Directory

Dr. Maria Rodriguez (she/her) grew up in Venezuela and emigrated to Canada 27 years ago. She has a lifetime of experience in both national and international agricultural production systems, research, and policy. Maria recently retired from the federal public service, where she held a variety of responsibilities, most recently with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as Manager, Science Policy and Partnerships.  She holds an agriculture engineering degree from the Central University of Venezuela and a PhD in animal science from McGill University in Montreal. She lives in Montague, PEI.

Sandy Crawley (he/him) has held a number of leadership roles in the cultural sector, with experience as the national President of ACTRA, the Director of Labour Relations for the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, and the Executive Director for the Documentary Organisation of Canada. He has served professional constituencies in film, broadcasting, theatre and publishing as well as leading a social mission organization promoting literacy with an emphasis on social and cultural impact. Currently, Sandy maintains his arts practice as a musician and actor. He is looking forward to engaging in the policy discourse on issues that face Canada and the world as we respond to the existential crisis of man-made climate change. Sandy also has a Master’s of Fine Arts in Theatre from York University. 

Alison Lam (she/her) has been heavily involved in arts, culture, and heritage. She has worked in executive roles for charitable organizations including Orchestra Toronto, Neilson Park Creative Centre, and Driftwood Theatre Group. These roles have provided her with knowledge on government policies related to the promotion of and support for the arts in Canada. She is also a published writer, artist and photographer, giving her practical experience in the industry. She is pursuing her Master’s of Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto and currently serves as CEO of the Richmond Hill Green Party Federal EDA.

Dr. Imre Szeman (he/him) is a University Research Professor of Environmental Communication at the University of Waterloo, and he has previously held research chairs at McMaster University and the University of Alberta. His work explores the social and cultural transformations required to bring about a transition to sustainable forms of energy. In 2020, he was recognized for his research contributions by his appointment to the Royal Society of Canada. He has a Master’s in Theory and Criticism from the University of Western Ontario, and a PhD in Literature from Duke University.

Dr. Farrukh Chishtie (he/him) is an atmospheric, climate and earth observation scientist with extensive experience in various experimental and modelling disciplines. Holding three Master degrees and two PhDs in Applied Mathematics and Education with specialization in environment and sustainability, he has more than twenty years of research experience. Along with grassroots advocacy on issues of climate change and environmental degradation across the globe, he aims for holistic understanding and meaningful action. His areas of expertise and active research are climate science and policy, climate adaptation and mitigation. He is a member of the ongoing Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) validation project by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in collaboration with NASA. He currently holds visiting scientist and faculty positions at ECCC, the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN), the University of Toronto, and the University of Western Ontario.

Anna Keenan (she/they) earned degrees in physics and economics before beginning a career devoted to the practice of democracy. She has worked for 15 years, across 4 continents, for people-powered advocacy organizations like Avaaz.org, Greenpeace International and 350.org. Her primary focus has been on building social movements for climate action and electoral reform, to raise citizens' voices in political decision-making. She has served as President of the PEI Green Party, and has been on the board of Fair Vote Canada.

Kim Vance-Mubanga (she/her) is an experienced and well-respected educator, author, and non-profit administrator. She is based in Nova Scotia and has been deeply connected to human rights movements at the provincial, national and international level for thirty years, particularly for women, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, and those impacted by HIV/AIDS. She has been called upon to provide expert opinion, guidance, and research to various domestic, regional, and international bodies and organisations, including the Canadian Parliament and Senate, as well as the United Nations. She has also been a strong advocate within the school system for young people with intellectual and development disabilities, along with being a committed ally to racial justice movements. She is completing a Master’s of Adult Education at St. Francis Xavier University.

Beth Eden (she/her) was named one of Canada's 30 under 30 Sustainability Leaders by Corporate Knights and 25 under 25 Environmentalists by The Starfish Canada for 2020. She has worked with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on SDG #13, Climate Action, with institutions, NGOs, the United Nations and local governments for numerous years. Her research work focuses on environmental campaigns, social psychology and behaviour change for disaster risk reduction, flood resiliency and climate mobilization online and in communities across Canada. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo.

Keila Stark (she/her) is a Young Green and PhD student at the University of British Columbia living on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations. Her research aims to understand how climate change drives biodiversity change in coastal ecosystems from the British Columbia coast to nearshore areas around Baffin Island, Nunavut. She has also published policy research with recommendations ranging from implementing the Sustainable Development Goals across Canadian society to incorporating social equity into the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Blue Economy strategy. She regularly attends the United Nations Climate Change conferences (COP) as an observer to push policymakers to commit to justice-centred and evidence-based climate action. Within the GPC, Keila has served as the BC Representative (appointed) on the Young Greens of Canada Council and on the Vancouver Quadra Electoral District Association Executive.

