Okezi Akporuno

Seeking engaging opportunities to apply practical knowledge and skills of ecosystem restoration, biological conservation, and natural resource management in the stewardship of the natural environment to resolve environmental issues. 
Committed to the development and implementation of research, practices, techniques, and policies that facilitate proper environmental management and governance of the natural resources including fostering the rehabilitation of the natural environment while re-establishing a mutually beneficial relationship between man and his environment (nature).

Resource Restoration Biologist                                                                                   2024 - 2025

Centre for Restoration Expertise | Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO); Kamloops, BC

Supporting the development, delivery, and monitoring of fisheries population recovery programs and fisheries habitat restoration initiatives of the Fraser River valley watershed in BC Interior.

• Involved in off-channel habitat restoration projects specifically for salmonid use and overall fisheries habitat improvement within BC’s Interior on federal, private and First Nations lands.

Intermediate Environmental Scientist                                                                                 2023

DWB Consulting Services Ltd.; Fort St John, BC

Provided field support for environmental services including habitat assessments (wetland and aquatic ecosystems) for fish and amphibian use and breeding. Wildlife surveys, i.e., bird sweeps for nesting behavior. Environmental monitoring/compliance for phase 1 & 2 ESAs and soil reclamation for construction and/or development projects in cases of contamination. Involved in projects such as:

• Environmental monitoring for Halfway River boat-launch construction for BC Hydro Site C dam.
• Pre-construction EIA for wetland and fisheries ecosystem habitats occurring along designated areas for Enbridge’s Transmission line and Pipeline routes.

 Ecologist (Environmental Department)                                                                                  2023

Aski Reclamation LP; Moberly Lake, BC                                                                                                         

Provided support for water quality monitoring and sampling (groundwater and surface water) at Brule mine for Conuma Coal Resources at various sites to meet regulatory and compliance requirements for various environmental permits. Involved in preparation of monthly, daily reports and journey management plans for scheduled site visits.

Aquatic Biologist (Environmental Assessment and Biology)                                            2022

Atkins Realis (formerly SNC-Lavalin); Burnaby, BC                                                                                                                   

Provided support for the development of Environmental Assessments (EA) and environmental permitting, proposal development for roadway and other infrastructure projects to ensure conformity with applicable legislation and regional planning objectives. 

• Assisted with preparation of technical reports for terrestrial and aquatic impact assessments for provincial and federal impact assessment processes and other environmental permitting processes for the BC Wildlife Act, BC Water Sustainability Act, Species at Risk Act, and Fisheries Act. 
• Conducted terrestrial and aquatic ecological surveys to support EA and project permitting.

Functioned as: 

• Aquatic technician for amphibian salvage operations in Grande Prairie, AB for a section of the TransCanada Mountain Pipeline project. Species of concern was the threatened Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens).
• Aquatic ecologist for biological investigations such as fisheries habitat assessment along kilometers 473 – 485km for the Alaska Highway Realignment project near Fort Nelson, BC. 
• Field technician for terrestrial ecosystem mapping, surveying, habitat classification and sampling project at the Rocky Point CFAD, Victoria, BC.

Ecology Department Lab Research Assistant                                                           2019 - 2020

Simon Fraser University; Burnaby, BC 

Conducted benthic invertebrates research, sampling, and sorting. 

• Examined soil sediment particle size and organic matter content analysis i.e., sieving and Loss-on-Ignition techniques. 
• Inventory of samples and assisted in tests of various biological research projects that required laboratory analysis.

Project Consultant/ Wetland Ecologist                                                                      2019 - 2020

Nature Trust BC – Nanaimo River Estuary Restoration Project; Nanaimo, BC

Led research project looking at the effects of berms on tidal channel morphology and benthic invertebrates prey availability for juvenile salmonids (Chinook, Coho & Chum) in the Nanaimo River estuary for an ongoing restoration project. Participated in preliminary ecological restoration activities.

• Master of Science (MSc) in Ecological Restoration: Simon Fraser University | British Columbia Institute of Technology, 2018 – 2020
• Ecosystem Restoration Post-Graduate Certificate: Niagara College, 2016 – 2017
• Bachelor of Science in Bio-Resource Management; Environmental Management: University of Guelph, 2010 – 2015