Steering Committee

Serena Black is an Agriculture Extension Specialist with UNBC and a Science Research Specialist with Industrial Forestry Service. She is also the Manager for the BC Forage Council and the Coordinator of the Cariboo Agricultural Research Alliance. Her climate change research is focused primarily on soil quality, forage productivity, and extension.

Dr. Shabtai Bittman is a Research Specialist at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Aggasiz Research and Development Centre. His climate change research is primarily focused on improving cropping systems while reducing environmental impacts.

Dr. Andrew Black is a Professor in the Applied Biology and Soil Science program at UBC (Vancouver). He is the principal investigator of the Biometeorology & Soil Science Group and his climate change research is primarily focused on agroclimatology, crop water use, water use efficiency, mulch and greenhouse climate, soil temperature, soil water availability, frost protection, and carbon sequestration.

Dr. Jenny Cory is a Professor at Simon Fraser University. Her climate change research is focused on host-natural enemy interactions, particularly those involving pathogens and invertebrates.

Dr. Lauchlan Fraser is a professor at Thompson Rivers University. He is an ecosystem ecologist and his climate change research is primarily focused on drought experiments, carbon sequestration, biosolids research, and management intensive grazing.

Kirsten is a Systems Agro-Ecologist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Summerland Research and Development Centre. She focuses on examining water, carbon and nutrient dynamics within agro-ecosystems at a range of spatial scales.

Dr. John Janmaat is an Associate Professor of Economics at UBC (Okanagan). His climate change research is focused on incentive-based policies for water management, water resource governance and management approaches for climate change.

Natalie Janssens is the Director of Programs at the Investment Agriculture Foundation where she provides leadership and direction on programs developed and delivered by the Foundation. She was born and raised on a dairy farm in Surrey, BC. Prior to IAF, she worked for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Dairy Commission in economics, policy and programs.

Dr. Bing Lu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at Simon Fraser University. His research is focused on remote sensing (e.g., drone- and satellite-based imaging) and its applications in ecosystem monitoring. He has been trying to use remote sensing for evaluating crop health and soil health and support the adoption of precision agriculture techniques to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change.

Jason Lussier is the Climate Change Extension Team Lead for the Resource Management Unit with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Before joining the Ministry, he was the coordinator of the BC Agricultural Climate Adaptation Research Network from 2017-2019.

Michelle Koski is the Chief Executive Officer with the Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF). Prior to joining IAF, Michelle served as Regional and Deputy Director for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, BC region. She also has an extensive background in regional economic development, international trade as well as agricultural policy and program design.

Ian McLachlan is Manager, Climate Action with the Corporate Policy and Priorities Branch of the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Since 2007, his work with the Ministry has included administering climate adaptation programming and coordinating the ministry’s input into B.C. government processes and strategies for adaptation and greenhouse gas reduction. His team is focused on mainstreaming climate action and building an outcomes-based approach to performance measurement.

Dr. Kent Mullinix is the Director of the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems and adjunct faculty in the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems program at KPU. His climate change research is primarily focused on food policy, extension, and planning.

Dr. Louise Nelson is a Professor Emerita in the Faculty of Biology at UBC (Okanagan). Her climate change research is primarily focused on plant-microbe interactions, plant beneficial rhizobacteria, biological controls, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil nitrogen cycling.

Rob Newell is a Canada Research Chair (tier 2) in Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainability at Royal Roads University, and a Research Associate at the Food and Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley. Newell's research and teaching focuses on integrated planning and policy, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable community development. His work includes studies on challenges and opportunities around different approaches and strategies for transitioning to sustainable and resilient food systems.

Lenore Newman holds a Canada Research Chair in Food Security and Environment at the University of the Fraser Valley, where she is currently an Associate Professor of Geography and the Environment. She also serves as Director of the Food and Agriculture Institute at UFV.

Wallapak is a senior research associate at the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at KPU. Her research interests focus on economic impacts on regional food systems, sustainable economic development and consumer education.

Dr. Michael Preston is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Ecosystem Science and Management at UNBC (Prince George). He is a microbial ecologist and his research is focused on the microbial response to human-induced environmental change and the consequences for soil biogeochemical (nutrient) cycles important for ecosystem health. Specifically, investigating the microbial control on soil organic carbon accumulation and decomposition to greenhouse gases.

Dr. Tom Pypker is an Associate Professor at Thompson Rivers University. His research is focused on the effects of management and climate change on biophysical processes in a variety of ecosystems.

Dr. Sean Smukler is an Associate Professor in the Applied Biology & Soil Science program at UBC (Vancouver) and the Chair in Agriculture and the Environment. He is the principal investigator of the Sustainable Agricultural Landscape Lab and his climate change research is primarily based on adaptation approaches for agriculture and soils management.

Gary Telford is a Knowledge Transfer Officer with the Science and Technology Branch at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada- Agassiz Research and Development Centre. He works with industry and stakeholders to share AAFC science and promote new management practices with decision makers.