Tori Verkaik
Forester
Kamloops,BC
Summary
Registered Professional Forester (Forest Professionals BC) with over five years of experience in forestry, ecosystem management, and emergency response across non-profit, industry, and Indigenous sectors. Combines a BSc in Forestry (UBC) and MA in Disaster and Emergency Management (Royal Roads) to deliver technical and strategic expertise. Proven leader in multi-faceted projects, specializing in landscape-level restoration, silviculture, and species conservation, with a focus on ecosystem resilience and water quality. Skilled in collaborating with industry, government, and Indigenous partners to drive sustainable outcomes, leveraging negotiation and conflict resolution expertise. Strong communicator and relationship manager, adept at securing senior-level support for strategic initiatives.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
2
2
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Forest Stewardship Specialist
Ministry of Forests
2024.07 - Current
- Lead regional silviculture and forest stewardship initiatives, integrating species-at-risk protections into forest projects to enhance biodiversity
- Develop and implement policies for sustainable forest management, collaborating with cross-functional teams and aligning with provincial goals
- Provide expertise in operations, planning, and conservation, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks and ecological priorities
Land and Resource Specialist
Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship
2023.03 - 2024.07
- Directed landscape-level planning and protection orders, balancing resource use with conservation through access management
- Led consultations with Indigenous communities, embedding traditional ecological knowledge into stewardship decisions
- Advised on legislation and policy trends, ensuring compliance and effective decision-making
Restoration Forester & Emergency Coordinator
Skeetchestn Natural Resources LLP
2019.05 - 2023.03
- Managed restoration and emergency projects post-disaster (e.g., Elephant Hill, Sparks Lake Fires), boosting climate resilience
- Facilitated multi-stakeholder meetings with industry, government, and First Nations to align silviculture and stewardship efforts
- Developed protocols integrating provincial laws and Indigenous heritage values, preparing reports for executives and partners
Forest Engineer
Cascadia Environmental Services Ltd
2017.10 - 2019.03
- Designed silviculture programs and site plans for community forests using ArcGIS and drone mapping
- Supported harvesting block layouts, enhancing operational efficiency and environmental compliance
Education
Master of Arts - Disaster and Emergency Management
Royal Roads University
Victoria, BC 2025.06 - 2025.03
Bachelor of Science - Forestry, Major in Forest Resource Management
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC 2016.09 - 2019.01
Skills
Collaborative Team Leadership
Systems Thinking
Research and Insight Synthesis
Adaptive Decision-Making
Rightsholder and Partner Collaboration
Accomplishments
Pioneered Post-Disaster Resilience: Spearheaded restoration projects after the Elephant Hill and Sparks Lake Fires, integrating Indigenous knowledge and silviculture expertise to enhance climate adaptation across 100,000+ hectares.
Forged Multi-Stakeholder Consensus: Led government-to-government consultations with Indigenous communities, aligning traditional ecological practices with provincial policies to secure sustainable land-use agreements.
Timeline
Master of Arts - Disaster and Emergency Management
Royal Roads University
2025.06 - 2025.03
Forest Stewardship Specialist
Ministry of Forests
2024.07 - Current
Land and Resource Specialist
Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship
2023.03 - 2024.07
Restoration Forester & Emergency Coordinator
Skeetchestn Natural Resources LLP
2019.05 - 2023.03
Forest Engineer
Cascadia Environmental Services Ltd
2017.10 - 2019.03
Bachelor of Science - Forestry, Major in Forest Resource Management
University of British Columbia
2016.09 - 2019.01