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IEG is comprised of a diverse group of talented individuals who are specialists in their respective fields, but also enjoy working as a team on multidisciplinary projects.
Jeff specializes in restoration ecology, focusing on the fields of vegetation and soil biology. He received his B.Sc. in biology from the University of Victoria (2005), and proceeded to work…..Read More
Trevor graduated from UBC’s Applied Biology Program with an Honours degree in Applied Plant and Soil Science (2012) and started working at IEG in 2013. His primary area of practice……Read More
Chad is a geospatial web application developer who joined IEG in 2022. He received his bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with a focus in web development from Selkirk……Read More
Kevan specializes in ethnoecology and landscape ecology. He has 12 years of experience in interdisciplinary research and consulting relating to ethnoecology and cultural research, cumulative effects and land use planning…..Read More
Liam is a Cumulative Effects Scientist with a diverse background in scientific computing. He received a B.Sc.Eng in Computer Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan in 2018 and……Read More
Emmy is a social scientist with a background in social and environmental geography. She graduated from the University of Toronto in 2022 with a H.B.A. in Human Geography. Prior to joining IEG, she……Read More
Erika has a diverse academic background and a range of professional experiences that are applicable to her role as Social Science Researcher with IEG. Erika worked internationally for over twelve……Read More
Matt is an ecologist interested in using landscape simulation to help organizations understand trade-offs associated with land use options. He began working with IEG in 2018 and has over 20……Read More
Dënë Cheecham-Uhrich is a proud member of the Dënësułinë Treaty 8 Territory Clearwater River Dënë Nation. She leads innovative and intrinsic……Read More
Jordan is an administrative professional with 9 years of experience, who joined the IEG team in 2022. Bringing with her various skills gained while working in a variety of sectors……Read More
Scott is an ecologist with 10 years of experience in environmental projects throughout western Canada. He earned a B.Sc. in Environmental Biology from the University of Saskatchewan in 2013……Read More
Thomas is an applied human ecologist and geographer, interested in how collaborative, community-led approaches influence resource management and policy development and contribute to sustainable communities. Thomas has eight years of……Read More
Anna is a financial manager with a Diploma in business administration (accounting/computing specialty) and 27 years of business experience, 16 of which were spent running her own bookkeeping company in……Read More
Melissa is a soil scientist whose interests lie in soil classification, soil quality assessment, and geographic information systems (GIS). She completed a B.Sc. in the faculty of Land and Food……Read More
Elaine is a restoration ecologist with a background in vegetation ecology and range management. She earned a B.Sc. with a specialization in Environment Science and major in Ecology from the……Read More
Valerie is a terrestrial ecologist with a background in landscape ecology and forestry. She received a B.Sc. in Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation from the University of Greifswald, Germany (2014)……Read More
Katie is a terrestrial ecologist and soil scientist with 10 years of operational and research experience in the mining industry. Following completion of a B.Sc. in Global Resource Systems at……Read More
Julie is a photographer and graphic designer, with a B.A. in Communications and Psychology from the University of Ottawa, a diploma in Advertising: Creative, from Algonquin College, and recently completed……Read More
Natalie has worked in the field of ecology for over 14 years. She received a B.Sc. in biology from Queen’s University (2001) and a M.Sc. in biology……Read More
Mike is a Geomatics Specialist and Ecologist. He has a B.Sc. in Biology with a minor in Geographic Information Technology from the University of Victoria (2020). Mike continued to build……Read More
Meghan is an ecologist and soil scientist with a background in plant-soil interactions. She has over 12 years of experience in the field of ecology. She received a B.Sc. in……Read More
Ben is a Geomatics Specialist & Ecologist at IEG. He received a B.Sc. in Geography and Environmental Studies, with a concentration in Geomatics from the University of Victoria (2020), and……Read More
Paula joined IEG in 2022 as a Restoration Ecologist. Her work involves modelling soil-water relationships to improve ecological assessments of reclaimed and natural areas. Paula earned her B.Sc. in Biology……Read More
