Ashli Akins

President & Founder

Ashli is 25 years old from Fort Langley, BC, Canada and is currently living somewhere near the Pacific Ocean. She graduated from the University of Victoria in 2009 with a BA in environmental studies, Latin American studies, and professional writing (journalism & publishing), and is currently a Community Research Fellow for the Centre for Co-operative & Community-Based Economy in Victoria, BC. She is a freelance photojournalist and writer, and uses communication as a means of educating about international human rights issues. She recently completed a photography internship in New York with National Geographic Adventure magazine. She first stumbled upon Ollantaytambo, Peru, in the summer of 2006, when it captured her heart and accidentally became her life. She has since returned each year and dedicated her energies to the development of both Mosqoy & the Q’ente Society.

Sarah Confer

Vice-President

Sarah Confer is a 29-year-old textile conservator living in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Her biggest passions are textiles, Peru, and preserving traditional knowledge and culture. She first traveled to Peru in 2006 and became instantly enamored with the cultures, the people, and the landscape. She has since returned five times, during which times she has given presentations, provided instruction at textile workshops, and volunteered at the Centre for Traditional Textiles of Cusco (CTTC), one of Q'ente's partners since 2009. She enjoys weaving herself, as well as travel and the outdoors, and also likes to make jewelry, paint, and practice yoga.

Jasmine Nielsen

Assistant Director/ Volunteer Coordinator

Jasmine became involved in Mosqoy three years ago after attending a lecture given by Ashli in one of her classes. She was struck by the potential of the project, and has been involved in Mosqoy in various capacities ever since. Currently Jasmine is completing a double major in Women´s Studies and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. She hopes to pursue human rights law in the future, and is interested in studying law on both local and international levels. Jasmine grew up on the prairies, and while she loves Victoria, she hopes to return to real winters one day, because she misses sledding and snow forts!

Andrea Di Lucca

Communications Coordinator

Andrea got involved with Mosqoy and Q'ente in September, 2006 and is continuously inspired and motivated by the work of the organizations. She is currently a Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of Victoria specializing in International Business and Spanish. As the Communications Coordinator, she enjoys the opportunity to interact with sponsors, students, and partners in North America and Peru. Above all, she values the sense of community that has been created with the volunteers and supporters of Mosqoy and Q'ente, along with the focus on creating positive change and fostering reciprocity between cultures.

Denise Clarke

Treasurer

Denise earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree at UBC too many years ago to mention and has spent the last 28 years balancing work in the accounting field with the more important task of raising her four daughters and one son. She has recently gained one wonderful son-in-law and one absolutely, completely delightful grandson. Denise has had the opportunity to participate in two short-term missions trips to Mexico and Haiti to reach out to the poor and has come to appreciate the value of giving people a hand up rather than a hand out. She is very excited to work with Mosqoy and Q'ente where the "hand up" philosophy is having a huge impact on the people of the Sacred Valley in Peru.

Beatriz Palacios Fernandez

Administrative & Outreach Director

Beatriz, 24 years old, was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. After graduating in England with a BA in English Literature and Cultural Studies, she spent a year in Paris studying French and trying to figure out what to do next. She finally moved to Victoria in 2008, when she enrolled in the Cultural Resource Management Diploma program at the University of Victoria. Over the past two years, she has completed two co-op placements, one as Communications Assistant with the BC Heritage Branch, the other in India with a leading development organization. Upon returning to Victoria, these two experiences shaped her current involvement with Mosqoy, working for four months with the team as a co-op student. Having heard of Mosqoy's great work from the moment that she first arrived in Victoria, 2010 was finally her year to get actively involved.

Mark Knudsen

Grants & Funding Coordinator

Mark is 21 years old from Victoria, BC, Canada. He is currently enrolled in the Social Science Co-operative Education Program, studying Political Science and Hispanic Studies. Mosqoy: Sacred Valley Youth Fund has provided Mark with his first CO-OP work experience through his position as the Grants and Funding Coordinator. Mark’s interests include music, specifically playing guitar, sports, such as tennis and lacrosse, and travelling. Mark has previously worked as a Water Safety Instructor and a Recreational Activity Supervisor. He developed a keen interest in Latin America and the non-profit sector during his year studying at the Universidad Veracruzana in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.

Colin Aspinall

Webmaster

Colin is a Uvic Computer Science Graduate currently living in Victoria. Upon moving to beautiful Victoria from snowy Prince George he explored the worlds of coffee and cooking while he earned his degree. Currently Colin works at a rapidly growing GIS software company and gets to travel to places like Downtown LA and the Colorado mountains doing software installations and trainings. In his spare time he is learning web design and helping to maintain and improve the Mosqoy and Qente Society websites. Colin is eagerly awaiting the start of the camping/hiking season.

Board of Directors

• Ashli Akins
• Brent Akins
• Sarah Confer
• Andrea DiLucca
• Jasmine Nielsen