Keynote speaker
John Ralston Saul, essayist and novelist, is Canada’s leading public intellectual. He is the former President of PEN International, the leading global organization of writers dedicated to freedom of expression and literature. He has published 14 works, which have been translated into 27 languages in 36 countries. In A Fair Country Saul argues that Canada is a Métis nation, heavily influenced and shaped by Aboriginal ideas. The most recent of his works is The Comeback (Le Grand Retour), an examination of the remarkable return to power of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. He is the co-Founder and co-Chair of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and a Companion of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario.
Other speakers
Will Atlas is Science Director for QQs Projects Society, a Hakai Research Fellow, and PhD Candidate at Simon Fraser University. Based in the Heiltsuk community of Bella Bella, Will has worked for QQs Projects Society since 2012. During that time they have worked with the Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department, Hakai Institute and Simon Fraser to establish community driven salmon monitoring programs which support sustainable Food, Social and Ceremonial fisheries in the Koeye River, and other watersheds around the region.
Tyson ?ikaatius Atleo is next in-line to hold a 27th generation hereditary chief seat for the Ahousaht First Nation of the Nuu-chah-nulth people. Passionate about supporting the spiritual and social well being of Indigenous peoples he has been raised as a leader to respect Nuu-chah-nulth cultural values and the worldview Heshook-ish Tsawalk, meaning “everything is one.” In addition to his hereditary responsibilities, Tyson holds a number of professional and volunteer positions and continues to enjoy a successful career providing professional community development and strategic communications services to Indigenous communities, not-for profit organizations, the Government of Canada and private industry.
Marilyn Baptiste is a member of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation, one of six Tsilhqot’in communities in the interior of BC. She is the third daughter of Marjorie Schuk of Tatlayoko, BC and late Marvin Baptiste of Xeni Gwet’in who was Chief since before Marilyn was born. Marilyn served her community, Nation and Indigenous people from 2008-2013 as Chief and served as Secretary/Treasurer for the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs from 2010-2013. Marilyn was awarded the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize for North America, having led her community in defeating one of the largest proposed gold and copper mines in British Columbia that would have destroyed Fish Lake—a source of spiritual identity and livelihood for the Xeni Gwet’in. She continues to serve as a Councillor of Xeni Gwet’in First Nation.
Tzeporah Berman is an environmental activist and writer, and has 20 years of experience designing environmental campaigns in Canada and internationally. She currently works as a strategic advisor to a number of First Nations, environmental organizations and philanthropic foundations on climate and energy issues, including the oil sands and pipelines. Last year she was appointed to the BC Government Climate Leadership Team tasked with making policy recommendations to meet BC legislated climate targets. Tzeporah is an Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, the former Co-Director of Greenpeace International’s Climate Program and Co-founder of ForestEthics. Her book This Crazy Time: Living Our Environmental Challenge was published by Knopf Canada in 2011.
Jonaki Bhattacharyya is an ethnoecologist who works with Indigenous communities, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Her work integrates cultural values, ecological knowledge, and science into applied environmental and wildlife conservation, management, and land use planning. Jonaki has experience with on-the-ground conservation and research initiatives throughout British Columbia, and has facilitated research teams, professional panels, and community-based strategic planning workshops. She is currently a Senior Researcher with Firelight Research Inc. and Adjunct Assistant Professor with the School of Environmental Studies at University of Victoria, British Columbia.
Meaghan Calcari Campbell’s primary work focuses on bringing together diverse interests in British Columbia to resolve conflict and ensure a healthy ocean and sustainable communities. Previously, she evaluated community-based conservation and economic development projects in Southeast Asia. She is former Board Secretary of CEGN and currently serves on the Board of the Environmental Grantmakers Association. Meaghan received her B.S. in environmental science and psychology from the University of Notre Dame, Master of Environmental Management from Duke University, and M.B.A. in community economic development from Cape Breton University.
