Applied Research & Monitoring
Field trials and monitoring programs designed to test management approaches and measure real outcomes: biomass and biodiversity sampling, statistical analysis in R, and UAV remote-sensing verification.
Portfolio
Torin Kelly, RPBio
Invasive species management, applied research, and program delivery across British Columbia.
10+
Years Experience
11
Programs Designed & Delivered
$900k+
Project Budgets Managed
550+
Practitioners Trained
50+
Sites Managed
Professional Summary
Connecting field ecology with policy, funding, and people.
I am a Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio #5179) and the Lead of Special Projects at the Invasive Species Council of BC. I design and deliver programs that connect field ecology with policy, funding, and the people who actually do the work. My practice spans the full project lifecycle, from scoping and grant writing through field delivery, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
I hold a BSc in Ecological Restoration and a Diploma in Forest and Natural Areas Management, both from BCIT, where I received the CIF Gold Medal. That training grounds a practical, landscape-level approach to the problems in front of me.
My portfolio includes federally funded surveillance and preparedness programs, applied research trials on utility rights-of-way, provincial training for agricultural producers, and youth environmental grant programs. I work regularly with First Nations, municipal and provincial governments, industry, and NGOs across British Columbia.
I currently sit on the City of Maple Ridge Environment and Climate Change Advisory Committee and serve on the board of the Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society.
Background
My path into environmental work runs through three threads that still shape how I practice.
Grounded in the field
I started in forestry at BCIT in 2016 and found the most interesting work at the interface between urban and natural areas. Restoration contracts across the Lower Mainland gave me my first real grounding in the landscape: practical problems with visible outcomes, alongside First Nations, local governments, and provincial agencies.
Operations and people
Five years managing people in fast-paced service environments shaped how I led invasive species crews across the Cariboo-Chilcotin. Building work plans, safety protocols, and logistics for remote terrain taught me that good field operations depend as much on planning and communication as on technical knowledge.
Science to policy
Recognizing that invasive species management is one piece of a much larger ecosystem-health story sent me back to BCIT for the Ecological Restoration degree, and my RPBio followed. That grounding lets me engage with policy and regulatory frameworks, not just implement them.
I have learned to move between the field and the boardroom without losing credibility in either place.
Career Progression
2016 – 2018
Habitat Restoration Technician
Green Admiral Natural Restoration
Delivered restoration planting, invasive removal, and site preparation across Metro Vancouver ecological restoration contracts.
2018 – 2020
Field Team Supervisor
Invasive Species Council of BC
Supervised field crews conducting invasive plant treatment, survey, and monitoring on public and private lands.
2020 – 2021
Field Operations Coordinator
Invasive Species Council of BC
Coordinated seasonal field operations, scheduling, and data management across multiple regional treatment programs.
2022 – 2025
Lead, Special Projects
Invasive Species Council of BC
Design and deliver province- and Canada-wide programs across agriculture, utilities, invasive pig preparedness, and youth engagement. Responsible for scoping, grant writing, partner coordination, reporting, and staff supervision.
2025 – Present
Senior Project Lead
Invasive Species Council of BC
Provides senior leadership across provincial and national invasive species programs, driving strategic initiative design, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and organizational capacity. Mentors project staff and contributes to institutional knowledge, policy positioning, and long-term program sustainability.
Current Focus
My current work spans applied research, program development, stakeholder engagement, and practitioner training. On the research side, I am leading a controlled efficacy trial evaluating an industrial soil processing technique from an invasive species biosecurity standpoint, coordinating across field delivery, literature review, data collection, and technical reporting. On the program side, I am developing best management practices and a training workshop series for invasive species management on utility rights-of-way, working with an advisory committee that includes industry, First Nations representatives, and regional partners.
Alongside both of those, I am completing my Riparian Areas Protection Regulations (RAPR) assessment certification through Vancouver Island University, deepening my practice in riparian assessment and restoration planning in preparation for broader environmental professional work.
