As Director of Christmas Tree Lab, Dr. Kelsey Leonard, is a Climate Change Adaptation Scientist emphasizing partnerships with farmers. Specializing in environmental justice, she champions local knowledge as vital in documenting climate change indicators. Prioritizing farmer collaboration, she aims to support the Christmas tree industry's continuity for future generations.

Dr. Julie Messier is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Waterloo whose research sits at the intersection of trait-based plant ecology, phenotypic integration and community ecology. She studies how variation and covariation in plant functional traits influence plant performance, species distributions and community responses to environmental change, using a combination of field and experimental approaches. Her work links plant trait ecology with climate change and ecological adaptation across scales. She is excited to apply her expertise in plant traits and community dynamics to the practical challenges faced by Christmas tree growers under a changing climate.

Alison Clarke (she/her) is a Research Associate with the Christmas Tree Lab, contributing to climate resilience research and community relations support. She recently completed a Master of Climate Change at the University of Waterloo, and joined the lab while completing the Master in May 2024. Previously, she completed her Bachelor of Environmental Studies at the University of Waterloo in 2023. Alison’s primary climate change areas of interest include determining anticipated climate impacts and how to appropriately adapt to the changes, in addition to fostering effective communication regarding climate change and its impacts for individuals.

Andrea Villalon (she/her) is a Research Associate supporting projects at the Christmas Tree Lab. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto, where she focused on Environmental Studies and Forest Conservation, and a Master of International Forestry from the University of British Columbia. Andrea is passionate about climate action and Indigenous environmental justice. She is excited to contribute to the Christmas Tree Lab’s efforts to address the impacts of climate change and support sustainable pathways for environmental stewardship and climate resilience.