A team of professional master's students dedicated to sustainable forestry
Our Team
Alysha VanDelft:
I am a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Honours Bachelor of Science degree. At the University of Toronto I focused on Forest Conservation Sciences and Environmental Biology. Throughout my undergrad I was fortunate to take part in two academic exchanges. Specifically, I studied at the University of British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii campus and at the National University of Singapore. These exchanges allowed me to diversify my understanding of forests and forest management through course work and field research. During summer terms I worked on farms around Canada tending crops such as cherries, cabbage, kale, strawberries, apples, grapes and many more. I have always had a passion for conservation and I have previously worked for the Grand River Conservation Authority’s 50-hectare conservation area and park in Guelph, Ontario.
Emma Driedger:
My favourite childhood memories are of being in the woods whether exploring, hiking, playing or walking in the many parks in and near the Fraser Valley where I grew up. Summers always involved camping for several weeks along BC’s coast or on Vancouver Island, and these early experiences got me hooked for life on observing the natural world and being outside. During my undergraduate degree at Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB where I pursued a major in Biology and a minor in Physics I formalised my knowledge of that world I saw around me and developed my creative problem solving skills. I also learned that I love small town life! Upon graduation, I took an opportunity to go to France to work as an English assistant for a year in two high schools and travelled a good deal around France and Europe, always paying close attention to the trees around me. I was startled when I realised that there were a number of Douglas Firs in the region where I lived, and found out that they had been planted there for the Forestry Industry. This began a fascination with learning about Forestry around the world and particularly in my native British Columbia which ultimately lead me to realise that becoming a Forester in British Columbia was my dream career. I am incredibly excited to be joining the MSFM program and hope to learn as much as possible to help me to dedicate my life to the responsible stewardship of our forests, and pursue RPF and RPBio certification. I love hiking, camping, music (old and new), good food, and photography.
Michael Harrhy: After growing up in Kelowna, BC, I moved to Vancouver to attend the Natural Resources Conservation and Management Program at UBC, which I graduated from in 2013. Since then I have been working as a professional gardener and Arborist in Vancouver. Returning to UBC for the MSFM program has me excited about land-use planning and forestry economics. I am looking forward to meeting people who are also interested in the role foresters have in managing one our greatest assets. I hope to use this program as a tool to improve the resilience of forests in the face of a changing climate and other dynamic challenges. One day I would like to be a woodlot licensee. An avid outdoors-person, I enjoy skiing, fishing, canoeing and just about any wilderness activity.
Tom Kasperkiewicz: I was born and raised here in Vancouver. I was lucky to grow up with a mother who treasured being outdoors in nature and she passed this on to me with our many family trips. I completed a Bsc in Geography at UVIC in 2011 and during this time worked tree planting in the summers throughout the province. Since graduation I have continued to work in silviculture in various roles mostly as a means for travel or skiing. Having some time in the forestry workforce has solidified my desire to find a career in the industry I am passionate about! I am really excited to start the MSFM program and expand my horizons!
Julius Huhs: Growing up in Berlin Germany, I was raised as a “City Child”, but always liked to retreat to our small, but numerous city forests. Being active and outdoors was always a big part of my life. In Germany I played American Football (not soccer! Even though I am German), and in Canada I got into Mixed Martial Arts. After graduating from high school, when the time came to make a decision as to what to do with my life, I knew I would not want to sit in an office chair every day all day. During a vacation in Canada, I fell in love with its beauty and the freedom that everybody seemed to enjoy. That was when I developed the dream of living there one day. Studying Forestry seemed like a good way to combine my passion for the forest and desire to come to Canada. Not knowing anything about it, I started studying Forestry at the Georg-August Universität in Göttingen Germany. After obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree I left for Canada and completed the Forest Technology Program at Selkirk College in Castlegar BC. This proved to be a very valuable program, providing me with some hands on skills, and a good introduction to the Canadian Forest Industry. Shortly after graduation I started to work for a consulting company doing layout, development, timber cruising, and all associated tasks. In 2011 I switched jobs to work for BC Timber Sales, where I was exposed to a wide variety of tasks. Completing the MSFM Program will be a great experience providing me with up to date management strategies/tools, and the eligibility to become a Registered Professional Forester.
