Montréal, QC | Tiohtià:ke | Mooniyang

Julie is responsible for all things granting, and leads the general oversight of The Youth Harbour program. Julie provides coaching to applicants, progress meetings with grantees,  and manages the Youth Steering Committee.

Julie brings years of experience in environmental and youth-led spaces. Growing up in Guelph, ON (Haudenosaunee, Anishinabewaki, Attiwonderonk and Mississauga territories) she participated in semester-long environmental leadership and business leadership experiential learning programs in secondary school. These demonstrated to her the power of community and youth-led action. Furthering her education at the University of Ottawa, she completed an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Development and Globalization, Minor in Geography, in French Immersion with Second Language Certification. 

Julie is intentional about her online and outdoor work-life balance, from managing a team of 25 youth conducting nationwide urban research completely online in the height of the pandemic, to then professionally planting over 100,000 trees throughout forests in Manitoba, Ontario and British Columbia. Since joining FES in November of 2021, Julie has built relationships with dozens of youth-led organizations to ensure that The Youth Harbour can continue to be a funder that trusts and empowers youth, both in English and in French.

Calgary, AB | Mohkinstsis | The Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and Treaty 7 Nations

Kathryn is our “creator extraordinaire,” managing external communications through our social media platforms, website, and newsletter. Kathryn also manages Branding Buddy for The Youth Harbour.

Kathryn Hoffart is a dedicated advocate who embraces design as a catalyst for systemic transformation. Kathryn leverages their expertise in user experience, communications, and digital design to address complex problems and inspire an equitable future. 

At FES, Kathryn leads The Youth Harbour’s Branding Buddy program, an initiative that pairs youth-led climate organizations with experienced designers to develop a visual identity and communications strategy. 

Outside of FES, Kathryn manages ekho design, a freelance design studio that collaborates on social and environmental advocacy projects. These projects include creating healthcare journey maps in effort to advise reform, designing websites to drive event registration, and developing communication strategies to strengthen the impact of impactful non-profits. 

In their free time, Kathryn can be found experimenting with plant-based recipes, unearthing thrifted treasures, and wrangling their rambunctious pet rabbits out of mischief.

Vancouver, BC | xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations

Jess mainly works on the N:OW 4 Net-Zero team and provides some secondary support to The Youth Harbour team. She supports the development of strategy and overall direction of the program.

Jess wears many hats at FES, channeling her passion for youth empowerment, sustainability, and climate action into every endeavor. In managing the SDGs LAB program since 2020, she’s delivered 80+ sustainability training workshops to 4000+ students and educators across Canada, the US, and the UK. She’s been a pivotal figure in expanding the program’s reach and curriculum and raised over $300,000 that has been injected into FES programming to support youth climate action. Currently, she’s building the new N:OW for Net-Zero program from the ground up, to provide educators and students with the resources and funding needed to improve net-zero literacy and reduce GHG emissions in Canadian schools.

Jess studied International Development and Social Entrepreneurship at Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). Before FES, Jess lived in Costa Rica working in cross-cultural, experiential education programs for youth, underscoring her dedication to creating and facilitating unconventional learning opportunities that empower young changemakers.

Montréal, QC | Tiohtià:ke | Mooniyang

Vancouver, BC | xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations

Miranda is responsible for supporting the team with overall event coordination and partnership development. Miranda is the go-to person for all Climate ShareSpace locations.

Miranda is a purpose-driven development professional, focused on leveraging education for an inclusive and climate-resilient world. Holding a Bachelor in Environmental Studies and Honours in International Development from the University of Waterloo, Miranda brings an intersectional lens to her sustainability work, ensuring those most vulnerable are represented and centered in change-making conversations.

With a strong desire to connect and collaborate globally, Miranda has coordinated skill development for marginalized youth in Ukraine, developed gender equality training for women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka, and supported a team in Tanzania to build gender-transformative programming. Driven by her passion for youth empowerment, gender equality, and climate action, she is eager to engage with and inspire women and youth to take leadership in fostering a sustainable, just future.

Outside of work, you can find Miranda exploring “off the beaten path” places, obsessing over google maps and geography quizzes, and experimenting with new recipes.

