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.
Director, Environmental Services
BRAD HARROLD
P.Geo., RG (Wash), PMP
Brad is a registered Professional Geoscientist and Certified Project Manager with more than 26 years of diverse geo-environmental consulting experience throughout British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Royal Roads University.
His project experience includes contaminated sites assessment, remedial planning, remediation, environmental compliance, waste audits and geotechnical assessment. He has completed project work throughout British Columbia as well as Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Washington, and Oregon. Clients have included municipal, federal and provincial governments, First Nations and numerous industry sectors including oil and gas, forestry, mining, land developers, banks, law firms and other businesses.
He works with clients to manage and administer projects, including developing project scope, establishing key deliverables and associated cost and project controls. He possesses a comprehensive understanding of environmental and contaminated sites legislation, procedures, and protocols in British Columbia.
civil project engineer
James Rees
p.eng.
James is a registered Professional Engineer and graduate of the University of British Columbia, with a degree in Civil Engineering. He previously completed a Civil Engineering Technology Diploma at Camosun College. James has been working with clients on Vancouver Island since 2008, providing civil engineering design, construction services and project management for municipal linear infrastructure projects, as well as residential and institutional building projects such as schools, recreation centers, and seniors care homes.James’ technical strengths include the design, analysis, and modeling of sanitary and water distribution systems.
His previous work experience includes Engineer of Record duties for several water districts on the island. In this role James produced master planning documents and project prioritization reports, performed feasibility studies for new developments, and reviewed/approved waterworks and as-built drawings of new infrastructure related to new development.
Civil Project Engineer
Vanessa quinn
EIT
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.
project engineer & grant writer
julia barron
EIT
Julia is a registered Engineer-in-Training with a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Victoria. She is Gwaii Engineering’s lead grant writer, heads the company’s capacity building and mentorship programs, and acts as a project engineer on Indigenous projects. She is a non-Indigenous ally and grateful to call Victoria her home on the Traditional Territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples.
Senior Design Technologist
Jason Skjerven
ASCT, PTECH
Jason holds an Applied Science technologist (AScT) and Professional technologist (PTech) designations. Graduating from the northern alberta institute of technology with a diploma in civil engineering technology. Jason has over 20 years experience in BC and Alberta and relocated to Vancouver island in the spring of 2020. Having worked as a civil designer focused on community development throughout his career, he brings a depth of experience to projects of all sizes.
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 & ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT ENGINEER
ALYSSA RANDALL
EIT
Alyssa is originally from Northern Ontario, and has Mi’kmaw lineage from South-West Newfoundland. She is a registered Engineer-in-Training with a degree in environmental engineering from the University of Waterloo. Since moving west she has gained experience in both environmental and geotechnical fields.
Alyssa is excited to join the Gwaii Team and work on projects that align with her personal and professional values.
Junior Environmental Scientist
Crosby Stewart
CIT
Crosby was born in Prince Rupert, BC and raised in Victoria. He is a member of the Gitxsan and Nisga’a First Nations, located in northwestern British Columbia.
Crosby is a Professional Chemist in training with a degree in Chemistry from the University of Victoria. Since graduating he has gained experience working in the analytical chemistry field and is looking forward to transferring the knowledge and skills gained in this area to the Gwaii team.
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.
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
CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT ENGINEER
AMANDA FILICE
EIT
Amanda is a registered Engineer-in-Training with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia Okanagan with specialization in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering. She also has experience as a Survey and GIS Technician with the Regional District of the North Okanagan where she conducted site surveys and mapped assets in ArcGIS. Amanda is new to Victoria and is grateful to be working and playing on the Traditional Territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples.
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.
Junior Environmental Scientist
Hannah Nixdorf
Hannah is looking forward to working on local projects as a part of the Gwaii team.
Environmental Project Engineer
Jane Pirie
EIT
Jane Pirie is a registered Engineer-in-Training with a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering from the University of Guelph. Jane has four years of consulting experience including environmental monitoring, report writing, and data analysis.
COMPTROLLER
CLEA ACHTEm
CGA CPA
Junior Field Inspector
Zeb Savoie-Velos
Zeb is a member of the K’ómoks First Nations, located on Vancouver Island in the Comox Valley. He is a Junior Field Inspector, having received his Environmental Technician Certificate from Vancouver Island University. Since Zeb joined the team, he has taken part in Civil inspections and improved his skills in Civil 3D. He has also started working on Environmental projects and will be taking part in soil samples, field inspections, and soil permeability testing.
Environmental Scientist/GIS Technician
MELINA SORENSEN
AAG., MSC.
Melina is a Junior Environmental Scientist and an Articling Professional Agrologist (AAg.) Melina graduated with a Master of Science in Environmental Management from Royal Roads University in 2022, and with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Victoria in 2019. She has an educational background in marine ecology, environmental impact assessment, ecotoxicology, and environmental outreach. Melina has professional experience as a Marine Naturalist & Educator, GIS Analyst, and Stewardship Research Assistant in Government and ENGO organizations. As a Junior Environmental Scientist, Melina is eager to use her interdisciplinary skills to offer innovative and ecologically-sensitive results for clients to make a positive difference for the environment on Vancouver Island and beyond.
