Current Students
The following is a list of current students in the planning stream at REM. Please click on the student's name for a brief bio and an outline of their research. Students are divided based on research group.
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Co-Management Ecology Lana Cortese Energy and Materials Research Group/Economics Jodie Capling Fisheries Danielle Edwards Forestry | Policy and Planning Nikki Astofooroff Tourism and Recreation Phil Bradshaw |
Nikki Astofooroff
Nikki comes to REM after graduating from the University of Victoria with a B.A. in Political Science. In addition, she has also earned a diploma in Media Communications from Capilano College in North Vancouver, and spent several years working in the documentary film and post-production industry in Vancouver. Her research interests have led her to the policy and planning stream at REM, with a particular interest in land and resource planning.
Her master’s project, under the supervision of Dr.Thomas Gunton, involves a case study review of the Haida Gwaii Land and Resource Management Planning process, which utilized collaborative planning (CP) as the method by which to develop the region’s land-use strategies. CP is a relatively new approach to land-use planning, both in B.C. and around the world. This research project will build on existing data to create a more complete picture of how the CP process has shaped the landscape of British Columbia, and to assess to what extent CP has been effective in promoting the principles of sustainability, transparency, and cross-cultural collaboration in the land-use planning process.
Phil Bradshaw
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Phil Bradshaw earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick. Since then, he has worked for environmental chemistry and pharmaceutical laboratories around the world. More recently, Phil studied sustainable community development at Simon Fraser University just before he decided to join REM in 2006. For his Master's thesis, Phil is determining the non-market value of old growth forests in the southwestern corner of BC. Using Choice Models as the valuation method, Phil is looking at the general public's value for old growth dependent animal and plant species and the quality and amount of old growth that should be retained in the study area. |
Ken Calbick
Ken Calbick earned his Bachelors of Technology Honours degree in environmental engineering from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He was awarded both the Lieutenant Governor’s Award and the Dean’s Award to honour his outstanding academic achievements, leadership abilities, and community contributions. Ken has earned a Master’s Degree in resource management from the School of Resource and Environmental Management (REM) at Simon Fraser University, which was partially supported by the C.D. Nelson Memorial Graduate Scholarship. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in REM for which he has received a prestigious Canada Graduate Doctoral Scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Additionally, he has 14 years experience within the environmental field encompassing air quality issues, liquid waste management, solid waste handling, hazardous waste disposal, waste reduction and recycling initiatives, and conflict assessment and resolution.
Jodie Capling
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Lana Cortese
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Lana is a BC local and graduated from UVIC with a B.Sc. majoring in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies.While at UVIC she also completed the Co-op program and worked for the Ministry of Forests and Range setting up and operating an invasive plant inventory, monitoring and control program for Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast as well as spending time with Saanich developing an Environmental Management Plan and implementation manual for the municipality. Since finishing her undergraduate Lana worked with as a biological technician for a local forest company spending time monitoring Marbled Murrelets, Northern Goshawks, Vancouver Island Marmots, and also spent some time in southern Africa.Lana is interested in behavioral ecology, it's role in wildlife conservation strategies, and biodiversity conservation planning. |
Tyson Daoust
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Tyson graduated from Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2006 with a BA (hons) degree in Geography, where he focused on environmental management and urban planning. His honours research focused on improving the efficiency and capacity of community-based environmental monitoring groups and has translated into a paper published in Environmental Management. Currently, Tyson is focused on completeing a masters degree in resource and environmental management from Simon Fraser University where he will focus on both development and protected areas planning and management with Dr. Wolfgang Haider. He also has a strong interest in working on water issues in the developing world. Tyson is an advid traveller who enjoys hiking, camping and jogging. |
Megan Dickinson
Danielle Edwards
Aliaa Elkhashab
Meghan Ellis
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Meghan graduated in 2004 from the University of Ottawa with a degree in biology. Her research for her honours thesis involved assessing the impacts of 20th century climate and land use change on butterfly species distribution. Before starting her masters, Meghan lived in France where she taught English and then worked for the Federal Government in Victoria, B.C. In addition to her academic pursuits, Meghan is a member of the Planning Institute of B.C., an avid runner and a new mountain biker. Her master’s research is focused on sustainable development planning in Canada. This will involve completing a comprehensive review of sustainable development policy and an evaluation of Canada’s national sustainable development strategy. |
Jessica Finney
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Neil Fletcher
Neil went to REM because of its multi-disciplinary approach to solving complex resource and environmental problems. He is currently pursuing an MRM, a certificate in development, as well as the planning certificate in REM. His research involves the comparison of management options for protecting Musk Deer (Muschous sp.) in the wild from overexploitation, using a bio-economic model. He was awarded a NSERC scholarship in 2006-2007.
