Ben is a professor and researcher at Fleming College. He currently teaches courses in forest ecosystems, applied silviculture, conservation and field data collection. He has a PhD in Environmental and Life Sciences from Trent University and is a Registered Professional Forester (RPF)-in-training with the Ontario Professional Forester’s Association. He has significant experience with terrestrial habitat management and restoration, breeding bird research, data collection, GIS analysis and technical report writing having worked for provincial and federal governments and local and national land trusts.

Previously, he managed the Northumberland County Forest where he planned, directed and managed silvicultural programs, forestry operations and habitat restoration. He has been leading management and restoration of the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust nature reserves for Kirtland’s Warbler and has been carrying out habitat research and analyses to better apply restoration approaches and adaptively manage these sites.

Peter Burke is a Senior Ecologist with GEI Canada Consultants. Peter has extensive experience working with Species at Risk (SAR), including their biology, habitats, threats, and regulatory frameworks such as the Endangered Species Act. His knowledge of plant communities supports his work in restoration, particularly in early successional and grassland ecosystems, and he contributes to forestry and restoration initiatives that enhance landscape health across Ontario.

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Peter is a Canadian KIWA expert, authoring and advising on federal reports on KIWA recovery actions and performing fieldwork in Canadian occupied warbler habitat. Peter is also a member of the International Kirtland’s Warbler Conservation Team, including their breeding expansion sub-committee, and provides leadership and direction in Simcoe County’s pilot KIWA habitat restoration program.

Ken is a wildlife biologist and ecologist with more than 30 years of experience in provincial and federal government roles. He holds an Honours B.Sc. in Biology from Calvin University. His early work included wetland evaluations, fish inventories, and species‑at‑risk projects, followed by several years addressing water quality and Fisheries Act compliance.

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For the last 17 years before joining Birks NHC, Ken was a Senior Species at Risk Biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service, leading or contributing to recovery efforts for species such as Henslow’s Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Kirtland’s Warbler, Eastern Loggerhead Shrike, and many at‑risk insects. He most recently led the national recovery for the Monarch butterfly.

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He continues to support recovery teams and enjoys birding, dragonfly surveys, and tagging Monarchs.

Aileen Barclay, Director of Conservation and Operations with the ORMLT. Aileen has over two decades of work in ecology and conservation. She has worked with many of Southern Ontario’s largest municipalities on public education and outreach programming for sustainable landscaping and other conservation-based initiatives.

Ms. Barclay has managed multiple natural resource management initiatives and has developed and implemented targeted engagement programs at community, municipal and national levels. Aileen graduated with an Honours Bsc. in Biology from Trent University and has taken numerous  ecology, restoration, marketing, advertising and social psychology courses at college and professional institutes. She is an avid birder and a level II Ontario Naturalist.  

Steve Roels is the Kirtland’s Warbler Program Director & Conservation Team Coordinator with the American Bird Conservancy. Steve earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2018, studying the recovery of bird communities in tropical forest restorations. He earned his M.A. from the University of Kansas in 2011, studying the ecology of a rare prairie plant. Steve previously served as Conservation Associate for the Kansas Land Trust and Senior Natural Resource Specialist for the City of Louisville, Colorado.

As Kirtland’s Warbler Conservation Team Coordinator, Steve collaborates with federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations, and community groups to further the recovery of the Kirtland’s Warbler and implement the long-term stewardship plan for the species. 

Mary has an Honours Zoology BSc. degree from University of Guelph. Mary has carried out field research, biological inventories and expeditions on birds, herpetofauna and mammals in Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and across Canada and has authored or co-authored over 50 project reports and publications.

Mary is an internationally recognized expert in grassland, savanna and woodland restoration, pioneering techniques that can easily be observed in southwestern Ontario (particularly Norfolk County) and beyond. Her background is in Zoology; however, she has evolved into an ecological systems biologist, garnering respect from professionals ranging from biologists to forestry officials to local stakeholders. Along with her partner Peter Carson, she has been operating a native plant nursery and restoration services, honing and developing techniques to carry out seed-based ecological restoration projects for over 30 years.

Rick is a program director at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), where he leads NCC’s conservation work between the GTA and Sudbury. He has a PhD in Biology from Arizona State University and has significant experience in wildlife biology, ecology, and conservation. At NCC, he directs land acquisition, stewardship, and restoration projects in Central Ontario in a variety of habitats from forests to wetlands to alvars. Additionally, he helps connect people with nature through NCC’s trails, events, and other public engagements.

Previously, Rick conducted research on bird ecology, behaviour, and evolution across Canada, the United States, Panama, and Peru, with a focus on hummingbirds. His research on hummingbird courtship ecology was featured in Sir David Attenborough’s Life in Colour documentary.

Simcoe County Head Forester Graeme Davis and Invasive Species specialist Will Cox have been key support for the restoration activities occurring in Simcoe County and contributing their expertise to the restoration in Northumberland.