2024 LIVABLE CITIES FORUM
Speakers
LCF 2024
The Livable Cities Forum 2024 program brings together perspectives from more than 80 speakers, facilitators, workshop hosts, and panelists from across Canada. Learn from their stories, innovative ideas, and lessons learned, and engage in thoughtful, valuable dialogue with them and with fellow delegates.
Session speakers
Paivi Abernethy
Dr. Paivi Abernethy is the Manager in Healthy Environments, Population and Public Health, at Island Health with over 20 years of experience as a practitioner-researcher working on environmental impacts on health, chronic disease prevention, and healthy community development. She has a PhD in Social and Ecological Sustainability from the University of Waterloo and Master’s degrees in Public Health Research and Biochemistry, respectively. Her transdisciplinary research has focused on developing holistic systems approaches to climate change and cumulative impacts, integrating health and sustainability governance. Dr Abernethy is also Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health and Social Policy at the University of Victoria, and the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability at the University of Waterloo. Her passion projects include promoting children’s environmental health, improving watershed/aquatic health, and developing a shared path to climate resilience and planetary health with Indigenous peoples.
Jen Angel
Jennifer is a builder of community, momentum and places people love. Together with partners, Jen builds inclusive, sustainable places that attract people and investment, enhance resilience and contribute to well-being for all. She works with public and private sector interests to find a common purpose and support thriving communities. She has contributed to creating some of Nova Scotia’s best-loved places by land and sea. Her professional portfolio includes real estate, infrastructure and program development, participatory planning and design. Jen is a co-founder of the annual Art of City Building conference, bringing placemaking through leaders from around the world to Halifax.
Emma Avery
Urban Planner & Communications Specialist, Happy Cities
Emma is an urban geographer, storyteller, and designer with a multidisciplinary background in anthropology, journalism, and urban planning. She leads communications at Happy Cities, translating research and best practices into compelling stories that show the power of urban design in influencing human wellbeing. Her combination of urban planning and communications skills ensures our communications are both accessible and engaging, distilling complex planning concepts into creative graphics, stories, and reports.
Claire Beckstead
Leader, Community Energy, City of Calgary
Claire is passionate about helping cities and communities translate the overwhelming problem of climate change into tangible solutions on the ground. For the last 15 years, she has been working with leading local governments in Alberta, BC, Ontario, and the Yukon to develop and implement creative solutions to the challenges of energy and climate change. She currently leads a team of diverse professionals as the Leader of the Community Energy team at the City of Calgary, who are working to implement new and innovative policies and programs to reduce city-wide GHG emissions in Calgary. Claire holds a Master’s of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo.
Roy Brooke
Executive Director, Natural Assets Initiative
Roy is the Executive Director of the Natural Assets Initiative, a national not-for profit that works with local governments and others to help them understand, account for, and manage natural assets as a critical part of resilient infrastructure systems.
During the 1990s, Roy served as a political advisor to Canada’s environment minister. He then worked for the United Nations for approximately a decade. This included roles in the World Health Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. During his time with the UN, he was based in Geneva, Switzerland, and later in Kigali, Rwanda, where he was UNEP’s Environment Programme Coordinator. Roy also served as Director of Sustainability for the City of Victoria between 2011-2013.
Heidi Campbell
Senior Designer of Climate-Ready and Child-Friendly Public Spaces, Evergreen
Collaborating with both national and international networks of educators and design professionals, she helps co-create public engagement practices and iterative design strategies that prioritize children and their families in reimagining public spaces. With over 25 years of experience in greening school grounds, Heidi leads Evergreen’s Climate Ready Schools Program, where she manages partnerships with school boards and oversees embedded design consultants. She has authored several landscape standards and guideline documents for school boards across Canada, with a special focus on the design and programming of children’s outdoor play and learning environments. As the Lead Designer of the Children’s Garden and Play Lab at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto, Ontario, Heidi collaborates with staff, educators, and children to co-create spaces where children engage in challenging, imaginative, and unstructured play fostering an emergent sense of place.
Émilie Campbell-Renaud
Advisor, Capacity Development – Adaptation, Green Municipal Fund
With 15 years of experience in capacity building (previously working in grassroots climate advocacy, and more recently focusing on municipal climate adaptation), Émilie Campbell-Renaud is dedicated to helping drive meaningful actions that foster climate resilience and advance equity.
With a background in business management and non-profit governance, her organizational leadership experience has allowed her to accumulate valuable skills in project and program management, and in staff support. Throughout her various roles, she has been instrumental in enhancing organizational impact, notably through the development and execution of strategic plans, operational frameworks, and fundraising strategies.
Émilie brings a deep-rooted sensitivity to climate and social justice, and is passionate about unifying people around shared solutions for impactful climate action.
Glen Cheetham
Climate & Sustainability Manager, City of Kamloops
Glen leads a passionate team dedicated to advancing the City’s climate action goals and targets. With 30 years of experience in local government, Glen understands that ‘thinking globally and acting locally’ requires ongoing, meaningful community engagement, especially for those harder-to-reach or equity-seeking groups. In leading the development of the City’s award-winning Community Climate Action Plan, Glen recognizes that climate change affects people differently, with those already disadvantaged by poverty and inequality often contributing less to community emissions but bearing the brunt of its impacts. As the City implements its climate action priorities it is working with community partners to ensure that information, policies, and programs are accessible to people of all ages, abilities, and income levels.
Amelia Clarke
Professor, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED), University of Waterloo
Dr. Amelia Clarke has been working on environment and sustainability issues since 1989, including as President of Sierra Club Canada (2003-2006), the first Director of the University of Waterloo’s Master of Environment and Business degree (2009-2018), and as the Associate Dean Research for the Faculty of Environment (2018-2022). She is now a Full Professor in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED) at the University of Waterloo. Her main research focuses are related to implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals #8, #11, #13 and #17. She co-leads a $8.5M national team project called the municipal net-zero action research partnership (N-ZAP), and co-leads a second project on youth & innovation.
Casey Clunas
Policy Advisor, Canadian Centre for Climate Services, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Casey Clunas is a Policy Advisor with the Canadian Centre for Climate Services (CCCS) at Environment and Climate Change Canada where she works primarily on outreach and engagement files, working to increase awareness of and access to climate data and information for decision-making. She holds a Master of Climate Change (MCC) degree from the University of Waterloo.
Nicolas Côté
Research Associate, Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions
Nicolas is a Research Associate at the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions (CSDI), University of British Columbia, specializing in the human and cultural aspects of climate action. At the CSDI, he co-leads a project investigating how local governments are impacted by and respond to climate mis/disinformation. Nicolas lives and works on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Sherri Crane
Manager of Housing Services & Engagement, Brightside Community Homes Foundation
For over 25 years Sherri has worked in the not-for-profit social service sector, primarily focused on leading outreach programs that promote and support adults to live independently. At Brightside, Sherri was pivotal in the development of Brightside’s Community Engagement strategy, which includes actively working with community social service organizations and post-secondary research partners to provide and develop programs that serve Brightside residents, promoting social engagement and mutual support. Sherri’s team focuses on community development, resident engagement, and tenancy.
