Our Team

Kathryn has over 10 years of international professional experience, spanning marine research, environmental management, science leadership and program management. Her research contributed to the understanding of pressures facing the Great Barrier Reef and other urban and remote coastal environments, especially related to climate change and deteriorating water quality linked with human activities, such as agriculture, shipping, and emerging contaminants (e.g., microplastics and persistent organic pollutants). She completed her PhD in 2017 at James Cook University, and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Australia. Kathryn has worked in research, environmental consulting, and for Canadian provincial (BC) and federal (DFO) governments. Kathryn’s overarching professional interest is the interface between science and policy, with a focus on connecting research and knowledge of marine ecosystems with decision makers. Outside of work, Kathryn enjoys travelling on backroads by motorcycle, which is currently hibernating in a Bulgarian village.

Julia is a data scientist with a background in applied mathematics, machine learning, and environmental systems science. She has worked at the interface of ecology, modeling, and citizen science, applying both statistical and mechanistic modeling approaches to understand and forecast complex ecological patterns. Julia completed her PhD at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ in Germany, where she focused on vegetation dynamics and large-scale ecosystem processes. As a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Alberta, she developed spatio-temporal models to predict recreational angling activity across Canada. She is especially interested in using data science to support environmental research and sustainability initiatives. Outside of work, Julia enjoys hiking with her dog, playing badminton and pickleball, and traveling to explore new places

Jaid is a Project Coordinator for BECI. She has her B.Sc. in Natural Resources Conservation with a major in Science and Management from the University of British Columbia. Her studies focused heavily on applied ecology, as well as the planning and management of renewable natural resources. Jaid started her career working for the federal (DFO) government as part of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative working has a part of the Executive Office before transitioning to a role with the Salmon Stewardship Directorate. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature with her partner and their dog.

Shaye is a Research Officer with BECI and a co-op student at the University of Victoria, where she is majoring in marine biology with a minor in ocean sciences. Shaye has a strong background in bioacoustics and completed her honours degree researching the effects of boat noise on fish vocalizations, contributing to the growing understanding of how human activities impact marine ecosystems. In addition to her academic work, Shaye has experience as a Project Manager on an Arctic cod acoustics project, where she oversaw the development of an automatic detector for Arctic cod grunts—a key step in improving our ability to monitor Arctic marine life. Her research interests lie at the intersection of fisheries management, climate change, and ecosystem-based management, aiming to develop strategies that support both sustainable fisheries and healthy ocean ecosystems. Beyond research, Shaye is a varsity rugby player for the University of Victoria. She also enjoys outdoor adventures, both on land or at sea, and is an avid backpacker.

Matt brings nearly a decade of experience in science and policy communication, bridging the gap between technical research and public understanding. Most recently, he worked for NOAA Fisheries on the Climate, Ecosystem, and Fisheries Initiative, and has collaborated with the State of California on offshore wind policy and permitting and the State of Florida on the sustainable growth of the ocean economy, as well as with nonprofit organizations and industry partners on complex issues such as climate adaptation, fisheries resilience, and coastal community sustainability. Trained in ocean and climate policy and communications from UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School, Matt’s work sits at the intersection of science, policy, and storytelling—translating data into narratives that inform decisions and inspire action. Outside of work, he enjoys biking the California coast, reading literary nonfiction, and dancing in the moonlight.

Steven Bograd is a senior oceanographer at the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Climate-Ecosystem Group, in Monterey, CA, and is Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California-Santa Cruz and Research Associate at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Steven’s research interests are in the climate impacts on marine ecosystems, with a focus on eastern boundary upwelling systems. Steven currently co-chairs the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) flagship science program, FUTURE, and is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Fisheries Oceanography. Steven also co-leads two United Nations Decade of Ocean Science Programmes (SmartNet and SUPREME). Steven received a B.S. in physics (University of Arizona), a M.S. in atmospheric sciences (University of Washington), and a PhD in physical oceanography (University of British Columbia). He did a post-doc at Scripps Institution of Oceanography before joining NOAA in 2001. Steven was born and grew up in Mississippi, USA, but has spent most of his adult life on the West Coast.

