OUR TEAM
Principal, Civil Engineer
Corey Brown
M.Eng. P.Eng., AScT
Corey is a member of the Old Masset Village Band, which forms part of the Haida Nation on Haida Gwaii. He is a member of the Sta’staas Eagle Clan and is the nephew of the current serving hereditary Chief 7idansuu. Corey is a registered member of the Aboriginal Professional Association of Canada. After receiving a Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology from Camosun College, in Victoria, BC Corey completed a civil engineering Degree at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario followed by a Master of Engineering Degree specializing in Environmental Fluid Mechanics at the University of British Columbia. Corey has been working with clients on Vancouver Island since 2008 in civil and environmental engineering. Since founding Gwaii Engineering in March 2017, Corey has grown the business significantly, including the addition of three partners. Gwaii Engineering is a registered member of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and is currently registered under the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business. Although Gwaii is a relatively new venture, Corey has established the business as a strong and proud aboriginal owned and operated consulting firm that aims to create capacity within First Nation communities on Vancouver Island and throughout BC. Gwaii Engineering will continue to build strength through their relationships effectively creating long-lasting partnerships within these communities.
Principal, Senior Engineer
Mike Achtem
P.Eng., PMP, CCA
As a registered Professional Engineer with a degree in Applied Science from Queens University, Mike has extensive experience consulting on land development and municipal infrastructure projects throughout British Columbia dating back to 1992.
Mike is a certified Project Management Professional as well as a Certified Contract Administrator with the Master Municipal Construction Association.
Taking a value added approach to all his projects, Mike is dedicated to providing clients with a results oriented blend of cost and functionality. Current clients include First Nations, Municipalities, Property Managers, Mining and Forestry Industries, Federal and Provincial Governments, Law Firms, Land Developers and Builders.
Principal, Civil & Environmental Engineer
Josh Bartley
P.Eng
Josh is a registered Professional Engineer and graduate of the University of British Columbia, with a degree in Civil Engineering with Environmental Option. He previously completed a Civil Engineering Technology Diploma. Working in the industry since 2001 on construction, civil and environmental engineering projects, Josh’s experience has progressively built on the application of innovative solutions to infrastructure, land development, and environmental challenges. Josh approaches projects from both a creative and technically sound perspective and strives to work closely with stakeholders to develop value-added relationships. He believes that a successful project balances environmental and socioeconomic impacts with financial gains of all stakeholders, and that for our industry to continue to prosper we must consider our actions within a framework of sustainability.
Senior Project manager
BRANDON DUCHARME
MBA, P.Eng, PE, CPEng, PMP
Brandon is an internationally and multi-qualified professional engineer and project management professional skilled in strategic planning, commercial negotiations, and the funding and finance of infrastructure. He brings extensive client-side and local government experience with expertise in integrated water services, asset management and infrastructure investment capabilities to our team.
Brandon has recently returned to Canada from Aotearoa New Zealand where he was responsible for the long-range planning of integrated water services for a local government.
Passionate about the vital importance and meaning of water to indigenous peoples, Brandon brings a values-based approach to infrastructure planning, engineering and development. The authority, life, and relationship between water and the people of the land are fundamental pillars to maintaining the health of water bodies, freshwater ecosystems, and communities that rely on them. These values are central to his practice in the long-range planning and development of community infrastructure.
COMPTROLLER
CLEA ACHTEm
CGA CPA
OFFICE MANAGER
KIRSTEN BIGGELAAR
Kirsten has a Business Administration/Finance Diploma from NAIT and has been a part of the finance industry for 28 years. She has experience in various roles from being a customer service rep at a local bank, working in the finance department at a large corporation, bookkeeping for a church, to various administrative roles in Interior Health, including the accounts receivable/finance department.
DIGITAL MARKETING & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
EMMA RENDELL
Emma joined the Gwaii team in 2021 as a social media manager, and has since expanded her role into community outreach, digital marketing, and supporting the grant writing team. Originally from a performing arts background, she brings a passion for storytelling & communication to her work, and enjoys getting to share the incredible work Gwaii is doing for First Nations in BC.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
SALLY HODGSON
Sally made her way to Vancouver Island to attend university, quickly falling in love with the island’s breathtaking landscapes and welcoming community. She carried on to pursue a master’s degree while gaining experience in project management in the healthcare sector. Now, as part of the Gwaii Engineering team since February 2024, Sally supports the smooth running of billing and operations, and assists with grant writing, utilizing her organizational skills and attention to detail. Beyond the office, you’ll often find her exploring new destinations, enjoying quality time with friends, and embracing the island’s outdoor adventures.
