Home / About / Jason Korkidakis
Meet Jason KorkidakisArborist. Climber. Educator.
Owner & Lead Arborist at Koala Tree. ISA Certified Arborist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, with a decade of experience in tree care and more than 5,000 assessments behind him.
Profile
Understand the tree first. Then decide what it actually needs.
Jason Korkidakis is an ISA Certified Arborist (ON-3263A) based in London, ON, holding the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) and the ISA Prescription Pruning Qualification (PPQ). As Owner and Lead Arborist of Koala Tree, his work centres on tree assessment, risk management, mature-tree care and practical plans for complex trees in residential and urban settings.
He still climbs. Jason is a practising climbing arborist who stays hands-on in technical tree work, so his advice is grounded in how trees actually respond to pruning, loading and support systems, not just in theory.
Away from client work, he teaches other arborists in Canada and internationally, helps design and test professional climbing equipment, and is invited by CBC London to explain tree issues to a general audience.
- Title
- Owner & Lead Arborist, Koala Tree, since 2020
- Credentials
- ISA Certified Arborist ON-3263A · ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) · ISA Prescription Pruning Qualification (PPQ)
- What TRAQ means
- The ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification: training and assessment in ISA’s standardized method for evaluating tree risk (likelihood of failure, impact and consequences) and recommending ways to reduce it.
- What PPQ means
- The ISA Prescription Pruning Qualification: training in writing pruning prescriptions based on a tree’s biology, structure and the client’s goals, following accepted pruning standards, so the right cuts get specified for each tree.
- Experience
- A decade · 5,000+ assessments
- Teaching
- Lead Instructor, Vertical Expo (Maple Leaf Ropes), 2024 to present · Educator, Brazil Arbor Fest, 2025
- Equipment
- Designer of the ISC Nessie and ISC Octo
- Media
- Arboricultural expert contributor, CBC London
- Based in
- London, ON
“The objective is not to advocate for a particular outcome, but to give clients clear, evidence-based information so they can make an informed decision.”
Jason’s approach to every assessment
How Jason assesses a tree
The right decision isn’t always obvious. That’s the job.
Much of Jason’s work is with trees where the right call isn’t clear at first glance: mature trees, declining trees, trees close to homes.
01
The whole tree, in context
Species, condition and vitality, structure, branch and stem unions, wounds and past pruning, visible and suspected decay, roots and root flare, canopy loading, previous failures, and what sits beneath the tree.
02
Evidence, not a single defect
A crack or a cavity is evidence, not a verdict. Recommendations come from the individual tree and the site as a whole. Assessment doesn’t remove all uncertainty; it improves the decision.
03
Every reasonable option first
Monitoring, pruning, cabling and other support, changes to how the area is used, staged work or further investigation. Removal is recommended when keeping the tree is no longer reasonable.
In the field
Climber first.
Time in the canopy shapes the advice: how branches carry load, how a tree reacts to a cut, what a support system can and can’t do.
2026 Ontario Tree Climbing Competition
Ascending a mature maple
Selective pruning
- Advanced climbing and work positioning
- Technical and mature-tree pruning
- Risk-mitigation pruning and end-weight reduction
- Cabling and supplemental support systems
- Rigging and complex removals
- Storm-damaged tree assessment
Teaching arborists
Trusted to teach other professionals.
Jason teaches practising arborists in Canada and abroad, combining hands-on climbing and tree-care skills with the reasoning behind each decision.
Lead Instructor · 2024 to present
Vertical Expo · Maple Leaf Ropes
Teaches Pruning with Purpose (setting clear pruning objectives for the tree, the site and the outcome), technical climbing and work positioning, cabling, union selection and anchors, and climbing systems. Co-instructs rescue and live removal sessions.
International educator · 2025
Brazil Arbor Fest
Invited to teach practising arborists at Brazil Arbor Fest.
Technical roles · Canada and internationally
Tree climbing competitions
Equipment inspection and technical compliance, event setup and technical design, judging, and competitor safety.
Equipment design
He helps design the gear arborists use.
Problems found in the field become product ideas. Jason develops concepts, evaluates prototypes and field-tests equipment with industry manufacturers.
Works with ISC, Maple Leaf Ropes and a PPE chainsaw pants company.
Designer / inventor
ISC Nessie & ISC Octo
Jason came up with the original concept and design. ISC acquired and developed both as part of its professional arborist equipment range.
Field testing & development
ISC Reflex
Field testing, product evaluation and technical feedback during development.
Design & development contributor
Maple Leaf Ropes cabling systems
Practical input on installation, function and real-world use of tree cabling and support systems.
In the media
A go-to voice on trees for CBC London.
Jason is invited by CBC London to comment on tree-related news, explaining things in plain language from the point of view of a working arborist.
Topics have included
- Tree health and management
- Storm impacts and tree damage
- Tree risk and public safety
- Pruning and tree care
- Urban tree issues
An 8-person crew and the kit for big jobs.
Expert judgement backed by a capable crew: spider lift, crane work, chipper & chipper truck, mechanical lifting machines and stump grinder.
Reviews
Working with Jason, in clients’ words.
From our Google reviews, in clients’ own words.
“I was told that I would have to cut down my 80 yr. old Maple tree... it was devastating news. A close friend urged me to call Koala Tree for a second opinion. When Jason said he thought he could save it, I was 'over the moon' ! He and his team worked tirelessly, getting the tree to a point where it will be able to survive the winter and regain its health. … my beloved Maple tree has been given another chance and, I will be forever grateful to Jason, … and the entire team at Koala Tree, for their commitment and dedication. You guys are the best!”
Brenda Lewis · Google review
“What a great company to deal with. Right from first meeting Jason for the quote to booking and then the actual day. You can tell Jason cares about what he is doing. He made it look so easy to get the equipment through my gate and into my backyard. He trimmed the tree exactly as we discussed. His team that arrived for clean up were great as well. I'm impressed! Price was great as well. Thanks Jason for a job I've dreaded for years!”
Michelle Masse · Google review
“We have been having Jason and his crew … manage our trees for the last several years. We have been very impressed with the care and respect they have shown while on our property. They are extremely professional how they go about their business. The work is done in a timely manner and they work very hard to make sure that everything is cleaned up and left in a neat and tidy condition. We will continue to have Jason take care of our trees.”
Michael · Google review
Not sure what your tree needs? Let’s get clarity.
Start with the step that fits your question. Every door leads to the same calm, evidence-first advice.
Prefer to talk? Call 226-224-5877 · Mon to Fri, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm · info@koalatree.ca