Katrina Cristall
Climate Action Officer, City of Charlottetown
Katrina’s work with the City has spanned a wide range of topics including everything from food security to sustainable procurement to climate-related community education and engagement. She led the development of a Sustainable Procurement Action Plan for the municipality as well as a Community Garden Framework to guide how the City supports community gardens. Most recently, she has been focused on the development of a Climate Action Plan for Charlottetown that will guide both adaptation and mitigation efforts. Through this process, her priority has been building networks and relationships within the community to enable collaborative climate action.
Angela Danyluk
Manager of Climate Adaptation & Equity in the Sustainability Group, City of Vancouver
Angela’s team collaborates with others to plan and deliver the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and uphold the Climate Justice Charter. Angela works across disciplines on projects and programs related to adaptation, sea level rise, equity and biodiversity. Her practice includes systems thinking, policy, project management, engagement, and bringing people together. Angela has a BSc in marine biology and an MSc in ecological restoration and governance. She is a Registered Professional Biologist with the BC College of Applied Biology. Angela lives on the unceded traditional homelands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations where she enjoys arts & culture, hiking and taking photographs of wildflowers.
Nicolas Dedovic
Team Lead, Ecological Transition and Resilience Office, City of Montréal
Nicolas Dedovic has more than twenty years of experience in Environment in the municipal sector. He started as Head of the public awareness program for the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex, a place where environmental technologies coexist in an urban park (park Frédérick-Back). He also acted as an advisor responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Regulation regarding the use of pesticides and involved in various integrated pest management projects that combine the protection of the biodiversity and the preservation of our green infrastructures.
Since 2020, Mr. Dedovic is team lead in Biodiversity and Resilience at the Ecological Transition and Resilience Office. He is coordinating the City’s actions of its Climate Plan concerning adaptation and biodiversity measures.
Natalie Douglas
ZEBx Program Manager, ZEIC ZEBx Program Manager, ZEIC
Natalie is the ZEBx Program Manager at the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC). As an urban planner with experience working in both small towns and big cities in BC and Ontario, Natalie leverages her multidisciplinary expertise to help advance sustainable building. Before ZEIC, she worked for the City of Nelson where she helped elevate the topic of embodied carbon emissions, build industry capacity, and update building policy. As the Program Manager of ZEBx, Natalie acts as the first point of contact for those interested in learning about ZEIC’s Building Decarbonization team. She is often called upon to host discussions, nurture connections with the various players crucial to successfully accelerating building decarbonization in BC and present on the various initiatives of ZEIC’s Building Decarbonization Team.
Andrew Duffield
Director, Sustainable Development, City of Beaconsfield
Andrew Duffield has master’s in environmental engineering and has worked as a municipal engineer and manager for over 25 years. As Director of Public Works for the City of Beaconsfield, Andrew is recognized for the implementation of the city’s Smart Waste Reduction Strategy. Named as Director of Sustainable Development, Andrew has had the opportunity to work across departments and with numerous external partners to promote environmentally responsible action on the journey to become a more sustainable and resilient community. As part of the management team, a primary focus for Andrew is ensuring that the City’s natural assets are recognized by the administration, council, and citizens alike for their critical role and value to help the community adapt to the effects of extreme climate events.
Joanna Eyquem
Managing Director, Climate-Resilient Infrastructure, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo
Joanna is an internationally-recognized leader in climate adaptation and nature-based solutions, with 25 years experience in Europe, North America and Western Africa. Her work at the Intact Centre focuses on reducing flooding, erosion and heat risk, in particular working with nature and the financial sector. Joanna serves on over 30 boards and committees, including for the National Research Council of Canada, the Government of Quebec’s Expert Group on Adaptation, and as Chair of the Board for the Natural Assets Initiative. Previously, Joanna was the Global Technical Practice Lead for Climate Resilience at AECOM. She is professionally qualified in both Canada and the UK, bilingual and typically featured in over 150 media features a year (in English and French).
Anna-Sarah Eyrich
Senior Policy Analyst, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Anna-Sarah Eyrich is a senior policy analyst in the Climate Change Adaptation Directorate of Environment and Climate Canada based in Canada’s National Capital Region. She is currently working to support national adaptation policy development, and reporting on Canada’s adaptation progress under the National Adaptation Strategy and under the UNFCCC. Prior to joining the federal government, she worked in municipal government and with non-profit organizations in Canada and abroad. She has a joint MSc in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Copenhagen and L’Institut Agro Montpellier and a BSc in Environmental Science and International Development from Dalhousie University.
Shannon Fernandes
PhD student, Brock University’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
Shannon holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Environmental Studies in Sustainability Management from the University of Waterloo. She is focused on building a more resilient Halifax through developing and implementing climate adaptation initiatives. Having experience in environmental consulting, community outreach, and sustainable supply chain management, she sees the potential in leveraging meaningful community engagement and research to drive evidence-based policy-making and the move towards a low-carbon resilient future.
Tara Gallen
Resident, Our Urban Village Cohousing
Tara and her family are residents of Our Urban Village Cohousing. They see cohousing as the perfect community in which to raise their children, fostering the kind of vibrant, connected lifestyle they value. As committed urbanists, they prioritize sustainability and social justice in both their professional fields — transit planning and labour communications — and in their personal lives. In their free time, they enjoy cooking, biking around the city, playing board games, and exploring photography.
Paula Gallo
Partner | Recreate Place, Evergreen
Paula co-creates climate-resilient and participatory communities, designing innovative engagement experiences, programs and child-friendly spaces with children and young people. Paula has built healthier and more connected communities with schools, municipalities and local businesses with UNICEF Canada, Metro Vancouver, Save the Children and Evergreen. She co-created UNICEF Canada’s Rights Respecting Schools initiative and collaborated with a skilled and creative team to design Evergreen’s Professional Learning for Educators and Child-Friendly Participatory Design Approach.
Stephanie Gower
Program Manager, Environment & Climate Division, City of Toronto
Stephanie leads research, analysis, and policy development to support and enhance climate resilience activity across the City of Toronto and in the community. Stephanie draws on experience in the City’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation and Public Health divisions leveraging data and research to inform decisions on diverse topics—from climate change, environmental health, air pollution, and Toronto’s natural and built environments, to parks operations and the value provided by the City’s green spaces. She received her PhD in Health Studies from the University of Waterloo and holds an adjunct appointment at the University of Toronto’s DallaLana School of Public Health.
Adlar Gross
Adlar supports municipalities on greenhouse gas emissions accounting, reporting and tracking activities, including through the Partners for Climate Protection program. He works closely with Canadian communities to develop and provide support on GHG emission inventories, and local climate action planning. Adlar is also involved in developing resources and tools to build the climate change action planning capacity of Canadian municipalities. He brings to this work research experience in the academic, governmental, non-profit and private sectors in the areas of sustainability, land use planning, community energy planning, renewable energy business models and district energy.