Jessica Clogg is Executive Director & Senior Counsel of West Coast Environmental Law. Since 1999 Jessica’s natural resource and Aboriginal law practice at West Coast has placed her in the forefront of crafting solutions to complex environmental and natural resource problems as a facilitator, negotiator, strategist and law reform advocate. Her work has a particular focus on providing legal, strategic and capacity-building support to Indigenous Peoples who are implementing strategies grounded in their own laws to protect and manage their territories, and ultimately to transform Canadian law in ways that are more sustainable, more democratic and more just.
Dave Collyer is an experienced strategic and operational leader in the Canadian energy sector, with a strong focus on integration of technical, economic and public policy considerations in business decision-making. He currently provides consulting services to the Canadian energy sector and serves on a number of not-for-profit and corporate boards. Dave was President and CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) from September 2008 until December 2014. In this capacity, he was responsible for leading CAPP’s activities in education, communication and engagement, and policy / regulatory advocacy. Prior to joining CAPP, Dave was President and Country Chair for Shell in Canada. During his 30-year career with Shell, Dave held a broad range of technical, business, marketing, and senior leadership roles.
Chris Darimont is the Hakai-Raincoast Professor at the University of Victoria, a Research Scholar with the Hakai Institute, and Science Director for Raincoast Conservation Foundation. He has dedicated his career to acutely applied science, often via community-engaged partnership with coastal Indigenous Nations. Among his mentors he considers not only academics who trained him but also community knowledge holders and other leaders, and well as his long-term colleagues at Raincoast. Although their work focuses on coastal wildlife, Chris’ research group also aims to make global impacts in the realms of natural resource management and conservation ethics.
Tom David advises foundations and other public benefit organizations on matters of strategy, organizational learning and evaluation. Until July 2004, he was Director of Organizational Learning and Evaluation at the Marguerite Casey Foundation in Seattle. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President of The California Wellness Foundation, Vice President of the S.H. Cowell Foundation and Senior Program Officer at the James Irvine Foundation in San Francisco. He was the recipient of the 2002 Terrence Keenan Leadership Award in Health Philanthropy from Grantmakers in Health.
Darcy Dobell‘s longstanding interest in community and ecology has taken her through a professional career that includes over 25 years of public sector, NGO, and consulting work. She spent a number of years in the BC government with a focus on natural resource management and treaty negotiations. As VP, Conservation and Pacific for WWF-Canada, Darcy led regional and national conservation programs and collaborative initiatives. Now an independent consultant, Darcy currently works with First Nations, philanthropic foundations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies to help diverse groups align their efforts and advance shared goals. She serves as a Director of BC’s Coast Opportunity Funds and of Artists for Conservation.
Robyn Duncan is the Executive Director of Wildsight, an environmental charity based in BC’s Kootenay region. She leads Wildsight’s Jumbo Wild campaign and worked closely with Patagonia this year to bring “Jumbo Wild,” a documentary exploring the 25-year fight to protect the wild Jumbo Valley, to audiences around the world. Born and raised in Kimberley, BC, Robyn brings a deep love of wild places to her work. She has a combined Masters in Globalization from the London School of Economics and the University of Vienna, and a Bachelors of Arts in International Development from Dalhousie University.
Stephen Ellis has a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Ecology from the University of Manitoba and a Masters in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. After graduating, he moved northwards to Lutsel K’e, NWT to put theory into practice. There he based his work advising and facilitating engagements among Indigenous peoples, governments, and industry pertaining to land and resource challenges for 15 years. Now based in Yellowknife, Stephen is the Program Lead, Northern Canada at Tides Canada. He works with Northern communities and partners to empower northerners, build capacity, and advance solutions to integrated social, cultural, environmental, and economic challenges in the North.