Where I Am Going
With my RPBio and a range of field and program delivery experience behind me, I am looking to broaden my practice beyond invasive species specialization toward a more complete environmental professional role across aquatic and terrestrial systems in BC.
The work I want to do next involves more direct engagement with development and resource project contexts: environmental assessment, restoration planning, compliance monitoring, and the stakeholder coordination that happens when ecological values and project timelines are in tension. I am building toward that through my RAPR certification, my seat on the City of Maple Ridge Environment and Climate Change Advisory Committee, and applied research and regulatory work that puts me at the table with industry, utilities, and First Nations partners.
Longer term, I am interested in governance work at the intersection of policy and field delivery, where technical credibility and program-building experience both matter. I want more time in field and development project contexts before moving in that direction. What I am looking for now is an organization where that progression is possible, and where the work in front of me has a direct, visible outcome on the landscape and the communities I care about.
Areas of Practice
Where my work concentrates.
Across field delivery, applied research, and program work, my practice has developed along a few connected lines. The projects below put these into action.
Restoration & Riparian Assessment
Restoration and species-at-risk habitat plans, habitat suitability assessment, and riparian (RAPR) work that ties ecological goals to what actually gets built on the ground.
Program Design & Delivery
Scoping, grant writing, budgeting, and managing multi-year, multi-partner programs funded provincially and federally, from proposal through final reporting.
Training & Facilitation
Curriculum, workshops, webinars, and certification courses built and delivered for field crews, agricultural producers, and practitioners across British Columbia.
Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
Coordinating and co-chairing advisory committees across First Nations, government, industry, and community partners to align technical work with shared priorities.
Field Operations & Invasive Species Management
Leading field crews and regional work plans across diverse terrain and land tenures, spanning treatment, IPM, biosecurity, and compliance.
The projects below span applied research, program delivery, technical writing, and training. Most are invasive species focused, but several step into restoration, compliance, and youth engagement. Filter by focus area, or open any card for the full detail.
Showing all 8 projects
Invasive Species Training for the Agriculture Sector
A $160,000 IAF-funded program delivering invasive species training to 550+ agricultural producers across BC through webinars, hybrid workshops, eLearning courses, and field resources.
Invasive Species Training for the Agriculture Sector
A $160,000 IAF-funded program delivering invasive species training to 550+ agricultural producers across BC through webinars, hybrid workshops, eLearning courses, and field resources.
Project Context
Agricultural producers face significant productivity losses from invasive plants, insects, and pathogens, but have historically had limited access to sector-specific, applied training. This program addressed that gap through multiple delivery formats.
Methods & Approach
- Developed and delivered four online knowledge-sharing webinars (505 combined registrants)
- Hosted two in-person hybrid workshops in Williams Lake (November 2025) and Penticton (December 2025) with 92 combined attendees
- Developed two self-paced eLearning courses (Forage; Fruits, Berries & Vineyards)
- Produced a five-video micro-learning series on year-round invasive species risk reduction
- Developed a Field Guide for Identification of Agricultural Invasive Species
- Engaged 15 project partners; coordinated expert speakers from industry, government, and academia
Outcomes
- 550 direct participants engaged across all delivery formats
- Two eLearning courses published and publicly accessible
- Five micro-learning videos produced and hosted online
- Field identification guide developed (pending graphic design finalization)
- Participants included forage producers, cattle ranchers, fruit and berry growers, vineyard owners, First Nations members, government staff, and consultants
Targeted Goat Grazing Trials
Two-year applied research trial evaluating targeted goat grazing as an IPM alternative on Enbridge pipeline rights-of-way near Mackenzie, BC.
Targeted Goat Grazing Trials
Two-year applied research trial evaluating targeted goat grazing as an IPM alternative on Enbridge pipeline rights-of-way near Mackenzie, BC.