Angelika began working as IEG’s bookkeeper and administrative assistant in 2019, bringing with her diverse experience from various industries including retail, hospitality, construction and creative writing. She discovered her passion……Read More
Max is an ecologist with a background in conservation biology and plant physiology. He received a B.Sc. in both Biology and Geography from the University of Oregon (2012), and……Read More
Rebecca joined IEG as a geomatics specialist and ecologist in 2022. She earned her B.Sc. in Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph in 2020, where she focused on freshwater……Read More
Clint’s formal education includes a B.Sc. in biology (general studies, 1977), a M.Sc. in biology (vegetation science, 1987) and a Ph.D. in geography (biogeography/landscape ecology, 1996). Clint has worked for……Read More
Megan is a social scientist with a background in ethnoecology and ethnobotany. She received a B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Studies (2015) and a Diploma in Restoration of Natural Systems……Read More
Justin is a soil scientist, forest ecologist, and Chief Technical Officer at IEG, which he co-founded in 2010. Justin has over 25 years of experience in applied terrestrial ecology, and primarily focuses his practice on two fields……Read More
Telsa is an ecologist with a background in plant pathology and entomology. She received a B.Sc. in Biology (2014) from the University of Victoria, and a M.Sc. in biology (2018)……Read More
Meaghan Daniel received her LL.B. from the University of Manitoba, and her LL.M. from the University of Victoria. During her career, Meaghan clerked at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto before……Read More
We are always accepting applications from qualified candidates who share IEG’s values.
Please contact us with a CV and cover letter if you are interested in joining our team.
Full time
Dënë Cheecham-Uhrich is a proud member of the Dënësułinë Treaty 8 Territory Clearwater River Dënë Nation. She leads innovative and intrinsic research related to water, land, and human health in her community and Indigenous communities across Northern Saskatchewan. She works toward creating a new generation of decolonial earth leaders and re-establishing Indigenous communities as equal treaty, inherent and local partners in Turtle Island. Dënë has expertise in generating community driven protocol and is passionate in building powerful relationships and partnerships that allow Indigenous and interdisciplinary science to be more transformative and efficient in developing community led planetary solutions by exploring a new way of navigating diverse knowledge systems with Indigenous communities and researchers from all disciplines.
Emmy Borle, H.B.A
Emmy is a social scientist with a background in social and environmental geography. She graduated from the University of Toronto in 2022 with a H.B.A. in Human Geography. Prior to joining IEG, she worked in research relating to zero-waste, social planning, and alternative housing systems. Emmy joined IEG in 2023. Her work focuses on supporting cultural and land use research in collaboration with Indigenous communities, governments, and industry. In her work with IEG, Emmy hopes to continue to contribute to research that incorporates multiple perspectives and centers community concerns.
Scott is an ecologist with 10 years of experience in environmental projects throughout western Canada. He earned a B.Sc. in Environmental Biology from the University of Saskatchewan in 2013. With a diverse professional background, Scott has worked in consulting, government, non-profits, and grassroots community projects. Prior to joining IEG, he spent five years working on Cold War-era uranium mine remediation projects in northern Saskatchewan. Scott’s passion for remediation is fueled by the regenerative potential the field holds for both ecological and human communities.
Meaghan Daniel received her LL.B. from the University of Manitoba, and her LL.M. from the University of Victoria. During her career, Meaghan clerked at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto before working as an associate at two social justice-focused law firms, gaining critical experience within the progressive bar.
During those years, Meaghan worked on a number of high profile inquests and civil litigation files. She traveled into remote First Nations to work with First Nations individuals and communities on Indigenous governance projects and worked on several reviews and reports, for instance, those related to the justice system’s treatment of Indigenous people and racism in policing in Thunder Bay.
These days, Meaghan is putting her vision of a social justice firm into practise. She is also a frequent lecturer and sessional instructor at McGill on progressive legal education and social justice legal practice, various forms of state violence, human rights, civil rights and civil disobedience, Aboriginal law and Indigenous legal traditions.
