Our Team: A Collective Effort

I have been fascinated by the oceans and what lives in them for as long as I can remember. After high school, I studied marine biology at the University of Victoria and completed my Honours thesis on the epibiota of introduced and native eelgrass beds before starting my Master’s thesis on the ecology of the glass sponge reefs off the coast of Northern British Columbia. I am now a Registered Professional Biologist with experience in coastal habitat mapping, environmental assessment, and restoration of nearshore communities.

One of my first jobs out of university was at Archipelago Marine Research Ltd. where I was introduced to the ShoreZone coastal imaging and habitat mapping project. I joined SeaChange as Executive Director in January 2023, moving from my position as General Manager of Coastal and Ocean Resources, a Victoria-based consulting company. I was proud to serve my community as a Director at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea for six years, and was a Director at SeaChange for a short time before moving into the Executive Director position.

In my free time, I enjoy singing in a local choir, spending time in my garden, and hanging out with my family and four cats.

After moving back home to Victoria in 2015 after helping to run a successful business in White Rock, I started working with SeaChange in 2016 as a part-time Office Administrator/Administrative Assistant. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking with my dog, camping, and volunteering—namely helping conduct Coastal Waterbird Surveys for Birds Canada, and collecting water samples from Coles Bay for eDNA analysis by the Hakai Institute.

I have a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Victoria and an M.Sc. from the University of British Columbia where I studied salt marsh vegetation in estuaries around British Columbia—a background that makes me right at home with SeaChange.

I am proud to have joined the SeaChange team and am especially keen to explore how multidisciplinary sciences and cultural knowledge can collaboratively benefit coastal and ocean ecosystem management.

I have worked extensively in the marine public aquarium industry where I received my Nerd certification for Pacific Northwest marine species identification and specialization in equipment and logistics management.  This diverse work included taxonomic surveys by scuba diving in frigid Arctic waters, rearing of undescribed larval fish species, and creation of complex simulated habitat displays; During this time, I learned to appreciate the indispensable value of being part of a team of passionate dependable people.

I can often be found with my head under a bush, examining a cryptic leafhopper; or lost in the forest, flinging pointy sticks with my bow.  I am highly food motivated, and I would argue that Marine biology is the most delicious of the sciences.

Growing up in Arizona, I always dreamed of working in the marine biology field. After high school I attended Brigham Young University Hawai’i and have completed my Bachelors of Science in biology. While in university, I worked as a teaching assistant and lab assistant and spent my free time conducting beach cleanups or diving with sharks. I absolutely adore invertebrates (preferably ctenophores) but my favorite animals are killer whales. Ocean conservation became my biggest passion and I decided that I wanted to spend my career working to help marine ecosystems. I dedicate so much of my time to ocean conservation issues and am currently the Board Secretary for Orca Conservancy.

I am so excited to be working here at SeaChange! I am eager to use my experience in ocean conservation to help SeaChange as well as develop new skills in this roll to help make me a better steward for the ocean.

When I am not working you can find me out looking for salmon or whales, reading, and freediving!

I am a passionate and curious scientist, natural historian, and conservationist. I have a BSc from the University of Victoria in Biology with a minor in Ocean Sciences. I studied at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre for my final year and then went straight into an MSc at BMSC through the University of Alberta where I studied the ecology of sea slugs. I then took a sharp turn research-wise, and studied thermal physiology in Northern arachnids, gaining an understanding of the less visible effects of climate change on ectotherms. Now, I am truly fortunate to be able to use my experiences and knowledge for SeaChange.

Aside from my work, I love doing outdoor things with my family (dog included) like beach combing, biking, camping, and gardening. But I am not opposed to a bit of hygge: hammocks, books, and art.

I am a third-year Geography student pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Victoria. I am enjoying mapping in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), learning about landscapes and how they change over time, and learning about ecology. In my professional career, I hope to continue to work in the field of conservation and restoration.
Outside of work, I enjoy cycling, camping, hiking, skiing, and birdwatching. When at home I like to read and play board games with friends and family.