Emma Gilchrist is a journalist and communications consultant based in Victoria, B.C. She is currently Executive Director of DeSmog Canada, an online news magazine focused on energy and environment. Emma has worked as a reporter and editor in Canada and the U.K., including stints at the Calgary Sun, Calgary Herald, Cambridge Evening News and BBC Essex. While at the Calgary Herald, Emma created a weekly environmental column and website called The Green Guide, which won an Alberta Emerald Award and Canadian Newspaper Association Great Ideas Award. Before joining DeSmog Canada, Emma was the Communications Director for the Dogwood Initiative, a citizen’s advocacy group working to help British Columbians have more say in decisions about their air, land and water.
Tim Gray is the Executive Director of Environmental Defence Canada. His professional focus has been in the areas of campaign design, conservation and land-use planning, forest policy and practices, and market mechanisms for encouraging environmental protection. He has specialized in project development and management, negotiation, market development and government relations. Tim has been a member of several Ministerial Advisory Committees including the Ontario government’s Forest Policy Advisory Committee, and the Ministers Council on Forest Sector Competitiveness. He co-led the ENGO intervener group in the Ontario Timber Class Environmental Assessment and the Partnership for Public Lands collaboration during Ontario’s Lands for Life land-use planning process.
John Heaney is Deputy Minister of the Policy Coordination Office, Executive Council, Government of Alberta. John served as a transition advisor to Premier Notley and her new government prior to being appointed as a deputy minister. The PCO helps ensure policy development is aligned with the premier and cabinet’s priorities and is the secretariat to the Alberta cabinet’s policy committees. His experience as a chief policy and legislative advisor includes being a deputy minister to two British Columbia premiers and secretary to the B.C. cabinet’s planning and priorities committee. John was called to the bar of British Columbia in 2007 and practised as a litigator in civil and public law.
Toby Heaps is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Corporate Knights and CK Capital. He spearheaded the first global ranking of the world’s 100 most sustainable corporations in 2005, and in 2007 coined the term “clean capitalism.” He sits on the Sustainability Accounting Standards Advisory Board and the University of Toronto’s Environment and Finance Committee. He also is a director at Ashoka Canada. Toby has been published in the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and the Globe and Mail, and is a regular guest speaker on CBC. In 1998, he played centrefield for the Yugoslav National Baseball Team.
Éric Hébert-Daly has been CPAWS’ National Executive Director since April 2009. He was previously National Director and Chief Financial Officer for one of Canada’s major political parties. Éric is fluently bilingual, a graduate of Concordia University’s School of Community and Public Affairs, and is a candidate for ordained ministry in the United Church of Canada. He has worked with municipal, regional and national groups across Canada and has focussed his attention on social justice, ecological and human rights issues throughout his career. Éric is an avid cyclist and hiker and has travelled extensively throughout Canada, with a particular interest in remote and northern regions from Labrador to Inuvik.
Jess Housty is a writer and community organizer from the Heiltsuk Nation in Bella Bella, BC. Her work is focused on social and environmental justice, storytelling, and Indigenous sovereignty. In her non-profit work, her programmatic focus is rebuilding Indigenous cultural identity through the resurgence of language and land-based practices. She is currently serving a four year term as an elected representative on Heiltsuk Tribal Council with lands stewardship and heritage portfolios. Jess was a 2010 recipient of the Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award, and a 2013 recipient of the University of Victoria Provost’s Award for Advocacy and Activism.
Deborah Irvine comes to the Vancouver Foundation from a varied career in post-secondary and non-profit leadership, management consulting, and university teaching. She has held the role of Vice President, University Relations, Royal Roads University and Chief Operating Officer with the United Way of the Lower Mainland. In the latter position, she was responsible for community investments and relationships with more than 150 community and government agencies, all marketing and communications, and in 2011/12, United Way’s annual fundraising campaign. As a consultant, Deborah has worked with diverse clients in the public, non-profit, and private sectors, including banking, energy, manufacturing, and professional services. Deborah has an MA in Conflict Analysis & Management, and an undergraduate degree in journalism.
