College Conference

2026 College Conference

The College’s 2026 Conference is on April 9-10, 2026 at the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria, BC on the traditional lands of the of the Songhees Nation and the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nation. Read on for more information about the speakers and panels.

Registrants will have the opportunity to participate in the Conference through a live web broadcast. Details on registration for the virtual broadcast are below. Registrants who attend the Conference will be able to claim a maximum of 14 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. More information about CPD can be found here. Conference registration is non-refundable and non-transferable after April 6, 2026.

Registration

Registering for the College’s 2026 Conference is easy. Simply navigate to the College’s portal, log-in, and select the 2026 Conference from the Events section.

You’ll be able to select your ticket, choose add-ons for additional opportunities to participate, and checkout — all within the portal! If you don’t have a profile on the College’s portal, that’s ok. You can quickly sign up with just your name and email and then access the event registration as normal.

NB: If you are looking for registration for the 2026 annual general meeting please visit note that the AGM will be held on May 13, 2026 and will be virtual only. Please contact the College office if you have any questions about accessing the broadcasts.

Pricing Information

Please note Conference registration is non-refundable and non-transferable after April 6, 2026.

Lunch Speakers

Thursday Lunch Speaker — The Honourable Randene Neill

Randene Neill was first elected as the MLA for Powell River – Sunshine Coast in 2024 and was appointed Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship in November 2024. Before being elected to the legislature, Randene spent almost 20 years as a reporter and news anchor at Global BC. Most recently, she worked with the BC Parks Foundation and prior to that, she worked on the new St. Paul’s Hospital. Randene has volunteered with many organizations, including the Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society, PODS, the BC Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and many others. She lives with her family in the community of kalpilin/Pender Harbour on the Sunshine Coast.

Minister Neill will discuss the growth in the profession of applied biology, the importance of hiring the right professional in compliance with the Professional Governance Act, and work that’s being done on regulations under legislation such as the Water Sustainability Act. She will also respond to your questions during a moderated Q&A session.

Minister Neill will be appearing virtually.

Friday Keynote Speaker — Megan Hanacek

Megan Hanacek is a professional biologist (RPBio) and forester (RPF), business owner and TV personality.

She is the CEO of the non-profit Private Forest Landowners Association and owner of an environmental assessment firm. For over 25 years, she has led project work with the provincial and federal governments, private industry, First Nations, non-governmental organizations and academia throughout British Columbia. Previously, Megan was a forest stewardship specialist with the Association of BC Forest Professionals, Managing Director of the Association of Professional Biology of BC, and planning forester with the Ministry of Forests working on large scale projects including the Great Bear Rainforest (6.4 million hectares) to smaller scale management of wildlife values and habitat.

Currently residing in Port McNeill with her husband and children, she is a strong voice for rural communities and sustainable resource-sector management and development. For the past 5 years, she has served as a government appointee and Treasurer on the $70 million Island Coastal Economic Trust (www.islandcoastaltrust.ca) and government appointee on the Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council (www.ministerswildlifeadvisory.ca). She served on the College of Applied Biologists Board (2020-2025) and still stands as one of the longest standing female finalists on the hit HISTORY channel survival shows “ALONE”.

The topic of Megan’s keynote will be “Thriving (not just surviving) during uncertain times.”

2026 Conference Agenda

*Conference program subject to change closer to event dates

April 8th, 2026

Welcome Reception

• 7-9pm: Welcome Reception — Sponsored by McTavish Resource & Management Consultants

April 9th, 2026

Conference Day 1

• 8:00am-9:45am: Continental Breakfast and Opening Remarks — Sponsored by EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc.
• 10:00am-11:15am: Session 1 — Professional Reliance 2.0
• 11:15am-12:45pm: Lunch and Keynote speaker
• 1:00pm-2:15pm: Session 2 — Wildfires, drought and flood preparedness, mitigation and conservation (and costs)
  • Networking Break (30 min.) — Sponsored by Associated Environmental
• 2:45-4pm: Session 3 — Environmental Professionals Panel

Soirée Reception

• 7-9pm: Soirée Reception — Sponsored by Triton Environmental Consulting Ltd.

April 10th, 2026

Conference Day 2

• 8:00-8:30am: Breakfast & Opening Remarks
• 8:30-9:30am: Special Session — Employers preparing young professionals for registration
  • Cathy Mackay, Corinna Hoodicoff
    • Networking Break (30 min.) — Sponsored by Urban Systems
• 10:00-11:15am: Session 4 — Indigenous-led conservation
• 11:15am-12:45pm: Lunch and Keynote speaker
• 1:00-2:15pm: Session 5 — How professionals get into trouble (trends and guidance)
  • Networking Break (30 min.) — Sponsored by WSP Canada Inc.
• 2:45-4pm: Session 6 — Ethical use of new technology

Committed Speakers

• Jesse Romano, Acting Director, Legislation, Ethics & Compliance, Engineers and Geoscientists BC
• Samuel Pittman, Director of Practice, College of Applied Biologists
• Julia Hengstler, Professor and Chair, Centre for Education & CyberHumanity, Vancouver Island University
• Peter Robb, Executive Vice President, Resource Management & Stewardship, BC Energy Regulator
• Cathy Mackay, CEO, EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc.
• Corinna Hoodicoff, General Manager, Environmental, Associated Environmental Consultants Inc.
• Jane Park, Prescribed Fire Manager, Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program, University of British Columbia Okanagan
• Jason Kuzminski, JD, Interim Executive Director, Surrey Police Board
• Elaine Vale, Registrar, College of Applied Biologists
• Ian Murphy, B.Sc., EP, Managing Director, Trinity Consultants Canada
• Morris Prosser, Councillor, Tsal’alh First Nation
• Andrea Norris, PhD, Indigenous Science Manager, Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Carmen Holschuh, RPBio, Vice President, One-Eighty Consulting Group Inc.
• Nathan Braun, Partner, ERM International Group Limited
• Meagan Mak, BIT, Marine Scientist, Dynamic Ocean Consulting Ltd.