Frank is a social scientist with a background in archaeology. He received a B.Sc. in Anthropology (2020) from the University of Victoria, where he gained training and experience participating in various archeological and social science research projects. Since 2016, Frank has been involved in several archeological excavations in both Canada and Greece. Over the course of these projects, Frank worked alongside Indigenous groups and governments to excavate important historical sites using a community driven, culturally sensitive framework. Frank joined IEG in 2023, where he supports cultural and land use research with indigenous communities, governments, and industry through literature reviews, traditional land use studies, cultural and rights-based impact assessments, and community-based monitoring projects. Frank has worked in Greece, British Columbia, and Alberta.
Ann is an ethnoecologist and ethnobotanist working as a close associate of IEG, which she co-founded in 2010. Ann has more than 15 years of research experience and applied experience related to social-ecological issues in changing environmental systems. Ann’s work explores processes to support respectful and meaningful dialogue between indigenous communities, government and the private sector. Ann has brought her expertise and training in botany (1993, B.Sc. Ohio University) and ethnobotany (2003, M.Sc. University of Victoria) to bear on issues related to: Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) studies and Traditional Land Use (TLU) studies; Cultural Impact Assessments; forest management practices that involve traditional land users; biodiversity and wildlife habitat reclamation; and, land management strategies. Ann has worked in British Columbia, Alberta and Alaska.
Katie is a terrestrial ecologist and soil scientist with 10 years of operational and research experience in the mining industry. Following completion of a B.Sc. in Global Resource Systems at the University of British Columbia in 2011, she spent five years working in the Environmental Department at the Mount Polley Mine, B.C. In 2020, Katie finished her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia where she researched mine reclamation methods for improving recovery of the soil food web, and studied how belowground ecosystem recovery can relate to improved revegetation outcomes. Katie joined IEG in 2020 and her main areas of interest include the importance of belowground ecosystems in ecological restoration, translating research into practice, and integrating terrestrial ecosystem reclamation into broader mine closure objectives.
Julie is a photographer and graphic designer, with a B.A. in Communications and Psychology from the University of Ottawa, a diploma in Advertising: Creative, from Algonquin College, and recently completed the Diploma of Photographic Arts and Production from the School of Photographic Arts, Ottawa (SPAO). Her diverse experience started in the tourism sector, moved to large advertising agency account management, and after raising her family, transitioned to the creative side, where she was able to expand on her graphic design and photography skills. Julie started working as an independent contractor for IEG in 2016 and has transitioned to a permanent role supporting the IEG team with visuals, photo books, and other design-related tasks. Julie has also taught and mentored in the Part-time Program at SPAO (photography, post-production, and book design) and has her fine art photography as part of the permanent collection of the City of Ottawa.
Natalie has worked in the field of ecology for over 14 years. She received a B.Sc. in biology from Queen’s University (2001) and a M.Sc. in biology (focus on small mammals and invasive species) from the University of British Columbia (2010). Natalie has led and participated in numerous vegetation and wildlife research and monitoring projects with government agencies, the private sector and universities in the United States, Canada and Africa. Natalie’s work with IEG since 2011 has focused on applied science projects that address social-environmental issues and includes technical reviews on the environmental effects of industrial projects, researching the effects of air pollution and fugitive dust on ecosystem health, and reclamation monitoring. Natalie’s work with IEG has involved the engagement of Aboriginal stakeholders in research, regulatory and planning initiatives.
Mike is a Geomatics Specialist and Ecologist. He has a B.Sc. in Biology with a minor in Geographic Information Technology from the University of Victoria (2020). Mike continued to build his geomatics skills working in the Arctic Landscape Ecology Lab at the University of Victoria, where he focused on modelling tundra ecosystems using UAVs and mapping permafrost landscape change in the Canadian Arctic. He has also previously worked field summers in Haida Gwaii at a remote fishing lodge and in Banff National Park as an aquatic field technician for Parks Canada. Mike joined IEG in 2022 and is most interested in using geomatics as a tool to analyze and support a variety of research projects.
