently involved in a large number of reviews of artificial reefs (both ARSBC and DFO reefs).  His career also gave him access to both Drone and ROV operations, including military trials of UAV’s in the 80’s which gave him a glimpse of the future.

Hamish Tweed, Director
Hamish has worked in the BC's dive industry as a technical dive instructor for 25 years and is dedicated to teaching, exploring and passing on his love of being underwater to others. An avid underwater videographer, Hamish has explored many locations around the world from shipwrecks in Scotland and Micronesia to the labyrinth cave systems of Mexico. He's passionate about our oceans, lakes and waterways, so it was an obvious fit to be apart of the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia helping to build sustainable marine habitats that will benefit generations to come. "We are the only species that can knowingly make a difference to improve our planet and the other life we share it with.”

Dirk De keersmaecker, Director Media & Archive
Dirk moved to Vancouver from Belgium in 2000. He is an accomplished technical diver and underwater videographer. He joined the ARSBC as Media Archivist, cataloguing our video, photo and print resources. Dirk works in the technical software sector as a product manager for medical imaging solutions.

Betony Rowland, Contracts Manager
Betony is a lawyer and practices civil litigation, estates, and trusts as well as general commercial litigation, with a background in marine biology, specifically benthic ecology. “When I worked for DFO we were doing research on the impact of artificial reefs on lobster settlement off the coast of Nova Scotia, as well as collecting data to establish a baseline in the intertidal zone and to a depth of 8m.”  A graduate of Dalhousie University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in marine biology and in 2011 with a law degree, Betony was called to the bar in Nova Scotia in 2012 and in British Columbia in 2016. Betony has joined the ARSBC as Contracts Manager, filling a vital team role.

Doug Pemberton, Biological Monitoring Programs
Doug was an active diver for 36 years and has been actively involved in the local diving community for the past 45 years. He has dived and photographed many areas of the world including the South Pacific, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Red Sea, Mexico and all three coasts of Canada. He also served as an Associate Editor of DIVER magazine for 12 years.
Doug became involved with the ARSBC in 1991 as a volunteer on the Chaudière project and has worked on most projects since then. He joined the Board of Directors in 2002 and assumed the role as Vice President in 2005. "It's been very rewarding to watch our efforts turn a large ship or airplane, that may otherwise be scrapped, into a living artificial reef that attracts an amazingly rich diversity of marine life – as well as divers from around the world." Doug stepped down as Vice President in June 2017, remaining active on the Board as the Director responsible for managing the Biological Monitoring Programs for artificial reefs.

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 In Memory of

Tex Enemark, President 2001–2006
Tex was one of the founders of the ARSBC. For many years his role was government relations, ship acquisition and project financing, and developing the tourism enhancement aspects of ARSBC activities. He was a former Deputy Minister in Victoria, a Ministerial Assistant in Ottawa, and past president of the Mining Association of BC, as well as CEO of several companies. Tex was also the author of How They Run the Country, a compilation of nineteen short stories about Canadian politics from his years in public service. Tex Enemark died on March 12, 2019. He will be missed by his many friends at ARSBC. 

Alan Wong, Special Projects 2015–2020 
Alan joined the ARSBC Board in 2015 as Director for Special Projects. He was an avid technical diver and videographer who not only dove extensively locally, but enjoyed diving in Mexico, Hawaii, Cuba, Key West, and Bonaire. Alan worked on material removal, site surveys, clearance diving and diver line installations on the Annapolis Project. He worked 28 years as a senior financial and operational executive in the financial and non-profit sectors. Alan’s contributions towards ARSBC’s artificial reef projects were appreciated and he will be sorely missed by everyone he worked with. Alan Wong died 30 December 2020 and will be deeply missed.

Gary Friesen, Director of Diver Programs 2015-2024
Gary was among a handful of volunteers who helped the ARSBC by coordinating volunteers on the Annapolis Project. He dedicated himself to volunteering hundreds of his own hours preparing the vessel and helping to research the sink site location. He was an accomplished scuba instructor, technical diver and underwater videographer. Gary's background in the construction industry has given him the experience to plan, direct and manage complex projects.
Gary was always relied upon to offer good advice and balanced opinions throughout the project and because of his friendship and dedication, he was invited to join the ARSBC Board in 2015 as Director of Diver Programs. It was always a comfort when Gary was in company, and he will forever remain in our thoughts and heart as a terrific colleague and wonderful friend. Gary Died of natural causes on December 4, 2024 at the age of 63 and will be deeply missed.

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Honorary Recognition

​Doug Bencze – Past Treasurer
Larry Reeves – Past Director
Mark Paley – Past Director