With a Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in Geography from the University of Victoria, I have over sixteen years of experience working in the coastal environment in British Columbia, Alaska,  Florida, South Carolina, Washington, and the Canadian Arctic. I have been involved in and led many marine projects including the ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping program, Seabed Imagery surveys, aerial surveys, and Arctic Oceanography programs. I have experience in database management, project management and geographic information systems.

I grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, and have lived in Victoria, British Columbia for the last twenty-three years. I enjoy being a part of a team that helps preserve, protect, and understand the health of our coastal ecosystems.

I have always been interested in the natural environment, and my enthusiasm towards marine ecosystems grew while completing my Bachelor of Science at the University of Victoria, where I double majored in Biology and Anthropology. Since graduating, I have been excited to learn and take on new challenges and opportunities as they arise.

My diverse background includes many years as a research assistant in labs at UVic applying molecular biology techniques on various alpine plants and marine organisms to learn more about species diversity. One of my favourite experiences over the years was teaching the field component of an adult education class where I introduced people to the wonders of the intertidal zone.

I was first introduced to ShoreZone when I worked at Archipelago Marine Research, Ltd. and was excited years later to have the opportunity to join Coastal and Ocean Resources, Inc. as a bio mapper and be able to learn and work with ShoreZone again. It is with much enthusiasm that I am now part of SeaChange and all the new experiences that come along with it.

When not working, I enjoy playing ice hockey, wandering local beaches, and spending time with my family.

I graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Science in Geography, where I studied whales and their spatial behaviour—igniting a passion for marine conservation and spatial data. This led to my work as a naturalist for a whale-watching company for several years where I gained valuable experience in the field and expanded my understanding of marine ecosystems.

Now, in my current role as a mapping technician, I continue to build upon my mapping skills and utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to support my work and to help protect the coastal environments I love.

When I’m not working, I can often be found outside, hiking, camping and playing disc golf (terribly), enjoying a sunny patio drink, or getting The Longest Road in Catan.

I first learned about ShoreZone during a field school at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre while completing a degree in Biology and Oceanography at the University of British Columbia. My enthusiasm was sparked by the scale and ambition of the project, so when the opportunity to contribute to ShoreZone emerged, I grabbed it. After taking to the skies on my first survey in Alaska’s Kenai Fjords National Park, I was hooked. I have since participated in two other surveys along British Columbia’s beautiful coastline.

I am thrilled to be part of the SeaChange team, as they provide an invaluable opportunity to work on projects that will help restore and preserve marine life. I look forward to learning from the diverse perspectives of my colleagues and contributing meaningful work that will positively impact local ecosystems.

When I’m not mapping shorelines, I am enjoying the outdoors—from a hike in the woods to relaxing on the beach with a good book—making Victoria a perfect place to call home.

As a recent graduate from the University of Victoria, I am eager to learn how to better manage water systems in Canada. Growing up in Chile, some of my fondest memories are of the beach, where I loved to spend a warm day splashing around in the cold water or walking on the pier at sundown.

Since childhood, I knew I wanted to help manage pollution and help keep our environment cleaner. Being so grateful for nature, it seemed a perfect fit for me to become an environmentalist. At SeaChange, where maintaining a healthy ecosystem for future generations is a main goal, I’m very excited to learn more about mapping software and how it can be used to strategically maintain our ecosystems. Coastal ecosystems are very complex and always changing, so my objective is to make use of technology to better track and study water systems.

Besides being an environmental activist, I enjoy watching movies at the cinema and rock climbing. I am also an avid collector, so my own movie collection is always growing!

