Our Team
Giles Shearing, M.Sc., A.Sc.T. | Principal/Lead Consultant
Giles is SCL’s founder and Principal Consultant. Over the past 17 years Giles has worked on over 350 projects throughout British Columbia. He has a broad range of expertise that includes environmental science, river ecology, ornithology, civil construction and the management of small to large complex projects. Giles has grown his company around the core values of collaboration, creativity, technological solutions, expert planning, and financial prudence. Giles worked previously for Envirowest Consultants in Vancouver and BC Hydro in Revelstoke.
Giles holds a B.Sc. (Honours) in Environmental Management from Royal Roads University and a M.Sc. degree in Environmental Science from the University of British Columbia. Since 2012 Giles has been a registered Applied Science Technologist (ASTTBC) with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia with a specialty in Environmental Engineering.
When not at work, you can find Giles outside with his family observing birds, exploring rivers, hiking, and skiing. Closer to home Giles enjoys playing his cello and looking for opportunities to engage in the community. Since 2009, Giles has been a Manager for Revelstoke Search and Rescue and hosts a weekly meditation.
Olivia Muir, M.Sc. | Environmental Specialist
Olivia is one of SCL's Field Technicians. Before making the move to Canada, Olivia was working as a Graduate Ecologist for Ecus Ltd. Most notably, she became a central member of the team assigned to monitor the ecological impact of the East West Rail expansion, including protected species surveys and development of trackside habitat management strategies. Olivia has always had a passion for the outdoors and volunteers whenever she can with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to maintain local nature reserves back in the UK, as well as organizing woodland management initiatives as a Green Space team leader during her masters studies.
Olivia graduated with a B.Sc. (Honors) in Geography from Swansea University and an M.Sc. in Environmental Consultancy from the University of the West of England. Her master's dissertation explored the success and future development of blanket bog restoration techniques in the Scottish Highlands.
When not at work, you can find Olivia camping, hiking and biking, whilst exploring the mountains surrounding Revelstoke and beyond!
Brent Kazamel, M.Sc., G.I.T. | Intermediate Consultant
Brent is an Intermediate Consultant for SCL. Prior to joining the SCL team, Brent has worked mostly in the mining sector as an Environmental Geochemist and most recently as an Exploration Geologist. Working for nearly two years at O’Kane Consultants Ltd., Brent focused on material characterization, risk assessment, and water quality sampling and modelling for the sustainable long-term design of mine tailings and waste rock storage facilities at historical and contemporary mine sites throughout North America, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Having worked on projects in a diverse array of geographical and climatic settings, Brent has an intimate understanding of the interactions between the biological, geological, and anthropogenic systems that affect water quality and terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Spending most of his free time in outdoor spaces, Brent recognizes the importance of environmental stewardship and is passionate about sustainable development.
Brent graduated with a B.Sc. in Geological Sciences from Queen’s University in 2017, and with a M.Sc. in Environmental Geochemistry from Queen’s in 2020. His M.Sc. thesis focused on the aqueous and mineralogical controls on tungsten and copper leaching from mine tailings from the Cantung Mine in the Northwest Territories, Canada.
His passion for rocks has him spending summers dangling from ropes at Revelstoke’s local rock climbing crags, and in the winter you can find him searching for some sweet pow on his splitboard.
Jacqueline Van Horne, Dip. | Environmental Technician
Jacqueline is an Environmental Technician for SCL. Before working at SCL, Jacqueline worked at Kokanee Creek Nature Center as a Naturalist during the summer of 2021. While at the Nature Center she taught programs for children and families on plants and animals found in the park, and Kokanee Salmon spawning. She also worked along side Fisheries Technicians helping maintain the spawning channel in the park and doing bankful counts for spawners. During the final year of RFW, Jacqueline completed a research project on Kokanee Salmon shore spawners in the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. This project looked at the draw down of lake levels during the late winter months and how they affect the number of shore spawner fry. She grew up in Nelson B.C and has a passion for working in the outdoors.
Jacqueline recently graduated from Selkirk College in Recreation Fish and Wildlife (RFW) with a technical diploma. Through this program she learned about wildlife and fisheries management among other studies. In the RFW program she developed skills in report writing, stream assessments, CABIN sampling, electrofishing, and plant/animal identification.
Outside of work you can find Jacqueline climbing or hiking around Revelstoke or anywhere else in BC.
Rianne Mariash, B.Sc. | Environmental Technician
Rianne is an Environmental Technician for SCL. In the last 10 years Rianne has developed a strong technical skill set in the field. Working for Alberta Biodiverity Monitoring Institute, in 2014 provided her with a foundation in monitoring protocols. Since then, she has been a field technician on a variety of projects with a focus on ornithology. She was part of a small team that conducted shorebird research for Environment Canada, on Coats Island, NU, in 2015. She has spent a summer doing species at risk surveys for Goshawks on the south coast of B.C. For two summers she has collected data for a long term study on breading biology of yellow warblers right here in Revelstoke. She also has a strong interest in plant identification and vegetation monitoring.
Rianne graduated from the University of Victoria in 2010 with a B.Sc. in Geography and Environmental Studies. Rianne is enthusiastic about birds and has volunteered at two migratory bird banding stations. She is proud to have volunteered for the Circumpolar Monitoring Institute by collecting and pressing fresh plant specimens from Coats Island. Her collections are stored at the Museum of Nature in Ottawa. Outside of work you can find Rianne in her garden or preserving the harvest. She is happy exploring the forest and mountains of B.C. by human power.
Kathy Horkely | Senior Administrator
Kathy Horkley is SCL’s Senior Administrator. Originally from the UK, Kathy arrived in Canada in 2008. She has a background in Microsoft Certified Software Test Engineering and prior to moving to Canada, worked primarily within the private sector, as well as for some busy departments in local government. Since moving to Revelstoke, Kathy has been in the Office Administration business; working with several local companies. She has experience as an Office Manger and Administrative Assistant and has also worked as a Personal Assistant to an Area Manager for an electronics company.
When not at work, you can find Kathy helping her “Brew master” husband as they brew their own recipes from scratch, hitting the mountain bike trails, or getting out for adventures with her dogs. Kathy also enjoys the challenge of hosting and cooking for Medieval Banquets, as she is a self-confessed “foodie” and loves to socialize over food and drinks. Kathy’s spirit of adventure has even taken her to the skies, as she once abseiled over 100 ft off the side of a building for charity!