Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada (WPEF-C)

The WPEF-C is devoted to the conservation and stewardship of whitebark and limber pine ecosystems through partnerships, science-based active management, restoration, research, and education.

Contact

250-421-7910
info@whitebarkpine.ca

Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada
606 Nelson Street
Kimberley, BC  V1A 2M6

Follow Us

Call us at 778-739-9733 | Email info[at]whitebarkpine[dot]ca

Meet the WPEFC Team

Meet the Board

mkd-team-image
Randy Moody
President

Ecologist | Kimberley, BC

Randy is a leading provincial expert in whitebark and limber pine and has worked on related conservation and restoration projects throughout British Columbia. He has developed whitebark pine recovery plans, implemented planting programs, established permanent monitoring plots, designed prescribed burns and treatments for whitebark pine restoration, and conducted numerous research studies. Randy also has considerable experience with industrial and small-scale native plant restoration and reclamation, including hydroelectric reservoirs. In addition, he has managed and implemented varied ecosystem mapping projects over his career as an ecologist. Randy holds a Masters degree in Forest Science as well as a Bachelors degree in Natural Resources Conservation from UBC and is a registered Professional Biologist.

mkd-team-image
Jodie Krakowski
Vice-President

Consultant | Crowsnest Pass, AB

Jodie Krakowski has served on the board as Vice President since 2015 and will continue to do so. She is an independent consultant who has been involved with 5-needle pines since the late 1990s. As co-chair of the provincial whitebark and limber pine recovery team, she collaborates to implement the provincial recovery plans throughout their Alberta ranges. In her prior role as a provincial gene conservation specialist for Alberta, she worked on gene conservation of native forest species, and applied forest genetics projects and policy. She spent most of her career gallivanting around the forests of beautiful BC as a consultant, terrestrial ecologist, forester, and research scientist with UBC and with the BC Forest Service. If you’re looking for her, she might be out exploring in the mountains.

mkd-team-image
Michael Murray
Membership

Forest Pathologist | Nelson, BC

Michael Murray is a forest pathologist for the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development in Nelson, BC. Michael is a Board Director of both the USA and Canadian Boards of Directors for the WPEF. He received his Ph.D in whitebark pine fire ecology-forest health from the University of Idaho, an M.S degree in natural resources from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California and is a Professional Agrologist. Michael’s interest include whitebark pine dynamics and long term monitoring, climate driven tree declines, and ameliorating forest root diseases. Michael broadcasts cosmic country, kung fusion, freak folk and more on his weekly radio show and continues his quest to muster pleasing sounds on pedal steel guitar.

mkd-team-image
Natalie Stafl
Director-At-Large

Fire and Vegetation Ecologist | Revelstoke, BC

Natalie is the Ecology Team Leader in Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks. She works on forest health, ecosystem monitoring and restoration and supports the Parks Canada fire management program. Natalie received a master’s degree in Zoology at UBC studying the impacts of hikers and a warming climate on American pika as well as a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Conservation from the UBC Faculty of Forestry. She is also a Registered Professional Biologist. Along with her colleagues in the mountain national parks, Natalie coordinates whitebark pine recovery efforts and monitors long term health transects. She is interested in the conservation of ecosystems and their natural processes and can be found recreating in in the mountains in her spare time. On the occasional Wednesday, Natalie can be found making Stafl’s Waffles.

mkd-team-image
Jeremy Greenberg
Interim Secretary (Mat Leave Coverage)

Fire Vegetation Team | Revelstoke, BC

During the summer months, Jeremy dedicates his time to working among the pines in the majestic landscapes of Mt. Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks, where he works for Parks Canada’s Fire & Vegetation Team. In the winter, Jeremy is immersed in academic pursuits. He completed an undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Conservation at the University of British Columbia in 2017 and is currently pursuing a Master of Science (MSc) degree at the same institution. His research focuses on investigating the role of fire in whitebark pine regeneration and growth release.

