Julie Chesley (Image courtesy of Julie Chesley)
How did you come to join the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) team?
I had worked on contract for the Nature Conservancy of Canada in 2021 as an intern. I had a wonderful experience that year and had been keeping my eye out for a full-time permanent position. The lands that NCC manages in this region are incredible and I knew that I wanted to come back one day. When I saw the stewardship coordinator position become available, I applied right away! Having the opportunity to be a part of the BC team making a difference on the land is very rewarding and I am grateful to be here.
What is your educational background and previous experience?
I have a diploma in environmental resources technology from Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in Merritt, BC. Once I was out of school, I thought that I wanted to work in forestry but soon found myself more interested in plants and ecology rather than my duties as a forest technologist. I then gained experience in agriculture as a technologist working under two professional agrologists and found my interest in invasive plants and native grasslands. I am currently a registered biology technologist in training, soon to be fully registered. I was fortunate to work for NCC in 2021 on a contract position as an intern through the BC Wildlife Federation as a wetland technologist. It was during that year that I developed a strong connection to NCC’s conservation areas in the southern interior, and I knew that I had to work in conservation and land management in some capacity.
What are you hoping to achieve through your work at the Nature Conservancy of Canada?
I want to do the lands we work on justice; they are incredible, and they deserve good people to manage them. I am partial to grasslands, probably from growing up in Kamloops, BC. Seeing a grassland ecosystem that is healthy and thriving gives me great joy! I hope to leave them all in a better place than when I found them. I hope to continuously improve the natural areas that I work on and learn from the NCC team and professionals to help me become the best I can be in my position.
What is your favourite place in nature?
The grasslands are by far my favourite place in nature, along with Douglas fir forests and wetland areas. A lot of people see grasslands as deserts that are brown and not very attractive, but I see an ecosystem full of species diversity that is incredibly fragile and can provide endless education and experiences.
What are your hobbies/interests outside work?
I have a red heeler dog named Copper who is my sidekick — I take her everywhere! We are always hiking and using our spare time to explore new places.