Dr. Devyani Singh (she/her) is a scientist working on energy and climate policy. Holding an MBA in finance, M.Sc. in environmental science, and a Ph.D. in energy and climate policy, she works with diverse stakeholders including financial corporations, energy production industry, academia, government, Indigenous communities, and various non-profits to implement workable solutions for an equitable and green future. Her inter-disciplinary expertise covers energy access & transitions, air-quality (GHG emissions) accounting, evaluating climate impacts of national policies, natural resource economics, environmental [carbon] finance, forest sustainability, methane emissions from oil and gas production. Originally from India, she currently resides on the unceded traditional territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

Dr. Jennifer Purdy (she/her), CD, MD, CCFP, DipABLM, is a family medicine physician practising evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine in Ottawa. She attended the Royal Military College of Canada and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1998. She obtained her Medical Degree from University of Ottawa in 2008 and completed her residency in Family Medicine at University of Ottawa in 2010. She is a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, having served over 23 years.

Nazanin Moghadami (she/her) is a clinical counsellor, advocate and activist living on the traditional, ancestral, unceded lands of Musqueam, Squamish and Tseil-Waututh First Nations. As a clinical counsellor and trauma therapist, she believes that putting the well-being of citizens, communities and the environment at the center of our laws and policies significantly improves the mental, emotional and physical well-being of our society. Nazanin holds a Master’s in Counselling Psychology and currently works as a case manager for Rainbow Refugee Society. She believes that by following and creating socially just and equitable policies, we can decrease individual and collective trauma, and create more resilient communities.

Karen Farley (she/her) is an experienced entrepreneur having founded ventures in Canada and Taiwan. Intersecting sustainability and business, she is currently conducting research at the University of Waterloo into scaling the impact of social innovations. Karen believes social innovation can lead Canada to a green and just economy, and that fostering innovative talent – especially in women and youth – can lead us through this transition. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Technology and Strategic Management from Brunel University, United Kingdom.

Dyanoosh Youssefi (she/her) is a former criminal defence lawyer, a post-secondary lecturer, a writer on criminal and social justice issues, and a public speaker. In 2015 she founded All In Advocacy, a non-profit organization focused on the intersections between housing, criminal justice, mental health, and economic equity. She ran municipally for Toronto City Council in 2014 and 2018. Her campaigns focused on inclusive communities, housing, transit, the environment, and policing. For three decades, she has volunteered consistently, both at the local and international levels. Dyanoosh holds a Bachelor’s in Criminology: Ethics, Society, and the Law. She also holds both a Common Law and Civil Law degree from McGill's Faculty of Law.

Since 2009, Tim Grant (he/him) has had the pleasure to work with a large Green team in one federal and three provincial elections in the Toronto riding of University-Rosedale. In 2019, they earned the highest vote percentage of any Green campaign in the GTA. Tim is a strong advocate of city charters, which provide greater decision-making and fundraising powers for large municipalities, as well as a national bus-rail transportation grid that can knit small and large communities together. Tim is a founding member of Energy Educators of Ontario, the Ontario Environment Network, and Environmental Education Ontario.

Kuun Jaadas Adeana Young (she/her) is a Haida mother of 4, fisherman’s wife, storyteller, and community builder living in her homelands on Haida Gwaii. Adeana has been involved in local politics for 10 years as a Band Councillor, School Board Trustee, and member of several boards. She is a solutions-driven listener who focuses on making systemic changes that benefit people, the environment, and the economy. Adeana also starred in the 2018 feature length Haida language film, SGaawaay K'uuna/Edge of the Knife.

Valerie Powell (she/her) has experience in small business and journalism. She Mastered in Family Science, Gerontology, at the University of Guelph. She had a successful career in psychogeriatrics, a field where science and art intertwine.  She has a passion for improving the care of people who are aging in a system that needs to continually evaluate and restructure to meet their needs. Valerie is a three-time candidate in Simcoe North, a former Critic in Green Party of Canada Shadow Cabinet, and is actively working on Age-Friendly communities.

A specialist in urban adaptation to climate change and governance of environmental issues, Clément Badra (he/him) was a representative of the Young Greens of Quebec for three years. Having worked in the office of a federal MP in charge of youth issues and being under 30 years old, he lives the challenges faced by youth and understands the complexity of the issues. Being in a wheelchair, he fights for the application of universal accessibility through his involvement in a committee of the municipal party Project Montréal. Clément has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s in Environment and Sustainable Development from the Université de Montréal.