Participant Bios for Board Meet-and-Greet

Current Board Members:

  • Mark Lawrence (Sparky), President:

    • Bio: Mark "Sparky" Lawrence is a Production Manager and Technical Director with over 30 years experience working in the theatre and special events industries and education industries. Sparky worked in the special events industries for PGI Events and Destinations, working on events such as APEC ’97, Volkswagen and Jaguar. Sparky then returned to the world of theatre, where he was the Production Manager for Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival for 10 seasons. While working at Bard he was involved in the redesign of the Bard festival site, the BMO Mainstage and Howard Family Stages. He was also worked on the design of BMO Theatre Center at West First Avenue. Sparky continues to teach technical theatre at Capilano University and is the TD for the Blueshore Financial Center for the Performing arts.

    • Time on Board : Serving on the Lamondance board since 2022.

  • Lorena Galindo, Fundraiser:

    • Bio: Born in Caracas Venezuela, Lorena started to dance jazz and folkloric styles at the age of 8, until she graduated from high school. Around 12 years old, she started to play the bassoon with the Jose Angel Lamas Conservatory later joined the Coral Filarmonica of Caracas. After she graduated high school, she pursued a career in Biology, sharing her time between the bassoon and the Coral. Lorena has also been passionate about crafts. Began to crochet, knit and sew along with her grandma at an early age. Made her first costume for her little brother for his school performance and she has never stopped doing this kind of project since then. When she arrived in Canada in 2011, she continued to sew for Caulfield School of Dance, where her two daughters danced. Currently, Lorena works at Seaspan as a Procurement Specialist and shares her time collaborating with Lamondance's costume department.

    • Time on Board (Optional): Serving on the Lamondance board since 2024.

New Board Members:

  • Stefan Tirschler:

    • Bio: Stefan is currently a Senior Policy Analyst with BC's insurance regulator, and was previously a director at a digital-first insurance firm, where he shaped product, risk and governance strategies with a focus on people and systems thinking. He enjoys bringing clarity to complexity and enabling others to shine, previously bringing this approach to volunteer work supporting Lamondance (in grant acquisition) and with the Dr Peter AIDS Foundation. With a background in strategic planning, policy, and cross-sector collaboration, Stefan thrives where creativity sharpens structure. He's eager to contribute his experience in governance, regulatory insight, and community building to a company that inspires through movement. Stefan believes deeply in the transformative power of the arts and would be honoured to support Lamondance.

  • Anna Hittrich:

    • Bio: Anna was a classically trained ballerina many years ago under Kay Armstrong in Vancouver, before Ballet BC existed. She has a minor in Art History from UBC in addition to an English and Education degree. She has been teaching high school Humanities (English, Art, Social Justice) in an Alternate program for over 30 years. Anna is acutely aware of the attack on artistic expression in the current cultural climate. The rise of fascism makes the support of community even more essential, and her dedication to supporting artistic expression and community building aligns well with Lamondance's mission.

  • Joel Harnest:

    • Bio: Joel is a facilitator and dialogue practitioner with a deep commitment to community engagement, social justice, and the arts. Over the past decade, he's held executive leadership roles across the nonprofit sector, spanning public health, municipal government, and education. He brings a skill set in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and organizational development, grounded in values of equity, inclusion, and collective care. Though not from the dance world professionally, Joel is a passionate supporter of the arts and believes deeply in the power of movement and performance to connect and transform. Joining the Lamondance Society Board is a meaningful way for him to contribute to the local arts scene and support emerging artists.