College Seeking New CEO

On behalf of the Board of the BC College of Applied Biologists, I am sharing news about an upcoming leadership transition. After nine years of dedicated service, Christine Houghton will be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer in Spring 2026 to pursue the next chapter of her career. We are grateful for Christine’s strong leadership and her skill in executing the College’s responsibilities under the under the Professional Governance Act, positioning us as a respected leader in professional accountability.

Looking ahead, the Board is launching a search for a new CEO to lead the College into the future. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and visionary leader with experience in professional regulation and a commitment to upholding the public interest.

The position posting can be found here. We encourage you to share this opportunity widely within your networks.

Corinna Hoodicoff, R.P.Bio.
Board Chair
College of Applied Biologists

POSITION OVERVIEW

The College of Applied Biologists (the College) is seeking a visionary and strategic Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization in fulfilling its mandate under the Professional Governance Act and other relevant legislation. The CEO is responsible for the overall leadership, governance, and operational management of the College, ensuring regulatory excellence and public trust in the profession of applied biology.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to see connections across program areas and integrate them into a cohesive vision for the organization. They will be collaborative in approach, working effectively with the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers to advance the College’s mandate.

We are seeking a leader who is proactive rather than reactive, able to anticipate emerging issues and opportunities, and who acts decisively in guiding the College through complex challenges. This role requires someone who can balance strategic foresight with sound judgment, ensuring that decisions are made in the best interests of College’s mandate, the public, and the profession of applied biology.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO provides strategic direction, oversees financial and organizational performance, and fosters collaborative relationships with registrants, government, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders.

Nominations for 2026 College Board Elections Now Open

All practicing members (RPBio, RBTech,  ABT and AB-LL) in good standing are eligible to sit on the Board.

Download the Prospective Nominee Form here

The College is seeking good communicators and team players that are interested in running for the Board. Board members contribute to the applied biology profession by upholding the public interest while further developing their skills in areas such as governance, financial literacy and strategy.

Positions to be elected this election year include:

• Vice Chair*
• One Board Member (three-year term)

Nominations opened on November 12, 2025 and will close at 4pm PST on February 28, 2026. Nomination forms must be submitted using the upload tool found here before the deadline to be eligible.

2026 Registrant Dues Are Now Payable

Dues for the 2026 registration year must be paid by December 31, 2025 to avoid late fees.

All registrants received a dues notification through their email address listed in their portal profile. Look for information in College Connections, College Notices and on the website to learn more about dues payment.

Here are a few reminders to consider before paying your dues:

1. Registrants must submit their 2025 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) statement in order to pay registrant dues for 2026. (Please note that you may enter additional CPD information at a later time.)
2. The email address listed in a registrant’s portal profile is the only email address that the College will use for all email communications. Please ensure this address is up to date. If you want to change this email address, please log in here and change it. The College recommends using a personal email address for all College communications to ensure you do not miss important regulatory information.

A list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the 2026 dues increase is available on the College’s website.

Regulatory Updates and Other Resource Information

Premier’s, Coastal First Nations’ statement on the North Coast Protection Declaration
From the Government of BC - On Nov. 5, 2025, Premier David Eby; Chief Marilyn Slett, president, Coastal First Nations; Mayor Garry Reece, Lax Kw’alaams; Jason Alsop, president, Haida Nation; Paula Amos, Indigenous Tourism B.C.; and Clarence Innis, Hereditary Elder, all signed the following declaration: The North Coast Protection Declaration.

Potential chronic wasting disease detected in Okanagan deer
From the Government of BC - The Province is responding to a potential case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a male white-tailed deer harvested east of Enderby.

B.C. hosting national wildfire symposium
From the Government of BC - Enhancing a national framework for wildfire resilience, including the challenges and opportunities people and communities are facing, is one intended outcome for the upcoming symposium on wildfires to be hosted in B.C.

Canada Water Agency invites applications for projects to protect and restore fresh water across Canada
From the Government of Canada - The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for the Canada Water Agency, announced the launch of several calls for applications for upcoming funding opportunities (the Fraser River is included).

