Our Team
Since 1998, Beringia Community Planning has completed over 100 projects with Indigenous and First Nation communities, groups and related agencies across the country. Beringia’s work involves collaboration between a diverse and experienced team of employees and colleagues.
Principal: Jeff Cook MCIP, RPP
Jeff Cook is the Principal of Beringia Community Planning Inc. Supporting over 150 Indigenous communities and organizations since 1991, Jeff is a planning facilitator, community engagement specialist, educator, trainer and analyst with a diverse range of community development and planning experience (comprehensive, sector and project planning). Jeff has engaged in over 100 community development and planning projects.
Planner: Paula Hay MCIP
Beringia welcomed Paula Hay to the team in June 2017. Paula worked in South Africa on projects related to disaster risk reduction, public health education, and the application of Indigenous knowledge for climate change adaptation. Before joining Beringia, Paula was a Planner with the First Nations Health Authority where she supported organizational planning and transformation. Paula’s areas of interest include community-based planning processes, participatory and applied research, and innovative facilitation and engagement techniques.
Planner: Naomi Schatz
MEd Community Development and Adult Education
Naomi Schatz joined the Beringia team in February 2019. Her experience spans 15 years in community development and planning, educational design and training, and participatory research. Naomi has worked with First Nations and Inuit governments, non-profits, grassroots groups, and post-secondary institutions and students. She has worked with groups across Canada including Nunavut, Northwest Territories and northern Alberta, and internationally in Central America and Botswana. Naomi is passionate about youth empowerment, social justice, and innovative planning and facilitation practices.
Planner: Krystie Babalos MSc
Beringia welcomed Krystie Babalos to the team in June 2021, bringing with her a background in sustainability and resilience planning. Krystie is passionate about supporting communities with finding their own pathways to creating healthy and resilient communities. Before joining Beringia, Krystie was a Planner with the City of Vancouver where she supported city-wide sustainability planning and transformation. She was also an independent planner supporting non-profit organizations, local and provincial governments and First Nation communities with a diversity of plans and strategies. Krystie’s areas of experience include community-based planning, community health and well-being, land and water stewardship, climate action and community engagement.
Planner: Laura Hillis MCRP
Laura Hillis joined the Beringia team in January 2022, bringing experience in research, health and wellness planning, and community planning. Before joining Beringia, Laura supported province-wide strategic planning initiatives as a Senior Planning Analyst at the First Nations Health Authority. Laura is dedicated to social change through inclusive, culturally-grounded planning processes, with particular interests in engagement, analysis, and creative ways of learning with communities.
Planner: Amy Abdel - Malak MNRES
Amy Abdel-Malak joined the Beringia team in March 2023, bringing with her a background in research, natural resources and environmental studies, and human geography. Amy is passionate about inclusion, equity, and community engagement. Her areas of interest include community-based planning and outreach, research, analysis, and finding creative ways to facilitate engagement in culturally grounded ways.
Planner: Tyla Crowe
MRM (Planning)
Tyla joined the Beringia team in January of 2023. Her previous work has involved Indigenous relations for natural resource projects with the public and private sector, ecological and stewardship planning for NGOs, and supporting cultural programming for Indigenous governments. She holds a master’s degree in Resource and Environmental Management (Planning) from Simon Fraser University, and an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and Gender Studies from the University of Victoria.
Planner: Madeleine MacLean
MRM (Planning)
Madeleine joined the Beringia team in February 2023. She has a background in Indigenous Cultural Heritage protection, watershed stewardship, coastal ecology, and climate change adaptation planning. Madeleine is dedicated to cultivating sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities through applying a place-based and holistic approach to land-use planning. Her skills include community engagement and facilitation, negotiation and conflict resolution, research and analysis, and environmental site assessments and restoration. Madeleine holds a Master of Resource Management (Planning) from Simon Fraser University
Planner: Doug Craig MCRP
Doug Craig is a Community Planner with a wide range of experiences spanning the private, public, and non-profit sectors. His areas of interest include placemaking, arts and culture, social planning, and supporting grassroots, community-led projects and initiatives which centre historically marginalized communities. Before joining Beringia, Doug was working as Managing Director at the Vancouver Pride Society, to support the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community
Planner: Emily Campbell
Emily Campbell is originally from Aotearoa New Zealand and brings with her a range of experience in land use planning, Indigenous governance, Indigenous-led research, emergency management, and climate change. Her previous work included working with Indigenous communities at a local level to integrate their perspectives into municipality planning and policy work, and leading research projects that looked to elevate the voices of Indigenous peoples in decision-making.
Planner: Eryn Kim MCRP
Eryn is driven by inclusive and participatory approaches to planning--namely, trauma-informed and culturally safe practices for historically oppressed and marginalized populations. She brings experience in masterplanning, land use planning and zoning, pubilc engagement, policy analysis, and research in various cities, governments, and firms. Prior to planning, Eryn supported equitable community development programs in local nonprofits to international initiatives in West and Southern Africa. Eryn holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology.