Meet our Team
Nathalie Karvonen
Nathalie is a wildlife biologist who founded Toronto Wildlife Centre in 1991 and has served as Executive Director ever since. She is also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, with Toronto Wildlife Centre operating under her provincial and federal permits. These days she spends most of her time managing and raising much-needed funds for the centre, but she can still sometimes be found rescuing a wild animal or bottle-feeding a baby!
“I am so happy to be able to help wild animals in need; animals affected every day by the things people do. It’s also wonderful to work with so many caring people—not only our staff and volunteers, but our donors and people in the community who do so much every day.”
Shannon Brown
Director of Operations
Shannon has been on the Toronto Wildlife Centre team since 1996, when she got her start as a wildlife care volunteer. Since then she’s worked in almost every role in the centre, from wildlife rehab supervisor to volunteer coordinator. As the Operations Manager she now makes sure that the centre’s day-to-day operations are always running smoothly—no small feat with more than 25 staff, 400 volunteers, and up to 300 animals in care on any given day.
“Toronto Wildlife Centre could never exist without our wonderful team and supporters—I love the animals, but the people are my real inspiration!”
Shannon Brown
Director of Operations
Shannon has been on the Toronto Wildlife Centre team since 1996, when she got her start as a wildlife care volunteer. Since then she’s worked in almost every role in the centre, from wildlife rehab supervisor to volunteer coordinator. As the Operations Manager she now makes sure that the centre’s day-to-day operations are always running smoothly—no small feat with more than 25 staff, 400 volunteers, and up to 300 animals in care on any given day.
“Toronto Wildlife Centre could never exist without our wonderful team and supporters—I love the animals, but the people are my real inspiration!”
Dr. Heather Reid
Director of Wildlife Care & Head Wildlife Veterinarian
Heather has been the veterinarian at Toronto Wildlife Centre since 1996. Having received her degree from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, her interest in wildlife and conservation issues led her to a career in wildlife veterinary medicine. She now oversees Toronto Wildlife Centre’s busy hospital and enjoys training and teaching the next generation of wildlife veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Her dedication to the growing field of wildlife medicine has made her one of the most experienced wildlife vets in Canada!
“I’m pleased to work with Toronto Wildlife Centre’s exceptional veterinary department and with a number of volunteer veterinary specialists”
Josephine Cheung
Hospital Manager & Registered Veterinary Technician
Josephine started as a volunteer and a placement student at Toronto Wildlife Centre in 2012 while studying to become a veterinary technician. After graduation she worked in a small animal clinic but always had a passion for wildlife. In 2014 she was hired full-time as a rehabilitation supervisor and moved on to become the Head Registered Veterinary Technician. Josephine enjoys working with a great team and training and exposing other veterinary technicians to all the amazing work that can be done to help wildlife. After years in the field she is still learning and growing every day to try and better the lives of the wildlife in our city!
“TWC has given me the opportunity to help animals that have no owner to take care of them. I am so fortunate that in this field I am able to have a positive impact on the lives of so many of our patients every day!”
Josephine Cheung
Hospital Manager & Registered Veterinary Technician
Josephine started as a volunteer and a placement student at Toronto Wildlife Centre in 2012 while studying to become a veterinary technician. After graduation she worked in a small animal clinic but always had a passion for wildlife. In 2014 she was hired full-time as a rehabilitation supervisor and moved on to become the Head Registered Veterinary Technician. Josephine enjoys working with a great team and training and exposing other veterinary technicians to all the amazing work that can be done to help wildlife. After years in the field she is still learning and growing every day to try and better the lives of the wildlife in our city!
“TWC has given me the opportunity to help animals that have no owner to take care of them. I am so fortunate that in this field I am able to have a positive impact on the lives of so many of our patients every day!”
Andrew Wight
Wildlife Rescue Manager
Andrew joined the team at Toronto Wildlife Centre as a volunteer and co-op student when he was just a teenager! Several years later in 2003 he was hired as a full-time rescue staff member. Today Andrew heads up the team with years of wildlife rescue experience under his belt, and training in ice rescue, swift water rescue, slope evacuation and chemical immobilization.
“I’ve taken on the challenge of wildlife rescue at Toronto Wildlife Centre because I feel a sense of responsibility for the difficulties that wild animals face due to human actions, and I believe these animals deserve to be helped!”
Ashley Knobel
Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager
Ashley joined TWC in 2011 after completing a BSc in Wildlife Biology at the University of Guelph. She started as a member of our Wildlife Care team and since then she has held various positions including Rouge Park Lead and Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor. As the Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager, she now manages all wildlife rehabilitation personnel, oversees all aspects of wildlife care from admission to release, and continues to develop the Wildlife Rehabilitation Program through the implementation of new species-specific protocols.
“The work can be demanding but being able to help an animal recover and be returned to the wild makes it all worthwhile, and I couldn’t ask for a better team of people to be able to do this with.”
Ashley Knobel
Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager
Ashley joined TWC in 2011 after completing a BSc in Wildlife Biology at the University of Guelph. She started as a member of our Wildlife Care team and since then she has held various positions including Rouge Park Lead and Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor. As the Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager, she now manages all wildlife rehabilitation personnel, oversees all aspects of wildlife care from admission to release, and continues to develop the Wildlife Rehabilitation Program through the implementation of new species-specific protocols.
“The work can be demanding but being able to help an animal recover and be returned to the wild makes it all worthwhile, and I couldn’t ask for a better team of people to be able to do this with.”
Victoria Badham
Education & Outreach Manager
Victoria joined TWC’s Wildlife Hotline team in 2011 after completing her undergraduate degree in Environmental Policy and Urban Studies at the University of Toronto. Responding to thousands of hotline calls – from wildlife emergencies to requests for general wildlife information – increased her awareness of the vast issues affecting urban wildlife, as well as commonly held misconceptions about some wild species, and the urgent need for broader public education. She now holds a Master of Education from the University of Toronto and manages TWC’s hotline, education and outreach programs. She aims to inspire children, youth and adults alike to respect and connect with nature and the amazing wild species with whom we share our neighbourhoods.
“My biggest passion is the merger between urban spaces and nature. That’s why I love creating educational posts and programs for TWC and getting to share the beautiful connection between the two with the community.”
Brittany Seki
Communications Manager
Brittany began her journey at TWC as volunteer back in high school. She came full circle many moons later, returning to TWC after completing her Master’s in Journalism and working in publishing, radio, and marketing. At the time, as the organization’s sole communications lead, she spent the next eight years building and managing the Communications Team while developing and executing strategies to amplify TWC’s mission. Brittany has leveraged her expertise in storytelling, multimedia content creation, and community building to lead impactful education and fundraising campaigns that raise awareness, mobilize support, and inspire action to help sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife.
“Every animal rushed in for urgent care has a story. By capturing and sharing those stories through photography, videography, and narrative production, we can inspire meaningful change for wildlife.”
Brittany Seki
Communications Manager
Brittany began her journey at TWC as volunteer back in high school. She came full circle many moons later, returning to TWC after completing her Master’s in Journalism and working in publishing, radio, and marketing. At the time, as the organization’s sole communications lead, she spent the next eight years building and managing the Communications Team while developing and executing strategies to amplify TWC’s mission. Brittany has leveraged her expertise in storytelling, multimedia content creation, and community building to lead impactful education and fundraising campaigns that raise awareness, mobilize support, and inspire action to help sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife.
“Every animal rushed in for urgent care has a story. By capturing and sharing those stories through photography, videography, and narrative production, we can inspire meaningful change for wildlife.”