Jennifer Gunter
Executive Director, BC Community Forest Association
Jennifer brings over 20 years of experience in community forestry and community economic development. Originally from Fredericton, New Brunswick, she moved to BC to pursue a Master’s in Resource Management from Simon Fraser University. Jennifer is a passionate advocate for sustainable local economies and resilient ecosystems through community-based resource management. Her leadership at BCCFA has been pivotal in promoting inclusive approaches that benefit both local communities and ecosystems. Jennifer was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal, in recognition of her significant contributions to building environmentally sustainable communities in British Columbia.
Sabrina Guzman Skotnitsky
Youth Climate Lab Associate, Youth Climate Lab
Sabrina Guzman Skotnitsky is a climate justice advocate, artist, researcher and youth consultant residing on the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. As a bisexual woman of mixed Mexican and European descent, intersectionality is central to her work. She has been employed with environmental organizations across so-called Canada on a range of projects related to climate policy, green jobs, just transition, and youth leadership. Sabrina is especially passionate about connecting young people with the skills, knowledge and resources they need to contribute to the climate movement. Currently, she is a Master’s student in Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria, where her research explores arts-based approaches for helping youth process climate anxiety and generate active hope.
Deborah Harford
Executive Vice President, Global Strategic Partnerships, Legible Inc.
A visionary thought leader and expert on low carbon resilience in policy, planning and practice, Deborah Harford is an advisor to all levels of government, professional associations and the private sector on strategic and sustainable responses to climate risk. Deborah co-founded and led the first university-based think-tank on climate adaptation in North America, ACT – the Action on Climate Team at Simon Fraser University for 15 years, where she directed numerous leading initiatives designed to advance integrated climate action approaches that reduce both risk and emissions while benefiting equity, biodiversity, and economy.
Deborah is a sought-after public speaker, researcher, and facilitator and has hosted hundreds of workshops and authored numerous reports, articles and press releases on adaptation and resilience, as well as a non-fiction book on the Columbia River Treaty. Deborah has participated as a member of the Indigenous-led Circle on Philanthropy, sits on the Board of the Canadian Association of Climate Change Professionals, and has been a contributor to two national expert panels on climate risks and adaptation for Canada.
Madeleine Hebert
Senior Housing Specialist, Happy Cities
Madeleine leads housing research and policy projects at Happy Cities, working with professionals and communities to develop solutions to improve social connectedness, resilience, and wellbeing. Her work promotes collaborative approaches and ensures that spaces provide equitable opportunities for everyone. Madeleine uses her experience designing projects across British Columbia to promote evidence-based housing solutions that support social and economic sustainability. Her educational background includes a multidisciplinary Environmental Design degree from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Architecture from Carleton University.
Lisa Helps
Executive Lead, BC Builds, Project Origination and Process Innovation, BC Housing
Lisa is the Executive Lead BC Builds Project Origination and Process Innovation at BC Housing. BC Builds is a new housing program that uses public land, low-cost financing, and other innovative tools to get more built more quickly for working people across British Columbia. Before her current role co-leading the start-up of BC Builds, she was the Housing Solutions Advisor to Premier Eby. Prior to that, as the two-term Mayor of Victoria, Lisa worked hard to create deep collaboration across the community to get Victoria ready for the future and built connections across the Province as Co-Chair of the BC Urban Mayors Caucus to advance shared priorities for cities. Areas of focus included economic development and prosperity, housing, climate action, resilient infrastructure, and reconciliation.
Michelle Hoar
Project Director, Hey Neighbour Collective
Michelle is a Fellow at the SFU Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue and the Project Director for Hey Neighbour Collective. Since 2019, Hey Neighbour has been bringing together housing providers, non-profits, researchers, local and regional governments, housing associations and health authorities to experiment with and learn about ways of building community, social connectedness and resilience in BC’s fast-growing multi-unit housing communities. She is also the co-founder of The Tyee, where she led the business operations of one of Canada’s most highly regarded independent media companies from 2003 through 2016. She currently sits on The Tyee’s board, is the mother of two teenaged daughters, a renter since age 19, an avid community gardener and cyclist, and one of her favourite hobbies is talking to strangers.
Janice Hua
Finance and Operations Manager, Youth Climate Lab
Janice Hua is an environmental educator from British Columbia. Her work has centered around environmental justice and supporting youth engagement in the environmental field. She holds a BBA from Simon Fraser University in Business Administration and Environmental studies and has more than five years of experience in wildlife and ocean conservation and education. She is currently the Finance and Operations Manager for Youth Climate Lab where her main focus involves achieving organizational efficiency and providing financial insights to support with securing an equitable, and climate just future. When not working, Janice loves to explore the underwater world through scuba diving and freediving.
Jillian Hudgins
Environmental Strategist & Program Manager, City of Fredericton
Jillian is the Environmental Strategist and Program Manager with the City of Fredericton. She coordinates the implementation of the Fredericton’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan, Community Energy and Emissions Plan, and Corporate Energy and Emissions Plan by working with staff across City departments and external partners to move the needle on climate action and resilience. She has a background in earth science, conservation, and ecosystem restoration and previously worked with a range of local and international non-governmental institutions before joining the team at the City of Fredericton in mid-2021.
Laura Husak
Manager, Climate Change Mitigation team, Environment and Infrastructure Policy Directorate, Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada (HICC)
Laura has been working on environment and climate issues for 10 years in the public and private sectors. She currently leads a team responsible for advancing policies and initiatives to reduce emissions from the built environment, such as the federal Buy Clean policy to support the use of low-carbon construction materials. Before joining HICC, she worked in international development, where she managed the design and delivery of several environmental programs in Africa and Asia.
Brett Huson
President, Aluutaa
Hetxw’ms Gyetxw, also known as Brett D. Huson, is a proud member of the Gitxsan Nation from the Northwest Interior of British Columbia, Canada. He is the Founder and President of Aluu’taa, an Indigenous research and research support hub. A multi-award-winning author, Brett’s “Mothers of Xsan” series provides a profound insight into Gitxsan culture and knowledge. Beyond his literary achievements, he serves as a research associate at the Prairie Climate Centre, significantly contributing to integrating Indigenous Knowledges into the Climate Atlas. Brett is an advisor to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee and is a contributing writer to Canadian Geographic.
He actively engages in governance and advocacy, serving as a volunteer chair for the sakihiwe Music Festival Board and a member of the Steering Committee for Adaptation Futures. Brett’s work, deeply rooted in his Gitxsan heritage, is dedicated to bridging Indigenous knowledge systems with Western research and promoting cultural resilience. With the unwavering support of his wife, Jeri, and their children, Warren and Ruby, Brett is deeply committed to preserving and transmitting Indigenous knowledge across generations, ensuring its legacy for the future.
