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 over 6,000 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 the 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. In 2026, I received the Award for Scholarly Distinction in Geography from the Canadian Association of Geographers, as well as the United Nations medal for ‘Outstanding personal commitment to the United Nations International Year of Glacier Preservation in Canada’.
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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
-Award for Scholarly Distinction in Geography (Canadian Association of Geographers)
-Ralph and Janice James Fellowship (Harvard University)
-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.