Building New Paths in Forestry Technology

By Heidi Walsh, Owner & Director of Operations, DR Systems Inc.

When I decided to attend UBC’s Faculty of Forestry, it felt like a leap of faith.

I had grown up in Vancouver and did not know anyone in the forestry industry. I was looking for a science degree that could lead to interesting career opportunities, but I had very little understanding of what forestry work would actually look like. Looking back now, that uncertainty ended up being one of the best things that could have happened to me.

Like many people in forestry, my career path has not been linear.

After university, I worked in silviculture consulting on BC’s mid coast. At the time, it felt challenging and unfamiliar, but in hindsight it gave me experiences I never would have had otherwise. I spent time in communities like Bella Coola and Prince Rupert, lived on boats during shifts, commuted by helicopter, and learned very quickly to always pack my rain gear.

Heidi Walsh

I also experienced firsthand how cyclical the forestry industry can be. During an industry downturn, I had to step away from forestry for a few years before eventually returning to work in certification standards. That role became an important turning point in my career because it exposed me to software development for the first time.

An audit recommendation required us to standardize how forest engineering data was captured, stored, and reported. Suddenly, I found myself helping define software requirements, working directly with programmers, and managing user expectations — all things I had never imagined doing when I completed my forestry degree.

That experience taught me something important: you do not need to have a traditional technical background to contribute to technology development.

From there, I continued working in software-focused roles connected to forestry operations, including software for log scaling and mill management. Those roles expanded my understanding of quality control, testing, training, and client support, and even gave me opportunities to travel and see how forestry operations worked in different regions.

Eventually, I joined DR Systems.

What began as work in forest analysis and ISO 9001 evolved into managing software projects and helping guide the development of Phoenix Connect. We saw an opportunity to create software that was practical, efficient, and cost effective for forestry teams, which eventually led to transforming PhoenixPro into a web-based application now known as Phoenix Connect.

That transition required learning entirely new areas — including data management and security — subjects I never imagined would become part of my career when I first entered forestry.

One of the things I am most proud of today is the team we have built around that vision.

Forestry technology is often viewed as a niche space, but the reality is that it brings together a wide variety of skills and backgrounds. At DR Systems, our team includes women working across product leadership, GIS, client support, software implementation, business development, training, and operational forestry.

Tracey Hornby

Tracey Hornby, our Product Lead, has been with DR Systems for over 30 years. With a background in applied mathematics and experience in GIS and forest management software, she plays a major role in supporting clients, guiding product development, and ensuring Phoenix Connect meets reporting requirements. Tracey has an incredible ability to help clients step back, look at their workflows, and find practical solutions that make their day-to-day work easier and more efficient.

Bailey Vienneau

Bailey Vienneau, RFT, joined the team after building experience in field forestry, permitting, planning, and GIS-focused roles. She now works as our Client Support Lead & GIS Specialist and has helped advance mobile inspection forms and mapping capabilities within Phoenix Connect. Bailey’s operational background allows her to connect naturally with clients because she understands the realities of field work, reporting requirements, and day-to-day user challenges firsthand.

Jaya Freeman

Jaya Freeman, ASTFT, recently joined DR Systems as Business Development Lead & Silviculture Specialist, bringing experience in silviculture operations, government reporting, GIS, and forestry project management. Her experience working closely with operational forestry teams helps bring practical field perspectives into conversations around where the product can continue to improve and grow. Jaya also enjoys building relationships across the industry and understanding the evolving challenges forestry professionals are facing.

What stands out to me most is that none of us followed the exact same path.

Some of us came from field operations. Some from technical or GIS backgrounds. Some learned software development and project management on the job. Some started in forestry immediately, while others found their way into the industry indirectly.

That diversity of experience has become one of our greatest strengths.

Forestry careers today are much broader than many people realize. The industry needs people with operational, technical, analytical, and communication skills, and technology still depends heavily on people who understand how forestry works on the ground.

For women considering forestry, my biggest advice is not to worry about having a perfectly defined path.

Many of the most rewarding opportunities in my career came from saying yes to something unfamiliar, adapting during difficult periods, or learning skills I never expected to need. Forestry continues to evolve, and there is room for many different strengths and perspectives within the sector.

I have also been fortunate to work with great people throughout my career, and I continue to learn from the people around me every day.

Forestry may not have been an obvious choice for me when I started, but it has given me opportunities to travel, solve problems, build relationships, contribute to innovation, and work alongside incredibly capable people.

That is something I am very grateful for.

Heidi Walsh

Bio

Heidi Walsh is the Owner & Director of Operations at DR Systems Inc., a forestry software company focused on practical, cost-effective land management solutions. With a background in forestry operations, certification standards and software project management, Heidi has helped lead the development of Phoenix Connect, DR Systems’ flagship land management platform. She is passionate about building collaborative teams and supporting practical technology solutions for the forestry sector.