Don Iveson
Executive Advisor, Climate Investing and Community Resilience, Co-operators
Don served as Edmonton’s 35th Mayor from 2013 to 2021 with a guiding leadership principle to make things better for the next generation. This long-termism is now embedded in: Edmonton’s smart growth City Plan; City Council’s Energy Transition Strategy and first-in-Canada carbon budget, and Edmonton’s nation-leading City-Wide Flood Mitigation Strategy. As Mayor, Don’s political leadership extended to the national stage. His advocacy helped to shape the National Housing Strategy and influence the Federal Government to commit to ending chronic homelessness nationwide — goals that cannot be achieved without robust partnerships with cities. Since retiring from municipal office, Don continues to live in Edmonton. In addition to this role with Co-operators, Don has accepted an appointment as a School of Cities Canadian Urban Leader at the University of Toronto. He is also ramping up a public policy advisory practice working on climate, housing, regional governance and civic innovation projects with like-minded clients, including Co-operators, and volunteers on the board of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness.
Ewa Jackson
Managing Director, ICLEI Canada
Ewa Jackson is a leader in the field of municipal climate adaptation and resilience. Ewa Jackson has worked with municipal governments for over 20 years in the fields of sustainability, public participation, and climate change. In addition to managing ICLEI Canada’s operational and program activities, Ewa is the project manager for many ICLEI Canada consulting activities and has worked on numerous adaptation and sustainability monitoring and evaluation projects, including those of local, national, and international scope. Ewa Jackson’s particular field of interest is in the area of climate communications, and how effective and targeted communications can be used to move forward with the implementation of adaptive actions. She works with specialists in the field to keep officials at the forefront and responding to the advancements being made. She often speaks publicly on the state of adaptation planning across Canada and internationally.
Cecilia Jaques
ACET – Climate Action Secretariat Engagement Manager, Accelerating Community Energy Transformation
Cecilia is the Climate Action Secretariat Engagement Manager for Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET). Her focus is on building strategic partnerships with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across BC while facilitating alignment and engagement between ACET and the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 policies, programs, investments, and legislation. Cecilia holds a Masters in Sustainability Science, is a certified Change Management Practitioner, and has published on climate communication in the Journal of Sustainability, MDPI. She has diverse experience in local, regional, and provincial government including climate implementation, rural innovation, and energy policy and program development. Cecilia is an advocate for climate justice, youth inclusion in decision-making, and approaches her work with a focus on building authentic relationships, leading with curiosity, and embracing complexity. In her spare time, you can find Cecilia at the pottery studio, climbing mountains, or talking to anyone who will listen about how much she loves living in Nelson BC.
Sadhu Aufochs Johnston
Climate Co-Lead for the Climate Ready Infrastructure Service (CRIS), Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada (HICC)
Sadhu was the City Manager of Vancouver, BC from 2016 until 2021 where he was responsible for managing the operations of the City, including oversight of a budget of over $1.6B and over 7,000 staff. As City Manager he was involved with initiatives to address the growing housing, homelessness, and climate change issues in Vancouver. He served as Deputy City Manager in Vancouver from 2009 to 2016 where he oversaw the Greenest City Action Plan.
Previously he was the Chief Environmental Officer of Chicago and Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley where he led the development of the first climate action plan in a US city. He is co-author of “The Guide to Greening Cities” published by Island Press in 2013 and is a co-founder and board member of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN).
Abhilash Kantamneni
Director of Action Research, Efficiency Canada
Abhi specializes in energy poverty and home trades business practices. His data-driven research has helped communities across US and Canada use energy efficiency to reduce poverty, create ‘good jobs’ and improve housing. His public speaking and capacity-building work has earned wide recognition, including being named Canada Storyteller by SSHRC and ‘Energy Leader’ by Midwest Energy News. Abhi holds a B.S in Electrical Engineering from Anna University, a Masters in Physics, and a Masters in Computer Science from Michigan Tech.
Hiba Kariem
Adaptation Program Lead, ICLEI Canada
Hiba works on a wide range of adaptation projects at local, provincial/territorial, and national scales. She works closely with Canadian communities throughout the climate change planning process: from conducting adaptation assessments (climate science, vulnerability, risk), to identifying best practice and actions, all the way through to implementation planning and measuring progress. Hiba also develops and delivers a number of tools and resources to build the knowledge and capacity of local governments and stakeholders in the climate change adaptation space. Prior to working at ICLEI Canada, Hiba has had experience in the environmental non-profit sector working on species at risk, ocean health, and grassroots environmental initiatives.
Leah Karlberg
Urban Planner & Designer, Happy Cities
Leah leads a variety of policy, community engagement, and placemaking work as an urban planner & designer at Happy Cities and as a co-founder of Neighbour Lab. This work has included the development of policies such as placemaking action plans (for neighbourhoods and a university campus), design guidelines for social well-being in multi-unit housing, and research on the power of placemaking. Leah is passionate about using placemaking to spark dialogue and strengthen social connections, leading to more resilient outcomes day to day and in the face of the climate crisis. In her spare time, Leah likes to talk about earthquakes and explore new places on her bicycle.
Emma Kirke
Project Officer, Capacity Development, Green Municipal Fund
Emma (they/she) is a project officer with the Green Municipal Fund’s Capacity Development team at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Emma works primarily on the Municipal Net-Zero Action Research Partnership, a project that supports Canadian municipalities to monitor, measure and achieve their greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation goals. Emma’s responsibilities include development and dissemination of resources and trainings designed to assist municipalities on their climate journey. Emma brings a rich experience working on areas that include freshwater conservation, peacebuilding, sustainability, and climate education within non-profit organizations and the federal government.
Hana Lapp
Advisor, Climate Risk and Resilience, MEB, WSP Canada
Hana is a Climate Risk and Resilience Advisor at WSP Canada. She has more than nine years of experience working with and for Canadian public sector organizations in areas of climate change planning, sustainability reporting, and low carbon resilience. Hana has contributed to the development of over 40 municipal and regional climate change action plans across Canada and is an expert in community resilience planning. She is skilled in the application of climate risk assessment methodologies and has a strong understanding of climate impacts to infrastructure, ecological systems, public health, and social well-being. Hana’s recent work centres around the use of nature-based solutions in building portfolio management to support climate resilience, mitigation, and biodiversity goals.
Anne-Marie Legault
Manager, Quebec Office, ICLEI Canada
Anne-Marie leads programs and partnership development, as well as operations of ICLEI Canada’s Quebec office. She was previously a programs director at the World Federation of Science Journalists, where she steered science literacy projects for journalists in Africa and the EU. Anne-Marie has over 18 years of project management experience, both internationally and in Canada. She has held various positions at the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa and at Équiterre in Montréal. She is committed to capacity building to make societies more sustainable and resilient.
