Why did you apply for the Master of Land and Water Systems?

rowing up in the small, northern community of Kenora, Ontario, I developed a connection to nature at an early age and unsurprisingly, have always been drawn to the natural resources sector. Over the course of 10+ years, I have accumulated experience in water quality monitoring, fisheries management and environmental laboratory testing, primarily with the Alberta provincial government. When I moved to Vancouver Island in the summer of 2020, I eventually joined Cermaq Canada as a Fish Health Technician, where I provide support to innovation and fish health projects in Atlantic salmon aquaculture. Cermaq has generously put me on educational leave so I can pursue my life-long goal of pursuing post-graduate education! Over the past few years, I have become passionate about aquaculture and feel the industry provides a fascinating crossroads for environmental stewardship, fisheries management, sustainable food production and animal health.

At this point in my career, I recognize a need to enhance my skill set as a science professional so I can better navigate the natural resource issues of coastal BC. Some areas of interest include enhanced pathogen detection, sustainable grow-out methods and juvenile salmon monitoring to meet the higher-level sustainability metrics of the federal government’s transition plan. I am hoping to refresh my skills in scientific rigour, gain a holistic understanding of resource management and become a more effective leader and communicator.

What are you most excited about learning in the MLWS program?

We are currently faced with natural resources problems rooted in scientific uncertainty, controversy and influenced by many socio-political factors. Many policies and methodologies are outdated and are not impactful in our rapidly changing world. How do we move forward, and how do we make the best decisions in such a complex framework? I am excited to weave together the interdisciplinary skills imbued in the MLWS program to begin to tackle this grand predicament!

What are some of your hobbies?

I am an avid outdoor enthusiast and possess great amounts of mountain stoke! The fun never stops here in BC, and I can be found throwing myself up and down VI peaks all year-round ski-touring, mountaineering, climbing, mountain biking and sea kayaking.

How did you find out about the MLWS program?

Website