Civil Engineering Technologist
KYLE ANDERSON
Junior Engineering Technologist
Inderjot Notta
Civil and Environmental Engineer
Joshua Anderson
EIT
Joshua Anderson is a registered Engineer in Training with a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Victoria. Environmental Engineering was a large part of many classes at the University of Victoria. This has provided the opportunity to bring sustainable and environmental engineering concepts into his projects. His previous work experience includes hands on construction experience as a pipe layer, civil drafting and design, site investigation, environmental monitoring, soil sampling, and project management. Joshua first joined Gwaii as a coop student in 2020 and has since become a full-time employee expanding on his drafting design and land development experience.
JUNIOR CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST
MATT BYRNELL
Matt joins us as a Junior Civil Engineering Design Technologist. He recently graduated from Camosun College with a Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology and has a substantial background in carpentry. His diverse set of skills will no doubt provide a huge asset to our civil engineering team.
Senior Development Manager
Greg Gillespie
BSc, PMP
Greg Gillespie is an accredited Project Management Professional and land use consultant with over 16 years of extensive leadership and real estate experience. He delivers end-to-end land management results with success across a broad spectrum of portfolios, including residential housing, telecommunication networks, waste-to-energy facilities and large multifamily/mixed-use developments.
Senior civil design technician
nicholas liberty
AScT
Nick is a member of the Nipissing First Nation and Mattawa/North Bay Algonquin First Nation, and has Ojibwa lineage originating in The Robinson Huron Treaty Territory in Northern Ontario.
He is a Civil Design specialist with over 10 years of industry experience throughout Ontario, BC, and New Zealand utilizing Civil 3D in land development, local government infrastructure, mining and environmental services. Nick has completed his Certified Engineering Technologist Designation (C.E.T) through the Civil Engineering Technician Program at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario and through the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians (OACETT). He currently holds an Applied Science Technologist (AScT) designation with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia (ASTTBC) and is working towards a Limited Licence with the Professional Engineers of Ontario
CIVIL PROJECT ENGINEER
JARED SMYLIE
EIT
Jared is a registered Engineer-In-Training with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Victoria. As a member the Civil Engineering team, he prepares design drawings for a variety of projects. Originally from Toronto, Jared enjoys outdoor activities such as canoeing, soccer, and hiking.
Office Administrator & HR Specialist
Gladia Joy
Gladia worked in Human Resources and Administration for 6 years in India before making the move here to Canada.
JUNIOR ENGINEER-IN-TRAINING
MAHLET ABRAHA
Mahlet is an Engineer-In-Training and recently graduated from UBCO with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering.
Originally from Ethiopia, Mahlet has lived in Canada now for 10 years and has finally settled here in Victoria after living in Calgary and Kelowna for school. She has a strong background in project management, technical documentation, infrastructure assessment, and designing software skills, making her a great addition to our team.
Senior Civil Engineering Technologist
MARC BIGGELAAR
ASCT
Marc assists in project implementation and design/drafting. He has been in the Civil Engineering Industry since 2001 and has worked as a surveyor, a design and drafting technologist in Transportation, Municipal, Land Development and Environmental Projects. Marc was previously the CAD Manager in the infrastructure group at WSP Canada Inc. and a Senior Civil Engineering Technologist at Lawson Engineering, implementing CAD standards at both places. Marc graduated at NAIT in the Civil Engineering Technology Program in 2002 and has his AScT with ASTTBC.
PROJECT MANAGER/ CIVIL DESIGNER
Justin Eagle
Justin is a member of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, located south of Saskatoon in an area formerly known as Moose Woods. The WDFN is part of the larger Dakota–Nakata-Lakota Nation whose traditional lands extend into both Canada and the United States.
After graduating from Camosun College with a Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology, Justin began working as a Civil Engineering Technologist with Gwaii Engineering. He a registered member of the Aboriginal Professional Association of Canada.
He joined the Gwaii team in 2017 and has since gained experience in land development and environmental engineering. Justin manages junior design / drafting resources, and interns, and plays a key role in maintaining quality standards for many of our deliverables
Field Review & Site Surveys
Dave Aylesworth
Civil Engineering Technologist
Dave has over six years of Civil Engineering experience throughout Southern Vancouver Island. He has worked on projects large and small as a surveyor, field inspector, and construction contract administrator. With his background in various construction and trade jobs prior to his engineering career, Dave is able to provide a practical perspective and communicate cost-effective and direct solutions with clients, contractors, and municipal authorities.
