What year di
d you graduate and from which program?
I graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation and a Major in Global Perspectives.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Bath, England but spent most of my childhood in Peterborough, Ontario.
Why did you choose UBC Forestry?
Well, it was a bit of an accident really or maybe just good luck! As a college student in Ontario, I had to complete an assignment that required me to compare and evaluate the sustainability policies of various institutions. One of the institutions I chose to review was the University of British Columbia. Throughout the process, I stumbled upon a number of initiatives and courses related to sustainability; the UBC Farm, SEEDS, the Sustainability Office and the Natural Resources Conservation program (NRC) in the Faculty of Forestry. At the time, I was thinking about pursuing further education in international sustainability policy and when I came across the conservation program at UBC, I knew it was the right program for me.
What was your first job after graduation (related or not to your degree)?
The summer before starting at UBC, I worked as a Forest Technician with a forestry consulting firm in North Vancouver. As a student, I worked for the firm each summer and continued working for it after graduation.
What are you doing now and how did you end up there?
I am currently working as a Forest Technician for a contractor in Quesnel, British Columbia. After working at the consulting firm post-graduation, I took a contract position as a pre-commercial thinning supervisor in New Brunswick to be closer to family. Upon completion of the contract and further work with the consulting firm, I travelled to the Ecuadorian Andes to work as a Forest Research and Communications Assistant for a conservation group that I was exposed to during the “international component” of my degree. While in Ecuador, I had the opportunity to attend a hydrology workshop hosted by local researchers, assist in hydrological field-data collection and to compile a hydrology database for the organization I was working for. Low and behold, I discovered I have a passion for high-elevation tropical forest hydrology! Now I’m hunkering down for the winter, working in a part of the province I absolutely adore (the Cariboo), reading about forest hydrology and applying to graduate school!
What is your fondest memory of your time at UBC?
Difficult question! My mind is immediately flooded with fond memories of various events hosted by the Forestry Undergraduate Society (FUS) and I would have a hard time picking any particular one to highlight. At the end of the day, I’d have to say it was the opportunity to be a part of such a tight-knit community of laid-back, like-minded, thoughtful, adventurous, slightly quirky but completely endearing “forestry folk”.
If you weren’t working where you are now what profession would you most like to try?
I’ve always wanted to make a living as an artist but feel that I would lose my creativity if it was my day-job. So now I work in the woods, where I am continuously inspired, and paint when I can.
What is the toughest business or professional decision you’ve had to make?
I don’t think I can select any particular decision as being the “toughest” decision I’ve had to make. With that said, I do find it consistently difficult whenever I reach a cross-road between pursing my dreams and settling down to the status-quo. At times, the comfort and predictability of the status-quo is tempting, but I know I’ll never be happy if I don’t make a few sacrifices and pursue what I love. I’m happy to report that I do what I love.
What do you aspire to 10 years from now? (personally and/or professionally)
Ten years from now I aspire to be living my childhood dream and, luckily, with my current and continuing education and a little perseverance, I’m confident I will be. As a child, I adored the National Geographic and day-dreamed about what it would be like to have my research featured in the magazine. I even envisioned the photo that would one day appear: me, with my hair a little frazzled from a long day in the field, up late at night, sitting in a canvas tent in the jungle, crunching numbers from a day of data collecting with, of course, monkeys hanging around in the trees outside.
I no longer care about being in the National Geographic but my work in Canada, and especially Ecuador, make me feel like I’m staying true to my childhood dream.
Do you have any advice for students considering enrolling in forestry?
First, throw out any pre-conceived notions of what you think “forestry” is. Prior to attending UBC, I would never, NEVER have thought I would find myself working in forestry. I thought forestry was only about logging and that foresters were the opposite of nature loving. Of course, my previously-held beliefs are far from true. The UBC Faculty of Forestry is full of excellent professors conducting research and teaching about topics such as: fungi, energy policy, wildlife, globalization and sustainability, genetics, hydrology, ecology, etc..
Second, if you’re a tree-hugger like me, don’t shy away from taking a forest operations course or working in the BC forest industry. The things you will learn will be invaluable.
From Branchlines December 2011