Meghan is an ecologist and soil scientist with a background in plant-soil interactions. She has over 12 years of experience in the field of ecology. She received a B.Sc. in Biology from Queen’s University (2009), and a M.Sc. in Forest Sciences from the University of British Columbia (2015). Meghan became interested in terrestrial ecosystem ecology while studying tundra ecosystems in the Northwest Territories during her undergraduate degree. After completing her B.Sc., she gained valuable experience in both the forestry and mine reclamation industries while working as a tree planter for four years in northern Alberta. During her M.Sc. she studied carbon stabilization and soil structure development at reclaimed oil sands sites. Meghan started working at IEG in 2015 and has focused her work on developing methods to assess reclamation performance in mining and addressing how to restore complex ecosystem processes to areas that have been impacted by human land use.
Ben is a Geomatics Specialist & Ecologist at IEG. He received a B.Sc. in Geography and Environmental Studies, with a concentration in Geomatics from the University of Victoria (2020), and a diploma in Environmental Technology (2017) from Camosun College. He brings a versatile skillset for solving spatial data related problems which he obtained during his undergraduate degree and while working as a Research Technician at the Kluane Lake Research Station and as a GIS Technician at the BC Ministry of Agriculture. He is most interested in using GIS as a tool to manage and communicate spatial data in meaningful ways.
Paula joined IEG in 2022 as a Restoration Ecologist. Her work involves modelling soil-water relationships to improve ecological assessments of reclaimed and natural areas. Paula earned her B.Sc. in Biology from the University of British Columbia (2017) with coursework focused on plant biology and ecology. After graduation she worked as lab manager of the Sustainable Agricultural Landscapes Lab at UBC, where she was exposed to the beauty and complexity of soils. She is currently completing a M.Sc. in Soil Science in that same lab under the supervision of Dr. Sean Smukler. Her research project investigates the impact of different drainage systems on soil greenhouse gas emissions from blueberry fields in Delta, BC, and evaluates how well the DeNitrification-DeComposition model simulates soil emissions from the studied fields.
Angelika began working as IEG’s bookkeeper and administrative assistant in 2019, bringing with her diverse experience from various industries including retail, hospitality, construction and creative writing. She discovered her passion for numbers and accounting in 2010, at the Northern Lights College in Fort St. John, BC. She subsequently worked for numerous years as a bookkeeper/administrator for small businesses. Angelika is excited to continue learning and growing within IEG and contributing to the wonderful cause of helping the planet heal.
Max is an ecologist with a background in conservation biology and plant physiology. He received a B.Sc. in both Biology and Geography from the University of Oregon (2012), and a M.Sc. in Conservation and Biodiversity from the University of Exeter (2015). His graduate thesis focused on the effects of climate change on species’ range limits. Following graduate school, he stayed in research, studying adaptation to heat and drought in trees at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Since joining IEG in 2018, Max has primarily worked on the development of software that enables prediction of soil moisture regimes and ecosystem occurrence on reclaimed landforms. He is most interested in the design and reestablishment of functional, dynamic ecosystems following human disturbance.
Rebecca joined IEG as a geomatics specialist and ecologist in 2022. She earned her B.Sc. in Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph in 2020, where she focused on freshwater chemistry and ecology while developing an interest in GIS (Geographic Information Systems). In 2022 she completed a Masters of Geomatics for Environmental Management at the University of British Columbia. In her research project Rebecca worked in partnership with the charity Blue Ventures to model coral reef health using open source data. She has worked in both the private and public sectors supporting source water protection and natural heritage education within her community. Rebecca is most interested in how GIS with remote sensing can support freshwater integrity and restoration.
