Jess is a member of the Métis Nation of British Columbia, currently residing on the traditional lands of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.Jess holds a Master’s degree in Biology from the University of Victoria and is a Registered Professional Biologist with the College of Applied Biology. She works with the Ecology team, providing support for the design and implementation of research projects, field data collection, data analysis and writing. Her work with the Firelight Group has focused on community-led research including inventories, monitoring programs, and stewardship plans that weave Indigenous knowledge and western science knowledge systems. Jess also provides technical support for communities on a variety of regulatory processes, including federal, provincial, and territorial environmental assessments.

Jess has contributed to research on the status of species at risk in Canada, the historical diets of forage fish and juvenile Pacific salmon in the Strait of Georgia, and the status of shellfish aquaculture science in British Columbia. Her graduate thesis research focused on the ecology of commercially harvested beach-cast seaweeds on the east coast of Vancouver Island.