Toronto, ON Tkaronto | Dish With One Spoon Wampum | Treaty 13 | Anishnabek, Haudenousaunee, Mississaugas of the Credit Nations

Alicia graciously volunteers her time to oversee the Toronto location of Climate ShareSpace and is responsible for booking rooms, lounge passes, and managing resources.

Alicia is a Sustainable Impact Strategist who fiercely champions climate justice and hopeful futures. With extensive experience in facilitation, sustainability, impact measurement and standards development, she helps forward-thinking organizations to assess, amplify and embed their desired social and environmental impact, using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a guiding framework.

They also serve as Director of Strategy and Governance for Leading Change Canada, an organization focused on activating youth sustainability leadership for the transition to a low carbon economy within a generation.

Alicia is joining FES as the volunteer Office Administrator to the Climate ShareSpace Toronto, supporting and resourcing local climate champions in their important work.

A proud dual citizen since birth of Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, Alicia holds a Master in Environmental Studies, Planning Concentration, and a BA in Economics and Social Science (Honours), both from York University.

Her latest creative project is the Climateverse, a new media project reporting the news from parallel realities where humanity is taking bold action on climate change and social justice.

Cold Lake, AB | Ayîk Sâkâhikan (Frog Lake), Treaty 6 territory

Ay’Den Abraham (24) is an active member of his home community of Ayîk Sâkâhikan (Frog Lake). Based out of Cold Lake, Alberta. Located on Treaty 6 territory. He is a ceremonial helper, environmentalist, as well as committee and board member for various projects pertaining to Economic Development with the scope of sustainability and clean energy.

With a background in carpentry being a family generational trade, he and his family have helped build the community. Working as a summer student through to supervisor in his youth is where he became more passionate about sustainability for the environment for the future population. He took training to become a Volunteer with his Fire Department in the Summer of 2023.

In August of 2023 upon request, he co-coordinated a Plains Cree cultural camp with the scope of environmental monitoring. The camp was very successful and with encouragement from his colleagues he began to build relationships and his skills with Indigenous Clean Energy and Legacy Energy and Alternative Power (LEAP) projects. He applied through the programming through ICE and was accepted into Generation Power 2023/24, and again for 2024/25, leading projects in both their Charge Up Program and ImaGENation 2024-2025 cohort program. He still volunteers as a firefighter when he is in his reservation and has the time.

He believes in leaving a great world behind for his future generations, friends and family and everyone to live as one with the environment.

Winnipeg, MB | Treaty 1 Territory, the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, and the Homeland of the Red River Métis

Cameron Armstrong is a third-generation, mixed Filipina environmentalist and youth advocate from Winnipeg, Manitoba/Treaty 1 Territory. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Environmental Science at the University of Manitoba. Her interests lie in environmental justice, water protection, and empowering Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) youth in environmental spaces.

Recognized as one of 2023’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 by the Starfish, Cameron serves as a Senior Program Specialist at Youth Climate Lab, where she runs From Root to Sky, a program for BIPOC youth focussed on anti-racist climate action and deconstructing systems of oppression within environmental work. She has served as a member of EarthEcho International’s Youth Leadership Council advocating for just ocean conservation and has conducted research at the University of Manitoba, focussed on environmental racism and water control structures in collaboration with Lake St. Martin First Nation and Dauphin River First Nation. She currently works as a Research Assistant at the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Human Rights Research and is currently working on Just Waters, an interdisciplinary project focussed on hydro-social relations. In 2023, she also completed an externship with the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy exploring freshwater conservation and hydro development impacts in Northern Manitoba.

Cameron is currently on the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada’s Youth Advisory Council and also works on Consider Climate, Manitoba, advocating for climate-centered policy decisions in Manitoba. In her free time, you can find Cameron in a coffee shop or dancing to Carly Rae Jepsen.

Ottawa, ON | Traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people

Chanel holds a Bachelor of International and Global Studies (BGInS) from Carleton University where she specialized in Globalization and the Environment. She became an advocate for student food insecurity conducting her own primary research related to international students for the Department of Geography. 

