Alderville First Nation Black Oak Savanna
MEET THE TEAM
Julie Henry,
Manager & Head Biologist
Julie is our Manager & Head Biologist; her interest in the meaning of landscape, and our connections to it, drives her work here at the Alderville Black Oak Savanna. Julie has over 15 years of experience in the Environmental Field with an Honours Environmental Science and Physical Geography degree (H.BSc) from Trent University and a Post Graduate Diploma from Fleming College in GIS Applications. Julie’s professional experience includes ecological projects and research with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ministry of Natural Resource and Forestry, and various NGO’s. Julie’s skills in management, data collection and reporting are founded upon knowledge gained in the field. Julie grew up exploring the waters of Georgian Bay, and later, Northern Canada and the Kawartha Lakes.
Radek Odolczyk, Coordinator
Ecological Restoration
Radek is our field operations lead. In this role he is responsible for overseeing the restoration work at the Alderville BOS site, and the Stream to Shore project. Radek also plays a lead role in the conservation of Species-at-Risk and other conservation-related projects. He has worked at the Alderville BOS for 10 years, with 12+ years of conservation work ranging from mangrove wetland restoration in Central America, to sustainable forest practices in the ancient Appalachian Mountains of New Brunswick. He has a Technologist Diploma in Ecosystem Management from Fleming College, and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Trent University. He can’t imagine of a better way to spend the rest of his days than being out on the land planting trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses, restoring habitats, and making friends all along the way.
Gillian di Petta, Coordinator
Nursery & Outreach
Gillian is responsible for the Mitiogmin Native Plant Nursery, where she oversees day-to-day operations, propagation planning, and project coordination. With a deep respect for ecological restoration and Indigenous-led land stewardship, Gillian is committed to supporting native plant conservation through hands-on nursery work and community collaboration. She brings experience in land-based education, native species care, and team leadership to her role at Mitiogmin. With an educational background in Ecosystem Management & Horticulture, she has hands-on experience in Forest Resource Inventory, wetland biology, vegetation monitoring, organic farming, trail maintenance, and more. In 2017, Gillian joined the team at the Alderville Black Oak Savanna, filling various roles over the years. When she’s not enjoying her days at the Black Oak Savanna, Gillian enjoys gardening, music, and seeking out exciting new adventures.
Karlotta Grasse,
Invasive Species Tech & Field Support
Karlotta is a graduate of the Ecosystem Management program at Fleming College and has an Honours BSc in Biology with a specialization in Conservation from Trent University. She joined our team in 2022 and has a strong interest in habitat restoration for species-at-risk and invasive species management. Previous to working at the Black Oak Savanna, Karlotta gained experience working with not-for-profit organizations such as Community Living Toronto and the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. During her downtime, she loves to be out in nature learning about mycology or creating nature-inspired art through a woodburning medium where she hopes to bring light to nature and wildlife conservation.
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Grace McKeown,
Herptile Tech & Field Support
Grace is responsible for all of our Herptile monitoring and conservation work. She is an Anishnaabe-kwe and Alderville First Nation community member
Colin Emerson,
Equipment Tech & Field Support
Colin is responsible for maintaining all of our tools and equipment, as well as helping with field work! He graduated from Fleming College with an Ecosystem Management diploma.