Jessica grew up in the small community of Gold Bridge - an old mining town nestled between reservoirs in the Chilcotin mountains. This area offered many opportunities to explore and connect with nature where as a kid she spent many days sorting bugs into groups that looked similar. 

Growing up in such a remote place naturally led her into a degree in Biology at the University of Victoria where she completed her honors research project on the shell colouration of intertidal snails. Throughout her degree and afterwards she has valued gaining experience with as many taxa and ecosystems as she can - including fish, owls, bats, salamanders, and (her favorite) frogs. 

Now a member of Living Lakes Canada's Biomonitoring team, and working closely with the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners, she looks forward to connecting conservation and community to maintain B.C.’s biodiversity and watersheds.