If you are aware of a regulatory update or resource, please let us know. All contributors will be acknowledged.
Resources for registrants: State of Salmon 2025 Report
Resources for registrants: State of Canada's Birds 2024 Report
Resources for registrants: Natural Solutions Initiative Regulatory Mechanisms Toolkit
Resources for registrants: Field Guide for Estimating Carbon Stocks in Wetlands
Resources for registrants: Natural Solutions Initiative Multi-Benefit Indicators Tool, V.1
Resources for registrants: Arctic Grayling: Synthesis Report and Monitoring Framework
Resources for registrants: For Our Future: Indigenous Resilience Report
Resources for registrants: B.C. Flood Strategy
Resources for registrants: Consideration of Climate Change in Mine Reclamation Planning (Ministry of Mining and Critical Methods)
Resources for registrants: Fish-Stream Identification Handbook: Guidance to Support Forestry Stream Classification
Resources for registrants: Invasive Species Strategy for British Columbia (Invasive Species Council of BC)
Resources for registrants:  Professional Practice Notice: Professional Practice Guidelines Related to Riparian Area Assessment
Resources for registrants: Management Plan for the Mountain Crab-eye (Acroscyphus sphaerophoroides) in Canada (CWS)
Resources for registrants: Consultation on Amending the List of Species under the Species at Risk Act: Aquatic Species January 2025
Resources for registrants: Species at Risk Act (SARA) Section 11 Conservation Agreements for the Conservation of the Southern Mountain Caribou
Resources for Registrants: Minister Response: COSEWIC species at risk assessments - January 2025
Resources for Registrants: Management Plan for the Cassin’s Auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) in Canada
Resources for Registrants: 2025 BC Environment Industry Guide
Resources for Registrants: Recovery Strategy for the Gypsy Cuckoo Bumble Bee (Bombus bohemicus) in Canada (Final)
Resources for Registrants: Amended Recovery Strategy for the Spotted Owl caurina subspecies (Strix occidentalis caurina) in Canada (Final)
Resources for Registrants: Progress Report on Steps Taken for Protecton of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada (October 2024 - March 2025)
Resources for Registrants: COSEWIC List of wildlife species assessed (including October 2024)
Resources for Registrants: Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Western Brook Lamprey – Morrison Creek Population (Lampetra richardsoni) in Canada (Aug. 5, 2025)
Resources for Registrants: Wetland Plants of British Columbia, v.3 (free download)

Events and Notices

This feature highlights notices from the Events Calendar on the College website. Please let us know about events here. All contributors will be acknowledged by name. Please put 'Upcoming Event' in the subject line. 

Courses listed below do not imply endorsement by the College. Refer to the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Standard for information. It is a registrant's responsibility to ensure CPD activities align with the CPD Standard when claiming points.

VIU NATURAL RESOURCES EXTENSION PROGRAM
Various courses ongoing throughout BC and elsewhere.

ENGINEERS & GEOSCIENTISTS BC
Various courses available in person and online.

NATURAL RESOURCES TRAINING GROUP
Various field courses ongoing throughout BC and elsewhere.

NORTHWEST ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING CENTER
Various field and self-paced courses ongoing throughout the Pacific Northwest and online.

GEOENVIRO PRO TRAINING PROFESSIONALS INC
Various webinars and workshops offered.

THE CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY BIRD ACADEMY
Various courses that may meet the College’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

INDIGENOUS RELATIONS ACADEMY
Various guided and self-guided courses.

NORTHWEST RESPONSE ONLINE TRAINING
Fuel management and spill responses training

COLUMBIA MOUNTAINS INSTITUTE OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
Various in-person field-based courses and data science courses for ecologists.

CR PROFESSIONAL
Courses and workshops on fire ecology and prescribed fire.

