Michael Benson Email & Phone Number

Dartmouth, Ns, Ca

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Regional team management position coordinating an interprovincial team of environmental scientists & biologists in the pursuit and management of environmental projects including assessments for energy transition infrastructure and development projects, species at risk surveys, wetland delineations and long term monitoring programs.Leading the scoping, development, and execution of environmental planning studies and managing environmental programs including research, field work, and… Show more Regional team management position coordinating an interprovincial team of environmental scientists & biologists in the pursuit and management of environmental projects including assessments for energy transition infrastructure and development projects, species at risk surveys, wetland delineations and long term monitoring programs.Leading the scoping, development, and execution of environmental planning studies and managing environmental programs including research, field work, and technical report writing.Supporting the development of environmental impact assessments, compensation/offsetting plans, and related environmental permitting assignments at the provincial and federal levels,Scoping planning, developing, and implementing field programs for a variety of natural resource, municipal, land development, and infrastructure projects.Coordination of staff across different technical teams.Contributing to proposals (budget development and proposal writing).Liaising with public and private sector clients, government review and approval agencies, sub-consultants and community representatives including Indigenous communities as well as the general public and stakeholders on specific development proposals.Coordinating project team activities, provide direction to project team members, and contribute to development of staff.Building client relationships, identifying market opportunities and facilitating client communications. Show less

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Leading the scoping, development, and execution of environmental planning studies and managing environmental programs including research, field work, and technical report writing.Supporting the development of environmental impact assessments, compensation/offsetting plans, and related environmental permitting assignments at the provincial and federal levels,Scoping planning, developing, and implementing field programs for a variety of natural resource, municipal, land… Show more Leading the scoping, development, and execution of environmental planning studies and managing environmental programs including research, field work, and technical report writing.Supporting the development of environmental impact assessments, compensation/offsetting plans, and related environmental permitting assignments at the provincial and federal levels,Scoping planning, developing, and implementing field programs for a variety of natural resource, municipal, land development, and infrastructure projects.Coordination of staff across different technical teams.Contributing to proposals (budget development and proposal writing).Liaising with public and private sector clients, government review and approval agencies, sub-consultants and community representatives including Indigenous communities as well as the general public and stakeholders on specific development proposals.Coordinating project team activities, provide direction to project team members, and contribute to development of staff.Building client relationships, identifying market opportunities and facilitating client communications. Show less

Environmental scientist role involving desktop and field environmental assessment, socioeconomic and Indigenous group valued component assessment and community engagement / event facilitations.Major projects supported include wind farms and energy transition projects, resource extraction including gold and iron mines, stone quarries, public park assessments and environmental review / assessment projects for the Halifax Port Authority, Department of National Defence, municipal and… Show more Environmental scientist role involving desktop and field environmental assessment, socioeconomic and Indigenous group valued component assessment and community engagement / event facilitations.Major projects supported include wind farms and energy transition projects, resource extraction including gold and iron mines, stone quarries, public park assessments and environmental review / assessment projects for the Halifax Port Authority, Department of National Defence, municipal and provincial governments across Atlantic Canada.Additional roles involve field assessments of terrestrial mammals and avi fauna including mainland moose, migratory birds and bats and remote sensing through the use of acoustic recording devices.This role has involved significant collaboration with project managers and inter-departmental professionals including biologists, archeologists, engineers, planners and other scientists.Additional roles involve analyzing field and technical data to draft technical reports, participating in desktop research for socioeconomic evaluation and land resource use analysis (historic data regulations, literature reviews) Show less

Nova Scotia, Canada

Identified engaged strategic partners to implement programs that promote sustainable farmed salmon while restoring, protecting and enhancing wild salmon habitat and ecosystems.Used shared value model seek opportunities for mutual benefit of Cermaq and other parties.Supported applications for new aquaculture licenses and amendments that are professionally and thoroughly prepared at high quality to meet or exceed government standards. Supported the design of communication… Show more Identified engaged strategic partners to implement programs that promote sustainable farmed salmon while restoring, protecting and enhancing wild salmon habitat and ecosystems.Used shared value model seek opportunities for mutual benefit of Cermaq and other parties.Supported applications for new aquaculture licenses and amendments that are professionally and thoroughly prepared at high quality to meet or exceed government standards. Supported the design of communication tools and pathways that improves transparency and access to information.Advocated for the communities to ensure their voice is heard, respected while ensuring Cermaq remains accessible and transparent.Built successful collaborations with scientists, professional contractors and various vendors to ensure strong engagement for the development of salmon aquaculture projects in Nova Scotia. Show less

Dartmouth Nova Scotia

Program management position focused on building capacity within several Nova Scotian municipalities to support their efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.Partnership position funded by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities via the Municipal Climate Adaptation Initiative.Extensive stakeholder engagement with municipal, provincial and federal intergovernmental groups as well as public and private sector associations.Workshop delivery regarding… Show more Program management position focused on building capacity within several Nova Scotian municipalities to support their efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.Partnership position funded by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities via the Municipal Climate Adaptation Initiative.Extensive stakeholder engagement with municipal, provincial and federal intergovernmental groups as well as public and private sector associations.Workshop delivery regarding action planning, implementation and streamlining of climate adaptation initiatives. Show less

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Sustainability consulting group open to a wide selection of opportunities across the environmental and business sector with a specialization in.- Program design and management. - Communications & sustainability reporting.- Climate change adaptation & mitigation.- Community & stakeholder engagement.- Business development and support.