Daniel Johnston is a lawyer and conflict prevention and resolution specialist who deals with a wide range of complex, multi-party, aboriginal, commercial, environmental, and public policy issues. Examples of Daniel’s mediation work include many of British Columbia’s CORE and LRMP land use processes, the Whitehorse Mining Initiative, the Great Bear Rainforest, BC Hydro’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee, the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, the British Columbia Climate Leadership Team, and the discussions between various oil sands companies and environmental organizations that led to their mutual support of the Alberta Climate Leadership Plan.
Paul Lacerte is a member of the Carrier First Nation in northern BC. He served as the Executive Director of the BC Assn of Aboriginal Friendship Centres for the past 20 years. Paul is a practitioner of Aboriginal culture and spirituality and has a gift for inspiring and supporting relationship building between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Peoples and organizations. In 2011, Paul and his daughter Raven created the Moose Hide Campaign which is a grassroots movement of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men who are standing up against violence towards women and children. As part of this campaign, men wear a small patch of moose hide to symbolize their commitment to honour, respect and protect the women and children in their lives.
Nina Larsson is a member of the Gwich’in Nation located north of the Arctic Circle in the vast Mackenzie Delta. Known for her visionary approaches, Nina spearheaded the first Indigenous Circumpolar Women’s Gathering in November 2014 as a founding member of Dene Nahjo and a member of the steering committee. Nina is currently the Senior Advisor – Aboriginal Relations for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories. She was previously the Executive Assistant to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, as well as the founder of Energy North Corporation, and a Jane Glassco Northern Fellow of the 2013-2015 cohort.
Claudia Kelly Li is a Vancouver-based writer and entrepreneur. She is the co-founder of Shark Truth and Hua Foundation: both organizations aim to answer the question “how do we build a sense of place for Hua (ethnic Chinese) youth in Canada.” As a global Ashoka fellow and cultural pioneer, her life’s work explores these intersections between love and justice for building connectedness, peace, and joy. Claudia’s work and writing has appeared in publications such as The Globe & Mail, Ming Pao News, Fairchild TV, and South China Morning Post. Her seven years of experience in media has garnered over 800 features in local and global outlets. She is a poet and storyteller, and cites Louis C.K., 2Pac, and Martha Stewart as three of her biggest influences.
Tara Marsden is a member of Gitanyow First Nation, and holds the traditional name Naxginkw. She holds a Masters Degree in Political Science, and her thesis focused on consultation on land and resource management with Northern BC First Nations. Tara currently holds the position of Wilp Sustainability Director for the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs, and has previously worked for a number of First Nations, ENGOs, post-secondary institutions and the provincial government. Her areas of interest are: traditional governance, sustainability assessment, recognition and reconciliation, community-driven research, Aboriginal case law, policy development, environmental monitoring and adaptive management, and land use planning.
Angus McAllister is President of McAllister Opinion Research. His firm uses an array of innovative research methodologies to help clients better understand what works and what doesn’t work in reaching customers, stakeholders and citizens. Angus has conducted research and advised on campaigns in over a dozen developed & developing countries. Clients have included organizations like Shell, Suncor, BASF, Ford, DuPont, Nueva Group, Dep Schwarzkopf, Sarah Lee, Dundee Securities, UBC, SFU, WWF, Greenpeace, David Suzuki, Pew Trusts, and the Real Estate Foundation of BC, as well as municipal, provincial, and federal government agencies.
Ross McMillan is the President and CEO of Tides Canada, where he has worked over the past 15 years to grow the organization’s impact in environmental and social philanthropy. He provides overall strategic direction for Tides Canada and identifies opportunities to bring philanthropy, civil society, business, and government together in pursuit of positive social change. Ross was a principal architect of the $120 million conservation financing deal in 2007 between philanthropic foundations and the Canadian and British Columbia governments that helped protect Canada’s 21 million acre Great Bear Rainforest, and that established the Coast Opportunities Funds, which oversees public and private investments in the region. He also led the process to designate Clayoquot Sound as B.C.’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and to establish the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, an endowed sustainability research and education foundation launched in 2000 by the federal and provincial governments, local First Nations, and non-aboriginal communities.