Prior to entering REM, Neil obtained a B.Sc. in Environmental Science at the University of Ottawa with a concentration in biological conservation. During his undergrad he gained work experience with several agencies: (1) Health Canada's Climate Change and Health Office helping to coordinate research related to health issues with respect to climate change; (2) Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Forest Service where he worked as an assistant to the Scientific Advisor on biological diversity; and (3) South Nations Conservation Authority where he prepared a wetland management plan for the Leitrim Wetlands, a provincially significant wetland just outside of Ottawa. Neil was also a project coordinator for Green Campus, a volunteer environmental student group at the University of Ottawa, where he also sat on the directory board.
Aside from education and work experience, Neil, like most other REM students, enjoys travelling and biking.
Kira Furman
Originally from Idaho, Kira was drawn to BC by the picturesque mountains and to complete a master’s degree in Resource and Environmental Management and Simon Fraser University. She graduated from the University of Idaho with a BA in Anthropology and Spanish. Her experience arises from summer work as a forestry aid with the US Forest Service, grounds crew for the Idaho Park Service, and an environmental educator to los ninos in Nanegal, Ecuador. For her master’s research Kira is examining the transformation of the state of Washington’s Timber Fish and Wildlife Agreement to its current form and how this has affected the groups involved. The project is supervised by Dr. Evelyn Pinkerton.
Bradford Griffin
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Brad Griffin graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2004 with a BASc in Geological Engineering. While there, he studied hydrogeology, contaminant transport processes, geotechnical engineering, and natural hazards. Following graduation, Brad traveled through southern Asia and has since explored Central America. After returning to Canada from his travels, Brad worked for several years in the contaminated sites sector. He supervised subsurface investigations and remediation activities at residential, commercial, and industrial sites around B.C. Currently, Brad is in his first year of the REM program at Simon Fraser University. He is excited to be working with Dr. Karen Kohfeld researching trends in severe storm activity on the coast of British Columbia and the potential changes in the future. Like most others in REM, Brad can often be found outdoors in his spare time: rock climbing, hiking, or playing ultimate at the park. |
Matt Grinnell
Matt is currently a masteršs student in the Fisheries Research Group in the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University. Matt has a B.Sc. with distinction (Biology) from the University of Victoria. He is broadly interested in marine resource planning in B.C. His masteršs research topic is an examination of the At-Sea Observer Program in the British Columbia trawl fishery, in terms of evaluating its performance. It is essential that monitoring programs and procedures be evaluated periodically to ensure their accuracy and reliability, especially with respect to contentious issues that could undermine the credibility of the data collected.
Matt Gunn
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Alex Hall
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Meaghan Hennessy
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Meaghan graduated from the University of British Columbia with an Honours Degree in Environmental Sciences. During her undergrad she focused on atmospheric processes and physical oceanography. Her honors thesis looked at precipitation and temperature trends along the Pacific Coast of North America over the past 50 years. Meaghan’s love of wind, waves and water extends from her academic pursuits to her professional life as a sea-kayaking instructor.She has been teaching kayaking throughout BC for the past 7 years and loves to apply her academic understanding to her paddling adventures.Meaghan is also an avid photographer and a web-development dabbler. Meaghan’s Masters thesis work, which is being overseen by Murray Rutherford, involves looking at demand side management as a conservation strategy for fresh water resources. In particular, she is researching the policies surrounding water recycling, and how public perception of the associated risks influences those policies. |
Erica Johnson
Chris Joseph
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Chris Joseph is a PhD student studying with Dr. Tom Gunton. In his research he is investigating the Alberta oil sands industry in terms of its net benefits to Alberta and the quality of the government management regime overseeing it. Chris earned a Masters of Resource Management in REM at SFU in 2004 in which he examined the implementation framework associated with the Land and Resource Management Planning process in BC. More information can be found at his website at www.chrisjoseph.info. |
Nicole Koshure
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Brook Land-Murphy
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Ken Meeks
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Ken comes to the REM planning group after graduating from the |
Caroline Lee
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Lance Lilley
Lance Lilley has a B.Sc. in biology from SFU and an Advanced Certificate in Habitat Restoration from Douglas College. After completion of these programs, Lance spent almost six years working for Quadra Planning Consultants where he was involved on a number of projects including: an overview of planning projects in the Skeena Basin for DFO, an evaluation of DFO’s watershed planning initiatives, an evaluation of Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program, a review of the province’s fish stocking policies, and creating a strategic plan for Belize’s Protected Area Conservation Trust program.
