Borneo Fellows - 2010

Alana Jade Bliss
Hometown: Burlington, Ontario
“You can't even begin to come up with solutions until you've investigated the problem… from the roots, up.”

Alana Bliss is an energetic young woman who left home to find meaning and adventure in Western Canada. Since arriving at Quest two years ago, there has been plenty of both. Alana loves laughter, yoga, and the feeling of mud between her toes. She is most inspired by family, Quest, mother nature and the human capacity for compassion.” She believes that education can free a soul and that balance is an essential part of life. During her expedition in Borneo, Alana is excited to delve into and witness some of the last pristine jungles and reefs left on this planet. She intends on exploring their symbiosis, and how balance is reflected within nature. Alana believes that understanding how the jungle and reef ecosystems work together, and the human impact on each, will lay the foundation for preservation and potential solutions.

Caleb Tomlinson
Hometown: Merritt, British Columbia
"I'm interested in contemplating how complex things might be, although I don't suppose I'll ever know"



Caleb Tomlinson is a student at Quest University Canada. He is interested in studying ecology, economics, politics, natural resources, anthropology, agriculture, philosophy, astronomy, physics, and mathematics, among other things. His question is, "How can we change the global food system to be more socially and ecologically sustainable." Along with study, travel and music are very important parts of his life.



Cameron Jones
Hometown: Kelowna, British Columbia
“Nature is not a physical place to which one can go, nor a treasure to fence in or bank, nor an essence to be saved or violated”

Cameron Jones is currently a 3rd year student at Quest. Part of the reason he came to Quest is because of opportunities like this Borneo expedition, where students can gain first-hand experience in their field of study. His academic focus at Quest is the relationship between environmental and human health.Cameron is particularly interested in diseases that spread from animals to humans and the environmental factors, which either encourage or discourage this. He strives to see successfully balanced relationships between human communities and their natural environment. He hopes this Borneo expedition helps him gain insight into the harsh realities of environmental/wildlife degradation in Indonesia and hopefully the means to facilitate change alongside like-minded passionate individuals.

Cassandra Elliott
Hometown: Port Perry, Ontario
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Cassandra is passionate about the preservation of cultural knowledge. She believes that for us to continue progressively into the future that retention of local knowledge is essential. She has gained this perspective through extensive traveling and reading. Cassandra agrees that each culture has a different way of perceiving reality and that it is crucial that cultures don¹t become homogenized; this is a concern to her because humanity will forget that there were alternate ways of living. In particular Cassandra finds interest in ethno-botany, food collection and preparation. She hopes that through the preservation of cultural knowledge in combination with new technologies we will find resolutions to our social and environmental issues. Cassandra's passion, intellect, creativity and entrepreneurship will help to make her vision a reality.

Darwyn Moffatt-Mallett
Hometown: Nanaimo, British Columbia
“I have so much respect for people doing their part to protect the natural balance of our planet. I am inspired to learn as much as I can, so that I can pass on what I have learned to others so that we might make more educated, environmentally sound choices.”

Darwyn is described by friends and teachers as a “caring, globally aware individual, eager to do his part in any way he can.” He distinguished himself early as a mature leader, becoming student council president at his high school in grade 11. An avid scuba diver, marine ecology and environmental awareness and protection have become Darwyn’s main interests in which he strives to pursue further education in. Blessed with the opportunity to travel to Thailand, Australia, Laos and Cambodia, Darwyn has experienced unforgettable opportunities, which have impacted his global outlook and awareness. He strives to continue traveling worldwide, gaining knowledge and sharing his experiences with others.

Elise Ebner
Hometown: Portland Oregon
“The world changes everyday.”

People fascinate Elise. She is unable to fathom the vast wealth of knowledge that is held in the people around her and across the world. Be it a conversation with a barista or a meeting with a professor, Elise’s prospective changes every day through sharing experiences. This holds as a reminder that the world’s knowledge is forever changing and evolving. The Borneo expedition will provide Elise with opportunities to understand the minds and lives of strangers and friends through shared thoughts, wisdom and experience. Elise hopes the people she encounters in East Kalimantan gain something from the shared experience as she increases her knowledge and understanding of their lives.

Gillian McIver
Hometown: Owen Sound, Ontario
“I strive to be more aware of the world around me, and to act on the beneficial and positive changes that I have the power to initiate.”

According to friends and teachers, Gillian is “kind-hearted, adventurous and is consistently demonstrating concern for others.” Gillian distinguished herself early as a high-performance athlete, competing successfully in freestyle skiing at a national level by age 15. Provided with the opportunity to travel internationally, she has experienced many different cultures, opening her eyes to the issues that we face globally. Gillian has participated in multiple environmental awareness groups, clubs and activities, working to inform and educate others on the importance of beneficial societal actions. In Gillian’s words, “Applying my energy to educating others on the power they have to change the world, through small or large acts, has provided me with optimism for the future and the hope that society can work towards ceasing negative impacts on the Earth.”

Jesse Horn
Hometown: Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia
"Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children." 
- Kenyan Proverb

Sustainable and practical problem solving is an idea that Jesse is very interested in. He sees that integrating this idea holistically into every aspect of life has the potential to solve many issues of the world from the ground up. Currently Jesse is interested in looking into and comparing the failed and succeeding community based solutions to local and global issues. For example he wants to observe the different solutions communities have for bringing reliable jobs to their area while looking after their environment and long-term future. Jesse hopes to use the opportunities in Borneo to obtain a first hand experience of the conditions of the are and what the people are doing to better or worsen their condition, taking the long term and short term goals into account.

Jill Carlile
Hometown: Juneau, Alaska
"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now." - Goethe

Having grown up in Southeast Alaska, one of Jill's principle passions is outdoor adventuring. Her previous international travel experiences have also fostered a passion for exploration, and for learning from the ways people of other cultures have found to solve problems. She is excited to explore ways to preserve the natural world alongside other students with similar passions, and hopes that the Borneo expedition will perhaps inspire a direction for her undergraduate studies at Quest.

Matt Moss
Hometown: Owen Sound, Ontario
"If you are not enough without it you will never be enough with it.” – Cool Runnings

Currently, Matt Moss is in his third at Quest University Canada. Living in Squamish British Columbia is one of Matt’s favorite things about school. He enjoys mountain biking, rock climbing and skiing in the Squamish area. While in school, Matt is most engaged in physical science, and environmental science classes. Matt also finds political studies very interesting. Matt’s question is related to renewable energy and energy storage.

Michaela McNeely
Hometown:Kamloops, British Columbia
“And then the day came, when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom” - Anais Nin

Family and friends consider Michaela to have a gentle persona with a resilient inner strength. They say she's a peacekeeper at heart, but not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. In her free time Michaela loves dancing and curling up with a good book and a cup of tea. She also loves spending time with children, they remind her not to take life too seriously. Since Michaela has never traveled outside of North America, her friends were surprised when she applied for this Borneo Expedition. However, her time at Quest has sparked a new appreciation for her surrounding environment, and has reinforced her desire to initiate change. Michaela (as scared as she may be) cannot wait for the experiences of Borneo to push her comfort zone, challenge her in new ways, and offer a first hand perspective to the challenges of the 21st Century. She plans to pass on her experiences in Borneo and inspire others to create positive change.

Nadine Crowe
Hometown: Whistler, British Columbia
“Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress." - Bruce Barton

Nadine Crowe is a passionate, energetic young female not afraid of stepping out of her comfort zone. The urgency to take action now regarding the health of the planet has inspired Nadine to immerse herself in experiences that will lead to greater understanding of her global community and her place in it. Her multi-discipline approach to challenges allow for possible solutions and ideas to be innovative and to integrate many perspectives. During the Borneo trip, Nadine wishes to study the effect of the destruction of the rainforest on the medical practices and health of the local peoples.

Shandel Brown
Hometown: Red Deer, Alberta
“Today is your day!
 Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!” - Dr. Seuss

Shandel is in her third year at Quest University and is interested in studying environmental issues within the context of cultural anthropology. For the last two years of her degree, Shandel is focusing on the question “how does culture influence the way a group of people interact with their natural environment?” A country kid at heart, she’s fallen in love with the Canadian west coast, and enjoys living in the mountains. She is passionate about the outdoors, environmental sustainability, traveling and education. Shandel has been involved at Quest with the student lead residence council, student government and as a peer tutor for ESL students. She is excited to explore places she’s never been, meet new people and continue learning about the world.

Sonja Rose
Hometown: Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii
“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill

Sonja is an avid world traveler. Engaging, approachable and energetic, she enjoys exploring exotic new foods to use in her cross-cultural cooking. Concluding her Ayurvedic medicine studies in South India she realized that, “In order for our global community to help repair the destruction we have done to the earth as a whole, we first need to acknowledge that every living thing has an infinite potential to heal. As long as we continue to learn how to heal ourselves, a profound respect for the greater natural world will walk along with it hand-in-hand.” Her main goal for the Borneo expedition is to study the implications of deforestation on Dayak jungle gardens. “These ancient jungles, home to thousands of medicinal plant species, are on the verge of extinction. The preservation of these forests is my highest priority when the threat of such a great medical loss is imminent.”

Spencer Miller
Hometown: Juneau, Alaska
“To truly understand something one must experience it in person and with each of these experiences, a direct impact can be made.”

Born in Alaska, Spencer finds himself most at home when he is closest to nature. After high school and a summer working as a naturalist guide in Juneau, Spencer participated in a three-month expedition through the Brazilian Amazon with the National Outdoor Leadership School. This opportunity expanded his appreciation of the relationship between humans and their environment and he saw first hand the effects that first-world lifestyles can have on other nations. Spencer believes that through education, generations to come can gain a better understanding of the pressing issues our planet is facing. He hopes one day to create an outdoor and cultural education program with an emphasis on photography. Through this program he hopes to inspire youths to take action regarding world issues or at least illuminate them to a world they may have not known existed. When not hiking or looking through a lens, Spencer enjoys music, rock climbing and squash.

Tim Moss
Hometown: Owen Sound, Ontario
“SLOW DOWN!!”

Tim is a second year student at Quest University Canada. His academic interests encompass a variety of fields as he feels that solutions to modern problems will have a variety of inputs. Tim enjoys surfing, mountain biking, ski touring and climbing with his brother Matt. Tim’s question focuses on community and social development.

Veronica Galvin
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all" - Oscar Wilde

Veronica knew from an early age she had a passion for the environment. In high school she was involved with a student run outdoor education program and helped organize and lead six trips including snow camping and rock climbing, the largest involving 200 students and a $30,000 budget. This leadership experience expanded to numerous volunteering opportunities including the Seattle Aquarium teen naturalist program which fueled her love for marine biology. After an eye opening experience going to Bolivia with her soccer team and helping Habitat for Humanity, Veronica fell in love with traveling and learning about different people and cultures. She has since traveled and volunteered extensively, including bringing 50 refurbished computers to a secondary school in Ghana and teaching English and math in Kenya. Her passion for the environment pushed her to climb Mt. Rainier at age 14 and Mt. Kilimanjaro at age 18. Veronica lives life to its fullest and is driven to helping others while helping the planet.

Vincent Page
Hometown: Aylmer, Quebec
“I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.” - Henry David Thoreau

Vince moved to British Columbia two years ago, and it was at Quest University that he found his passions for traveling and anthropology. In his third year of study Vince is focusing his education on conservation anthropology. He is excited about the Borneo expedition because it encompasses anthropological aspects of working with indigenous communities and conservation approach. Vince is an avid SCUBA diver and spent last summer in the Caribbean earning his Dive-master certification. Eventually, Vince wants to either create or work for an NGO that works with small communities and the marine ecosystems they rely upon. Vince hopes the Borneo expedition will give insight into how communities work with their surroundings to maintain environmental integrity.