Project Context
Traditional right-of-way vegetation management relies on mechanical clearing and herbicide application. Both methods face ongoing challenges related to cost, environmental impact, and public perception, particularly in areas adjacent to Indigenous territories or water bodies. Enbridge sought evidence-based alternatives suited to difficult terrain.
Methods & Approach
- Deployed 30 goats over one week on a 0.5-hectare ROW site approximately 50 km northeast of Mackenzie, BC
- Established five 1 m² quadrats in each grazing and control area; clipped pre-grazing biomass and wet-weighed by species
- Added adjacent control plots in Year 2 to strengthen comparative analysis
- Set up photo points at four plot corners in both treatment and control areas
- Analyzed pre- and post-grazing biomass and species diversity using paired t-tests in R Studio, with Shapiro-Wilk and Levene's checks on assumptions
- Co-authored Year 1 and Year 2 technical reports with Dave Ralph and Nick Wong
Outcomes
- Statistically significant biomass reductions demonstrated in both 2023 and 2024 trial years
- No statistically significant change in species diversity, flagged for further multi-year study
- Evidence supports targeted goat grazing as a viable IPM component for ROW management
- Recommendations produced for expanded sample sizes, behavioural herd training, and integration with reseeding and selective herbicide application
- Year 2 report published December 2024, delivered in partnership with Spectrum Resource Group, Wright Canada Holdings, and Rocky Ridge Vegetation Control
Squeal on Pigs BC
A $272,828 AAFC-funded provincial invasive pig surveillance and preparedness program. 86 cameras deployed, two workshops hosted, 20 resources developed.
Squeal on Pigs BC
A $272,828 AAFC-funded provincial invasive pig surveillance and preparedness program. 86 cameras deployed, two workshops hosted, 20 resources developed.
Project Context
British Columbia has no established invasive pig populations, making early detection and rapid response capacity critical. The program aimed to build that infrastructure before pigs arrive, not after, with a focus on surveillance, trapping readiness, and public awareness tied to African Swine Fever preparedness.
Methods & Approach
- Deployed 86 wildlife cameras across three priority regions (Cariboo-Chilcotin, Kootenay, Peace) in partnership with UNBC, UBCO, and three First Nations governments (Tl'esqox, Saulteau, Doig River)
- Purchased and staged seven invasive pig traps (five PigBrig Net systems, two Jager Pro Corral systems) for provincial early-detection and rapid-response mobilization
- Co-developed and hosted two hybrid workshops in Fort St. John and New Westminster with 80+ combined attendees
- Developed 20 outreach and education resources including bilingual infographics, factsheets, brochures, videos, and youth materials
- Represented ISCBC at five outreach events including UBCM and the Pacific Agriculture Show
- Launched the Squeal on Pigs centralized webpage with detection map and reporting tools
- Produced the Guide to Invasive Pig Trapping in BC with a multi-sector advisory committee
Outcomes
- 86 cameras operational in three regions; no pigs detected prior to March 31, 2025
- Seven traps staged and ready for provincial mobilization
- 20 preparedness tools developed, exceeding the original target of 13
- Workshop feedback informing BC Ministry of Water, Lands, and Resource Stewardship's Invasive Pig-Free Strategy
- National expert network established including PigBrig, Jager Pro, University of Saskatchewan, and Government of Alberta
Youth in Action Microgrants
A $478,476 ESDC-funded program that designed and delivered ISCBC's first grant disbursement system, supporting 57 youth-led environmental projects across Canada.
Youth in Action Microgrants
A $478,476 ESDC-funded program that designed and delivered ISCBC's first grant disbursement system, supporting 57 youth-led environmental projects across Canada.
Project Context
Young people interested in environmental action often lack the funding, infrastructure, and mentorship to deliver meaningful community projects. This program created that scaffold while building ISCBC's internal capacity to run grant disbursement programs for the first time.
Methods & Approach
- Designed and operationalized ISCBC's first grant intake, review, and disbursement system from scratch
- Assigned dedicated grant coordinators to each recipient for structured coaching at project start, midpoint, and close
- Facilitated skill-building events including a Cultural Safety workshop, Eco Stewards workshop, and ISCBC Forum participation
- Recruited through ISCBC volunteer network, social media, rural newspaper advertising, and partners including BC Metis Federation
- Secured in-kind partners Canadian Council on Invasive Species ($6,500) and Freshwater Fisheries Society ($1,500)
- Led a team of four grant coordinators through the full program cycle
Outcomes
- 57 youth-led environmental projects delivered across Canada
- 4 jobs created through the program
- 100% of survey respondents indicated they developed life-long skills
- 98% indicated increased confidence
- 43 of 43 survey respondents indicated participation helped them explore personal interests
- Organizational learning directly shaped ISCBC's approach to youth engagement and grant infrastructure
Envirogreen Facility Audit & Biosecurity Assessment
A biosecurity assessment for ETL's thermal soil remediation facility in Princeton, BC, evaluating invasive plant establishment risk and identifying process vulnerabilities across the full soil handling workflow.
Envirogreen Facility Audit & Biosecurity Assessment
A biosecurity assessment for ETL's thermal soil remediation facility in Princeton, BC, evaluating invasive plant establishment risk and identifying process vulnerabilities across the full soil handling workflow.
Project Context
ETL receives contaminated soils from sites across BC for thermal treatment at its Princeton facility. Soils arriving from the Lower Mainland carry a risk of transporting invasive plant seeds and fragments into the Similkameen region, where several species of concern are not yet established. ISCBC was engaged to characterize that risk through a site-level habitat assessment and a review of ETL's operational procedures, providing a foundation for evidence-based biosecurity improvements.
Scope of Work
Invasive Plant Survey and Suitability Report
- Divided ETL's 22-hectare Princeton site into distinct survey areas based on habitat type and invasive plant community, and conducted a systematic baseline inventory of invasive plants present across all areas
- Assessed habitat suitability for seven species of concern (Wild Chervil, Canada Thistle, Shiny Geranium, Perennial Pepperweed, Poison Hemlock, Cordgrass, and Japanese Knotweed) by evaluating whether site conditions met the life history requirements of each species.
- Identified which species of concern were present on site, which were absent but at risk of establishment, and which site features created conditions favourable to colonisation
- Established a documented baseline inventory to support ongoing monitoring and early detection of newly arriving species
Process Improvement Report
- Reviewed each stage of ETL's soil handling workflow (source site loading, transport, facility intake, screening, feedstock storage, thermal treatment, and reclamation mix production) and identified points where invasive plant seeds or fragments could survive, escape, or be introduced.
- Assessed containment practices during transport, including tarp and burrito-wrap securing methods, and identified gaps in load security over long hauls from Abbotsford to Princeton
- Evaluated offloading and feedstock storage areas for exposure risk, including the handling of rootballs, plant parts, and organic debris removed during screening
- Assessed post-treatment handling procedures, including transfer pad management and the sourcing of organic materials used in reclamation mix production
- Delivered prioritized recommendations covering enhanced containment during transport, routine monitoring of offloading and storage areas, enclosed storage for untreated feedstock, and invasive-free certification requirements for reclamation organics
Outcomes
- Produced the first documented baseline inventory of invasive plants on ETL lands, establishing a reference point for future monitoring and early detection efforts
- Identified establishment risk for seven invasive plant species and flagged site features, including disturbed transitional zones and soil stockpile areas, as priority locations for ongoing surveillance
- Identified multiple points across ETL's workflow where invasive plant material could survive or escape containment, from source site loading through to reclamation mix production
- Delivered a practical set of operational recommendations that ETL can implement incrementally across its soil handling procedures to reduce transfer risk
- Provided ETL with a defensible, evidence-based biosecurity framework to support responsible soil management and demonstrate due diligence under provincial invasive species best practices
Pesticide Applicator Certification Courses
30 days of Industrial Vegetation and Noxious Weed applicator certification training delivered to over 80 participants across British Columbia.
