Biography

Laura Richards has worked at Fisheries and Oceans Canada since completing her PhD. Initially, she conducted research on various species of rockfish, and later, provided science advice for the management of other groundfish and salmon. Since 1998, she has held the position of Regional Director of Science Pacific, where her responsibilities include the oversight of science programs at the Institute of Ocean Science in Sidney, the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo, and other programs throughout BC and the Yukon. She has received appointments as Canadian Commissioner to the International Pacific Halibut Commission, Canadian Co-chair of the Committee of Scientific Co-operation under the Pacific Salmon Commission, and Vice-Chair of the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES). She has published over 100 articles and reports, with a research focus on quantitative methods for fisheries stock assessment and the analysis of fisheries data.