About Us
History
Established in 2006, Eclipse Geomatics is a small company located in Smithers, BC that provides spatial solutions and information management services to the natural resource sector. Our team at Eclipse Geomatics explores how open-source tools can be used to develop creative solutions to spatial problems and provide information management solutions. We specialize in projects focused on sustainable development including conservation, land use planning & monitoring, data governance, and data management.
Our valued clients include First Nations organizations throughout the Skeena watershed, Natural Resources Canada, SkeenaWild Conservation Trust, the BC Ministry of Energy and Mines, the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Highland Forestry, the Bulkley Valley Research Centre, and the Skeena Knowledge Trust.
Our Mission
Why We Exist
To support community and environmental sustainability by transforming and visualizing data. We achieve our mission by providing geographic Information systems (GIS) analysis, data visualization, data hub development, and information management services.
Our Vision
What We Want to Be
To progressively evolve Eclipse Geomatics into an informatics company that is open to new technologies and new possibilities.
Our Values
What We Believe In
Creative Intelligence – We strive to find creative solutions for clients and like to overthink the problem.
Depth of Service – We deliver quality services that have enduring value beyond the client’s expectations.
Thoughtful Collaboration – We bring together diverse perspectives and challenge the status quo.
Connection – We make time to connect with each other, foster our relationships, and celebrate our successes.
Independent and Resourceful – We think strategically, respond quickly, and make impactful decisions.
Commitment – We see the big picture, trust in our external relationships, and focus on long-term success.
Our Team
Johanna Pfalz
President
Johanna has worked as a consultant for the past 15 years, providing GIS services across British Columbia, Alberta, and nationally. Her work has focused on ecological land classification, land use planning, land use monitoring, environmental impact assessment, as well as documenting traditional knowledge for First Nations. Prior to consulting, Johanna worked with the Provincial Government in Information Management for 10 years including Section Head of the regional Smithers GIS section. She is the President of Eclipse Geomatics Ltd. and is excited to be working with such a great team of information specialists. In recent years, Johanna has become an advocate for open source tools as well as open data. Recent projects such as the Skeena Knowledge Trust showcase these practices and demonstrate their utility. When she’s not working on her computer, Johanna likes to spend time in her canoe (the Mad River Eclipse), go jogging with her Bouvier named Toby, garden, fish, ski and hang out at the lake with her partner and daughter. Life is good.
Manuela Zindler
Project Manager
Manuela works as a Project Coordinator for Eclipse Geomatics, focusing on projects related to the Skeena Knowledge Trust. Born and raised in southern Germany and driven by her love for the environment, she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Geography at LMU Munich, with an exchange year at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, followed by an international Master’s degree in Global Change Ecology at the University of Bayreuth. As a passionate environmental scientist, she has engaged in various projects, conferences, and science schools related to climate change and environmental stewardship, including her own research publications. Manuela moved to Terrace, BC, in April 2022. She loves spending time outdoors in the beautiful, calming nature of northern BC, and pursues her passion for hiking, biking, skiing, and running. On a quiet day, she enjoys listening to music, baking, cooking, or reading a good novel.
Lizzy Hoffman
Technical Solutions Architect
Lizzy Hoffman works with Eclipse Geomatics as a Technical Solutions Architect, focusing on the Skeena Knowledge Trust project. Lizzy grew up in Victoria, British Columbia and completed a B.Sc. in Biology at the University of Victoria, followed by an M.Sc. in Land Reclamation and Remediation at the University of Alberta. There she studied the development of vegetation communities at reclaimed surface mine sites and became interested in using open source tools for data analysis and management. Following her master’s, Lizzy moved to Williams Lake where she taught at Thompson Rivers University, the College of New Caledonia and other institutions. In 2018, Lizzy moved to Smithers and joined Eclipse Geomatics. Lizzy enjoys skiing, hiking and mountain biking with her partner and dog in her spare time.
Reine Vizcarra
Technical Architect
Reine Vizcarra is a Technical Architect at Eclipse Geomatics. With a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology focused on developing Web Applications, Reine brings extensive experience in web development, data visualization, and geographic information systems (GIS). Originally from the Philippines, Reine moved to Smithers in 2017. Her technical proficiency spans a broad range of programming languages and frameworks, and she is passionate about using her experience to contribute to innovative technical solutions. In her spare time, Reine enjoys photography and reading books.
Akhil Sai Thekkeveedu
Financial Administrator
Akhil Sai Thekkeveedu is originally from Kerala, India where he completed his Masters in Finance in 2019. After working for 2 years as a Manager of LPG Cylinder Agency (India) he moved to Smithers to complete a post graduate diploma in Business at Coast Mountain College. Akhil applies his extensive financial knowledge and experience in his role with Eclipse Geomatics as our Financial Administrator. He really likes to play football (soccer) in the summer.
Ali Sehpar Shikoh
Data Visualization Specialist
Ali holds a PhD from Qatar University and a Master’s Degree from Loughborough University. In addition, he also has a diploma in Data Science from BrainStation, Canada. His skill set includes data analysis, programming, and collaboration, with a solid capability in using visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, and Python to develop informative dashboards and interpret complex datasets. He has an extensive background in data-driven research and has authored/co-authored over 30 research publications, gathering around 400 citations. Apart from academic research, his professional background features contributions to government and non-government-funded projects, focusing on topics like immigration, healthcare, and indigenous business development. At Eclipse, his responsibilities include data analysis, dashboard implementation, reporting, and project management. Outside of work, Ali enjoys swimming, watching movies, and spending time with his family.
Brett Tripp
Data Analytics Team Lead
Brett Tripp is a Data Analytics Team Lead with Eclipse Geomatics. She earned her B.Sc. in Natural Resources Conservation from the University of British Columbia in 2017, where she developed a strong passion about the natural world and sustainability within the natural resource sector. After moving to Smithers in 2017, Brett began her career in the forestry industry where she gained experience in silviculture, data visualization, geographic information systems (GIS), project management, and capturing terrain and vegetation information using UAVs (drones). Additionally, she has worked on coordinating projects and facilitating traditional decision-making processes with local indigenous governments in Northern BC. In her spare time, Brett enjoys gardening, crafting, cooking new recipes, watching movies with her partner and two cats, and getting outside any chance she can.