Élizabeth Lemyre
Division Head, City of Beaconsfield
Élizabeth Lemyre works as Division Head of Library and Culture, for the City of Beaconsfield, where her primary mandates is to mobilize her team and local partners to enhance the living environment of Beaconsfield residents, Whether it is by bringing the community together with creative and dynamic events, by developing services for vulnerable populations, or by kickstarting initiatives in partnership with citizens and associations. Élizabeth fosters concerted action and stakeholder involvement to imagine innovative solutions and services, moving forward together towards a common goal – making Beaconsfield a better place.
Élène Levasseur
Director of Research and Education, Architecture Sans Frontières Québec
Élène is the Director of Research and Education at Architecture Without Borders Québec, where she has played a key role in the development of the Climate Resilience program since 2020. She has led innovative initiatives such as Cohabiter avec l’eau, the first comprehensive study on building adaptation to flooding in Quebec, and Dwellings + Flooding, a series of practical guides for residential adaptation. Her collaborations include partnerships with the Quebec government, municipalities, as well as projects at the School of Architecture at the University of Montreal, where she has been an Invited Professor.
Holding a PhD in Spatial Planning (Architecture) and a Master’s in Environmental Science, Élène has been focused for the past twenty years on transdisciplinary approaches to architectural design, with a particular emphasis on socio-environmental issues and climate adaptation.
Sara MacRae
Manager of Climate & Energy, Public Works Department, County of Dufferin
Serving as the Manager of Climate and Energy for Dufferin County, Sara and her team lead the charge in developing and implementing Dufferin’s Community Climate Action Plan, Climate Adaptation Strategy, and corporate climate priorities. With an M.A. in Community Psychology, she strives to integrate socially just climate action into local government practices, emphasizing the multiple co-benefits of these actions in the community. She has over 15 years of experience working in climate action, encompassing both municipal roles and an executive directorship at a youth-led climate change non-profit. Sara’s expertise is evident in her effective partnership building with diverse stakeholders, successful fundraising efforts, and the design of impactful GHG-reduction and climate resilience initiatives. As a self-proclaimed professional friend-maker, Sara firmly believes that meaningful collaborations are essential, serving as the foundation for every exceptional solution.
Lorenzo Magzul
Project Manager, Climate Equity Program, Community Social Planning Council
Lorenzo’s interests include social and environmental justice, community development, food security and adaptation to climate change. Lorenzo has been a researcher and teacher of environmental studies , food security and environmental justice at the community and university level. He has also worked with Indigenous communities in Canada and Guatemala on initiatives aimed at empowering these communities to assess and understand their vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities to climate change impacts.
Ian Mauro
Executive Director, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, Professor of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria
Dr. Mauro holds a BSc in Environmental Science, Doctorate in Geography, is a former Canada Research Chair, and Member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists. He has also held Faculty positions at Mount Allison University and University of Winnipeg.
As a scientist and filmmaker, Mauro’s climate communications scholarship and multi-media research projects explore climate, energy, environment, health, and the vital role of local and Indigenous knowledges in understanding and adapting to change. His award-winning multi-media and documentary film projects include Qapirangajuq: Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change (Co-Directed with Zacharias Kunuk), Beyond Climate (with Dr. David Suzuki), and The Climate Atlas of Canada (with the Prairie Climate Centre).
Curniss McGoldrick
Communications Manager, ICLEI Canada
Curniss is a communications expert, experienced digital marketing strategist, and an accomplished project manager with first-hand experience developing and implementing municipal sustainability and climate adaptation plans. She applies a communication and behavioural science lens to projects, programs, and resource development, drawing on her professional experience conducting climate change and stormwater research, as well as working at the City of Thunder Bay as Climate Adaptation Coordinator. Curniss worked with ICLEI from 2013 to 2015 to develop the City of Thunder Bay’s award-winning Climate Adaptation Strategy. She then stepped into the role of Great Lakes Advisor for the Province of Ontario where she led projects to protect and preserve the Great Lakes. She is passionate about combining behavioural science, elements of culture, and collaboration to accomplish meaningful work and ultimately make communities more equitable, sustainable, and resilient.
Ryan McNamara
Senior Manager, Energy & Carbon, Wesgroup Properties
Ryan is a Professional Engineer and Certified Energy Manager who specializes in building energy and sustainability at Wesgroup Properties. By applying his background of 10+ years in building science, mechanical design, energy modelling, and building certifications, he supports the energy and sustainability initiatives of both standing investments and new development projects. This includes everything from leading specific energy efficiency and emission reduction projects to the creation of corporate policies and strategies, all in an effort to move Wesgroup forward on its path to Net Zero.
Ian McVey
Manager of Sustainability, Durham Region
Ian is responsible for championing climate action both internally through interdepartmental collaboration, as well as externally with local municipalities, utilities, Conservation Authorities, academic institutions, and other community partners. Ian holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Concordia), Masters in Environmental Studies (York), and a Graduate Diploma in Local Government Administration (Western), and has held a variety of roles in both the public and private sector working to advance sustainability transitions.
Megan Meaney
Executive Director, ICLEI Canada
Megan has spent the majority of her career working to mobilize local level net-zero and resilience action. As Executive Director of ICLEI Canada she regularly applies her skills working with municipal staff, elected officials, community groups, businesses, and other government partners from across Canada and internationally. Since 1999 Megan has helped build the field of municipal emissions management, from emissions accounting and target setting to action implementation and monitoring. Currently Megan is working in emerging areas related to climate budgeting and climate-related financial disclosures where she is leading various working groups to advance this field. Over the last two decades of work, Megan has sat on numerous national and global committees including the Federal Sustainable Development Advisory Council, UNEP’s Global Environmental Outlook, ECCC’s Core Planning Team on Species at Risk in the Urban Development Sector, and MaRS’ Municipal Impact Investment Fund.
Anur Mehdic
Planner, City of New Westminster
Anur has been a planner with the City of New Westminster Community Planning team since August 2019. His responsibilities are to support both current and long-range planning initiatives related to the City’s diverse social planning portfolio. Advancing anti-poverty work and a livable city for all is a topic most close to his heart. From his position as a municipal planner, he sees that this is only possible by learning from the expertise of, and through work in solidarity with, historically equity-denied groups to understand and take action on systems of inequality.
Sharmalene Mendis-Millard
Director, Partners For Action (P4A), University of Waterloo
Sharmalene is the Director of Partners for Action, an initiative of the Faculty of Environment at University of Waterloo that aims to empower Canadians to become flood resilient through applied research with an equity lens, and by promoting awareness and preparedness actions that are inclusive and evidence-based. A mixed-methods geographer by training, she worked for several interdisciplinary research centres that aim to advance community well-being and social justice through partnerships, program evaluations, and learning programs. She is passionate about community engagement, applied research, and the not-for-profit sector, having served as a volunteer, employee and as a Board member. Her work now focuses on multi-hazard resilient retrofits, community engaged preparedness, and equity in climate risk reduction and adaptation.
