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Meet the Directors of the Marine Education and Research Society!
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Christie McMillan has been involved in marine mammal research and conservation since 2004. She holds a degree in Marine Biology from the University of British Columbia, and has worked as a biologist and environmental educator for various non-profit, government, and ecotourism groups on both the east and west coasts of North America. She recently spent two years working as a humpback whale research assistant and member of Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She is the President of the Marine Education and Research Society, and the research director for the MERS humpback whale study. |
 Photo credit: Peter Jucker |
Jackie Hildering is a marine educator dedicated to creating positive environmental change. She taught biology and administered international schools in the Netherlands for 14 years and, since returning to B.C. in 1999, has worked as a marine naturalist and naturalist trainer. She was the local Department of Fisheries and Oceans Education Coordinator for 7 years; runs a Young Naturalist Club; is President of the local dive club; works as Communications Director for the SOS Marine Conservation Foundation and blogs as "The Marine Detective".
Recognition for her efforts includes:
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Jared Towers was born and raised in coastal British Columbia. A mariner by trade and blood, Jared's interest in cetaceans and seabirds led to a profession that ties his knowledge and passion together. He has worked for many marine-based companies and on various cetacean research projects in four different oceans, but mainly in the North Pacific. While most of Jared's work involves research on killer whales and other cetacean species at risk for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, he is the MERS minke whale project research director. |
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Caitlin Birdsall is an educator and biologist focusing on marine conservation issues in B.C. She is currently the Coordinator of the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network, a project that collects opportunistic sightings of whales, dolphins, porpoises and sea turtles from the coast of British Columbia. She holds a BSc in Wildlife Biology from the University of Northern B.C. and is a certified Heritage Interpreter. She has worked previously as a field assistant, naturalist, and educator in Australia and throughout British Columbia. |
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Heidi Krajewsky works mostly in the field with marine mammals and birds. She helps to run the research/sailing vessel 'Achiever' which is owned by the Raincoast Conservation Society. This has allowed Heidi to work on a wide variety of projects on the north coast of British Columbia, including Steller sea lion surveys and seabird and marine mammal transect surveys. She has also been involved in film projects and educational trips. In addition, Heidi has worked as a wildlife guide in the Arctic and Antarctic since 2006. Heidi is passionate about wildlife and has contributed data to various volunteer endeavors including the B.C. Breeding Bird Atlas, the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network, Ebird, and Whaleforce. Heidi has an undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria and has studied at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on the west coast of Vancouver Island. |
 Photo credit: Peter Jucker |
Leah Thorpe is a marine educator who has worked as a biologist and naturalist for various organizations, including Stubbs Island Whale Watching and the Whale Interpretive Centre in Telegraph Cove, B.C. She is currently the Outreach Coordinator for the Cetus Research and Conservation Society. She is also a Master's candidate at Royal Roads University, where she is completing a degree in environmental education and communications. She holds a degree in Biology and Geography from the University of Victoria and recently helped to repair and reconstruct a blue whale skeleton for the University of British Columbia. |