
Dr. Karen Payne
ITO Director
Dr. Payne is the Associate Director for International Technology for the World Data System, a component of the International Science Council. Her role is to help WDS member institutions build out their contributions to the global research data infrastructure. Prior to joining the University of Victoria, Dr. Payne worked at the University of Georgia providing data services to the humanitarian community involved in disaster relief and recovery activities. Dr. Payne earned a joint PhD in Geography and Engineering from the Australian National University investigating artificial intelligence techniques for classifying satellite images.

Chantelle Verhey
Research Associate
Chantelle is a Research Associate for the World Data System-International Technology Office hosted at Ocean Networks Canada. She has a Masters of Science in Environmental Management from the University of Reading in the UK, and was dedicated to researching Forest fire trends in the Canadian Boreal Forest. After her research was completed, Chantelle moved on to work at the University of Waterloo as a Data Manager for the Polar Data Catalogue. Now, she is combining her research and work experience to enhance data interoperability within the polar scientific community through the use of semantic technologies.
- Email:ito-ra2@oceannetworks.ca

Melinda Minch
Web Developer
Melinda Minch is a full-stack software developer who prefers mission-driven work that does some good in the world. She has been in the software industry for more than 15 years, and her favorite projects help translate the domain knowledge of experts like musicians, scientists and academics into software design that helps them achieve their goals.

CJ Woodford
Research Associate
CJ is a Research Associate for the World Data System-International Technology Office hosted at Ocean Networks Canada. He has a PhD in Physics from the University of Toronto, where he specialized in computer simulations of black hole systems. After his PhD, CJ worked with the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute at Queen’s University as a Knowledge Translation Specialist. Now, he is combining his research and work experience to support the Global Open Research Commons International Model Working Group in improving global access to research artifacts and to analyze the WDS strategic and technical plans.
- Email:ito-ra1@oceannetworks.ca

Caroline Lee
Research Associate
Caroline is a Research Associate for the World Data System – International Technology Office hosted at
Ocean Networks Canada. Caroline has a Master of Applied Ocean Technology from the Fisheries and
Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she focused on ocean mapping
techniques and conducted research into methods for the remote mapping of submarine slope stability
in coastal environments. Previously, she earned her Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of
Toronto in Geology and Geographic Information Systems.
- Email:ito-ra3@oceannetworks.ca

Mike Morrison
Research Associate
Mike has joined the World Data System - International Technology Office hosted at Ocean Networks Canada as a Research Associate. He earned his Honours Bachelor Degree in Environment, Resources, and Sustainability from the University of Waterloo and has previously worked with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) as an Initial Attack Fire Ranger in Northern Ontario. Mike has a strong interest in emergency preparedness and fostering resilient communities in a changing wildfire environment and will be conducting research for the polar observing assets community
- Email:ito-ra4@oceannetworks.ca

Yemisi Ogungbemi
Co-op Web Developer
Mr. Yemisi Ogungbemi is a Co-op student from the University of British Columbia, majoring in Computer Science. He is contributing to the Polar federated search web application by features implementation, testing, and documentation of any changes. Before accepting this Job He was a teaching assistant and resident advisor at the University of British Columbia. A conspiracy theory I believe in is that Michael Jackson is still alive!
Want to join us? Take a look at the job listings page to find an availability!