Communication
In Canada, I have worked as a risk assessment and climate resilience adviser and consultant for federal agencies (e.g., Infrastructure Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Public Safety Canada, Indigenous Services Canada), National Collaborating Centres for Public Health, BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness British Columbia, and municipalities among others. I am a Principal for URSUS Resilient Strategies Inc., a niche consulting company specializing in risk management and resilience planning. Sample deliverables are listed below. Please download my CV or resume for more information.
Editorial leadership
As the Editor-in-Chief for HazNet, Canada’s disaster resilience magazine, I spearheaded the re-design of a small network newsletter published by Canadian Risk and Hazards Network into a professional magazine and online platform. Our readership grew to a global audience with 60K+ monthly impressions attracting policymakers, scientists, municipal staff, and students. I regularly lead a team of 8-14 volunteers across Canada to deliver timely and insightful content working with 30-40 contributors and reviewers per issue.
- Progress on Sendai Framework? (with Carly Benson and Nicole Spence): http://haznet.ca/haznet-magazine-spring-2023-issue/
- Hope (with Nicole Spence and Carly Benson): http://haznet.ca/haznet-magazine-2022-issue/
- Silver Linings: http://haznet.ca/haznet-magazine-2021-issue/
- The First Wave (with Nicole Spence): http://haznet.ca/haznet-magazine-fallwinter-2021-issue/
- Future: http://haznet.ca/haznet-magazine-spring-2020-issue/
- Inequity: http://haznet.ca/haznet-magazine-fall-2019-issue/
- Floods: http://haznet.ca/haznet-magazine-spring-2019-issue/
- Innovation: http://haznet.ca/haznet-magazine-fall-2018-issue/
- Fire Issue: http://haznet.ca/haznet-magazine-spring-2018-issue/
- Building Back Better Issue: http://haznet.ca/haznet-fall-2017/
- The Climate Issue: http://haznet.ca/haznet-spring-2017/
- The Indigenous Disaster Resilience Issue.
I am an experienced multi-media content creator and editor. I believe in the power and beauty for effective communication.
- Preparing Our Home: Voices from Indigenous communities series (recording and interviewing): https://preparingourhome.ca/stories/
- Founder of ‘EMERGENCE’ program, a collaborative initiative that supports emerging Indigenous and immigrant writers and artists to create awareness about disasters and climate resilience (mentorship opportunities through a platform for amplifying underrepresented voices in disaster resilience such as youth from remote reserves). Sample Emergence content: Letter from Tahltan
- Creator, “Indigenous Practitioners in DRR” series that features stories and careers of volunteers, technical specialists, Chiefs, and youth from Indigenous communities. Sample Content: Day Star Woman Michelle Vandevord voted AFAC’s first female President; Tahawennon:tie David Diabo: Enabling Indigenous emergency management; Gina Wilson: Caring Society; Chief Shawn Atleo: If there’s one word that describes First Nations communities it is resilience
Digital storytelling
Curatorial Experience
From 2015-2018 I served as an Indigenous Community Outreach Coordinator and Curator for the Tillikum Lens program that empowers Indigenous youth to tell their stories through a global lens. This participatory program brings together indigenous youth, their communities and Canada’s leading photographers to create a platform for expression and to strengthen youth participation in policymaking and planning through digital storytelling.
- June 2016 Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre and Canadian Canoe Museum workshop –
- Nov. 2015 – Jan. 2016 Tillikum Lens Photography Show at the Liu Institute for Global Issues, UBC (Featuring work from the Squamish First Nation, the Osoyoos Indian Band and Xet’olacw Community School in Mount Currie).
- April – September 2016 The Tillikum Lens Project was part of the View Finders Exhibition at the ArtStarts Gallery. View video.
- January 2016 Curve Lake First Nation – Indigenous Youth photography show
- 2016 Silver Canoe Dinner Exhibition, Lockport School Student Photographs and Paddles, Fort Gibraltar, Winnipeg.
- 2016 Squamish Youth Paddle Carving & Paddle Together Photography Exhibition, Creekside Community Centre – False Creek