YCCBC's Annual General Meeting Introduces New Board Members

We’re excited to share that YCCBC held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) earlier this month on Thursday, September 4, ... and what a year it’s been!

From empowering youth to take leadership in climate action to building more resilient communities across the province, this year’s AGM marked a pivotal moment in YCCBC’s continued growth. Read on to learn about our newly elected board members.

Lily YangLiu

Lily grew up in China, where rising temperatures, severe air pollution, and disastrous floods were the norm. She identified a critical gap in emerging climate solutions from the lack of accessible dialogue and education.

In 2023, Lily created Young Environmental Leaders (YEL) — a 135-hour curriculum designed to teach students the fundamental concepts of climate science and the interconnectedness of Earth's systems and human behaviour.

While still in highschool Lily became Director of the Katija Hyoungjoo Neuber Institute, where she champions meaningful youth participation in decision-making spaces. Through the Institute, she supports young people to attend high-level events at the United Nations, helping them access opportunities often out of reach for underrepresented youth.

As a nonprofit leader and UN World Ocean Day Youth Council member, Lily has collaborated in spaces including the UN, World Bank, and IMF. At COP29, Lily addressed an audience of ministers and global CEOs on the importance of climate education. Now based in British Columbia, Canada, she is advising her provincial government on integrating climate literacy initiatives into primary and secondary schools, centred on YEL’s framework.

Hermender Singh Kailley

A first-generation Canadian born to Punjabi parents, Hermender’s labour journey began when he helped organize his fellow Vancouver Fringe Festival workers with IATSE Local 118.

A career change in 2004 brought him to Vancouver’s waterfront and ILWU Local 502, where he became secretary-treasurer in 2019. At the BCFED’s 2022 Convention, Hermender became the first Punjabi-Canadian to be elected as the federation’s secretary-treasurer, and he was reelected in 2024.

He currently serves on the Provincial Committee on Anti-Racism and the Canadians of South Asian Heritages B.C. Museum project’s advisory board. We are thankful to have his expertise on our team. 

Liana Salviejo

Liana Salviejo has previously worked as a Climate Action Technician in YCCBC’s first ever Vancouver cohort and was a member of the YCCBC Youth Committee. She has been involved with a number of other environmental organizations in the past and has worked on several research projects, notably one that examined the influence of the Big 5 Canadian Banks at UBC as fossil fuel financiers.

She is most passionate about the intersection between the environment and human health, and will be returning to study a Masters in Public Health at UBC in the Fall. In her spare time, Liana enjoys reading books and playing ultimate frisbee!

Cecilia Jaques

Cecilia Jaques, the Climate Action Secretariat Engagement Manager for Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET). Cecilia works at the intersection between strategy, engagement, and sustainability. Her experience spans local, regional, and provincial governments, including climate implementation, rural innovation, and energy policy and program development. 

In her current role with ACET, her focus is on building strategic partnerships with rural and remote communities across BC while facilitating alignment and engagement between ACET and the Provincial Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions.