I grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, where I found a passion for science, tinkering, and helping people. That led me to pursue a degree in Biochemical Engineering at Queen’s University, where I focused on solving real-world problems. From my first year, I took on projects and opportunities that inspired me. I joined the Queen’s Biomedical Innovation Team (QBiT), eventually leading R&D projects to develop medical devices, and discovering a lasting interest in technical design.
Outside my studies and the design team, I volunteered with the Queen’s First Aid Campus Response Team and taught first aid courses through St. John Ambulance. These experiences developed my understanding of communication, trust, and clear decision-making under pressure, skills I carried into my summers as a Search and Rescue crew member with the Canadian Coast Guard. Based out of Victoria but stationed across the BC coast, I responded to emergencies ranging from medical calls to sinking vessels and overdue mariners. Working 24/7 with a small crew in challenging conditions taught me more than just SAR skills, but also the importance of a shared mental model across a team.
After my third year, I joined Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) for 12 months through the Queen’s Undergraduate Internship Program. I worked with the strategic water management directorate, contributing to infrastructure risk analysis and national policy supporting safe drinking water and wastewater services on reserves across the country. It was a formative experience that showed me how engineering decisions can directly impact people’s lives.
Now based in the Lower Mainland, I spend my time climbing, hiking, and building things, from pack prototypes to safety systems for remote terrain. I’m driven by the challenge of creating tools that work in the real world, whether on alpine walls, in remote communities, or during emergencies. My goal is to bridge field experience and engineering expertise to design solutions that matter.