Maine Chapter Staff

Pete Nichols, Chapter Director

Pete Nichols, a Maine native, joined Sierra Club Maine as Chapter Director in September 2023. Prior to that, he served as the Executive Director of Edgecomb-based Midcoast Conservancy. He has also worked as the International Organizing Director for Waterkeeper Alliance, an international network of 350 clean water advocates in 46 countries around the globe. Pete also co-founded his own Waterkeeper program, Humboldt Baykeeper, where he served as Baykeeper and Executive Director.  

Originally inspired by the lakes, rivers, and coastal waters of his childhood home of Maine, Pete has always been a committed advocate for the environment. For nearly 30 years, he has worked to protect the world’s waters and wildlands from the redwood forests of northern California, to the majestic Tigris River in Iraq, and the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya. Pete obtained a B.S. in Conservation Biology from Humboldt State University in northern California and lives in Jefferson, Maine with his dog Bear.

Matt Cannon, State Conservation & Energy Director

Matt Cannon started as a volunteer and then became a staffer at Sierra Club Maine in June 2019, quickly moving to Campaign & Policy Associate Director in March 2020, and then State Conservation & Energy Director in March 2022. In his position, Matt coordinates the Chapter's 30x30/conservation, outings, transportation, electrification, and clean energy work. Prior to his involvement with Sierra Club, Matt received a dual major in government and sociology at Connecticut College before joining AmeriCorps in 2011. He served on Cape Cod where he developed an abiding passion for the unique landscape and our collective human responsibility to care for it. This led him to pursue work at land trusts where he served in many capacities over the years, including Executive Director, Stewardship Director, and Community Outreach Coordinator. During this time, he also served as an Executive Committee-member for the Cape & Islands Group of Sierra Club Massachusetts, and on several additional boards and committees focused on climate change mitigation and public education. Matt’s love and deep respect for our planet was instilled in him by his father who gave him a membership to the Sierra Club at a young age. Matt is intent on using his privilege to protect our planet and create a more just and sustainable future. He lives in Portland, and has his master’s in Public Policy from Tufts University’s Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Program.

Ania Wright joined Sierra Club in 2020 as a Grassroots Organizer, and now works as the Legislative and Political Specialist. In her position, Ania supports our Political and Legislative Teams and organizes state lobbying and endorsement work. She also works to engage and support youth in climate justice initiatives, and to further the diversity, equity, and inclusion goals of the chapter. Ania graduated from College of the Atlantic in 2020, where she majored in Human Ecology with a focus in Environmental Policy and Climate Justice. She has been extensively involved in climate justice activism in the State of Maine as a founding member of the youth-led coalition Maine Youth for Climate Justice, which supports young people in their work for climate action. She also sits on the board of Maine Climate Action NOW, a coalition of grassroots organizations in Maine pushing for just and equitable climate policy. Ania lives in Portland.

Marena Bach, Creative Strategist

Nyalat Biliew, Grassroots Climate Action Organizer

Nyalat Biliew joined Sierra Club as the Grassroots Climate Action Organizer in July 2022. In her position, Nyalat will play a critical role in organizing, supporting, and furthering the work of communities across Maine through our Community & Climate Action Teams. Nyalat’s work also involves engaging and supporting BIPOC and Youth Climate initiatives. Nyalat comes to us with an extensive organizing background. She is one of the founders of Black Power, A black-led liberation movement in Maine. She serves as an at-large member of the Portland Board of Education. Nyalat also led a community effort to open the City of Portland Charter commission to reevaluate the city’s charter. She has organized to support environmental justice, health, education, racial equity, and womxns rights. Nyalat’s activism and interest in climate justice started with leading outing events and environmental education training at Deering High School. She has a burning passion for social justice and ensuring that marginalized voices and experiences are centered and valued. Nyalat graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a Political Science degree and a minor in Race and Ethnic Studies. Nyalat lives in Portland and spends most of her downtime playing basketball, and pickleball, hiking, crocheting clothes and traveling worldwide. Nyalat has traveled to 6 (Africa, North America, South America, Australia, Asia, and Europe) of the 7 Continents and hopes to see Antarctica soon!

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Jane Brekke, Philanthropy Officer

Jane Brekke comes to Sierra Club Maine with a wealth of knowledge and experience. She holds a master’s degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, and is very passionate about the outdoors. As the Philanthropy Officer, Jane works closely with staff and volunteer leaders to implement effective fundraising strategies and programs that actively center equity, justice, and inclusion. 

"Environmental stewardship has been at the heart of my professional calling for the past 20 years. Most recently I've been working for a local land trust in Southern Maine. I’ve loved working with my surrounding communities, but am also drawn to larger state efforts. Helping to connect people to natural places, to in turn create environmental stewards, is vitally important to me. I am also driven by my personal passion to show my daughter that you CAN make a difference in saving the planet and you CAN be a part of the solution—even if it feels infinitesimally small at times." 

When not working, Jane enjoys all types of outdoor recreation with her family and friends. She also enjoys the work she does on her local town's conservation commission, working with medical herbs, and reading.

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Corrine Kucirka Adamowicz, Chapter Coordinator

Corrine started as a volunteer with the Chapter in 2013 when she moved to Maine from Pennsylvania. In this capacity, she served as Treasurer, on the Advancement and Events teams, as the MaineShare Coordinator and as a member of the Executive Committee. Corrine was hired as Chapter Coordinator in June 2023. She works closely with staff and volunteers to support the administration of the Maine Chapter. Her responsibilities include processing donations, assisting with appeals, providing staff support to the Events and Volunteer Support Teams, fundraising, and monitoring member and public communications with the Chapter. Corrine's professional career included working for a Fortune 50 global corporation as a training manager, project manager, account executive and sales manager.  

Corrine is a volunteer Master Gardener and an enthusiastic organic gardener. She served an immigrant family for ten years through her work with the Falmouth Food Pantry. She has been passionate about the environment since her early childhood growing up on a farm in rural Pennsylvania. In her free time she enjoys all our beautiful state has to offer, especially hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, and standup paddle boarding. Corrine resides in Scarborough with her husband, Jim, and also maintains a home in PA. 

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Andrew Blunt, Aquaculture Organizer

Andrew joined Sierra Club Maine as Aquaculture Organizer in October 2023. In his role, he supports the chapter’s aquaculture campaign work through coalition building, communications, policy research, and organizing stakeholders in Maine's coastal communities. He works closely with aquaculture businesses, fishermen, and others to support a shared vision for aquaculture's role in a sustainable and climate-friendly marine sector. 

Previously, Andrew worked on the campaign for public power in Maine, leading the signature drive to get Question 3 on the statewide ballot in 2023. He started with the Sierra Club as a volunteer in 2020, and has worked with a range of environmental organizations across the state including Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and Maine Youth for Climate Justice. Andrew graduated from Bowdoin College in 2019 with a dual-degree in Government and Legal Studies and Environmental Studies.