ABOUT US
With a team of Qualified Environmental Professionals, Restoration Technicians and Integrated Pest Managers, we provide our clients with the finest service in vegetation management, environmental restoration and invasive plant control.
Matt Hall, BSc, QEP, RSE
Founder and Owner of Oak Environmental
Matt is a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) and a Red Seal Horticulturalist with over a decade of experience in freshwater biology, invasive species management, and ecological restoration. He holds a BSc. in Botany and Entomology, and brings both scientific depth and field-based know-how to every project.
Matt is also a certified instructor for all Provincial IPM course programs—including Landscape, Forestry, Industrial Vegetation, Agricultural Applicator, and Vendor certifications—and teaches regularly at the Pacific Horticulture College. His training blends regulatory expertise with practical field knowledge, empowering teams to manage vegetation safely and effectively across BC.
Known for his generosity, leadership, and collaborative spirit, Matt is also a walking library when it comes to plants. His encyclopedic plant knowledge, built from years of study and experience, makes him a trusted resource across the industry—and an exceptional mentor on the ground. He’s also a genuinely great guy with a big heart and a commitment to mentoring others. As an employer and educator, he fosters a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and care.
Rebecca Jennings, Dip. in Environmental Technology
Restoration Lead-hand
Becky is an experienced field lead and a cornerstone of the Oak Environmental team. With a deep knowledge of native plants, restoration practices, and invasive species management, she brings sharp thinking, quiet confidence, and a consistently positive attitude to every site she steps onto.
Her calm presence and hardworking nature make her an exceptional leader in the field, while her kindness and upbeat energy help keep teams motivated and collaborative—even in challenging conditions. Becky holds a Pesticide Applicator Certificate and has completed training through the Stream Keepers program, equipping her with valuable skills in aquatic habitat restoration.
She’s also a dedicated volunteer, spending her weekends removing invasive ivy at Elk Lake, and an avid soccer player whose team spirit shines both on and off the field. Becky is the kind of person who makes every project smoother, every crew stronger, and every day on the job more enjoyable.
Kateri Lawson, B.Sc. in Progress
Outreach Co-ordinator
Kateri is a restoration practitioner and undergraduate student completing a BSc. in Forest Biology with a Minor in Environmental Studies. She is deeply committed to working in respectful partnership with rights-holder communities and actively supports the integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into restoration planning and practice.
With hands-on experience in invasive species management, native plant installation, and nursery development, Kateri has contributed to food sovereignty and restoration initiatives in collaboration with several First Nations communities. She brings a decolonial lens to her work, prioritizing relationship-building, knowledge-sharing, and community-driven goals.
Her background includes leading remote greenhouse construction projects, teaching sustainable agriculture, and conducting ecological monitoring with the SURREAL Lab’s wildlife camera crew at the University of Victoria. Kateri approaches restoration not just as ecological repair, but as a way of restoring relationships—to land, culture, and each other.
Whether building native nurseries, co-developing planting prescriptions, or pulling ivy from Garry oak forests, she brings curiosity, care, and a strong ethical compass to the work. Her goal is to support long-term, place-based stewardship rooted in ecological science and traditional knowledge systems.