WaterCan Staff

Gary H.J. Pluim – Executive Director

Gary provides overall leadership to and is responsible for the management of WaterCan programs, operations and finances, both in Canada and overseas, in accordance with the organization’s stated purpose, vision and goals.  He provides professional and administrative support to the Board of Directors and ensures that the policy decisions of the Board are carried out effectively, and that optimum results are achieved in relation to the resources of the organization.  Gary draws from more than a decade of experience in the field of international development.  Prior to entering the international development field, he worked for more than 25 years in the Canadian banking and trust industry.

George Yap – Program Director

George is an international development worker/natural resource management specialist with more than 15 years of professional experience in project/program management, local capacity building and training, and organizational change issues with Canadian, British, African and Asian non-governmental organizations.  George is responsible for developing WaterCan’s International Program strategy, and overseeing the monitoring, reporting and evaluation of overseas projects.  He is also responsible for identifying and organizing training and capacity building opportunities for overseas partner organizations.  George holds a BSc from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Environmental Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Danielle began working with WaterCan in the spring of 2007. She is responsible for programs and events aimed at engaging Canadians in the issues of clean water and sanitation in the developing world. She oversees the WaterCan@Schools and WaterCan@Universities programs, plans and implements the Annual Embassy Dinner and other special events, coordinates the WaterDrops newsletter, develops WaterCan’s World Water Day initiatives, and administers all promotional and public engagement activities. Danielle holds a BAH from Queen's University in Psychology.

Amyn Hyder Ali – Finance and Administration Officer

Amyn joined the WaterCan team in 2007, bringing with him more than 15 years experience in the non-profit sector, specializing in financial, administrative and donor management. He is responsible for the accounting and financial management of WaterCan. Additionally, he coordinates WaterCan’s donor database and IT needs. Amyn holds an MBA in Finance and Accounting from Preston University.

Bonnie Kirkwood, Administrative Assistant

Bio coming soon

Eric J. Schiller – Technical Advisor

Eric Schiller provides technical assistance to WaterCan projects in Africa. He is a water resources engineer and a retired professor in civil engineering at the University of Ottawa who has lived and worked in Africa (Tanzania and Senegal) for eight years. He has served as the head of the Hydrology department at the University of Dar es Salaam for four years and has been the director of a five-year project dealing with water resources technology transfer in Burkina Faso. He has also participated in many technical missions in Africa with international development agencies and various NGOs.