Chanel is a seventh generation Canadian who identifies as a person of the global majority. Her love for nature and the environment comes from growing up in Northwestern Ontario on the shores of Lake Superior. Her heart is particularly fond of freshwater related causes, demonstrated by her participation in lobbying successfully for the creation of the new Canada Water Agency. She has spent her early career investigating and understanding the root causes of inequality in our Philanthropic systems with experience as a granter, fundraiser and consultant. Recognizing her unique identity and professional experience, she understands the importance leadership through equity and uplifting community champions who are already doing great work. 

In addition to being at the Partners Table  for the Womxn’s Leadership Collective for Nature and Climate Action where she co-lead an inaugural youth cohort. She was awarded a fellowship with Youth Challenge International as a Programs and Partnerships and Climate Action Fellow working on the ground alongside young women entrepreneurs building sustainable social enterprises in northern Ghana. 

Chanel currently works as a Grant Manager at Grantsimple supporting a portfolio of community projects and Not-for-profits navigating the challenging funding landscape. She hopes to pursue a masters degree in the future that aligns with both her passions of the environment and philanthropy, and is deeply excited to join the Youth Steering Committee.

In her spare time you can find her writing, dancing, and spending time on the water.

Binesii-wiikwedong (Thunder Bay, ON) | Territory of Robinson Superior Treaty

Keira is a climate activist of mixed settler-Anishinaabe heritage, with Ancestors from Ireland, England, Wales, and Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg Territory. She is pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Environmental Studies at Lakehead University, writing an honours thesis on Indigenous pedagogies and climate education. She has been passionate about youth climate activism since organizing with Fridays for Future Thunder Bay from 2019-2021.

Currently, Keira organizes with the Northwest Climate Gathering (NWCG), a grassroots initiative bringing people across Northwestern Ontario together in climate conversation and action. In the summer of 2024, she coordinated a Youth Climate Leadership Initiative with NWCG, supporting teens in learning about climate change and envisioning futures of climate justice. NWCG plans to hold P.A. day series on climate change in the upcoming school year. Additionally, Keira works to support Thunder Bay’s Net Zero Strategy as a member of both the EarthCare Advisory Committee and the Thunder Bay Climate Transition Collaborative. She supports climate action at her university as a member of Climate Justice Lakehead and of the Lakehead University Sustainability and Stewardship Council. Through her photography, Keira seeks to explore how we might live in better relations with water, land, sky, and the many beings that inhabit.

Montréal, QC |  Kanien’kehá territory (Mohawk)

Mehramat Kaur is involved in three environmental NGOs, where the environment is a top priority for her. She is a youth minister of the environment for the Monique Fitzback Foundation, a youth journalist for The Starfish Canada, and a member of Environnement Jeunesse. She is also in charge of communications for the Réseau Éducation aux enjeux environnementaux.

Passionate about environmental education and youth engagement, Mehramat works to raise awareness and mobilize around climate issues and sustainable development. With a solid background in marketing, having been marketing director of her robotics team for three years. She uses her creativity to inspire change, notably through slam writing.

Outside of work, she enjoys writing poetry and finding new ways to contribute to her community.

Sydney, NS | Unama’ki, the unceded and traditional territory of the Mi’kmaw People

Peter Oyedijo is a graduate of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program at Cape Breton University in Mi’kmaw’ki. Peter emigrated to Canada several years ago and has been a passionate environmental advocate and youth leader since childhood. During his time at CBU, he actively engaged in various initiatives, eventually serving as the Executive Vice-President of the Cape Breton University Students’ Union.

Peter’s commitment to environmental advocacy began at a young age. He has since channelled this passion into meaningful initiatives that address climate change and promote sustainability.

As a member of the inaugural Nova Scotia Youth Climate Council (NSYCC), Peter played a pivotal role in shaping the council’s direction and impact. Serving as the first Secretary of the council, he was instrumental in the formation of the Climate Policy Committee, focusing on climate policy initiatives and advocacy. His leadership in this area underscored his dedication to ensuring that youth voices are central to policy discussions and decision-making processes in the province.

Beyond his work with the Youth Climate Council, Peter has been deeply involved in various community initiatives within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, serving on multiple boards and committees. He consistently brings the youth perspective to the table, particularly at the intersections of climate change and education.

Currently, Peter works in Cape Breton University’s Student Affairs department, where his interest in environmental issues intersects with his way of approach to issues. He aspires to further his education by pursuing a master’s degree, with a focus on policies that affect the environment, business and the education sector.