Josée Méthot
Senior Policy Specialist, Water, International Institute for Sustainable Development
Josée Méthot is a senior policy specialist with the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s water program. Based in Calgary, her work focuses on water management, water infrastructure, and climate adaptation in Canada. She leads an initiative to scale the adoption of natural infrastructure across the Canadian prairies, with a focus on the business case for natural infrastructure, funding, and policy. Before joining IISD, Josée was the Executive Director of a multi-sector watershed organization in Alberta. She holds a Master of Science in Natural Resource Sciences from McGill University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Calgary.
David Miller
Managing Director, C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy
David served as Mayor of Toronto from 2003 to 2010 and chaired C40 Cities from 2008 to 2010. Under his leadership, Toronto became widely admired internationally for its environmental leadership, economic strength, and social integration. Renown as a leading advocate for the creation of sustainable urban economies, and a strong and forceful champion for the next generation of jobs through sustainability, Miller recently published his book, “Solved: How the Great Cities of the World Are Fixing the Climate Crisis,” with the University of Toronto Press. He is the Chair of British Columbia Infrastructure Benefits, a crown agency designed to use public procurement to help women, Indigenous people, and other traditionally marginalized people get good union jobs in the building trades.
Sarah Miller
Adaption Research Lead, Canadian Climate Institute
As the Adaptation Research Lead at the Canadian Climate Institute, Sarah’s work focuses on limiting the damage to households, communities, and the economy from worsening climate impacts. She was previously Director of Policy for the BC Greens, as well as an independent consultant, providing policy advice and strategic planning services to non-profit organizations and governments in areas relating to conservation, resource management, and the clean economy. Sarah holds an MPhil from the University of Oxford and a BSc from the London School of Economics.
Ariane Mooney
Climate Change Project Assistant, ICLEI Canada
Ari uses her research capabilities and project implementation skills to support various climate change projects, develop resources, and contribute to knowledge and capacity building through research, writing, and workshops. She brings to her work valuable municipal experience, gained as as an Environmental Outreach Student at the City of Mississauga conducting research and implementing strategic plans for municipal environmental initiatives. She has also worked as an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Student, and has experience in community engagement and agricultural research with the University of Toronto.
Adriana Montes
Program Officer, Evergreen
Adriana is a Vancouver-based placemaker passionate about sustainable, interconnected, and vibrant cities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Kent State University and has 10 years of experience working in local government and the non-profit sector in Canada and the United States.
Charles Montgomery
Author, Urbanist, and Founder of Happy Cities
Charles Montgomery is an award-winning author, urbanist and collaborator on interventions to improve wellbeing in cities around the world. His acclaimed book, Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design, examines the intersection between urban design and the emerging science of happiness. Charles founded the interdisciplinary team, Happy Cities, which helps city-builders on four continents achieve healthier, happier, more inclusive societies. His collaborators include the World Health Organization, the Guggenheim Museum, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and governments in Vancouver, Auckland, Mexico City, Denver and Dubai. In 2023, Planetizen magazine named Charles one of the 100 most influential urbanists in the world. His new book on designing for trust will appear in 2026.
Sayemin Naheen
Youth Participant, Sea2City Design Challenge
Sayemin is an emerging youth climate leader committed to building a more climate just future – one project at a time. With over a decade of experience in sustainable development, social justice, and youth capacity building, Sayemin has worked with diverse communities globally including Canada, USA, Bangladesh, and Kazakhstan.
As a first-generation Bangladeshi settler-immigrant residing on the stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and səlilwətaʔɬ peoples, she maintains a deep connection to False Creek, shaping her dedication to climate and community resilience. She contributed to the City2City Challenge as a youth participant, helping shape the Youth Manifesto to reflect the voices and visions of youth for the future of False Creek. By day, she serves as a policy analyst for the Province of British Columbia. Beyond her professional role, Sayemin co-founded Solastalgia, a youth-led initiative addressing eco-emotions through art, and serves as a founding board member of the BIPOC Sustainability Collective.
Andrea Nemtin
CEO, Social Innovation Canada
Andrea has spent her career leading complex organizations and initiatives focused on creating positive social and environmental progress through strategic philanthropy, media and arts, social innovation and impact investing. These roles have included Founding CEO of the Inspirit Foundation, Executive Director at Rally Assets, and President of PTV Productions, as well as a board member and advisor to numerous organizations. Andrea is committed to finding innovative ways to support cohesive and prosperous communities and was recognized in 2017 with a Governor General’s Meritorious Service Award for her contribution to inclusion in Canada.
Julie-Maude Normandin
Conseillère scientifique en chef (Chief Scientific Advisor), Direction générale, Ville de Longueuil
Julie-Maude Normandin became the first Chief Scientific Advisor at the City of Longueuil in 2023. Her mandate is to increase the use of scientific knowledge and evidence in decision-making, and to intensify collaboration between the city and researchers. At the City of Longueuil, she coordinates the Comité de résilience aux fortes pluies. From 2018 to 2023, Julie-Maude Normandin was co-director of research and communications for the Cité-ID Living Lab, an action-research group specializing in urban resilience at the École nationale d’administration publique (ENAP). Her research focuses on tools for implementing urban resilience, local governance in the face of risk and crisis, particularly for sustainable and equitable adaptation to climate change, collective post-disaster recovery and social capital. In the past, she has also been a member of the group of experts on adaptation to climate change responsible for issuing recommendations to the Quebec government. She holds a PhD in public administration from ENAP.
Irwin Oostindie
Director, Voor Urban Labs
Irwin is Director of Voor Urban Labs, based in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, supporting decolonizing of public policy, urban research and inclusive city planning in cities across Canada. Voor advises the City of Vancouver on climate equity, and has designed and engaged nature based solutions for the City. Irwin has also led the decolonization of Maplewood Flats, the only wildlife sanctuary in Vancouver’s harbour, that also features the social enterprise Coast Salish Plant Nursery. He sits on the District of North Vancouver Climate Action Advisory Committee, and is an Associate of SFU’s Institute for the Humanities.
He has an MA in Communications, graduate diploma in Urban Studies, and post-graduate certificate in Media Arts. Irwin has served as both Communications and Executive Director for various non-profits and public institutions including the Roundhouse, Gallery Gachet, North Vancouver Arts Council, Under the Volcano Festivals, and W2, and has worked for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Wild Bird Trust of BC, City of Vancouver, and Vancouver Park Board.
Emily Peterson
Environmental Health Scientist, Healthy Environments & Climate Change, Office of the Chief Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health
Emily has over 10 years of work experience directly related to environmental impacts to human health. This includes experience working on two provincial scientific advisory teams and a national scientific advisory team in addition to her current role as Environmental Health Scientist at Vancouver Coastal Health. She engages in risk assessment, research, knowledge translation, and program and policy development on wide range of complex and rapidly evolving environmental health topics including air quality, climate change, environmental contamination, and healthy community design. She works in partnership with local, regional, provincial and national governments to inform and advance environmental health related public policy.
