beci announces new science director

BECI is Excited to Announce its New Science Director!

Towards the end of 2023 BECI announced $1.1 million in funding from the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF). The announcement of BCSRIFs $1.1M in funding for the BECI project enables the establishment of a virtual project office and the recruitment of key personnel, such as BECI’s new Science Director, to complete the science and implementation plans. Since BECI will be building off the success of the International Year of the Salmon initiative (2018 – 2022), salmon will be used as an exemplar species while ultimately taking a modular approach to include all key species and species of interest in the North Pacific Ocean.

Dr. Kathryn Berry

BECI is pleased to announce Dr. Kathryn Berry as the new Science Directory. Kathryn is joining BECI from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) where she was Head of the Applied Technology section. Her previous roles include the Science Program Lead for the Salish Sea Initiative (DFO) and Recovery Section Head (BC Ministry of Environment’s Environmental Emergency Program). During her time with the Province of B.C., she worked on the TMX Reconsideration Process, the Whale Task Force, and the SKRW Contaminants Working Group. Prior to working for the government, Kathryn accumulated 8 years of research experience working with universities and NGOs. Her research focused on the impacts of human activities on marine ecosystems, with an emphasis on pollution. Kathryn completed a PhD in marine science at James Cook University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science and a MSc in Aquatic Ecology at the University of Bremen and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Outside of work, Kathryn enjoys discovering remote places on her motorcycle, which is currently hibernating in a Bulgarian village. Welcome Kathryn! 

Over the next year, Kathryn will be working on building out the BECI Science and Implementation plan with a small secretariat that includes the communications lead and administrative coordinator. She will be building the BECI Science Office, and filling modelling and /or data management related positions.