Pesticide Applicator Certification Courses
30 days of Industrial Vegetation and Noxious Weed applicator certification training delivered to over 80 participants across British Columbia.
Project Context
Certified pesticide applicators are a legal requirement for invasive plant control on public and industrial lands across British Columbia under the Integrated Pest Management Act. Demand for sector-specific, practitioner-led training has grown as municipalities, utilities, and industrial operators strengthen compliance programs. These courses prepare candidates for the provincial Industrial Vegetation and Noxious Weed applicator examinations administered by the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
Methods & Approach
- Delivered 30 days of Industrial Vegetation and Noxious Weed applicator certification training across multiple regions of British Columbia
- Developed curriculum covering label interpretation, personal protective equipment, equipment calibration, environmental conditions, non-target species protection, and spill response
- Built course materials including slide decks, field demonstrations, and practice exam content aligned to provincial examination requirements
- Combined classroom instruction with hands-on equipment handling and application technique demonstrations
- Adapted delivery for mixed audiences including field crews, municipal staff, First Nations land stewards, and private contractors
Outcomes
- Over 80 participants trained across 30 days of instruction
- Strengthened the pipeline of qualified applicators available for invasive plant management across British Columbia
- Course materials reusable as standalone training resources for ongoing ISCBC program delivery
Multi-Region Field Operations, ISCBC
Directed five concurrent field crews across Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and the Cariboo, delivering invasive species management and restoration on 50+ sites.
Multi-Region Field Operations, ISCBC
Directed five concurrent field crews across Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and the Cariboo, delivering invasive species management and restoration on 50+ sites.
Project Context
Invasive plant management across British Columbia requires coordinating field delivery across long distances, varied biogeoclimatic zones, and a mix of public, municipal, First Nations, and industrial lands. As Field Operations Coordinator, I brought together five seasonal field crews operating simultaneously on Vancouver Island, in the Lower Mainland, and across the Cariboo, with accountability for crew training, regional planning, site prioritization, and stakeholder coordination across very different landscape and operational contexts.
Methods & Approach
- Directed five concurrent field crews across Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and the Cariboo, managing deployment, scheduling, and equipment logistics across three geographically distinct regions
- Developed and delivered staff training programs in invasive plant identification, pesticide application, equipment operation, field safety, and integrated pest management for crew members of varied experience levels
- Designed annual regional work plans that integrated legislative requirements, environmental safeguards, and risk-based site prioritization across 50+ treatment and restoration sites
- Conducted environmental site assessments across 30+ gravel pits, Wildlife Management Areas, and municipal park sites, evaluating habitat sensitivity and statutory constraints to inform mitigation and compliance decisions
- Coordinated partnerships with Metro Vancouver, BC Parks, municipal staff, First Nations land stewards, and industrial operators to align field activities with landowner requirements
- Applied GIS-based spatial analysis including buffer and overlay modelling to delineate environmental constraints and support treatment prioritization
- Reviewed contractor performance and environmental documentation to ensure consistency with provincial regulatory requirements
Outcomes
- Consistent delivery across three regions spanning coastal rainforest, urban interface, and interior dry belt ecosystems
- 50+ sites managed simultaneously across gravel pits, Wildlife Management Areas, regional parks, and municipal green spaces
- 30+ environmental site assessments completed, providing the basis for mitigation planning and regulatory compliance
- Crew training programs established as reusable ISCBC materials for subsequent seasonal intakes
- Direct field experience that continues to ground ISCBC program design, applied research trials, and technical writing today
Utilities · BMP & Training
Utilities Vegetation Management BMP Project
Best management practices and training workshop series for invasive species management on transmission and pipeline rights-of-way, delivered for BC Hydro and FortisBC.