Quinn Meawasige is an Anishinabe from Serpent River First Nation. In August 2013 Quinn was elected by his peers in Nipissing First Nation to be the Anishinabek Nation’s Male Youth Representative. Since then, he has been appointed to the Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council for the Chiefs of Ontario and selected to be the Male Youth Rep for Ontario on the National Youth Council for the Assembly of First Nations. Quinn had the privilege to serve a term as an elected Council member for Serpent River First Nation from 2012-2014. His passion is to help encourage, engage and inspire young people all across Turtle Island. He believes that by leading by example, he can bring about positive changes to his community, his peers and to his fellow Anishinabe citizens.
Erin Millar has received multiple awards for her journalism innovation work, including being named 2015 Bob Carty Fellow by the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, a solutions journalism fellow by Ashoka Canada and an AMEX Emerging Social Innovator. She has given talks and hosted workshops across Canada and internationally, including at the University of British Columbia, the Canadian Association of Journalists national conference, the International Journalism Festival and as part of the Knight Foundation/8 80 Cities collaboration K880 Fellowship. Previously she worked for The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, Reader’s Digest, The Walrus, The Times of London and other publications. She has reported from over a dozen countries on three continents.
Cristina Mittermeier is a Mexican-born marine biologist and photographer who specialize in conservation issues surrounding fisheries and indigenous cultures. As a writer and a photographer for the past 25 years, her work centers on the delicate balance between human well-being and healthy ecosystems. She has edited 22 coffee table books on conservation and has authored her first book with National Geographic, Sublime Nature: Photographs that Awe and Inspire. Cristina is co- founder of Sea Legacy, a not for profit foundation that is using powerful visual media that focuses on the three critical areas, Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, Imminent Climate Change, and Livelihood of Coastal People.
Andrea Moffat joined the Ivey Foundation as its Vice President after almost 20 years of experience work in Canada and the U.S. on environment and sustainability issues with government, business, investors and non-governmental organizations. She is well positioned to contribute to Ivey Foundation’s mission of helping to create a shared vision for Canada’s future that integrates the economy and the environment, achieves resource efficiency, and fosters innovation and investment for a smarter, sustainable economy. Previously, Andrea was the Vice President of the Corporate Program at Ceres, where she led Ceres work with more than 80 companies on sustainability issues such as climate, energy, water, and supply chains.
Megan Moody is a First Nations woman from the Nuxalk Nation, Bella Coola BC. She studied at the University of Victoria where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology. She later completed a Master’s of Science Degree in Resource Management and Environmental Studies at the University of British Columbia’s Fisheries Center. Her area of study was fisheries science and her thesis focused on the past and present status of eulachon. She started working for her community as the Nuxalk Fisheries manager in 2001 and First Nations more broadly in 2008 as the Biologist for the Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance (CCIRA). In 2013, she returned to working directly for her home community, the Nuxalk Nation, as the Nuxalk Stewardship Director.
Paul Nicklen is one of the world’s most renowned wildlife photographers. His romance with nature began when he was growing up on Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic. Trained as a biologist, Nicklen has been an assignment photographer for National Geographic for nearly 20 years and he has won over 30 prestigious international awards. His intimate portraits of creatures in their natural habitat have appeared in hundreds of world-renowned publications. Nicklen has been named one the “World’s Top 40 Most Influential Outdoor Photographers” by BBC Magazine and Canadian Geographic. His alma mater, the University of Victoria British Columbia presented him with a lifetime achievement award for his work on climate change. Nicklen is also co-founder of Sea Legacy.
Matt Price has been an advisor to the New Venture Fund for the past three years. He has 20 years of experience working in non-profit organizations across North America, from Tofino, BC to Washington, DC, on issues ranging from aquaculture to renewable energy. He is a recognized expert on the emerging discipline of Engagement Organizing, and is currently writing a book on the topic.
