We’re Cornice

Our diverse background in field-based techniques and project management has been refined into a specialized focus dedicated to environmentally sensitive and complex projects.

Our Story

Cornice is a dynamic British Columbia-based firm providing senior-level environmental advisory and technical consulting services. The Cornice leadership team specializes in guiding resource development projects from conception to completion, navigating through the complex phases of planning, impact assessment, environmental permitting, and project execution, throughout western Canada.

We believe this is a Trust business.

Leadership Team

Jim Trask, RPBio, PBiol, CPESC

Principal & Senior Ecologist/Project Advisor

Jim's love for the outdoors has seamlessly intertwined with his career path, beginning with a diploma in Biological Sciences, Ecology Option from NAIT in Edmonton in 1986. His journey led him to diverse opportunities with Alberta Fish & Wildlife, including pre-logging assessments and participation in caribou and bighorn sheep capture programs. He further honed his skills as a technician at the Arctic Institute of North America's high Arctic research camp on Devon Island, eventually managing the camp for six seasons.

Continuing his educational pursuits, Jim completed his degree in Biological Sciences, Ecology Stream at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. With 30 years of experience as an environmental consultant in Western Canada, Jim has cultivated expertise in plant species identification, ecosystem classification, and fish passage restoration.

Jim's proficiency extends to managing ecological resource inventories, conducting environmental impact assessments, and designing fish habitat restoration projects. His extensive experience also encompasses rare plant surveys, species at risk assessments, habitat modeling, and directed fish and wildlife studies.

Jim excels in permitting large projects, auditing, developing training programs, and engaging in high-level negotiations. His knowledge and experience are invaluable assets in supporting legal cases and delivering comprehensive environmental solutions.

Robyn Black, RPBio, PBiol

Senior Project Manager and Director of Operations

Robyn's lifelong love for the outdoors has shaped her dynamic career journey. Armed with a Bachelors of Science in Wildlife Biology from the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, BC, she embarked on a diverse path spanning offshore fisheries and Western North American ecosystems.

With over 25 years of experience, including five years as an Alaskan fisheries observer, and six in the sagebrush steppe of Western USA, then migrating back to her home province of BC, Robyn seamlessly blends her expertise as a biologist, manager, and environmental planner. Her skill set encompasses watercourse crossing assessments, wetland delineation, vegetation rehabilitation, wildlife habitat assessments, and more.

Robyn's strength lies in integrating multidisciplinary knowledge to offer comprehensive solutions for her clients, ranging from private landowners to natural resource developers. She excels in guiding large infrastructure projects through complex regulatory processes, ensuring success from inception to post-construction monitoring through informed and collaborative strategies with stakeholders, subject matter experts, and client relationships.

Leverage our Network for Complex Projects

Collaborating with some of the best in the business, Cornice creates teams that meet the logistical and speciality needs of a project. Our long-term and trusted working relationships can benefit the end-goal of projects seeking a team of high-quality specialists.

The best part? We will manage their process and their products.