Bio

I am a science and knowledge leader with expertise in the human dimensions of climate change in cold and mountain regions, nature-positive climate solutions, and the ethics and practice of knowledge co-creation with Indigenous Peoples. I have built my career around ambitious, collaborative research––identifying important issues, bringing together the people and expertise needed to address them, and carrying complex initiatives through to useful outcomes. I place particular emphasis on the relationships that make this possible and view research not only as a means of producing evidence, but also as a process for strengthening partnerships, institutions, and our collective capacity to respond to societal challenges. To this end, I founded and led the Canadian Mountain Assessment, Canada’s first national assessment of mountain systems knowledge and Alberta’s 2024 Scholarly & Academic Book of the Year, and have twice served as a Contributing Author with the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). My work is grounded in extensive field and community-engaged research across the Nepal Himalaya, Peruvian Andes, Rocky Mountains, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic, and includes nearly 40 peer-reviewed publications with more than 6,000 citations. I have held advisory roles with the 2025 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, where I lead a transboundary science and knowledge programme across one of the world’s largest mountain regions. I am also an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. In 2026, I received the Canadian Association of Geographers Award for Scholarly Distinction in Geography and a United Nations University medal for outstanding commitment to the International Year of Glacier Preservation in Canada.

Full CV Google Scholar profile

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

Certificates

Harvard University - Leading and Building a Culture of Innovation program 2026 (forthcoming)
University of British Columbia - CIRTL Associate, Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology 2020
National Outdoor Leadership School - Outdoor Education and Leadership Course (Waddinton Range, BC) 2001

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
McDowell Environmental LLC - Owner & Lead Researcher 2012-2015

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.