Sonia Batten’s scientific background is as a biological oceanographer, studying plankton and their role in the ocean ecosystem. She coordinated the North Pacific Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey from 2000 to 2020, contributing to over 35 papers, and in the latter part of this role was also a member of the Global Ocean Observing System’s Bio-Eco Panel. In April 2020, she became Executive Secretary of the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), an intergovernmental science organisation which promotes collaborative marine research in the northern North Pacific and adjacent seas across the 6 member countries that border the region (Canada, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America). Priorities for PICES are to promote the collection and rapid exchange of scientific information on the ocean environment, climate change, living resources and their ecosystems, and the impacts of human activities in the North Pacific. PICES works with global and regional partners, organizing international conferences and capacity development events, as well as its own Annual meeting, to facilitate collaboration and promote and disseminate scientific knowledge on these issues. The PICES Secretariat is located in Sidney, British Columbia, and hosts the BECI project team.

Mark Saunders is the past Director of the International Year of the Salmon (IYS) for the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over the course of the five-year IYS initiative, Mark worked to unite salmon interests across the northern hemisphere to work collaboratively to understand and address the salmon crisis including the organization of an international Pan-Pacific high-seas Expedition in 2022. Mark developed his passion for salmon through his 35-year career as a fisheries biologist and science-manager with the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans. He managed an interdisciplinary salmon research division at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo, B.C. and played a significant role in the development of Canada’s Wild Salmon Policy.

Lara Erikson is a seasoned fisheries professional with over three decades of experience in marine resource management, fisheries data systems, and international collaboration. She currently serves as a Program Manager at the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), a role she has held since December 2021. In this capacity, Lara leads strategic initiatives focused on sustainable fisheries management and data-driven decision-making across the Pacific coast. Prior to her current role, Lara spent over 20 years at the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), where she held several key positions. As Branch Manager of Fisheries Statistics and Services, she oversaw the development and implementation of comprehensive data systems and reporting frameworks. During her career at IPHC, Lara also contributed to field operations, data integrity, and stakeholder engagement throughout the eastern North Pacific. Lara’s career began with hands-on experience as a Fisheries Observer for Alaskan Observers, Inc., followed by her role as Shoreside Whiting Coordinator at PSMFC in Newport, Oregon. Her early international experience includes serving as a Foreign Language Instructor in Niigata, Japan, reflecting her global perspective and adaptability. With a deep commitment to marine conservation and data excellence, Lara continues to play a pivotal role in shaping fisheries policy and operations across the Pacific region.

Robin Brown was Executive Secretary of PICES from February 2015 until his retirement in March 2020. Prior to this, he worked for almost thirty years for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in a variety of jobs. For the last fifteen years in DFO, he was Manager of the Ocean Sciences Division at the Institute of Ocean Sciences with responsibilities for a group of up to 70 scientists, technicians and support staff who carried out oceanographic research and monitoring in the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans. He has a long association with PICES, serving as member and sometimes Chair of several expert groups since 1995. He has also served as a representative of Canada on the Finance and Administration Committee and Governing Council. Prior to leaving DFO, he enjoyed a brief stint as a Canadian Commissioner for the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission.

Dr. Day is currently the Executive Secretary of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission, based in Tokyo, Japan. The Commission has provided their support for the BECI concept and has an ongoing recognition of the changing population dynamics in the North Pacific. Dr. Day earlier worked as the Director of International Fisheries Management at the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans. His career in fisheries spanned the realm of policy, trade and fisheries management and a common theme for him has been the recognition of the importance of cooperation and collaboration, as espoused in the UN Fish Stocks Agreement. The BECI project provides an effective platform to develop a shared understanding of the ecosystem function that can be applied by a range of management bodies, such as the NPFC.

Jacques White studied and worked as an oceanographer, participating in and leading research projects in the deep sea and along three major U.S. coastlines. Since 2010, Jacques has served as the Executive Director and now CEO of the Seattle, WA-based salmon and steelhead recovery and sustainable fisheries organization Long Live the Kings (LLTK), where he is focused on building capacity and bringing creative, science-based management solutions to watersheds and coastal and marine environments in western North America. He also serves on several boards and management councils including the BECI Advisory Board, and advises the U.S. delegation to the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission.