Our Team - KLRS

Current Staff

KIM HATCHER

Field Station Operations Manager

Kim is a Yukon-based geologist with a passion for mountains, volcanoes, and glaciers. While earning a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of British Columbia, she pursued geophysics research on volcanic plume dynamics. She spent six years exploring mineral potential throughout Northern Canada and Alaska.

As the Station Manager, Kim aims to use her background in geoscience and project management to help contribute to the growth and success of programs at KLRS. Through communication and collaboration, she strives to facilitate a positive space for researchers and community members to feel welcome.

An outdoor enthusiast, Kim enjoys adventuring in the mountains year-round. She resides in an off-grid cabin near Haines Junction, and is grateful to live, work, and play in the traditional territories of the Kluane, Champagne and Aishihik, and White River First Nations.

BRENT ELSE

AINA Associate Director

Brent is a Professor in the Department of Geography (University of Calgary) where he studies how freshwater and marine systems exchange greenhouse gases with the atmosphere. His team has worked all over the Canadian Arctic, often finding ways to include local Indigenous communities in fieldwork and research design.

As AINA Associate Director, Brent is responsible for overseeing Kluane Lake Research Station. His goal is to find ways to further develop the research and education objectives of the station in ways that respect and include local First Nations.

Brent is relatively new to the Yukon but he has quickly fallen in love with the landscape, and enjoyed the opportunity to meet with many amazing people who work and live in the area. He also thinks the fishing is pretty great!

SHAHID ISLAM

Agriculture Research Coordinator

Shahid is an agricultural professional with a strong foundation in crop genetics, genomics, soil health, and pest management. He has extensive experience in agricultural research, hydroponic systems, and developing strategic plans for sustainable crop production.

As the Agriculture Research Coordinator, Shahid will study and operate integrated food production systems at KLRS, including greenhouse, open-field, and hydroponic setups. The plants grown will be used in the KLRS kitchen and shared with local communities. By hosting tours and training, Shahid aims to share knowledge about off-grid containerized hydroponic systems.

Residing in Whitehorse, Shahid is captivated by the Yukon’s breathtaking landscapes. A nature enthusiast, he enjoys fishing and exploring the outdoors while embracing the warmth of Yukon's friendly communities.

BROOKLYN MILLER

Operations Assistant

Brooklyn was raised on a farm in Haines Junction and is very grateful to have experienced growing up in the Yukon. Originally born in Saskatchewan, she moved to the Yukon when she was six and has been here ever since. Brooklyn is Woodland Cree and a part of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Saskatchewan.

Returning for her second season at KLRS as the Operations Assistant, Brooklyn has just completed her first year of Environmental Sciences at the University of Victoria. She would eventually like to attain a career that allows her to work outside and on the land.

Brooklyn loves animals and has two pet snakes and two cats who are all loved dearly. She loves to garden and keep house plants; she also loves to paint and draw. All summer she enjoys to camp and hike in the Yukon along with other activities like kayaking and fishing.

PAULY SIAS

Agriculture Advisor

Pauly is a citizen of the Kluane First Nation, with a unique upbringing on an off-grid family homestead and land-based tourism operation in Silver City. She has lived and worked in Kluane her entire life, with many executive and heritage roles at Kluane First Nation, Kluane National Park, and Dan Keyi Renewable Resource Council.

With her partner Jady, she runs Kluane Outdoor Inspirations (KOI) at their home near KLRS. Pauly and Jady operated the containerized hydroponics system at KLRS in 2023, and in 2024 Pauly signed on as a project advisor.

Pauly is an entrepreneur, interpreter, and creates beautiful Donjek berry jewellery. She has a deep passion to respectfully share and acknowledge the gifts given to her, to help others be comfortable, and to have fun!

JADY HURLBURT

Agriculture Advisor

Jady was born and raised in the Kluane area near Haines Junction and now lives next door to KLRS where he and his partner Pauly run their tourism business, Kluane Outdoor Inspirations (KOI). His professional life has taken him on an almost 20-year journey working with PCL in an intense career in commercial residential construction in Vancouver. A job which eventually brought Jady back to Whitehorse, and a reconnection to the Kluane area and its people. Jady has slowed down life and settled into the area with working in a land-based program at Kluane Lake School for nearly five years and then working for Kluane First Nation as a carpenter.

In 2023 Jady operated the containerized hydroponics system at KLRS with Pauly. In 2024 he worked at KLRS as the Maintenance Groundskeeper, and in 2025 joined Pauly as an agriculture advisor.

Partners

The Arctic Institute of North America is a member of the Canadian Network of Northern Research Operators (CNNRO) and the International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic (INTERACT). Both networks strive to build capacity for terrestrial research, to improve collaboration and coordination of efforts, enable access to partner stations, and implement best practices for station management, use, and station-based research and monitoring.

In 2017, KLRS became an official CryoNet station within the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Global Cryosphere Watch initiative. Our automated weather station meets WMO specifications and records a range of observations.

KLRS also initiated an Artist in Residence program in 2017. Through partnership with Parks Canada and Yukon Arts Centre, this work was expanded with the Kluane National Park Artist Residency, launched in 2023.

Former Staff

KLRS is thankful to everyone who makes the operations and research possible!

Staff Member	Role	Year(s)
Alix Devlin	Communications Assistant	2022
Amra Causevic	Research Assistant	2017
Arryk Butcher	Chef	2022
Ben Pearse	Operations Assistant	2018
Brooklyn Miller	Operations Assistant	2024
Emma Cumming	Research Assistant	2019
Garrett Stagg	Assistant Chef	2018, 2019
Gloria Macelheron	Assistant Chef	2017
Heather Clarke	Research Assistant	2020
Henry Penn	Research Station Operations Manager	2017–2022
Jacob Swartz	Research Assistant	2020
Jady Hurlburt	Maintenance Groundskeeper	2024
Julia Frasher	Research Assistant	2019
Kelly Tolbalt	Research Assistant	2018
Kristina Miller (Penn)	Science Coordinator	2022
Kristina Penn	Research Station Operations Manager	2023
Luc Pinard	Operations Assistant	2021
Matthew Ayre	Research Station Manager	2020, 2021
Matthew Wiebe	Assistant Chef	2022
Michael Moloney	Research Station Manager	2017–2019
Michael Myer	Operations Assistant	2022
Michael Schmidt	Research Station Manager	2017, 2018
Mitch Brown	Operations Assistant	2017
Natalie Gillis	Communications Assistant	2021
Nathan Boulanger	Operations Assistant	2024
Phoenix Skailes	Operations Assistant	2022
Robert Reich	Executive Chef	2017–2022
Shelby Montgomery	Agricultural Operations Manager	2018
Sydney Mackinnon	Operations Assistant, Chef	2021, 2022
Tracey Neale	Chef	2023
Veronique Poirier	Executive Chef	2024
Zana Everett	Research and Operations Assistant	2023