Hello OFT Community!
My name is Claire Estey, and I will be joining the OFT team this summer as the Farmland Ecology and Stewardship Assistant.
Always the lover of being outdoors, it was no surprise when I decided to pursue a degree in Environmental Science and Ecology. Since childhood, I have been fascinated with our natural world and spent many sunny afternoons in the garden or hiking the nearby Niagara escarpment. To the astonishment of my parents, I always preferred a local plant or bug ID guide as a trip souvenir, instead of a t-shirt. After completing my B.Sc., I felt drawn towards applying what I had learned in my formal education to issues that really mattered to me; this is how I found myself working in the non-profit sector in conservation, then sustainable agriculture and food security. I loved how the work I was doing had direct, tangible impacts on my local environment and community.
After a few years, I returned to school to complete my Master of Science in Ecotoxicology at McMaster University, where I studied the effects of antimicrobials on lake ecosystems. While grateful for my time in research and academia, I once again am feeling the pull to apply my knowledge and experience in ways that directly help my neighbours and the natural world. I am thrilled to be starting this position with OFT, as it blends my experience in ecology and conservation with my passion for land protection and community engagement!
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