Peter is excited to contribute his experience to the Youth Steering Committee. In his free time, he enjoys reading, staying informed on policy developments, and playing musical instruments.

St. John’s, NL | Traditional unceded territory of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Innu, and Inuit

Zeinab is in her final semester of the Master’s in Environmental Science (Co-op) program at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Based in the city of St. John’s, Newfoundland, the easternmost city in North America, she originally comes from Iran and lived in Naples, Italy, the home of pizza, where she embraced its vibrant culture, cuisine, and diverse experiences before moving to Canada.

Zeinab is passionate about climate advocacy and environmental sustainability. She is actively involved with ClimaFacts Atlantic, a student-led nonprofit focused on raising public awareness and mobilizing knowledge about climate change. Additionally, she contributes to the Youth Engagement Working Group in the City of St. John’s, where she promotes youth-led sustainability initiatives across the city.

Her research interests focus on nature-based solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change, particularly flooding in coastal cities. She leverages her expertise in spatial data analysis and ArcGIS in her work to promote sustainability. Zeinab has interned and collaborated with various environmental organizations, gaining valuable experience in advocacy, policy development, and environmental management.

Currently, through her involvement with Neighbours United, Zeinab engages in one-on-one advocacy and canvassing to promote a green and sustainable future for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Zeinab is also an active volunteer, participating in environmental initiatives such as clean-ups and tree planting. In addition to her academic and advocacy work, she is passionate about creating meaningful connections between communities and the environment, driven by her belief in the power of grassroots action to combat climate change.

Delta, BC | Traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the sc̓əwaθenaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsawwassen) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Peoples.

Mahroo is a Pakistani immigrant residing within the geography now called ‘British Columbia’. She has a Bachelor of Environment with a Joint Major in Sustainable Business, as well as Certificates in Sustainable Development and Ethics from Simon Fraser University. Working as a Sustainability Analyst for the Embedding Project, a global public-benefit research project that helps companies embed social and environmental factors across their operations and decision-making, she works on the intersections of business and sustainability to create guides, tools, and resources to help push the agenda for sustainability in the corporate sphere. She is passionate about climate justice, international development, and the need to center communities and equitable outcomes as a crucial piece to the climate movement.

Anthony has 30+ years of marketing and sales experience in the technology, financial services and consumer packaged goods industries, spending the last 15 years launching and operating start-up companies that helped financial services firms meet their communication and regulatory requirements through digital technologies.

Kyle is a recent graduate of the global economics program at the University of Western Ontario with a strong interest in environmental economics and public policy. He currently chairs FES’ Vetting Committee and has served as a director since 2017. Outside of FES, Kyle is heavily involved with Lions Clubs International, a global service organization. From 2018-2019, Kyle was appointed to serve as one of two Leo Lion Board Liaisons, a newly created position to represent young people on the Lions Clubs’ International Board of Directors. He also co-founded the West London Lions Club and the Canadian Young Lions Retreat. In his free time, Kyle enjoys reading, hiking, and serving his local community. He grew up and lives in the unceded traditional territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Musqueam, Qayqayt, Tsleil Waututh and Tsawwassen First Nations.

Kathy Falconi, CPA, is an executive with over 30 years experience in the financial services industry. She has held executive roles in finance, operations and most recently technology at both large and medium-sized organizations. In her most recent roles she has an extensive track record executing successful transformation initiatives, optimizing operational and business performance within the Financial Services sector.

Kathy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Economics from the University of Toronto and is a Chartered Professional Accountants designation from CPA Ontario. She lives in Toronto, is an active volunteer in her neighbourhood and serves as an executive board member for the resident’s association.

Sarah Hanson is Anishinaabe from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, currently living and working on the traditional lands of the Fort William First Nation, currently referred to as Thunder Bay. She graduated from Queen’s University with a degree in Biology, which combined with her held Indigenous Knowledge informs her work in climate action, sustainability, and reconciliation.

Prior to finishing her degree at Queen’s University, Sarah participated in an international internship for Indigenous youth where she lived and worked in Guyana, setting up robotics programs in 5 high schools. After returning to Canada, Sarah finished her Biology degree, spent 8 months working as a Junior Environmental Policy Analyst and then transitioned to the non-profit sector working with both educational and climate action organizations.