Trina Prior is a Manager of Partnerships, Granting & Community Initiatives at Vancouver Foundation, Canada’s largest community foundation. Her work focus has included the Greenest City Fund partnership with the City of Vancouver, granting in the areas of Environment, Animal Welfare and Child, Family & Youth, as well as community engagement and collaboration initiatives. Prior to working at Vancouver Foundation, Trina worked at BC Children’s Hospital as an educator for the injury prevention program and a fundraiser at the foundation. She holds a BA in Communications from Simon Fraser University and a Graduate diploma in Social Innovation from the University of Waterloo.
Peter Robinson is the Chief Executive Officer of the David Suzuki Foundation. He began his career working as a park ranger in wilderness areas throughout BC, where he was decorated for bravery by the Governor General of Canada. After his park career, he worked at BC Housing, eventually becoming its CEO. Prior to his current position, he served as the CEO of Mountain Equipment Co-op. Peter’s humanitarian work includes working with the International Red Cross as well as leading a team that monitored detained asylum seekers in BC. He currently serves as a Director on the Board of Imagine Canada, an organization that supports charities across the country.
Leanne Sexsmith is a Grants Manager at the Real Estate Foundation of BC, a philanthropic organization that helps advance sustainable land use in BC through research, education, law and policy reform. Since 1988, the Foundation has approved more than $70 million in grants to non-profit organizations working to create healthier ecosystems and more resilient communities across BC. Leanne works closely with the Foundation’s partners, applicants and funded organizations to support innovative, progressive new solutions to land use issues. She has over 15 years’ experience in community development, sustainable land use planning and community grants. She is a Registered Professional Planner and Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, and has a Masters Degree in Planning from the University of BC (SCARP).
Thea Silver has worked in the environmental sector for more than 20 years. After starting her career with the Delta Waterfowl Foundation in Manitoba, she spent 13 years with the Nature Conservancy of Canada where she oversaw national conservation programs and government relations. Upon leaving NCC in 2008, Thea worked with a science outreach charity before returning to conservation as the Executive Director of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance. In May 2014, she joined the Ontario Trillium Foundation, where she is currently Strategy Lead for the “Green People” Action Area. Thea has also served on the Boards of several non-profits and is currently a director of the CEGN. Thea holds a B.Sc in Biology from McGill and an M.Sc in Ecology from the University of Guelph.
Aliya-Jasmine Sovani is a Producer and Host at NBC Universal in Los Angeles – a uniquely diverse talent who has made a name for herself in sports, entertainment, and news/documentaries. She is currently serving as a daily producer at E! News, and can be seen as Host of Last Call on BRAVO, and E! News Now. Aliya-Jasmine has produced and hosted multiple documentaries in Sudan, Tanzania, the Great Bear Rainforest, and most prominently being on the ground in Haiti following the devastating earthquake that made international headlines. She earned the Alumni of Achievement award from her alma matter in 2015 following the release of her made-for-tv documentary ‘Pipeline Wars’.
Kris Statnyk joined Mandell Pinder LLP in 2013 as an articled student and is now an associate. His work includes advocacy, research and strategic advice with a practice interest in working with indigenous laws. Kris is chʼichyàa (of the wolf clan) and from the Gwich’in community of Old Crow, Yukon. Prior to joining Mandell Pinder, he attended the University of Alberta where he completed a BA in Political Science. Following his responsibilities as a helper led Kris to study law at the University of Victoria. While studying law, Kris worked as a researcher with the University of Victoria’s Indigenous Law Research Unit on a national “Accessing Justice and Reconciliation” project which focused on the revitalization of indigenous laws in communities across Canada.
Arlene Strom has held various leadership positions at Suncor for the past 13 years and is currently the Vice President Sustainability & Communications at Suncor Energy Inc. She is responsible for stakeholder and aboriginal relations, communications, and sustainability, including community investment through the Suncor Energy Foundation. Prior to joining Suncor, Arlene worked for 6 years at Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP as a securities lawyer, taught securities law as a sessional at the University of Calgary law faculty for 3 years and held various positions in sales and marketing in the consumer packaged goods industry, working in cities from Vancouver to Halifax. Arlene holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, a Master of Arts in Political Science, as well as an LLB, and holds the ICD.D designation.
