Leadership has always intrigued me.

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Rachel's studies began with research on women's leadership in Palestinian refugee camps, a project for the UN Women's Program in Lebanon (UNRWA, 2008). 

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They transitioned into wildland fire and took their curiosity about leadership with them. Rachel began leading a wildfire crew in 2012, and took a step off the fireline and into research and advocacy in 2017. 

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Their MA research on wildland fire leadership, The Wildfire Within: Firefighter perspectives on gender and leadership in wildland fire, offered a ground-breaking and industry-changing perspective.

It was the first project of its kind to engage firefighters in open dialogue about gender, using technology to create a safe space, in the midst of a wildland fire community. 

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It was nominated by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for the Nelson Mandela Award (2016), awarded the recommendation of distinction by Royal Roads University (2017), and nominated for the Governor General's Gold Medal Award (2017).

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Her current PhD project, Rise: An exploration of risk, inclusion + psychological safety in mountain guiding + avalanche professions worldwide focus on bringing these insights into the guiding and avalanche profession. 

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For Rachel's work on diversity and inclusion in the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, she was awarded the Silver Distinguished Member Service award.

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For custom workshops, research assistance, or speaking engagements, contact her here.

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