Sarah currently dedicates her time to organizing the Virtual Youth Leadership Forum on Reconciliation for Experiences Canada, leading capacity building and knowledge sharing efforts for the North American region for Youth4Nature and teaching a policy class for Canadian Roots Exchange. When she gets the chance she spends time reconnecting to her ancestry through beading, ribbon skirt making and learning Anishinaabemowin.

Cyrielle Noël is a spatial planner, with an expertise in marine and coastal environments. Being born and raised on the river island of Tiohtiá:ke (Montréal), Cyrielle is described as a soulful thalassophile, who moonlights as a social entrepreneur while also working as a Program Specialist for Ocean Wise. Cyrielle is the founder of Eau-Dacité: a planning studio focused on rehabilitating and reconnecting people to sustainable blue spaces. Cyrielle is a volunteer with Montréal Global Shapers and, in her free time, she enjoys connecting with nature by snowboarding, caving, and fishing.

Michael Rodger is an experienced, international executive with 30+ years working in both local and global markets.  Michael is CEO of Wentworth Corporation, a Canadian import and distribution company which imports products or represents companies to sell to retailers and commercial distributors across North America.  Wentworth also provides consulting support to governments or directly to companies to assist in launching or growing their businesses in North America. Michael is also President of Inter-City Watch (ICC), which he and his business partner acquired in 2019, to manufacture analogue and smart wrist-watches and sell to retailers across North America.

Prior to managing Wentworth, Michael was a Director with Accenture LLP providing consulting, transformation, outsourcing and project management services to clients across North America in multiple industries including insurance, retail, utilities, manufacturing and communications. Before Accenture, Michael co-founded and led a firm specializing in global outsourcing helping Canadian firms leverage offshore global resourcing where he ultimately sold his firm to India’s largest engineering company – Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

Prior to managing his global sourcing firm, Michael founded Norland Services International (NSI) which is an ongoing consulting practice helping small to medium size companies restructure and either grow or position for sale. Before founding NSI, Michael spent more than sixteen years working with IBM, in Canada, the US and globally in a variety of international roles in in services, operations, sales and marketing in multiple industries, departing as a Vice President.

Michael has a BA in Finance and Administration from University of Western Ontario and management certificates from the Harvard Business Client Program, Thunderbird University and IBM Management Institute.  Michael is member of the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors; the Canadian Centre for Ethics and Corporate Policy; the Canada Company Military Charity; and has had many committee leadership roles as Director and President with the North Rosedale Residents’ Association.

Michael enjoys sports including skiing, cycling, canoeing/kayaking, fly-fishing, cottaging, board work, travel and trying to make Canada and the City of Toronto better places to live.  Michael lives with his wonderful and brilliant wife Alexandra Jenkins in downtown Toronto, Canada.

Tristan Surman (he/him) is communications consultant, documentary filmmaker, and law student at McGill University.

Before going to law school, Tristan ran My Media: a communications firm for social impact and sustainability, which helped some of the world’s leading nonprofits and foundations raise millions of dollars and mobilize thousands of people for policy change. During this time, Tristan was proud to be amongst FES’ first-ever grantees and to be named one of Canada’s Top 30 Sustainability Leaders Under 30. In his free time, Tristan loves writing music, reading, and spending time outdoors with great people.

He believes deeply in FES’ mission and strategy, and hopes to bring his experience in Canada’s youth climate movement to the FES board.

Austin grew up in Alberta and is a registered E.I.T. with APEGA. He has completed a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta as well as an M.Eng in Sustainable Energy Engineering at Carleton University. With these programs, he has developed a strong understanding for a broad range of topics related to sustainability and climate change.

Austin has gained experience from working in government, academia, consulting, industry, and with NGOs. He currently works with Capital Power as an Energy Management Engineer.

Austin is a member of the Metis Nation of Alberta and holds his heritage in high regard. He strives to ensure indigenous ideas and cultures have been represented in all projects he works on. He is an active member of his community where he volunteers for numerous organizations such as the Edmonton Food Bank.

In his free time, Austin enjoys spending time outdoors. This often includes rock climbing, backcountry hiking, multi-day canoe trips, and snowboarding.