Meet The Team

Julie Henry, Manager

Julie is our Manager & Lead Biologist; her interest in the meaning of landscape, and our connections to it, drives her work here at the Alderville Black Oak Savanna. Julie has over 15 years of experience in the Environmental Field with an Honours Environmental Science and Physical Geography degree (H.BSc) from Trent University and a Post Graduate Diploma from Fleming College in GIS Applications. Julie’s professional experience includes ecological projects and research with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ministry of Natural Resource and Forestry, and various NGO’s. Julie’s skills in management, data collection and reporting are founded upon knowledge gained in the field. Julie grew up exploring the waters of Georgian Bay, and later, Northern Canada and the Kawartha Lakes.

Radek Odolczyk, Coordinator
Ecological Restoration

Radek is our Restoration Ecologist. In this role he is responsible for overseeing the restoration work at the Alderville BOS site, and the Stream to Shore project. Radek also plays a lead role in the conservation of Species-at-Risk and other conservation-related projects. He has worked at the Alderville BOS for 10 years, with 12+ years of conservation work ranging from mangrove wetland restoration in Central America, to sustainable forest practices in the ancient Appalachian Mountains of New Brunswick. He has a Technologist Diploma in Ecosystem Management from Fleming College, and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Trent University. He can’t imagine of a better way to spend the rest of his days than being out on the land planting trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses, restoring habitats, and making friends all along the way.

Gillian di Petta, Coordinator
Nursery & Outreach

Gillian is our Native Plant Ecologist & Outreach Coordinator. Gillian grew up in rural Ontario, developing a connection with nature. With an educational background in Ecosystem Management & Horticulture, Gillian has a wide variety of volunteer and professional experiences. This includes work with various levels of government, First Nations, NGOs and Not-For-Profits. She has hands-on experience in forest resource inventory, wetland monitoring, organic farming, trail maintenance, and more. In 2017, Gillian joined the team at the Alderville Black Oak Savanna. She is responsible for Mitigomin Native Plant Nursery & Interpretive Gitigaan; as well as Outreach. When she’s not enjoying her days at the Black Oak Savanna, Gillian enjoys tending to her gardens at home, backcountry camping, snowboarding and seeking out exciting new adventures.

Karlotta Grasse, Field Technician
Ecological Restoration

Karlotta is a graduate of the Ecosystem Management program at Fleming College and has an Honours BSc in Biology with a specialization in Conservation from Trent University. She joined our team in 2022 and has a strong interest in habitat restoration for species-at-risk and invasive species management. Previous to working at the Black Oak Savanna, Karlotta gained experience working with not-for-profit organizations such as Community Living Toronto and the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. During her downtime, she loves to be out in nature learning about mycology or creating nature-inspired art through a woodburning medium where she hopes to bring light to nature and wildlife conservation.

sammy

Sammy Tangir, Field Technician
Ecological Restoration

Sammy is an all around nature nerd, so enthusiastic to be apart of ecological restoration and to always be deepening her connection and active participation in tending the land! Sammy is an honours graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Environment an Urban Sustainability program who moved to the country through various farming (vegetables, herbs, fruit and nut trees and seeds) and non-profit work in outdoor education. When she is not working at the Savanna she is tending a willow coppice, and crafting with wood, plant fibres and natural dyes!