Lance is currently in the planning stream at the School of Resource and Environmental Management at SFU. His research involves ocean and coastal planning in British Columbia with a particular interest in DFO’s Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA) plan.
Cedar Morton
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Nina Mostegl
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Jason Nephin
Jen Ness
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Jen Ness graduated in 2004 with a Bacholor's Degree in Geography and Business from the University College of the Fraser Valley. Jen spent a great deal of her undergrad in the field travelling throughout North America studying the coasts. After a brief hiatus from school, working in research and project coordination, Jen jumped at the opportunity to persue furhter research in SFU’s Resource and Environemntal Management Program. Jen will be exploring the impacts of amenity migration on rural coastal communities, focussing on the impacts of human flows on planning and policy measures. |
Erica Olson
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Erica Olson graduated from Cornell University with a BS in Natural Resources. While at Cornell, Erica studied at Shoals Marine Laboratory and interned with the Ocean Mammal Institute, where she researched the human impacts on Spinner dolphin behavior. After graduation, Erica spent four winters in Ontario playing hockey for the Ottawa Raiders. During this time she worked as a naturalist and science educator. Erica is now a part of the applied wildlife ecology group in REM pursuing her passion for marine behavioral ecology. In her free time you can find Erica playing hockey, soccer or enjoying the outdoors.
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Krista Phillips
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Krista comes to REM after having sampling life as an engineer, radio DJ, music director, freelance journalist, teacher and traveler. Although she claims to come from Chetwynd, BC, her roots are really in southern Ontario, where she earned her B.A.Sc in Industrial Engineering and Systems Management at the University of Toronto. Although known to be an active socialite who’s always on the go, Krista enjoys spending much of her free time on her bike, doing yoga, seakayaking, or in her trainers. Wishing to combine her industrial engineering analytical skills with her passion for sustainability, Krista enrolled in REM as a student within the Energy and Materials Research Group. Her research is focused on developing a Canadian economy model to advise decision makers on energy and greenhouse gas policies. Wishing to pursue a career as a natural resource planner, she joined the Resource and Environmental Planning Program early in 2005. |
Nadine Pinnell
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Mike Pym
B.Sc., B.Ed., BIT
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Vocational history includes teaching outdoor education and secondary school sciences, establishing research sites as a forestry/fisheries technician in northwestern Ontario, developing management plans as a Planner with Ontario Parks, and most recently working with an Environmental consulting firm in the Fraser Valley. Mike is interested in protected area planning and policy, regional/municipal planning and policy and the involvement of First Nations communities in land use planning. Search for a thesis topic continues!!! When not in the field or on campus Mike can be found training for his first triathlon, playing sports, traveling, or exploring the outdoors. |
Rhonda Reidy
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Jen Reilly
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Jen is a graduate student at the Centre for Tourism Policy and Research. Jen took a number of years off to rock climb before pursuing her education (and her climbing!) through a diploma in Adventure Tourism and a degree in Tourism Management from Thompson Rivers University, where she received the Tourism Management Medal for Academic Achievement. Jen’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to owning and operating a rock climbing guiding service in Squamish and undertaking a number of consulting and volunteer projects. When not at the computer or playing outside, she sits on the Smoke Bluffs Park Planning Team, the Booking Advisory Committee for the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, and the Steering Committee for the Sea-to-Sky Tourism Human Resources Project. Jen’s research interests are varied, with a central focus on tourism. Jen’s major project is assessing how tourist preferences for different transportation policies affect energy consumption, and she is using Whistler as a case study. Since entering the REM program, she has contributed to a number of research projects including estimating the economic impact of the 2004 World Junior Badminton Championships, reviewing accessible travel in the Lower Mainland, and an assessment of the current state of the environment in Canada. Her other interests lie in sustainable tourism, land use policy and planning, community development and adventure tourism. |
Dora Repard
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Dora Repard comes to Simon Fraseršs Resource and Environmental Management Program with an undergraduate degree in Ecology from the University of British Columbia and an Advanced GIS Diploma from the BC Institute of Technology. For several years before starting REM, she was employed by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society BC Chapter where she established and coordinated a GIS program. She has also led an ecology field research program and worked as a research technician, naturalist, and technical writer. Dora enjoys spending her free time exploring outside - skiing, sailing, hiking or paddling.
