Polaris Project team

Dr. Hancock is the Associate Vice-President Research Development for Yukon University. She is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of research at YukonU, and for the development of positive relationships with the broader research community in support of northern research. In addition, she oversees research activities at the YukonU Research Centre, which includes expertise in climate change, northern energy innovation, mine life cycles, social sciences, and biodiversity monitoring.

Prior to this position, Dr. Hancock served as Manager of the Northern Climate ExChange, the former climate change research group at the YukonU Research Centre. She oversaw a team that studies the impacts and adaptation opportunities associated with climate change in Yukon and northern Canada. Dr. Hancock holds a doctorate in earth sciences from the University of Waterloo. Dr. Hancock recently served as a member of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Expert Panel on Adaptation and Resilience Results, and is currently serving as an Expert Panel member for the Council of Canadian Academies, on a report that focuses on prioritizing climate change risks.

Dr. Hancock is an adjunct professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta, and in the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre at Brock University.

Having joined Yukon College in 1991 Shelagh Rowles brings many years of experience in developing programs in collaboration with Yukon First Nations, Yukon communities, government and industry stakeholders. She has sat on many local and national advisory boards related to building capacity in the north.

Shelagh holds Bachelors degrees in both Anthropology and Education from UBC, a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from University of Manitoba and holds an Interdisciplinary PHD at University of Saskatchewan in the field of history, public policy, and innovation. Her thesis work explores how prepared Yukon is for the 21st century tech driven economy through the lens of Yukon’s mining, construction and public service sectors.

After 7 years at the University of Winnipeg, juggling the combined demands of teaching and research, I moved to Whitehorse in 2011 to become an instructor in the School of Science at Yukon College. It was a great opportunity to focus my energy on what really mattered - the students.

While I no longer have an active research program, I still get to experience the thrill of discovery as I create labs for my courses and continue to find ways to bring local issues and materials into the lab. Occasionally I am able to lend a chemical hand to other local researchers. Whether it involves me actually doing chemistry or just providing some chemical knowledge, it's a fun opportunity to learn something new.

Having grown up in Northwestern Ontario I have a strong appreciation for the wilderness which I am now able to indulge when classes are over. Being this close to so many great choices for camping and hiking is just icing on the cake, and I like cake!

I'm a physics/math/astronomy instructor at Yukon University and most of the time you'll find me in the physics lab on campus. I also lead a small research group in the field of Wildland Fire Science, specifically working with Yukon Wildland Fire Management (WFM) to develop an automated risk assessment model for wildfires in the Yukon.

I have a B.Sc. in Physics from Trent University (2008) and an M.Sc. in Computational Condensed Matter Physics from Queen's University (2011).

I conduct research on impacts of climate change and land uses on distribution (both present and future projections) and behaviour of birds and their important insect food in the north. YukonU students can get involved in this research in several different ways - lab, statistical and/or field work. I am also very interested in other aspects of behavior, such as sexual selection and communication in birds.

Yukon University offers all first and now second-year university transferable biology courses towards a Bachelor Degree in Biology. We also offer two-year diplomas, such as in Renewable Resources Management, with courses in specialized areas such as land use planning, environmental impact assessment and winter travel and survival, all relevant and important topics in northern regions. Students can also transfer into the Bachelor of Northern Environmental and Conservation Sciences degree program (offered jointly between the University of Alberta and Yukon University) for their 3rd and 4th year following these diplomas.

Alvin is currently the budget officer for Indigenous Engagement & Partnership; University Infrastructure; and Polaris Project.

Alvin graduated from Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila Philippines in 2004 with a degree of Bachelor of Science specializing in Accountancy. After earning his Philippine CPA license in 2005, he worked as an audit senior at Deloitte Philippines and spent 4 years handling both local and international audit clients and in which he was also involved in the Sarbanes-Oxley compliance audit and annual/quarterly review of US SEC registered clients.

In 2010, Alvin joined PwC in Dubai as Audit Senior for the Technology, Information, Communications, and Entertainment sectors before moving to Gibraltar in 2012. He spent 5 years at RSM Gibraltar where he progressed to Audit Senior Manager handling various clients including insurance and financial services, property management, professional services, and energy sector. In 2018, he joined Robus Group of Companies as Senior Insurance Accountant for a year.

Before joining Yukon University, Alvin was a Senior Associate at a local Yukon accounting firm. His experience includes audits of First Nation governments, not-for-profit organizations, and corporations.

Kim Walchuk is the Manager of the Yukon University’s Procurement and Contracts Office. Her educational background is an Applied Degree in International Business and Supply Chain Management from MacEwan University, accompanied by a professional certification in Asset Management.

Kim has been brought over to the University from Yukon Government, where she was a Senior Building Program Manager for building construction, renovation and maintenance with the Department of Highways and Public Works. Previous to that she held contract management and project management portfolios in care and maintenance for projects such as the Faro Mine Reclamation project, Ketza Mine Reclamation Project with the Department of Energy Mines and Resources.

Martin brings extensive construction project management experience to the University. He ensures understanding of the needs and vision of everyone involved in the project.

He has over 27 years of experience in archival, laboratories, and government infrastructure project and program management across the provinces and territories. He holds a master's in public administration, management specialization, and a degree in architecture.

You might find him coaching his kid's sports team or mountain biking if he isn't at work. His son's volleyball team taught him a great deal about people management and the importance of clear communication.

Brian Sullivan comes to the Polaris Project Team as a consultant from Alberta. Semi-Retired, he brings a vast array of experience in the construction management process, specifically, expertise in building academic science facilities. In one of his largest projects, he managed the ‘Destination Project Science Commons’ at the University of Lethbridge, which held a project budget of $285 Million. Holding a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and a Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University, Brian is a welcomed and vital resource to the Polaris Project. When not working on the Polaris Project, Brian can be found in the southern plains of Alberta in Lethbridge, looking after his grandkids and enjoying the warmth.

Martin brings extensive construction project management experience to the University. He ensures understanding of the needs and vision of everyone involved in the project.

He has over 27 years of experience in archival, laboratories, and government infrastructure project and program management across the provinces and territories. He holds a master's in public administration, management specialization, and a degree in architecture.

You might find him coaching his kid's sports team or mountain biking if he isn't at work. His son's volleyball team taught him a great deal about people management and the importance of clear communication.

I'm a physics/math/astronomy instructor at Yukon University and most of the time you'll find me in the physics lab on campus. I also lead a small research group in the field of Wildland Fire Science, specifically working with Yukon Wildland Fire Management (WFM) to develop an automated risk assessment model for wildfires in the Yukon.

I have a B.Sc. in Physics from Trent University (2008) and an M.Sc. in Computational Condensed Matter Physics from Queen's University (2011).

I am a geology instructor in the Earth Sciences program at Yukon University and a Research Affiliate in the Department of Geosciences at Colorado State University. The Earth Sciences program is one of a number of geoscience and mining-focused divisions within Yukon University's Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining. My research focuses on the application of metamorphic petrology, igneous geochemistry and thermodynamic modeling to better understand tectonic processes in orogenic belts. This includes related work in accessory phase geochronology and petrogenesis, structural geology, and economic geology. I have a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Calgary (2012), in addition to a B.A. in geology from Middlebury College (2005). I am a professional geoscientist licensed with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA).

Victoria Castillo is a historical archaeologist. She is instructor / coordinator for the Heritage and Culture Program in the School of Liberal Arts. Her research focus is on historical and subarctic archaeology; Indigenous cultures of the Yukon; fur trade; contact period and colonialism; gender; material culture and heritage and culture programming. Victoria teaches Anthropology, Archaeology, Gender and Anthropology, Indigenous History and runs the ANTH 144: Heritage and Culture field school each summer. From 2014 to 2018 she was also Chair of the School of Liberal Arts. Before joining Yukon University, Victoria worked as a culture resource management consultant throughout the Yukon, taught gender and anthropology at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton and has participated in various archaeological programs in British Columbia and Ecuador. She received her PhD in Anthropology from the University of Alberta in 2012.

Stephen Biggin-Pound is an instructor in the School of Academic and Skill Development and the School of Science. Steve started at Yukon College in 2006, following a career including forestry, conservation land management, and ecological restoration. His science teaching roles with Yukon University have included Biology, Chemistry, Forest Ecology and Management, field courses in the Renewable Resources Management Program, as well as community-oriented land-based science programming. He also participates in research, focusing on local forest ecology and management issues. Steve brings to the technical committee a pragmatic approach focused on the needs of students and instructors, experience incorporating indigenous ways of knowing and being into science courses, as well as a keen sense of the future and the long-term role of the Polaris Project.

Miguel holds a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management and is a Senior Building Program Manager at Highways and Public Works, where he is part of the Major Projects team. Miguel grew up in Lisbon, Portugal, and moved to Canada in 2014. He worked for over 4 years in Asset Management for the Government of the Northwest Territories in Inuvik before moving to Whitehorse in 2019 to work for the Government of Yukon in Project Management.

Luke brings an array of experience to the University. He has worked in the construction industry since a young age through a family business and has a background in engineering, medicine and business. He has been at Yukon University for several years as a Bachelor of Business Administration student and understands the needs of the student body, the vision, and requirements of all its partners for the Polaris Project. He has worked on a Capital Construction project while in the military of a Medical Facility, and several more smaller scale Capital Projects.

He is a father of two and loves to coach his daughter in Freestyle Skiing and Mountain Biking. When not at work you can find him most likely outside on the Yukon river paddling or mountain biking around Whitehorse. His time spent teaching outdoor pursuits, a career as a paramedic, and tenure in the military have taught him how to communicate clearly and manage many diverse ideas people may have.

Brian Sullivan comes to the Polaris Project Team as a consultant from Alberta. Semi-Retired, he brings a vast array of experience in the construction management process, specifically, expertise in building academic science facilities. In one of his largest projects, he managed the ‘Destination Project Science Commons’ at the University of Lethbridge, which held a project budget of $285 Million. Holding a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and a Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University, Brian is a welcomed and vital resource to the Polaris Project. When not working on the Polaris Project, Brian can be found in the southern plains of Alberta in Lethbridge, looking after his grandkids and enjoying the warmth.