Jon Kelly, BC Land Administration Manager (Photo by Cary Smith)
How did you come to join the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)?
With a strong interest in conservation, I moved from Toronto to pursue a conservation internship with NCC in the summer of 2015. Since that first summer I have worked with NCC in British Columbia as a stewardship land assistant, a conservation coordinator and a land administration manager. Currently I am the director of lands in BC.
What is your educational background and previous experience?
I obtained a BSc in conservation biology and forest science, and a post-grad certificate in environmental management, both from the University of Toronto. My past experiences are varied and include creating an inventory of trees in an urban forest, preparing fungal specimens and maintaining collections databases in a museum, using GIS to plan bird survey research and planting trees.
What are you hoping to achieve through your work at NCC?
I hope to effectively contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, through the stewardship of a growing network of conservation lands in British Columbia and across Canada.
Describe a typical day at work.
My days are incredibly varied. I work closely with my colleagues to tackle some of the many tasks that come with acquiring, owning and managing conservation lands in BC. While this typically means I’m at my computer drafting or reviewing agreements, overseeing information tracking and storage or supporting land transactions, I’ve also been lucky enough to do field work on a number of our conservation lands throughout the province.
What are your hobbies/interests outside work?
Music, art, cooking, skateboarding and exploring nature with my wife and our son.
