Mark Angelo is a globally renowned river conservationist, speaker, writer, and paddler. He is the chair and founder of World Rivers Day, now celebrated by millions of people in over a hundred countries. Among his many accolades, he is a recipient of the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada for his efforts to protect and restore rivers, locally and around the world. Mark has paddled more than a thousand rivers in well over a hundred countries, perhaps more than any other individual. His work has also been the subject of several feature films. Mark was the longtime head of the British Columbia Institute of Technology's Fish, Wildlife and Recreation program, and upon his retirement, he was honored with the school's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. A graduate of the University of Montana, he is also the recipient of honorary doctorates from Simon Fraser University, Trent University, and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. A Fellow of both The Explorers Club and the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, Mark has led numerous river conservation and restoration efforts, and through his work with print, television, and film media, has effectively profiled river issues around the world. Mark continues to mentor an array of non-government organizations and youth with an interest in rivers and water.