Shauna Sylvester is a Professor of Professional Practice in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Simon Fraser University, the Director of the SFU Centre for Dialogue and the Executive Director of the SFU Public Square. Shauna is one of Canada’s leading engagement specialists. Her commitment to bringing diverse groups together to address pressing social, economic and environment issues spans 30 years and dozens of countries. Shauna has founded four organizations Carbon Talks, Renewable Cities, Canada’s World and IMPACS – the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society, and she has led a number of university wide initiatives focused on city-building including two week-long Community Summits: Alone Together: Addressing Isolation in the Urban Environment and We The City.
Dana Tizya-Tramm was born and raised in the Yukon Territory and has learned to approach the hardships in life with a ‘passive assertive’ philosophy to create constructive change. Dana is beginning a new journey of bridging “aboriginal ways of know” with “western best practices” as he seeks to take down the walls that divide people and build them into bridges. He has worked with youth from rural communities for many years now and has recently been nominated and elected as a Councillor Member for his First Nation Government the Vuntut Gwichin First Nation. Dana is part of Our Voices, a First Nations based youth initiative in Northern Canada, as well as currently launching another youth program of land-based education.
Nancy Turner is an ethnobotanist whose research focuses on traditional knowledge systems and traditional land and resource management systems of Indigenous Peoples of western Canada. She is Distinguished Professor and Hakai Professor in Ethnoecology in the School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria. She has worked with First Nations elders and cultural specialists in northwestern North America for over 45 years, helping to document, retain and promote their traditional knowledge of plants and environments, including Indigenous foods, materials and traditional medicines. Her two-volume book, Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge: Ethnobotany and Ecological Wisdom of Indigenous Peoples of Northwestern North America (July, 2014; McGill-Queen’s University Press), represents an integration of her long term research. She has also authored or co-authored/co-edited 19 other books.
Andre Vallillee is Chair of CEGN and Environment Program Director at the Metcalf Foundation. Prior to joining Metcalf, Andre worked as a Program Manager with the Ontario Trillium Foundation, overseeing the province-wide environmental grants portfolio and serving as the Foundation’s Strategy Lead for the environment sector. He also serves on the National Board of Trustees of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and the Toronto Atmospheric Fund’s Grants & Programs Committee. Andre received his Bachelors in Environmental Studies and Political Science from the University of Victoria, his Masters in Planning from the University of British Columbia, and completed an Executive Education program in Leadership and Organizing through Harvard Kennedy School.
Caitlyn Vernon is the Campaigns Director for Sierra Club BC. Her work involves promoting climate solutions and green jobs, keeping fossil fuels in the ground, and protecting BC’s wild places.Caitlyn is motivated by an understanding that our own health – as well as our communities and our livelihoods – depend on the health of the ecosystems we live in. She brings to her work a deep love of this coast and a commitment to both environmental and social justice. Prior to joining Sierra, she worked in field biology, land use planning, international development, and community resource stewardship, for governments and non-profit organizations in BC and beyond.
Ed Whittingham is the Executive Director of the Pembina Institute, Canada’s leading clean energy think tank. With four offices around the country Pembina advances clean energy solutions through research, advocacy and consulting. Though his work Ed serves in an advisory capacity to companies, industry associations, government bodies, environmental NGOs and research networks on clean energy solutions. He regularly speaks to Canadian and American audiences on climate change, corporate sustainability, energy strategy and oil sands issues. Ed is a faculty member of Leadership Development at The Banff Centre, an advisory council member of the Network for Business Sustainability, and the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the Future of Oil and Gas.
Karen Wilkie joined the Carthy Foundation in 2014. Prior to this, she gained experience in environmental and urban policy in her roles as a policy and government relations strategist with The City of Calgary, and as a researcher and policy analyst with the Canada West Foundation, a Calgary-based public policy think tank.