James Whitehead

ENGAGEMENT ANALYST, MITIGATING WILDFIRE 

Pronouns: he/him

James Whitehead is an engagement analyst for the mitigating wildfire project. He has a strong passion for climate adaptation and emergency management with a fascination about political and social factors that influence them. He is guided by the question of how to make communities in BC more resilient to fire and focused on practical and locally sourced solutions. James is in the final stages of completing a masters degree at the University of Northern British Columbia focused on better understanding the impacts of wildfire on rural communities in the Robson Valley.

Before coming to the CFD, James spent seven years working with the BC Wildfire Service on a variety of fire crews throughout the province. Through this experience, he gained an understanding of the challenges faced by communities during wildfire events and the constraints of fire management agencies while working in populated areas. This inspired his masters research and his interest in the Mitigating Wildfire Project. In working with the Mitigating Wildfire Project, he is excited to explore the role of dialogue in addressing the polarization and social challenges surrounding wildfire management and mitigation in BC.

When not working or chasing fires, James can be found skiing, climbing and trail running in his new home of Squamish.