Meet Lauren, Raincoast’s new development coordinator
A Q&A to help you get acquainted with our newest team member.
Lauren Duboisset-Broust started with Raincoast three months ago. We wanted to help you get to know her better through a Q&A. Hopefully it gives you a sense about her vision of environmental development and donor communities and why we are so happy to have her as part of the team.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your past experiences
I was raised by two travellers and was lucky enough to explore natural places at a very young age. I can still clearly remember a trip to South Africa and having this deep feeling of freedom and connection just walking through the savannah. This probably impacted the way I slowly started planning for my future; one that would mean protecting the environment. Years after that, I got my Masters Degree in Sustainable Development in Sweden, a leading country in terms of environmental protection and social equity. There, I chose to write my Master’s thesis on Indigenous-led biodiversity conservation. This is why I’m also so enthusiastic about the fact that so many of Raincoast’s programs collaborate closely with Indigenous communities.
What attracted you to Raincoast and to this role in particular?
After a few years working in France and Ecuador on the protection of pollinators, participative democracy, and social development, I made the decision to move to Vancouver that had so often appeared in the world’s greenest cities. Soon after, Vancouver became my home. I had the opportunity to volunteer and work with environmental organizations such as Swim Drink Fish, the Marine Mammal Rescue Center, Product Care, and EcoNova. Spending time on the water and traveling to the most remote places in BC allowed me to have a better understanding of the urgency of conservation in the province. Working with the Raincoast Conservation Foundation became a logical opportunity for me to apply my knowledge to the preservation of the coast. As Development Coordinator, I get to work with businesses that I admire such as Patagonia, foundations, and a range of donors that make Raincoast’s programs possible.
What does becoming a Raincoaster mean to you?
My role at Raincoast allows me to help engage a community of people like you and I, who truly care about the environment and who want to do everything they can to protect what they love most. Distinguishing our monthly donors as “Raincoasters” gives us a chance to recognize that monthly donors support us year round and share a commitment to our mission.
What are you working on next?
In addition to building a greater and more engaged community of Raincoasters, we are also making sure that our supporters are aware of the many other Ways to Give. This includes stock donations, legacy gifts, corporate employee giving programs, and more.
I’m pleased to be part of this team and I’m hoping you will join this community too!
You can help
Raincoast’s in-house scientists, collaborating graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professors make us unique among conservation groups. We work with First Nations, academic institutions, government, and other NGOs to build support and inform decisions that protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the wildlife that depend on them. We conduct ethically applied, process-oriented, and hypothesis-driven research that has immediate and relevant utility for conservation deliberations and the collective body of scientific knowledge.
We investigate to understand coastal species and processes. We inform by bringing science to decision-makers and communities. We inspire action to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats.