RX-310 INTRODUCTION TO FIRE EFFECTS
Ongoing, Online (self-paced)

AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE SALVAGE METHODS
December 1 -2, Online

CONSTRUCTION MONITORING - PRINCIPLES OF EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL ON CONSTRUCTION SITES
December 2, Online

RIPARIAN AREAS PROTECTION REGULATION
December 2 - 5, Online & North Vancouver, BC

MCLEOD LAKE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT:SEEING THE FOREST FOR MORE THAN JUST TREES
December 3, Online & Prince George, BC

EVALUATING WATER QUALITY OF LAKES - COLLECTING HIGH QUALITY SAMPLES
December 4, Online

WATER SAFETY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FIELDWORK
December 5, Online

GROWING PAINS: RE-USING DREDGED SEDIMENT FOR COASTAL MARSH RESILIENCE AND FLOOD PROTECTION IN THE FRASER RIVER DELTA, BRITISH COLUMBIA
December 9, Online

BIRDING 101 - LEARN TO IDENTIFY COMMON BIRDS
December 9, Online

SPECIES AT RISK
December 9 - 10, Online

DESIGNING A ROBUST AND SUCCESSFUL WATER QUALITY STUDY
December 11, Online

SAMPLING FISH IN LAKES - METHODS TO INCREASE YOUR CATCH
December 12, Online

FALL 2025 OFFERING - GVI (F25) BLENDED COURSE
December 12, Blended online/offline

ECOLOGICALLY-SUITABLE SPECIES GUIDELINE
December 16, Online

BC NATURAL RESOURCES FORUM
January 20-22, 2026, Prince George, BC

CO-EXISTING WITH BEAVERS
January 27, 2026, Online

TIME SERIES TREND ANALYSIS AND QUANTITATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
January 27 - February 24, 2026 (5 Tuesday mornings), Online

AFN 2nd ANNUAL NATIONAL NATURAL RESOURCES FORUM: STRENGTHENING OUR SOVEREIGNTY
February 10-11, 2026, Calgary, AB

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
February 16 to March 20, Nanaimo, BC

ECO IMPACT 2026: FUTURE-PROOFING THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKFORCE: TECHNOLOGY & TALENT
February 19-20, 2026, Calgary, AB

BC OCEAN ACIDIFICATION AND HYPOXIA (OAH) ACTION FORUM
March 3, 2026, Nanaimo and online

FALL 2025 OFFERING - ABWRET-A (f25) BLENDED COURSE
April 24, 2026, Blended online/offline

INDIGENOUS RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES CONFERENCE
June 3 - 6, 2026, Nanaimo

Job Postings

Postings from the College website with imminent closing dates are featured below. Additional postings are regularly added to the College's employment postings page. If you or your company are interested in posting a job, you can do so here.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Closing date for resume submission: February 2, 2026
Salary: $179,000 - $242,500
Hiring Organization: College of Applied Biologists
Location: Victoria, BC

POLICY OFFICER
Closing date for resume submission: Friday, January 9, 2026
Salary: $71,000.00–$83,500.00
Hiring Organization: College of Applied Biologists
Location: Victoria, BC

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $85,000.00–$110,000.00
Hiring Organization: Peninsula Streams Society
Location: Victoria, BC

ENVIRONMENT MANAGER
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $100,000.00–$115,000.00
Hiring Organization: Splatsin Development Corporation
Location: Enderby

SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $107,000.00–$135,300.00
Hiring Organization: BC Hydro
Location: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

MANAGER, AQUATIC STEWARDSHIP
Closing date for resume submission: Friday, January 2, 2026
Salary: $88,660.00–$108,091.00
Hiring Organization: Ktunaxa Nation Council
Location: Cranbrook, BC

TECHNICAL LEAD: LANDSCAPE ECOLOGIST & RESTORATION SPECIALIST
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $110,000.00–$149,000.00
Hiring Organization: Pathways Executive Search
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

INTERMEDIATE BIOLOGIST
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $55,000.00–$70,000.00
Hiring Organization: Pacific Land Group
Location: Surrey

The College website contains 8 postings at this time, view all here.