Robert Plitt
Vice-President, Strategy and Development, Canadian Urban Institute
Robert, a long-time urbanist, has spent two and half decades in senior and executive leadership positions advancing transformative civic infrastructure projects. Serving as Executive Lead and Director of Collective Impact with Evergreen, a national non-profit organization dedicated to flourishing cities, Robert has developed and resourced numerous ground-breaking programs and initiatives including Evergreen’s Innovation Lab, Future Cities Canada and played a host of leadership roles in the development of Evergreen Brick Works. Prior to Evergreen working with Artscape, Canada’s leading non-profit developer of creative districts, he advanced the development of the Wychwood Barns, the Distillery District, and the Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts. A passionate builder of the civic commons, he brings extensive relationships with government, private and philanthropic sectors to harness resources to make cities better. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from the State Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam and currently lives in Calgary with his wife, two kids and a dog.
Christine Poirier
Conseillère municipale de Duvernay-Pont-Viau, Membre du comité exécutif
Christine Poirier holds degrees in nursing and literature. She is the founder of Momzelle, a company specializing in breastfeeding apparel, which achieved great success and garnered multiple awards, including being named “Businesswoman of the Year” by the Quebec Business Women’s Network.
Residing in Duvernay–Pont-Viau and a mother of two young daughters, Christine Poirier is actively involved with the Mouvement lavallois, aiming to contribute to the modernization of the City of Laval. She also served as the Director of Operations for the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) in Quebec, where she was responsible for the party’s electoral strategy.
Her top priority: Amplifying the voice of Duvernay–Pont-Viau residents to ensure that projects in the district meet their needs. Her goal is to contribute to the development of a welcoming city that is environmentally conscious and fosters economic opportunities.
Carrington Pomeroy
Physical Scientist, Canadian Centre of Climate Services (CCCS), Environment and Climate Change Canada
Carrington Pomeroy is a Physical Scientist for the Canadian Centre of Climate Services (CCCS) within Environment and Climate Change Canada. He has a background in Physical Geography with an MSc from UBC. At CCCS he is part of the Data and Products team where he is involved in climate data work, science translation and other product development to support Canadian climate adaptation decision making.
Andrew Posluns
Senior Director, Corporate Planning, Policy and Research, Canada Infrastructure Bank
Andrew Posluns is the Senior Director for Corporate Planning, Policy and Research at the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB). He leads the development and implementation of the CIB’s sustainability initiatives and reporting, partners with thought-leaders and institutions on infrastructure related research, and manages the CIB’s corporate planning and policy functions.
Before joining the CIB, Andrew was a Director at Metrolinx, the regional transportation agency for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, where he focused on supporting the transit agency’s capital program. Andrew also spent several years in executive roles at the Ontario Ministries of Transportation and Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Andrew holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
Mitchell Reardon
Director of Urban Planning, Happy Cities
Mitchell Reardon is Director, Urban Planning at Happy Cities. He is an award-winning community builder who specializes in healthy urban planning, design and engagement. Mitchell has developed innovative public space wellbeing assessments, deep engagement approaches and unique experiments on social trust. He has conducted dozens of tactical urbanism interventions in cities around the world. His work is informed by diverse and sometimes unorthodox approaches to urban planning, design, engagement and research. Mitchell’s work and insights have been published or broadcast on Next City, CBC, BBC, Cities & Health Journal and more. He has helped create smiles from Vancouver to Vijayawada; Rotterdam to Denver and beyond.
Juan Rueda
Climate Adaptation Program Manager, ICLEI Canada
Juan leads an expanding team of adaptation and resilience professionals across various climate action initiatives, all of which support Canadian municipalities to achieve their climate adaptation goals. Before joining ICLEI, Juan worked at Evergreen Canada, where he managed projects and initiatives to create better public spaces and promote sustainable urban planning practices. His work focused on promoting inclusivity and vibrancy, and creating resources to help diverse communities better understand the power of public spaces. He also brings valuable experience from the time he spent working in Colombia at the Ministry of Housing, overseeing projects to develop sustainable public housing and support underserved neighbourhoods nationwide, and at the City of Bogota, leading the Environmental and Climate Change objectives of their local public space policy.
Kathy Sayers
Founding Member, Our Urban Village Cohousing
Kathy is a founding member of Our Urban Village Cohousing and the first resident to move in last July. She came to Canada from the US more than 40 years ago and now fully identifies as Canadian. She raised her two daughters in the Dunbar community of Vancouver. Now retired, she worked in her own communications company, Wordsmiths, and then as Communications Director for HIV AIDS at St Paul’s Hospital. She is a committed urbanist and has long been interested in new ways we can live together in the community.
Summer Stevenson
Project Manager – Housing Accelerator, City of Thunder Bay
As a Project Manager with the City of Thunder Bay, Summer is responsible for overseeing the delivery of Thunder Bay’s Housing Accelerator Program, focusing on strategies to encourage infill development and intensification on existing municipal infrastructure to support complete, compact, and walkable development.
In her previous role, Summer was the City’s Sustainability Coordinator and Climate Action Specialist, leading the development and implementation of the Thunder Bay Net-Zero Strategy with the help of the Climate Change Advisory Committee of Council (EarthCare).
Shauna Sylvester
Senior Fellow of the Definity Foundation, Founder and Lead Convenor for Urban Climate Leadership, a project of MakeWay
Shauna brings deep global and local experience in leading groups through complex problem solving. She has a passion for supporting local governments in creating healthy, safe and resilient communities and is currently working across public, private and non-profit sectors to help transition to heat pumps in low-rise multi-unit buildings in BC. She is the former Chair of Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement and currently serves on the steering committees of Salish Sea House and Resilient Point Roberts: Going Solar a community-led initiative to bring solar to this small US exclave community. Shauna has over 35 years in executive leadership positions and has served as the Executive Director of the SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, the Urban Sustainability Directors Network – US and Canada, and she has Co-Founded and led six local and international dialogue initiatives: the SFU Public Square, Renewable Cities, Carbon Talks, Moving in a Livable Region, Canada’s World and IMPACS – the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society.
Lindsay Telfer
Manager, Capacity Development, Green Municipal Fund
Lindsay is a passionate advocate for a sustainable future, blending over 20 years of expertise in climate action, freshwater protection, and non-profit management. Since October 2020, she has been a catalyst for change as the Manager of Capacity Development at FCM’s Green Municipal Fund, empowering municipalities to embrace net zero programming. With a rich background in environmental policy, she’s worn many hats—director (at the Canadian Freshwater Alliance and at the Sierra Club Canada), consultant (as a sole proprietor), and coach (Social Enterprise Network of Central Ontario and the Henry Bernick Centre at Georgian College)—guiding governments, social enterprises and non-profits toward their aspirations. Driven by a love for grassroots engagement, Lindsay thrives on building community capacity, fostering collaboration, and championing strategic initiatives that pave the way for vibrant, sustainable communities.