Hailing from the picturesque town of Canmore, Alberta, Jeremy‘s upbringing instilled in him a deep-rooted passion for the great outdoors. As he splits his time between Revelstoke and Vancouver, British Columbia, Jeremy continues to channel his enthusiasm for the natural world into both his professional endeavors and personal life.

mkd-team-image
Robin Gutsell
Treasurer

Wildlife Status Biologist | Edmonton, AB

Robin Gutsell has been a Biologist with the Government of Alberta since 1999, working in the province’s Species at Risk program. Robin co-leads recovery of whitebark and limber pine for Alberta, working with many fantastic partners to implement recovery actions for both species. The rest of the time, she specializes in the status assessment of wild species and engages in other odd jobs for the program. Robin holds a Master of Science degree in biology (behavioural ecology, great blue herons) from Simon Fraser University, and a Bachelor of Science (zoology) from University of Guelph. In her spare time, she hikes, camps, canoes, cross-country skis and gardens whenever she can with her husband, daughter and Norwegian moose dog (elkhound).

mkd-team-image
Kathryn Young
Director at Large

Business Owner | Lillooet, BC

Kathryn Young grew up swimming and canoeing in the lakes of Northern Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia and works for Lillooet Regional Invasive Species Society as the Assistant to the Executive Director. Kathryn loves to photograph nature, especially flowers and mountain-scapes. She runs a small business and also sits on the Board of the Lillooet Naturalists Society. Passionate about environmental conservation and restoration, in her free time, she picks banjo, sings in a chorus, hikes, backcountry skis, and plays with her Australian Shepherd, Lupin.

mkd-team-image
Karli Graham
Director at Large

Registered Professional Forest Technologist | Fernie, BC

Karli Graham is a Registered Professional Forest Technologist with over six years of experience in environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, and sustainable forest management. Based in Fernie, Karli brings her passion for conservation and commitment to ecosystem health to the board as we tackle the ongoing efforts to recover Whitebark and Limber Pine populations. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and enjoys exploring whitebark and limber pine habitats through hiking and biking.

mkd-team-image
David Walker
Director at Large

Calgary, AB

David Walker brings over 50 years of experience serving on boards of various non-profit organizations and has a strong background in agriculture and ecological restoration. With a Ph.D. focused on the genetics of native grasses, his work has been dedicated to developing genotypes for ecological restoration. David has been involved in the Canadian Land Reclamation Association, Alberta Society of Professional Biologists, and Alberta Erosion Control Association, among others. Since 2016, he has been actively engaged in the Whitebark Pine Census at Lake Louise Ski Area, contributing to the monitoring of this critical species.

Meet the Staff

mkd-team-image
Nick Pochailo
Program Manager

Nick joined WPEFC as its first full-time employee in June 2023. As Program Manager, he manages WPEFC’s finances and coordinates various projects. During field season, he can also be found collecting cones or surveying whitebark stands as part of our field crews in BC and Alberta. Nick brings an extensive, multidisciplinary background in forest conservation, financial management, and administration. Prior to joining WPEFC, he worked as an analyst across government, academia, and the private sector. He holds a Master’s in Forestry from the University of Alberta and an MSc in Conservation & Land Management from Bangor University, UK, where he studied climate refugia and BC’s old-growth forests. He also earned a joint Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration & Environmental Studies from Simon Fraser University. In his free time, Nick actively volunteers in local ecological restoration projects and enjoys hiking, trail running, skiing, and camping in the beautiful mountains near his home in Nelson, BC.

mkd-team-image
Hailey Moran
Executive Director

Hailey joined WPEFC as the first full-time Executive Director in August 2024. Hailey aims to lead the foundation by advancing its strategic vision, fostering partnerships, and by ensuring effective governance and operations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Victoria and completed additional coursework in Strategic Dialogue and Engagement for Climate Adaptation at Simon Fraser University. With a background in strategic communications, project management, and non-profit leadership, Hailey has worked with VanDusen Botanical Garden and Bloedel Conservatory, Surrey’s Natural Areas Partnership, Parks Canada, the City of Surrey’s Urban Forestry team, and the Greater Vancouver Zoo. She lives in Vancouver with her fiancé and their goofy cat, Jasper. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, skiing, cooking, and playing dodgeball and slo-pitch.

Want to Be on the Board?

Apply Today