Clint’s formal education includes a B.Sc. in biology (general studies, 1977), a M.Sc. in biology (vegetation science, 1987) and a Ph.D. in geography (biogeography/landscape ecology, 1996). Clint has worked for 31 years in the environmental planning and research sectors within British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. He started working with IEG in 2013. His experience includes forestry and mining reclamation-related research; operational mine reclamation planning, implementation and monitoring; baseline biophysical and environmental impact assessments; ecological land classification; range inventories; wildlife habitat suitability mapping; and biodiversity/habitat fragmentation assessments. Clint also teaches courses in ecological restoration (mine reclamation and restoration case studies) for the University of Victoria and courses in Science and Mathematical Literacy and Controversies in Science for Mount Royal University. In the past, he has taught courses in physical geography (University of Calgary and University of Lethbridge) and environmental science (University of Lethbridge). Clint is a registered professional biologist in Alberta (P.Biol.) and British Columbia (R.P.Bio.) and is a certified ecological restoration practitioner (CERP) with the Society for Ecological Restoration.
Megan is a social scientist with a background in ethnoecology and ethnobotany. She received a B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Studies (2015) and a Diploma in Restoration of Natural Systems (2018) from the University of Victoria, where she gained training and experience in applied ethnoecological research. Over the past five years, Megan has worked in the academic, not-for-profit, and public sectors primarily in water law, policy, and governance research. She has also been involved with several ecocultural restoration and monitoring projects in BC. Megan joined IEG in 2019, where she supports land use and cultural research with indigenous communities, governments, and industry, including literature reviews, traditional land use studies, cultural impact assessments, and community-based monitoring projects. She has worked in British Columbia and Alberta.
Justin is a soil scientist, forest ecologist, and Chief Technical Officer at IEG, which he co-founded in 2010. Justin has over 25 years of experience in applied terrestrial ecology, and primarily focuses his practice on two fields: reclamation of terrestrial mining disturbances, including design, implementation, and assessment of reclamation and reclamation-research programs; and assessment of and planning related to the cumulative effects of industrial activities on ecosystems and people. Justin has worked throughout Canada, and in Alaska, South America, South Asia, and Australia. Justin is also a member of the BC Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation, and a member of closure review boards and advisory panels for the mining industry.
Telsa is an ecologist with a background in plant pathology and entomology. She received a B.Sc. in Biology (2014) from the University of Victoria, and a M.Sc. in biology (2018) from the University of Lethbridge. Prior to joining IEG she spent four years conducting research at the federal level, where she studied the combined impacts of herbivory and soil-borne pathogens on plant development for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and bark beetle ecology with the Canadian Forest Service. Telsa is most interested in the impact of multiple ecosystem stressors on the development and functionality of plant communities. Telsa started working for IEG in June 2019, where she focuses on the reclamation and revegetation of ecosystems disturbed by resource extraction.
Shanti is an ecologist and community engagement specialist working as a close associate of IEG, which she co-founded in 2010. Shanti’s formal education includes a B.Sc. in forest ecology (1996) and a Ph.D. in community ecology and lichenology (2002). Shanti has more than 15 years of research and consulting experience related to terrestrial ecology, land-use planning and community engagement. Shanti’s work focuses on two key areas: assessment of the interactions of human land-use and ecosystem integrity, with a focus on biodiversity and land management; and, research evaluating air quality and impacts on terrestrial ecosystem health and traditional foods, involving community-led development of research objectives and study design. Shanti provides technical advice and research support to Aboriginal communities, government and industry in western Canada, Alaska and Hawaii.
Kevan specializes in ethnoecology and landscape ecology. He has 12 years of experience in interdisciplinary research and consulting relating to ethnoecology and cultural research, cumulative effects and land use planning, and ecosystem biomonitoring. Kevan completed a Ph.D. in landscape ethnoecology in 2013 in which he worked with the Tayal Indigenous people of Taiwan to document an ecological and ethnoecological classification for the tribe’s local landscape. Kevan’s current work focuses in the following four areas: (i) assessment of land change impacts on Indigenous land use and culture (e.g., traditional land use and occupancy studies, cultural impact assessments, indigenous knowledge studies), (ii) modelling-based assessments of cumulative effects on traditional land use and ecological indicators, (iii) community engagement related to mine closure planning, and (iv) research on industrial impacts to terrestrial ecosystems and traditional foods. Kevan began working for IEG in 2013 and has worked on projects across Canada and in Taiwan.