Dorašs research interests involve the use of GIS to enable land use planning at a landscape scale. For her research project, she is studying the spatial distribution of sea ducks in southeast Alaska in relation to environmental variables. |
Tara Sawatsky
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Tara came to REM in 2005 to pursue interests in community resource management with a focus on international and environmental development. Following a cooperative year with the University of Toronto in the Peruvian Amazon and traveling throughout Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala, Tara wanted to build upon her existing knowledge and gain skills to address some of the complex issues relating to environmental management. Her research will examine social and community institutions, and how they relate to planning and prospects for future development. Her field research will be conducted along the coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. |
Soudeh Jamshidian Ghaleh Sefidi
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Andrew Stegemann
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After completing a diploma in Outdoor Recreation Management from Capilano College followed by a BA in Geography (Environmental Specialty) from SFU, Andrew is now researching tourism and outdoor recreation to complete the MRM degree. Andrew spends time (that’s not in front of the laptop) outdoors, mountain biking, rock climbing, or just wandering around at various paces. Recreating outdoors led his interests towards the relationship people have with nature and how this affects the way resources and the environment are managed. Through his research, it has become evident to Andrew that many planning methods have been detrimental to social, economic and environmental realities. As a result, Andrew’s research involves planning constructs that inform the sustainable use of the environment, especially as it relates to tourism and outdoor recreation. Currently his research interests lie in place-making as a sustainable strategy for tourism destinations. Specifically, he is interested in the value a collaborative approach can have to inform the creation of places where people are drawn and encouraged to interact with one another and with the environment in a sustainable manner. |
Shelagh Thompson
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Katie VonGaza
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Katie graduated from the University of Alberta with a BSc. Honours in Environmental Earth Sciences. During her degree she was fortunate to travel to Melville Island in the Canadian Arctic to do research on quaternary ice advancement and retreat and to examine the paleolimnology of two Baffin Island Lakes (unfortunately, from a lab) for her thesis. After taking some time off to travel and play in the great outdoors, Katie made the move to the west-coast. Although her background has given her a strong natural science background to explore issues surrounding global change, coming to REM has allowed her the opportunity to become more involved in the social science side of mitigating our effects upon the environment, especially those affecting climate change. Her current research at REM focuses on various aspects of tourism destination energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in Whistler. In particular it will address how carbon offsetting schemes might be used as a management strategy to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions released by tourist related travel and activities. |
Victoria Weekes
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Ian Williamson
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Ian Williamson returned to school after nearly 9 years in the GVRD’s water quality laboratory as a sampler, lab technician, and bacteriologist/analyst. He has traveled extensively and worked in federal, provincial, and private environmental and quality control positions. Ian graduated in 1993 from SFU with a BSc in Biology, a minor in English, and a Certificate of Liberal Arts. His initial interest in utility planning has expanded like so many multiplying bacteria. The emphasis on holistic urban sustainability spurred his participation in the Global City Navigators focus group for the 2006 World Urban Forum and as a team-member in preparing the Planning Student Associations’ contribution to the Planners for Tomorrow at the 2006 Canadian Association of Planning Students Conference. |
Jeff Zukiwsky
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Originally from Edmonton, Jeff left the prairies 10 years ago to pursue a life and career in the mountains of BC. He holds an adventure travel guide diploma (with mountain specialization) and a Bachelor of Tourism Management Degree (major in adventure and international development) from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Jeff received the Dean's award for academic achievement in his undergraduate studies. In 2005, Jeff received a research scholarship to explore the relationship between sustainable tourism development and poverty reduction in the Aysen Region of Chile. Jeff has worked primarily as: a wilderness guide both in BC and internationally, a rescue technician and emergency response planner in the geophysical exploration industry, and a nature-based tourism consultant. He is also an avid outdoor adventurer who enjoys skiing, climbing, and canoeing. His research at REM will look at strategic community policy and planning responses to tourism and amenity migration. |
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