Utilities Vegetation Management BMP Project
Best management practices and training workshop series for invasive species management on transmission and pipeline rights-of-way, delivered for BC Hydro and FortisBC.
Project Context
Utility corridors in British Columbia span thousands of kilometres across varied ecosystems, land tenures, and jurisdictions, creating high-risk pathways for invasive species spread. BC Hydro and FortisBC partnered with ISCBC to develop sector-specific best management practices and practitioner training for transmission and pipeline vegetation management. A multi-sector advisory committee including BC Hydro, FortisBC, Trans Mountain, Enbridge, First Nations representatives, and regional invasive species committees shaped the scope and content.
Methods & Approach
- Co-chaired an advisory committee of utility operators, First Nations representatives, and regional invasive species committees to shape BMP scope and training priorities
- Authored best management practices document covering invasive species identification, risk assessment, operational controls, and reporting pathways across transmission and pipeline rights-of-way
- Designed a training workshop series tailored to field crews, contractors, and operations staff working on utility corridors
- Coordinated technical input from utility companies, regulatory agencies, and invasive species specialists to ensure practical applicability
- Integrated provincial regulatory requirements and biogeoclimatic considerations into BMP recommendations
Outcomes
- BMP document in final stages, pending advisory committee review and desktop publishing
- Training workshop curriculum in development for rollout in 2026
- Advisory committee structure established as a model for sector-wide collaboration on invasive species management
- Framework positioned for adoption across transmission and pipeline operators in British Columbia
When I’m not working, I’m usually outside moving through forests, along shorelines, or into alpine terrain with a camera in hand. Photography is how I stay connected to the landscapes I work to protect. It slows the pace, sharpens observation, and captures moments that often go unnoticed such as light shifting through canopy, subtle patterns in vegetation, or the presence of wildlife at the edge of view.
Featured Gallery
Technical reports, applied research, restoration plans, and practitioner guides produced across seven years of field and program work. Click any entry to read the full document.
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2025
Guide to Invasive Pig Trapping in British Columbia
Practitioner guide covering trap selection, deployment, regulatory requirements, and reporting pathways for invasive pig response across BC.
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2024
Targeted Goat Grazing Project · Year 2 Report
Applied research report evaluating biomass reduction and species diversity outcomes from two years of targeted goat grazing trials on Enbridge pipeline ROWs near Mackenzie, BC.
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2024
Invasive Plant Survey and Suitability Report · ETL Lands
Baseline invasive plant inventory and habitat suitability assessment for the ETL facility near Princeton, BC.
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2024
Process Improvement Report: Preventing the Transfer of Invasive Plants
Risk assessment and paired recommendations for ETL's soil handling and processing operations across five operational stages.
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2022
Lower Chines Community Forest Restoration Plan
Restoration plan for Pacific Water Shrew (Sorex bendirii) stepping-stone habitat in Port Moody, BC. Sponsored by City of Port Moody.
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2022
Western Burrowing Owl Restoration Plan
Species-at-Risk restoration plan for Western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) habitat in the Southern Interior of BC.
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2020
Sapperton Landing Backwater Tidal Channel Restoration Plan
Restoration proposal for conversion of a tidal backwater channel to a groundwater-fed wetland, New Westminster. Sponsored by Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.
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2018
Field Verification of Invasive Vegetation Identification Through Remote Sensing and UAV Technology
Applied research project validating UAV-based remote sensing for invasive species detection. BCIT Diploma capstone.
The best way to reach me is by email, with a short note about the project or question you have in mind. I typically reply within a few business days.
Open to conversations about program scoping, applied research, invasive species operations, restoration plan design, custom training, and project partnerships with First Nations, industry, municipalities, and NGOs.
Based in the Lower Mainland. Available for work across British Columbia and Canada.
- Email info@tkconsult.ca