Introducing Compass’ Latest Interns

Compass has had two interns join us this spring, Nikki Kroetsch and Dan Dale. Nikki and Dan are graduate students with the School of Resource and Environmental Management (REM) at Simon Fraser University. As Lee, Sally, Holly, and other former Compass associates are graduates of REM, Compass continues to maintain ties with REM and is pleased to support the program. We are very excited to be working with Nikki and Dale and for the new perspectives they bring to Compass’ various projects.

Meet Dan Dale

Dan’s graduate research focuses on economic benefit distributions from resource development, and more specifically on the ways in which Indigenous governments can employ Impact Benefit Agreements to negotiate for an equitable share of fiscal project benefits.  At SFU, he is under the supervision of Dr. Thomas Gunton, an expert in the field of resource and environmental planning. Dan has a professional background in economic and financial analysis and holds a Bachelor of Commerce undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria. In his free time, Dan likes to spend time outdoors and is an avid rock climber. At Compass, Dan is working with Phillip and Dan on the resource and socio-economic evaluations for Boreal Caribou range planning in the Northwest Territories.

Meet Nikki Kroetsch

Nikki is interested in learning how resource management agencies can better collaborate with and support local environmental stewardship groups in joint environmental monitoring endeavours, so that the data stewardship groups produce is beneficial to both parties. She is working with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and local Streamkeeper groups on a community stream monitoring pilot project as part of her research. Nikki completed a Bachelor of Arts Geography at SFU, majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Biological Sciences. She has also incorporated as much experiential learning as possible amidst her academic career, which has included volunteer work at the Wildlife Rescue Association in Burnaby, the Hyde Creek Salmon Hatchery in Port Coquitlam, the Gobas Ecotoxicology Lab at SFU, and La Hisperia Biological Reserve in Ecuador, as well as co-op work experience through SFU. At Compass, Nikki is working with Dan and Graham on a Structured Decision-Making project aimed at the recovery of the endangered Delta Smelt in California.

About the School of Resource and Environmental Management (REM)

The School of Resource and Environmental Management (REM) was established in 1979 to provide advanced interdisciplinary graduate training in resource and environmental management and planning. REM provides graduate training in a variety of areas including policy and planning, law, economics, ecology, earth sciences, environmental impact assessment, negotiation, public participation and advanced planning methodologies including GIS, land suitability assessment, water analysis, statistical analysis, economic evaluation, ecological analysis, and energy system modelling. REM has over 100 masters and doctoral students, 15 full time faculty, and close to 600 graduates who are working in senior positions in various agencies throughout the world. REM offers a planning degree in resource and environmental planning that is certified by the Canadian Institute of Planners.

All REM planning students participate in the REM internship program. The objective of the internship program is to provide professional work experience for graduate students and to provide outside agencies with access to skilled professionals who are nearing the completion of their graduate studies.