Millbrook Nova Scotia

Supporting several Nova Scotian Mi'kmaq Communities in their development of climate change adaptation strategies. Responsible for coordinating and monitoring the three interconnected projects within the "Mi'kmaw Climate Action & Program". Including those focused on physical adaptation strategies, climate monitoring network development and emergency management support.Responsible for developing and evaluating funding proposals designed to support member communities in their drive… Show more Supporting several Nova Scotian Mi'kmaq Communities in their development of climate change adaptation strategies. Responsible for coordinating and monitoring the three interconnected projects within the "Mi'kmaw Climate Action & Program". Including those focused on physical adaptation strategies, climate monitoring network development and emergency management support.Responsible for developing and evaluating funding proposals designed to support member communities in their drive towards sustainable development.Responsible for the development of job postings and the staffing requirements of the program.Relied on to liaison with and develop working relationships with academia, non-government groups, government departments and industry representatives in the fields of environmental science, climate change adaptation and natural resources management.Called on to support senior management through policy briefs & evaluations along with technical scientific support regarding climate change adaptation strategies. Show less

Millbrook Nova Scotia

Project lead for the Climate Action & Adaptation Program at the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaqResponsible for coordinating the activities of the project team to complete the second stage of the Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada "First Nations Adapt" program.Responsible for coordinating the activities of the Mi’kmaw Climate Monitoring Initiative.Responsible for promoting community engagement, capacity building within all aspects of our project.Responsible for… Show more Project lead for the Climate Action & Adaptation Program at the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaqResponsible for coordinating the activities of the project team to complete the second stage of the Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada "First Nations Adapt" program.Responsible for coordinating the activities of the Mi’kmaw Climate Monitoring Initiative.Responsible for promoting community engagement, capacity building within all aspects of our project.Responsible for using drone technology to acquire advanced LiDAR mapping data.Assisting with the development of GIS models to fully characterize climate impacts on Nova Scotian Mi'kmaq Communities. Including the development of flood models, sea level rise scenarios, erosion risk & more.Coordinated and assigned research and information gathering related to climate change.Ongoing development of a community weather monitoring program (CoCoRaHS) designed to track variance in projected versus actual rain fall and to help analyze local hydro-geological systems.Extensive experience with a 100% success rate drafting and submitting project proposals.Contributor to pan Canadian framework on climate change adaptation. Participant with the Atlantic Policy Congress Housing & infrastructure Authority.Member of the Ecology Action Centre’s Climate Jobs Council. Show less

Millbrook, Nova Scotia

The solid waste management needs assessment campaign comprises of gathering information and creating a situational analysis for each of the 13 Mi'kmaq communities in Nova Scotia.The position involves identifying gaps and challenges as well as best practices regarding solid waste resource management and using this information to develop comprehensive portfolios to help address the needs of the respective communities.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

As a bell attendant/valet I seek to help the establishment in serving their clients best by taking care of the transportation needs and the personal belongings of our guests.While working at the Delta Barrington I have also become involved with the "Delta Greens" committee, a group of employee representatives working together on a volunteer committee to help assist and design the processes by which the hotel can become more environmentally efficient, more ecologically friendly and… Show more As a bell attendant/valet I seek to help the establishment in serving their clients best by taking care of the transportation needs and the personal belongings of our guests.While working at the Delta Barrington I have also become involved with the "Delta Greens" committee, a group of employee representatives working together on a volunteer committee to help assist and design the processes by which the hotel can become more environmentally efficient, more ecologically friendly and express their environmental image to clients and guests. Show less

New Brunswick, Canada

10+ hour days of intensive labor-Paid based upon productivity (per tree planted)-Responsible for the appraisal of finished planting work (correct density, correct placement, quality of placement)-Responsible for training and mentoring new team members-Familiar with early morning starts (3am)-Familiar with adverse working conditions, freezing rain, extreme heat, numerous insects, rough terrain etc.

Costa Rica

Completed a three month entomology internship relating to tropical insects, animals and rain-forest ecosystems.Conducted aquatic resources internship and water-sustainability projects on site building grey water filtration systems and a gravity fed rain-water storage and irrigation system.Position also entailed guiding tours through four green-houses representative of the varying elevations within Costa Rica.The position was extremely interpersonal in nature guiding… Show more Completed a three month entomology internship relating to tropical insects, animals and rain-forest ecosystems.Conducted aquatic resources internship and water-sustainability projects on site building grey water filtration systems and a gravity fed rain-water storage and irrigation system.Position also entailed guiding tours through four green-houses representative of the varying elevations within Costa Rica.The position was extremely interpersonal in nature guiding tours and interacting with travelers and tourists from across the globe on a daily basis.Gained financial skills pertaining to small-scale book keeping and cash payments.Gained excellent time management and multi-tasking skills to ensure that the tours ran consistently on time.Engaged in community education and outreach through sustainability and environmental initiatives. Show less

New Brunswick, Canada

New Brunswick, Canada

New Brunswick, Canada

Bachelor'S Degree, Environmental Studies

Activities and Societies: Environmental Society, Divest X Society, History Society,Aquatic Resources Society,Political Science Society.

B.A Aquatic Resource Management & Public Policy Social Research, Environmental Studies

Activities and Societies: Aquatic Resources Society Environmental Society Development Studies Society Political Science Society