Jonathan Théorêt
Division Manager, Transport, Energy and Buildings, City of Montreal
Jonathan Théorêt led the GRAME from 2008 to 2020. Graduated in management, he is co-author of the book ” Énergies renouvelables, Mythes et Obstacles” and has been a regular speaker at the “Régie de l’Énergie du Québec”. He has also been the manager and founder of an eco-building co-ownership, the “Regroupement de Lachine”, and coordinator of numerous research, greening and environmental education projects. Since 2020, Mr. Théorêt has been Division Manager – Transport, Energy and Buildings at the City of Montreal’s Office of Ecological Transition and Resilience, where his team is working to reduce GHG emissions in the Montreal community. He has led the Roadmap to zero-emission buildings in Montreal by 2040 and the development of municipal bylaws.
Jinny Toffelmire
Environmental Team Leader, Town of Okotoks
Jinny joined the Town of Okotoks in 2015 after completing a Master of Environment and Business degree with a focus on community based social marketing. Her role with the Town involves leading her team in the development and coordination of a diverse and holistic community sustainability education program, which includes the Conservation Education program, the Environmental Education Centre, events such as the Repair Café and Green Living Workshops, and the Water Conservation Rebate programs. She also oversees the Town of Okotoks’ formation and implementation of public and corporate environmental sustainability policy and guidelines, including the Environmental Master Plan and Climate Action Plan. Jinny loves camping with her family, getting out on any waterbody with any kind of floatation device, and slowly replacing her grass with plants and trees.
Adrián Tóth
Climate Change Program Lead, ICLEI Canada
As Climate Change Program Lead, Adrián’s focus is on helping understand the role of private capital in building resilient public infrastructure. He also supports the implementation of various municipal adaptation and resilience toolkits and projects. Adrián has previously worked both with funding institutions and directly with cities on climate change. He was previously based in Brussels, focusing on the nexus of climate change policy, sustainability, and city governance, leading transnational projects with European and national organizations. He is a co-author of a number of publications in the fields of sustainability, just transition, and climate change.
Annie Vandenberg
Partner, Recreate Place
Annie designs inclusive participatory programs that drive positive social and environmental change. As a co-founder of Recreate Place, she brings over 20 years of experience in engaging communities in the co-creation and development of programs that are immersive, experiential, and responsive to community needs. She has created inclusive spaces through her leadership in managing Evergreen’s Public Art Program, Children’s Educational programs and Ravine programs. She played a pivotal role in transforming Evergreen Brick Works into a climate-resilient public space. A storyteller at heart, Annie recently published her first children’s story.
Emma Vredenburg
Program Manager, Evergreen Canada
Over the past seven years at Evergreen Canada, Emma has contributed to a range of transformative initiatives, from nature play and learning programs to large-scale festivals, markets, and the flagship Evergreen Conference. With a BA in Environmental Ethics and Human Geography, Emma combines academic insight with a passion for community-building and well-being. She is deeply committed to empowering individuals in the present while laying the groundwork for a sustainable future, driving positive change that benefits both current and future generations.
Janna Wale
Janna is Gitxsan from Gitanmaax First Nation,and is also Cree-Métis on her mother’s side. Where possible, Janna uses a complex human-environmental systems approach and believes that this lens can be used when looking for ways to bridge western and Indigenous climate work. At the University of British Columbia – Okanagan, Janna’s research focused on climate resilience in Indigenous communities, using a seasonal rounds model. Janna holds a M.Sc. in IGS Sustainability, and a B. Nrs. (Hon.) in Natural Resource Sciences. In 2023, Janna was the recipient of the Anitra Paris Memorial Award for female youth climate leadership through Clean Energy BC. She also published two reports in collaboration with the Yellowhead Institute, and was named as an Indigenous Trailblazer through Diversity in Sustainability. In 2024, she was a finalist for the Community Advocate of the year award through Foresight Canada and was selected for a Community Award – Emerging Leader through the BC Achievement foundation.
Robyn Webb
Robyn Webb, BA, MCIP, has worked on urban climate solutions at the neighbourhood and municipal level in Manitoba, Alberta, and BC for over 15 years. With a background in urban planning, Robyn has worked on municipal climate action policies and programs in the areas of transportation and buildings for the City of Victoria and the City of Edmonton. She currently manages BC Hydro’s Sustainable Communities program which provides support and funding to BC local governments to pursue energy efficiency and electrification policy. This includes co-funding staff in 18 of BC’s largest communities.
Naomi Wolfe
Naomi is a passionate storyteller and community-builder who sees relationships as the starting point for change. She believes that through listening and sharing our stories, we develop equitable social structures that are needed for thriving, resilient communities. She works on projects at ICLEI Canada that build social and community resilience, and supports the development of related resources. Naomi was previously a Storytelling and Engagement Lead on the Canadian Urban Institute’s Healthy Communities Initiative team, and has worked with diverse projects, partner organizations, and community leaders to develop a network of placemakers and community builders committed to enhancing the public space landscape.
Abderrahmane Yagouti
Senior Director, Housing Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC)
Abderrahmane Yagouti, also known as Abder, is a Senior Director at Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada. With a background in environmental sciences and policy, Abder has spearheaded several initiatives in the federal government that helped Canadian communities in their efforts to face the impacts of climate change.
At HICC, he leads the Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure initiative, which aims to empower and guide Canadian communities with the necessary tools, guidance and direct support to build climate-smart infrastructure.
Before Joining HICC, he served at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) as the Director of Program Operations for climate change mitigation programs, including the Low Carbon Economy Fund and the Climate Action Incentive Fund. During his tenure at ECCC, he also led, at the Canadian Centre for Climate Services, the development of Climatedata.ca – an innovative web-based platform that remains a reference for accessible climate data and projections in Canada.
Sheri Young
Project Director, Climate Platform, ICLEI Canada
Sheri brings a broad perspective of climate mitigation, adaptation, and nature-based solutions to her work on Climate Insight. With 25 years’ experience in environment and sustainability, Sheri undertook her first emissions calculations in 2002. Since then, she has worked on land reclamation and restoration, air quality and climate emissions, contributed to global assessments on biodiversity and land degradation, led the first natural asset inventory and valuation project in Alberta, and advanced sustainability and climate action across sectors including municipal and provincial government, post-secondary education, and energy companies. Sheri is driven by applying the principles of climate equity, energy diversity, and the ecosystem benefits of nature-based solutions to make life better for everyone in a changing climate.
… and many more. Check back regularly as more speakers are added!
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About
The Livable Cities Forum is ICLEI Canada's flagship event designed to bring communities together. ICLEI Canada supports local action to achieve net zero, resilience, sustainability, and biodiversity goals. We provide programming, training, and consulting services on a variety of local climate and sustainability issues.
Contact
ICLEI CANADA
Suite 204, 401 Richmond St. W.
Toronto, ON
M5V 3A8
icleicanada.org
ICLEI Canada's work happens across Turtle Island which has traditionally been and is home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples since time immemorial. We endeavour to listen to and learn from Indigenous Peoples on an ongoing basis in the process of our work.
The 2024 Livable Cities Forum took place on the unceded and traditional territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation, and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation, and has been stewarded by them since time immemorial.