CALLS TO ACTION

EQUITY. DIVERSITY. INCLUSION.

We are committed to the fair and respectful treatment of all people. We believe there is strength in diversity.  At 4 Directions, we aim to create a welcoming environment for everyone, encouraging full participation

Meet Our Team

Our incredible company continues to strive to be an Indigenous Centre of Technical Excellence

Gary Pritchard
GARY PRITCHARD
GINIW (GOLDEN EAGLE)
FOUNDER

Conservation Ecologist & Indigenous Engagement/Placemaking Specialist from Curve Lake First Nation, Ontario.

Debbie Balika
DEBBIE
BALIKA
(SHE/HER)
VP OF ENVIRONMENT

Debbie Balika recently joined 4 Directions of Conservation Consulting Services as the Vice President of Environment.

Kaylay Wright
KAYLA
WRIGHT
(SHE/HER)
DIRECTOR OF RELATIONSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT

Kayla Wright recently joined 4 Directions of Conservation Consulting Services as the Director of Relationships & Engagement.  

Paola Cueva
PAOLA
CUEVA
(SHE/HER)
JUNIOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICIAN

Paola Cueva was born and raised in Lima, Peru, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communication.

Kat Nolan
KAT
NOLAN
(SHE/THEY)
AQUATIC ECOLOGIST

Kat (Irish/French-Canadian settler) recently joined 4 Directions of Conservation Consulting Services as an Aquatic Ecologist while completing a Doctor of Philosophy in Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph.

Aaninguaq Peterson
Aaninguaq Peterson
(SHE/HER)
GIS SPECIALIST

Aaninguaq recently joined the 4 Directions team as a GIS Specialist after completing her BSc in Forest Conservation Science and Indigenous Studies at the University of Toronto. She is passionate about effective scientific communication and increasing accessibility to ecological knowledge and practice.

Gary Pritchard
GARY PRITCHARD

GINIW (GOLDEN EAGLE)
FOUNDER

Conservation Ecologist & Indigenous Engagement/Placemaking Specialist from Curve Lake First Nation, Ontario.

Gary loves to connect and educate through nature, especially with wildlife photography and storytelling. He believes we can all make conscious decisions on how we impact Mother Earth and the next seven generations. He spends much of his time educating the youth about “All Our Relations,” his favourite students being his two children.

Gary often acts as the bridge between the Indigenous Community and the western style of governance, having successfully collaborated with many stakeholder groups, institutes, government agencies, Indigenous communities, and political organizations to address environmental concerns and identify practical solutions. 

Debbie Balika
DEBBIE BALIKA

(SHE/HER)
VP OF ENVIRONMENT

Debbie’s academic background is in interdisciplinary studies (HBASc) and education, including Aboriginal studies (BEd) and Biology (MSc), specializing in freshwater ecology and nearshore interactions.

Debbie’s work experience spans over a decade working on various-sized environmental projects (environmental and climate change assessments, watershed studies, etc.), aquatic monitoring programs, and source water protection with settler communities, Conservation Authorities, Academia, and various levels of governments (Municipal, Provincial, Federal and First Nations).

She applies the principles of holistic interconnectedness, collaboration, and solution-based discussion for positive outcomes in her work. Embracing a multi-lens perspective is paramount for achieving success through deep understanding.

A priority to her and the entire Team at 4 Directions is to foster equity, in a purposeful way, between Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Western Science to create a harmonious synergy.

Debbie is keenly interested in building capacity and elevating scientific literacy in communities through community or citizen science projects, which aid in better understanding to take collective protection and/or restorative measures.

Kayla Wright
KAYLA WRIGHT

(SHE/HER)
DIRECTOR OF RELATIONSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT


Kayla Wright recently joined 4 Directions of Conservation Consulting Services as the Director of Relationships & Engagement. Kayla’s academic background is in Civil/Environmental Engineering Technology from Conestoga College and she has furthered her education in various online certifications including subjects such as Climate Change and Sustainability. Kayla also holds a Cross Cultural Environmental Awareness Training certification and is a Certified Technician (C.Tech.) with OACETT. She is currently working towards a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Practice with Royal Roads University. Kayla has experience working both in the nuclear sector and consulting field from which she is able to draw experience to facilitate discussions between various proponents and Indigenous communities. Kayla first started working with Indigenous communities during her time in the nuclear sector – working towards creating meaningful relationships with the local communities while developing environmental stewardship and monitoring programs, and implementing regulatory compliance processes including processes to support the duty to consult. Over the last 3 years, Kayla has assisted organizations such as: (1) Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation in matters of consultation and relationship building with proponents across multiple sectors – and she continues this commitment through 4 Directions of Conservation Consulting Services; (2) First Nations Power Authority in matters related to the National Indigenous Advisory Council for the Small Modular Reactor Action Plan; (3) The Invasive Phragmites Control Centre in matters related to the management and control of invasive Phragmites, including supporting the development of a provincial strategy to include Indigenous perspectives.

Paola Cueva
PAOLA CUEVA

(SHE/HER)
JUNIOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICIAN

Paola Cueva was born and raised in Lima, Peru, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communication. Paola has over eight (8) years of work experience developing various communicational campaigns for clients such as Nestle, Kimberly Clark, and AB InBev.  While working on sustainability campaigns, she fell in love with the environment and started pursuing a different educational path. Paola participated in sustainability courses and obtained a Design and Management of Social Projects diploma from Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru in 2019. In 2022, Paola decided to change careers and moved to Ontario where she is now enrolled in the Environmental Technician program at Fleming College.

Kat Nolan
KAT NOLAN

(SHE/THEY)
AQUATIC ECOLOGIST

Kat (Irish/French-Canadian settler) recently joined 4 Directions of Conservation Consulting Services as an Aquatic Ecologist while completing a PhD in Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph. Kat spent their youth moving throughout the Kootenays, a mountain range in Interior British Columbia, where Kat developed a love for being in nature, especially near water. Their experiences learning on the land in a rural community grounded Kat’s understanding of environmental conservation and Indigenous rights, which Kat carries with them and continues to learn about throughout their professional and academic career. Kat moved to Guelph, Ontario, in 2016 to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Mathematical Science from the University of Guelph, where they have lived and studied since. Kat’s current PhD research in the Hanner and Heyland labs at the University of Guelph focusses on developing microalgal isolation and DNA sequencing methods to assess harmful algal blooms in freshwaters. Kat’s publication record spans fish community monitoring, aquatic microbiology, and the disproportionate impacts of climate change on Northern and Indigenous communities. Through this work, Kat has collaborated with many industry partners and government organizations, including the mining and nuclear sectors, conservation and municipal authorities, and private companies. Kat is passionate about social justice and environmental stewardship, motivated by their experiences working alongside and within equity-seeking groups and bearing witness to human-driven environmental change. At Four Directions of Conservation Consulting, Kat draws on their aquatic expertise as well as their experiences working with equity-seeking groups to advance protection of aquatic ecosystems and Indigenous rights in Ontario.

Aaninguaq Peterson
Aaninguaq Peterson

(SHE/HER)
GIS SPECIALIST

Aaninguaq recently joined the 4 Directions team as a GIS Specialist after completing her BSc in Forest Conservation Science and Indigenous Studies at the University of Toronto. She is passionate about effective scientific communication and increasing accessibility to ecological knowledge and practice. Aaninguaq is also part of the leadership team for FREED (Field Research in Ecology and Evolution Diversified), an organization that offers field research and naturalist experience to BIPOC undergraduate students. Her education and experience have shown her that community building and sharing is the bedrock for positive ecological change—community science rocks!

Most recently, Aaninguaq worked as part of a research team within the Geography Department at U of T. Utilizing her GIS skills, she built an interactive map showing archival extraction and development in Treaty 9 (James Bay) territory. The process of visually mapping Geological Survey archives demonstrates the cumulative impacts on various communities in the early 20th century (and today). Bringing field data to life for others and encouraging wider curiosity in spatial mapping tools powers her career goals and interest.

Outside of the lab, Aaninguaq is an avid naturalist and backpacker. With more field guides than fiction handy on the shelf, her passion for ecology and species identification has launched a career in conservation. Whether it’s climbing a 46er in the Adirondacks or canoeing at the Algonquin Wildlife Research Station, “outdoors” is her favorite place to be!

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