Bio
I am a mountain geographer specializing in the human dimensions of climate change, nature-positive climate solutions, and knowledge co-creation with Indigenous Peoples. My research has included community-engaged projects in the Nepal Himalaya, Peruvian Andes, Rocky Mountains, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic. In addition, I founded and led the Canadian Mountain Assessment—recognized in Alberta, Canada as the 2024 Scholarly & Academic Book of the Year—and have twice served as a Contributing Author with the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). I have authored nearly 40 peer-reviewed publications, including in journals such as Nature Climate Change, with my work receiving more than 5,500 citations to date. In addition, I serve on the Editorial Board of Mountain Research and Development, and hold advisory roles with the UN International Year of Glacier Preservation, the Canada in a Changing Climate assessment process, and the UN Mountain Partnership. I am currently Director of Science and Knowledge at the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia, and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
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Education
University of Zurich - Department of Geography (Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship) 2020-2022
University of British Columbia - PhD Resources, Environment, and Sustainability (Vanier Scholar) 2015-2020
University of Oxford - MSc Environmental Change and Management (with Distinction) 2011-2012
McGill University - BA Geography (Honours 1st class) 2008-2011
Professional Appointments
Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative - Director of Science and Knowledge 2024-Ongoing University of British Columbia - Adjunct Professor 2025-Ongoing
Canadian Mountain Assessment - Founder & Project Leader. 2020-2024
Awards and Honours
-United Nations medal for ‘Outstanding personal commitment to the United Nations International Year of Glacier Preservation in Canada’
-Canadian Mountain Assessment, 2024 Scholarly & Academic Book of the Year
-Nominated by Government of Canada as expert for IPCC AR7 scoping process
-Member of College of Reviewers, Canada Research Chairs program
-Inaugural Alice Adams and Dr. G. Adams, Jr. Visiting Speaker (Mount Allison University)
-UIAA Mountain Protection Award (finalist)
-Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society
-Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
-Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
-Sumaila-Volvo Graduate Prize in Environmental Sustainability
-International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Doctoral Research Award
-University of British Columbia Four Year Doctoral Fellowship
-University of British Columbia Public Scholar Award
-Institute of Asian Research Graduate Fieldwork Fellowship
-University of British Columbia Faculty of Science Graduate Award
-Liu Institute for Global Issues Bottom Billion Fieldwork Award
-Vermont Arts Council Artist Development Grant
-Environmental Change Institute Research Grant (Oxford University)
-A.C. Irvine Travel Award (Oxford University)
-Moyse Traveling Scholarship (McGill University)
-McGill Science Undergraduate Research Award
-McGill Honours Research Fellowship
-1st Place Excellence in Geographic Photography (McGill University)
-1st Place McGill Undergraduate Research Conference
-Philip Otis Memorial Scholarship (National Outdoor Leadership School)
Other Interests
Climbing - I have been involved in rock, ice, and alpine climbing for over two decades; have climbed in most major mountain ranges in North America as well as overseas destinations such as the French Alps, Norway, and the UK; and have worked professionally as an ice climbing guide. This background underpins my recent work on issues related to climbing and climate change.
Visual Methods - I believe that compelling images from the frontlines of climate change provide a strong complement to text-based communication approaches. To this end, I have been actively involved in the use of photography-based science communication methods for many years, including through several photography exhibitions, publishing photos in popular and academic outlets (e.g. Nature Climate Change, VICE), and giving a TEDx talk that aimed to ‘de-abstract’ climate change by combining my photography with personal narratives from climate-affected communities. I received formal training in visual methods at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.