Liam is a Cumulative Effects Scientist with a diverse background in scientific computing. He received a B.Sc.Eng in Computer Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan in 2018 and an M.Sc. in Physics and Atmospheric Science from Dalhousie University in 2020. Before joining IEG, Liam worked on the GEOS-Chem model of atmospheric composition for studying global air quality and the SASKTRAN radiative transfer model for studying satellite-based remote sensing methods for nitrogen dioxide. He specializes in using computational methods driven by spatiotemporal data to answer complex questions and in teaching practical usage of computational tools. Liam joined IEG in 2022, and his work focuses on the development and application of land-use simulations. He is most interested in using land-use simulation to inform effective and responsible decision-making.
Erika has a diverse academic background and a range of professional experiences that are applicable to her role as Social Science Researcher with IEG. Erika worked internationally for over twelve years and has held senior management positions at several international organizations. She moved back to Canada to complete a PhD in Environmental Governance. Her research focused on inclusive and participatory governance of coastal ecosystems in Paraty, Brazil. After completing her PhD, she spent the next five years as a Director at an international NGO, and engaged with food security and Indigenous Food Sovereignty projects with over 40 First Nations and Indigenous communities across Canada. She has travelled to 80+ countries for work, research and out of interest, and has travelled extensively within Canada. Her education and experiences have allowed her to continually learn about the relationship between living beings and their environments in diverse contexts. She is particularly interested in continuing to apply approaches that work within ethical space and that are respectful of multiple worldviews, and to be mindful about specific responsibilities in conducting research for and with Indigenous peoples.
Matt is an ecologist interested in using landscape simulation to help organizations understand trade-offs associated with land use options. He began working with IEG in 2018 and has over 20 years of experience working with governments, First Nations, conservation organizations, and the natural resource sector to assess cumulative effects. Matt completed his B.Sc. in environmental science at the University of Guelph in 1997 and in 2000 finished his M.Sc. at the University of Alberta in conservation biology. He also specializes in conservation planning for the maintenance of ecological integrity, focusing on boreal ecosystems. Matt’s work has explored land use issues in central, western, and northern Canada, as well as South America.
Jordan is an administrative professional with 9 years of experience, who joined the IEG team in 2022. Bringing with her various skills gained while working in a variety of sectors including legal, non-profit and employment, Jordan is extremely grateful to be working with the team at IEG where it feels more like family. Jordan is happy to be a part of the admin team, filling in the gaps and picking up the pieces where needed! She is excited to grow with the company and looking forward to expanding her skill set and knowledge while contributing to the important work being done.
Thomas is an applied human ecologist and geographer, interested in how collaborative, community-led approaches influence resource management and policy development and contribute to sustainable communities. Thomas has eight years of experience working in the field of environmental resource management (cultural impact assessments, water vulnerability assessments, and First Nation source water protection planning) and completed his Ph.D. in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University (2015). Thomas’ research assesses human environmental interactions and their implications to society, focusing on resource management and environmental change. Thomas works in partnership with Aboriginal communities, governments and industry, contributing his knowledge of social science theory, methodology, and environmental resource management. Thomas has worked throughout Canada and in China and began working at IEG in 2015.
Anna is a financial manager with a Diploma in business administration (accounting/computing specialty) and 27 years of business experience, 16 of which were spent running her own bookkeeping company in Victoria, British Columbia. Anna has extensive experience in managing finances for small businesses in a diversity of industries as well as a firm grasp of accounting principles and an understanding of the tasks involved in running a business. Anna’s past work experience includes working with the Canada Revenue Agency, with various accountants, and at Scotiabank as well as running two businesses of her own. In January 2012, Anna began working with IEG after having been self-employed for many years, and is now happy to be working with a company of people who uphold values of integrity, respect and environmental awareness.