I was born and raised in South Carolina, and while southeastern USA holds a special place in my heart, I have been happy to call the west coast home for the past several years. A lifelong thalassophile, I knew that any environmental career I pursued would need to focus on the ocean and its protection. I graduated from the University of Victoria with a BSc in Marine Biology in June 2023 after finishing a research project investigating abiotic influences on rockfish abundance and operculum beat frequency in Hartley Bay. I completed this project using video imagery from an Ocean Networks Canada underwater cabled ocean observatory. Though I didn’t know it at the time, this experience analyzing videos served as great preparation for my current role as a Biological Mapping Technician, which I happily began in May 2024. I am so excited to be part of the SeaChange team, and look forward to learning more about Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and coastal habitat conservation and restoration.

In my free time I like to hike with my partner and our dog, stand-up paddleboard, and support my local breweries!

I completed a Bachelor of Science degree at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, with a focus on coastal geography and marine ecology. Some highlights of the past few years have included using the Bay of Fundy as a classroom to learn and teach, using scuba diving and snorkelling for underwater research, and applying geospatial data to study places I lived in and loved.

Continuing on the path I started on in university, I am interested in the ecological, physical, and cultural attributes of coastlines across large spatial scales, and using geospatial data in conjunction with community-engaged efforts to better understand and protect coastal ecosystems and communities. I am so happy to be part of a team at SeaChange that does work aligned with my interests, and grateful for the inspiration it gives me to continue learning.

I am now calling BC home, and when I’m not working I’m feeding my passions of being in the ocean, playing in the snow, and sitting inside by a fire with friends and live music on the cold dark days.

I grew up both being obsessed with the sea, and learning my passion for conservation through watching Steve Irwin. No surprise that I graduated in 2020 from Uvic with a double major in Biology and Environmental Science. Since then I have worked in Mozambique as research diver observing Manta Rays, worked as a scuba instructor and captain, and now I work as a Biomapper for SeaChange. Through my working years I have learned how much I love (and need) a combination of hands on, education, and outreach work. I am always happy to answer nerdy questions, or go tide pooling to look at the creatures.

When I’m not at work you can find me out exploring, reading, elbow deep in various art projects, horseback riding, scuba diving, or petting a random dog.

I was born and raised on Vancouver Island, and have been living here my whole life. I completed a BSc. in Geography at the University of Victoria, and have worked the years since then with the provincial government in various roles including water management, contaminated site remediation, and GIS.

I’m happy to be a part of SeaChange and the ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping program and I appreciate the opportunity to have a positive impact on coastal ecosystems through the work we carry out.

In my free time I enjoy cycling around the trails and roads of Vancouver Island, camping, and playing music with friends. I’m also passionate about food, and have been in the kitchen from a young age learning from my Italian grandparents. I love to travel and have had the privilege of visiting 14 countries (so far).

Having grown up in BC, I developed a fondness for the ocean at a young age and fell in love with the diversity of life found along the shore. When I was younger, all I wanted was to do was learn more about marine life and help conserve the beautiful place that I consider home. Through a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and Geography from the University of Victoria, I nurtured that interest and developed a passion for community-oriented conservation and restoration, coastal ecology, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In my last semester of my degree, I took two field courses where I got to learn about Heiltsuk resource management in the Koeye River Estuary, and restorative design on Galiano Island. Since graduating, I’ve worked for The Land Conservancy of BC, and volunteered much of my time with Peninsula Streams and Shorelines.

I’m incredibly excited to work alongside and learn from the knowledgeable team at SeaChange that do meaningful work to help conserve and restore ecologically important habitats.

When I’m not working, you can find me rock climbing (both indoors and outdoors), spending time at the beach, hiking, camping, biking, birding, taking photos, or reading.

As a professionally trained commercial diver specializing in scientific diving, I have worked with SeaChange for over 10 years as an eelgrass transplant specialist and commercial boat operator. I am also professionally trained as a photographer through the Western Academy of Photography, and the owner/operator of Coastal Photography Studio. In this capacity, I capture underwater footage during transplants and marine debris removals, as well as above water as an aerial drone photography technician.

From diving to great depths in the emerald sea to flying high in the mountains with an aerial ROV, I continue to push the boundaries of creativity.