Tradeshow

Returning in 2026 is the College of Applied Biologists’ Conference Tradeshow. Within the Pender Island Ballroom of the Hotel Grand Pacific you will find a number of exhibitors with useful information, products and services.

Confirmed Vendors

ISCBC will be sharing general invasive species information relevant to professional practice in BC, including prevention principles, early detection, and risk-based management approaches. We will also provide information on ISCBC training and professional development resources that support practitioners working in invasive species identification, prevention, and management across sectors.	Something special is coalescing in northern B.C. in support of ecosystem restoration. Stop by our community of practice booth to learn how practitioners are collaborating and staying connected to improve the healing of lands, waters, and relationships. Anyone interested in restoration actions is freely encouraged to join our forward momentum and contribute to our shared success. Come explore what an interdisciplinary and multi-sector network is building with courage, trust, and community. We can’t wait to welcome you!	We at Oak are dedicated to the propagation, supply and installation of native plant species for habitat restoration, erosion control, and vegetation management projects.  We also lead the charge in the control of invasive and noxious weeds on our Pacific coast.
EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc. focuses on living things and where they live. We have been in business for three decades and you can find our offices at multiple locations in western and northern Canada. We are a team of 150+ experienced specialists, including agrologists, biologists, hydrologists, hydrogeologists, scientists and planners, with local expertise you can trust for your project.	Dynamic Ocean Consulting Ltd. is a boutique environmental consulting firm with experience across all of Canada’s oceans. We operate through three primary business portfolios: regulatory and permitting services, marine equipment rental, and scientific diving instruction.	Founded in 1994, Biologica is Canada’s premier full-service taxonomy laboratory, renowned for its accuracy, consistency, efficiency, and professionalism. With a multidisciplinary team of marine and freshwater specialists—with over 150 years of combined taxonomic expertise—Biologica delivers high-quality taxonomic analyses of marine and freshwater benthos, zooplankton, ichthyoplankton, phytoplankton, and periphyton.
WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firms, uniting its engineering, advisory and science-based expertise to shape communities to advance humanity. From local beginnings to a globe-spanning presence today, WSP operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 75,000 professionals, known as Visioneers.	riton has been facilitating responsible resource development in Western Canada for over 30 years, employing over 150 Qualified Professionals, including biologists, agrologists and technologists.
In a world shaped by climate-driven disturbance, invasive species, urban growth, and legacy contamination, ecological restoration has become an essential infrastructure for communities and nature. BCIT’s Ecological Restoration BSc & MSc programs prepare you to diagnose ecological problems, design defensible restoration plans, and deliver results in the field—locally in British Columbia and globally. Learn more about how the programs can support your career goals at our tradeshow booth.

Stay tuned as vendors are added. If you would like to be an exhibitor, contact Tory Davis, Communications Manager to see the 2026 sponsorship catalogue, or call the College Office at 1-250-383-3306.

Sponsors

PREMIER SPONSORS

SELECT SPONSORS

FRIENDSHIP SPONSORS

The College is grateful for the support of its event sponsors. Are you interested in sponsoring the 2026 Conference or participating in the tradeshow? Contact Tory Davis, Communications Manager to see the 2026 sponsorship catalogue, or call the College Office at 1-250-383-3306.

Venue & Reception Information

The Hotel Grand Pacific is the venue for the 2026 Conference. Note the areas and rooms below for each conference program element:

• Conference plenary, April 9 & 10: Vancouver Island Ballroom
• Welcome reception, April 8: South Pender Island Ballroom
• Soirée reception, April 9: The Flying Otter Grill*
• Tradeshow, April 8, 9, & 10: Pender Island Ballroom

*Located off-site

Accommodation & Travel

Accommodation

Accommodation at the Hotel Grand Pacific is now sold out. The College has arranged for a preferred rate at the Coast Victoria Hotel. The group rate is offered on a limited basis, so book now for best prices!

To book your accommodation using the College’s preferred rate at the Coast Victoria, use the button or dial-in with the information below:

Travel

The 2026 conference is in beautiful downtown Victoria, along the Inner Harbour. Air travel from downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo to downtown Victoria can be achieved via floatplane with Harbour Air or helicopter via HeliJet. Victoria is also serviced daily by commercial aircraft at Victoria International Airport (YYJ) and ferry service with BC Ferries. Please note that you must arrange for ground transportation if travelling by commercial aircraft or ferry, as these transportation hubs are located outside of the Victoria city centre.

If travelling by car, please note the following parking information provided by the Hotel Grand Pacific:

• Over-night parking for guests is $23 per car/per night, plus taxes (self-park) for under-height vehicles only
• Underground parking garage maximum height is 6’4” — large trucks and vans generally do not fit in the parking garage

Please note that the parking rate at the Coast Victoria is $26.00 per 24 hours.

On-street parking is available but may be subject to maximum parking times (eg. three-hour max); other parking lots and city parkades are available but may require greater travel distance on foot.