I have been an ecologist since birth, it just took me some years to realize it! I was born in South Africa and could swim before I could walk! I’ve never stopped swimming…subalpine lakes in my adopted home are my favorite. I am grateful to work, play, and learn on the unceded traditional territory of the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc people.

​​How did you get into ecological restoration?

While my education started in the sciences, I soon layered in the arts through a career in Landscape Architecture. More recently, courses in UVic’s Restoration of Natural Systems program ignited my passion for ecology.

​​What has been your greatest accomplishment or what are you most proud of?

With my MSc supervisor and co-author Dr. Darryl Carlyle-Moses, I published 3 articles in peer-reviewed journals highlighting our urban hydrology research on stemflow in 37 park trees. In 2025, I was stoked to collaborate with my SER colleagues to stage the SER North American Conference for over 500 attendees in Vancouver, BC!

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As a consultant, I understood the value of assembling multi-disciplinary teams to tackle challenging projects. This was doable for a company of 1,000+ people but far more challenging for small firms. Solo practitioners must seek out relationships and collaborations with other skilled and dedicated professionals in order to deliver ecologically sound and successful projects.

I love hearing about projects employing nature-based solutions…with beavers being my all-time favorite “engineers” within freshwater aquatic ecosystems!

​​What advice do you have for students and emerging professionals?

Learn how to learn! Every project will be unique and you’ll never memorize all the details you’ll need throughout your career.

I have a hoot as a Board member with the Kamloops Naturalist Club…seek out your local club, these folks are a wealth of knowledge and experience!

Julie Schooling, Director at Large, SER Western Canada Board