Dr. Nadir Erbilgin

Jennifer's Bio

Jennifer Klutsch is a forest entomologist who works on bark beetles. Prior to her work at the Canadian Forest Service, she identified factors that impact mountain pine beetle populations in lodgepole pine and jack pine ecosystems while working on her PhD and post-doc at University of Alberta. She has also done research on the impact of mountain pine beetle on fuels and fire hazard.

Her current research focuses on early detection of mountain pine beetle and understanding whether the community of insects and fungi in jack pine may allow mountain pine beetles to expand its current range.

Northern Forestry Centre

Ben's Bio

Ben Cress is an environmental enthusiast with a passion for sustainability and conservation. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and over 10 years of hands-on experience in the energy sector, Ben has led numerous initiatives including emissions reductions, waste management, water management and biodiversity conservation.

His expertise includes environmental regulations and compliance and finding innovative solutions to complex environmental challenges. Ben is passionate about reconnecting people with nature and changing how we value the services and wisdom nature offers.

Keyera 

Tim's Bio

Tim Patterson was born Morris Coutlee who is a member of the Lower Nicola Indian Band that belongs to the Scw̓éxmx (“People of the Creeks”) a branch of the Nlaka’pamux (Thompson) Nation of the Interior Salish speaking peoples of British Columbia Canada. Tim grew up in Revelstoke where he began his passion for mountains. Tim developed Zuc’min Guiding by combining his Academic, Indigenous and Guiding knowledge together to advance Indigenous Knowledge of the mountains.

Zuc’min Guiding

Jessica's Bio

Jess is passionate about creating connections between people and forests. A graduate from University of Toronto’s Master of Forest Conservation program, Jessica (Jess) Kaknevicius has spent over 15 years in the non-profit sector including nearly nine years with Forests Ontario in a range of management and director roles between 2009 and 2018, focusing on growing education and awareness programming, fundraising, and supporting strategic development for the organization.

She also acted as the Vice-President of Education for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), where she played a critical senior leadership role overseeing philanthropic efforts and government agreements, governance, and supporting strategic planning and communications. She is a well-known advocate for the forest sector and co-founded Women in Wood, a networking group for women in the forest and wood-related sectors to share advice, information, and encouragement.

Forests Ontario

Women in Wood