Megan’s background is water resource management and engagement of industry and communities. Megan completed her Bachelor of Social Science at University of Ottawa in International Development (2012) and an M.Sc. in Integrated Water Resources Management (2013) at McGill University. Megan has 9 years of combined experience in water resource management, community engagement, shared value business models and participatory facilitation. Megan has worked at the municipal and federal levels as well as with local and international NGOs on water issues such as improving drinking water, and tracking and analysis of advisories for small drinking water systems in small vulnerable communities in Canada. Megan worked in Malawi for a local business that worked directly with the Malawi Ministry of Water on strengthening their water service delivery programs in rural communities. She also co-led a consulting company in Zambia which supported local and international businesses to engage local communities with their business models to increase social and economic returns. Megan has worked in Canada, Zambia and Malawi, Tanzania, India and Australia and began working with IEG in 2019.
Melissa is a soil scientist whose interests lie in soil classification, soil quality assessment, and geographic information systems (GIS). She completed a B.Sc. in the faculty of Land and Food Systems (formerly Agricultural Sciences, 2006) and a M.Sc. in soil science (2010) at the University of British Columbia. Over the past five years Melissa has worked in both the private and public sectors on many soils-related studies in Western Canada. She has also been involved in several local and nation-wide mapping projects, including updating Canada’s national soil map, The Soil Landscapes of Canada. Melissa started working for IEG in 2013.
Elaine is a restoration ecologist with a background in vegetation ecology and range management. She earned a B.Sc. with a specialization in Environment Science and major in Ecology from the University of Guelph (2013), and is currently finishing a Diploma in Restoration of Natural Systems from the University of Victoria. She has spent the past eight years working for provincial and federal government, NGOs, and environmental consultants, focusing primarily on terrestrial ecosystem mapping, monitoring, assessment, and sustainable management of both industrial sites and protected areas. Elaine’s work has led her throughout Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon, and Nunavut. She joined IEG in 2021 and pursues her passions of reclamation, re-vegetation, ecology, and land management.
Valerie is a terrestrial ecologist with a background in landscape ecology and forestry. She received a B.Sc. in Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation from the University of Greifswald, Germany (2014) and studied the impact of mining on the growth of Scots pine in the Norwegian Arctic. She completed her M.Sc. in Forest Ecology at the University of Alberta (2016) where she concentrated on white spruce growth in mixedwood forests in central Alberta. Valerie started working for IEG in October 2017 where she focuses on the reclamation of disturbed areas and the creation and reestablishment of functional ecosystems.
Chad is a geospatial web application developer who joined IEG in 2022. He received his bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with a focus in web development from Selkirk College in 2020 and a diploma in Environmental Technology from The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2014. Chad has previous experiences in environmental water treatment and compliance, fisheries management, geomatics, and geospatial research. His bachelor thesis investigated the effectiveness of developing an open-source mapping application to provide first responders efficient indoor routing in emergency situations. Chad has additional interests in cyber security and digital art and is most interested in creating well designed, accessible and secure geospatial web applications that can be utilized by any level of user to make efficient and effective decisions.
Trevor graduated from UBC’s Applied Biology Program with an Honours degree in Applied Plant and Soil Science (2012) and started working at IEG in 2013. His primary area of practice pertains to the ecohydrological relationship between soil properties and ecosystem development in order to better understand target ecosystems and vegetation development in mine reclamation. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Soil Science at UBC supervised by Dr. Andy Black, in which he is developing a model for predicting ecosystem occurrence on reclaimed landforms based on soil water-balance parameters.
Jeff specializes in restoration ecology, focusing on the fields of vegetation and soil biology. He received his B.Sc. in biology from the University of Victoria (2005), and proceeded to work for five years as a vegetation ecologist with Axys Environmental / Jaques Whitford/Stantec. Over this period, his interests transitioned toward wider ecosystem dynamics and plant-soil interactions, particularly as they relate to restoration ecology. Jeff completed his M.Sc. in Forest Sciences at the University of British Columbia in 2014 and concentrated on the effects of different vegetation treatments on organic matter accumulation in the reclamation soils of the Athabasca Oil Sands, focusing on restoration ecology, and the biogeochemistry of mine-site restoration. Jeff started working at IEG in 2013 and his keenest interests remain in projects that involve innovative methods of monitoring ecosystem function.
