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

Kat is in charge of overall strategy and direction of The Youth Harbour, and supports the overall network with scaling and implementing solutions. 

Kat is the Executive Director of The Youth Harbour, a project of FES. Prior to becoming Executive Director, she supported over 50 community projects across remote, rural, and Indigenous communities. Kat is passionate about activating in the local community, whether that be organizing grassroots campaigns and clothing swaps, volunteering at the University of Calgary as an Advisory member or the local foundation. She has worked on a diversity of projects from volunteering at Calgary Legal Guidance, presenting systems research on the national pharmacare, or co-founding literacy campaigns. Kat is passionate about empowering youth to take impactful action on sustainable development, strengthening and amplifying the youth *force* in the Canadian climate movement. She talks widely about the intersections of climate action, race, and the “diaspora” effect on second-generation immigrants. Kat is a Future of Good Young Impact 2022 Leader, Weather Network Climate Champion, and Corporate Knights Top Sustainability Leader 30 under 30. 

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.

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

Moïse is responsible for supporting external partners and internal partners with developing resources and fostering connections across the sector for the success of The Youth Harbour’s various projects.

Moïse Mbarga-Abega is an MSc Candidate in Environment and Sustainability at the University of Montreal. His research focuses on climate justice issues and international law. Holding a BA in European and Social Studies, Moïse also completed an Erasmus at the faculty of law of the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). He is passionate about supporting youth and sustainability as well as helping youth movements build capacity to reach their goals.

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

Abby is supporting the team with the development of internal  governance and compliance policy and procedures, and will eventually support our youth network with developing similar policies and resources.

Abby Pelaez is from Vancouver, BC, the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples.

She is an expert in all sorts of writing: internal policies and procedural instructions, clear and succinct business emails, memoir essays, and novel manuscripts. She is an advocate for good communication, strong structures, and efficient systems to facilitate how teams work and maximize their impact to climate action and environmental sustainability causes.

Outside of work, Abby is an avid traveler, having spent two months travelling around Europe and having lived for short seasons in Indonesia, Trois-Rivières (Québec), San Diego (California), and Barbados. She dreams of publishing at least 3 of her nearly-finished manuscripts and her album of indie pop songs. At a potluck, Abby brings either mac and cheese or cinnamon rolls.

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.

Salma resides on the unceded land of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk), the Anishinaabeg (Algonquin), the Abenaki, the Huron-Wendat, and all Indigenous Peoples who have historically called Tiohtià:ke (Montreal) home.

Salma is responsible for ensuring that programs run smoothly and meet project deadlines as per the agreement between FES and its partners, as well as maintaining partnerships, and monitoring project budgets and timelines.

Salma (she/her) is an advocate for climate justice and passionate community builder. She has completed a graduate thesis and degree in Education and Society at McGill University, laying the foundation for a commitment to supporting youth activists in climate spaces. Her academic journey culminated in a thesis focused on understanding the identities of a group of youth activists of color and exploring ways to support them within the realm of climate activism. She also earned a BA in International Development from the University of Ottawa. 

With a diverse professional background in program design and management, Salma has contributed her skills and dedication to various institutions and NGOs, including McGill, the UNAC, the Canadian Space Agency, and Youth Fusion, among others. This extensive experience has honed their ability to navigate complex organizational landscapes and design impactful initiatives for youth. 

Salma finds joy in community building around climate justice action and in incorporating arts and crafts into these endeavors. A firm believer in the power of art to tell stories and explore intersections of the environment, identities, and social issues, Salma employs creative methods to help others navigate the intricate web of climate-related challenges. 

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

Lauren is the Co-Executive Director of Regenesis, one of Canada’s largest student-led environmental organizations. She is also the founder of the Green Career Centre, where she prepares underrepresented youth for green careers. Over more than six years, Lauren has reached thousands of youth through developing environmental entrepreneurship programs and sharing career development resources. Impressively, Lauren has secured more than a million dollars for BIPOC-led and impact-driven organizations which has financed the creation of scores of environmental events, dozens of green jobs, three community gardens, and a space for a soup kitchen. Lauren has been recognized by Corporate Knights, The Starfish Canada, Metroland Media and several esteemed politicians for her work. Lauren’s Master’s of Environmental Studies research focuses on investigating the funding struggles of racialized climate justice activists through cellphilm making, and she is looking forward to amplifying these perspectives as a YSC member.

Vancouver, BC | Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam territories

Jaydn has just recently graduated from Dalhousie University in Mi’kmaw’ki where she studied Environment, Society and Sustainability, Social Anthropology with a certificate in Indigenous Studies. While studying, she worked for the Student Union Sustainability Office pushing for widespread and accessible environmental education. Part of this effort was to create a Sustainability Hub at Dalhousie University, where students could easily find sustainability and sustainability adjacent resources. Her passion lays in equal access to sustainability education and green spaces for all beings. She enjoys spending time in forests, doing physical activity and volunteering with youth organizations.

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

Ami (she/her/elle) developed her passion for environmental advocacy at a young age, inspired by her mother’s dedication to raising awareness about the detrimental effects of plastic on our planet through neighbourhood canvassing. In her current role as the Program Director at Environmental Leadership Canada, Ami oversees the management of the Parliamentary Internship for the Environment Program—a national initiative with a dual focus on the environment and federal politics for youth. She also holds a position on the Board of Green Communities Canada and has previously worked with GreenPAC, Re_Generation, and ECCC. Guided by the understandings of positionality, power dynamics, and privileges, Ami embraces a relations-first approach. She advocates for the untangling of productivity from self-worth, challenging the conventional perception of individuals as mere contributors to the workings of capitalism. She believes that civic engagement and literacy are essential for empowering youth to address the complex challenges of climate change the world faces today.

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

Kate Gillis is a Métis woman from Calgary, Alberta with familial roots in the Red River Settlement. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan in the Indigenous Studies Department. With a background in Indigenous Feminisms, her thesis examines the role of Métis women in the establishment of the Nation, highlighting the importance of language and land. 

Working as a Policy Advisor for the Métis National Council in the Intergovernmental and International Affairs Department, Kate has continued to pursue her passion of global Indigenous solidarity and enhanced participation within international systems.

Montréal, QC | Tiohtià:ke | Mooniyang

Leonard is a co-founder of CEVES, (the Student Coalition for an Environmental and Social Shift) which aims to bring together and mobilize Quebec’s student population on climate justice issues. He has participated in the organization of many events and major climate strikes called Fridays For Future, including the historic one on September 27, 2019, which gathered half a million people in Tiohtia:ke (Montreal). In the last 2 years, he has been working as a trainer for the Climate Justice Hub, helping activist’s groups on their strategy, structure, and conflict resolution. With a certificate in ecology and currently pursuing a certificate in psychosocial intervention, he aims to address the emotional work of the climate crisis and help individuals, groups, and communities to gain more resilience and adaptation.

North Rustico, PEI, Epekwitk, Mi’kma’ki

Jenelle Maillet lives in Cavendish, PEI and grew up in Moncton, New Brunswick. She is a Masters of Island Studies student at the University of Prince Edward Island and completed a Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Development at the University of Ottawa in 2021. Her focus is on small islands, finance for climate adaptation, and food systems. She is passionate about supporting climate initiatives that honour places and people who care for their lands and waters every day. Jenelle loves the ocean, hiking, and cooking.

Ottawa, ON – unceded Anishinabe Algonquin Nation

Alexia, as a French national, settled in Ottawa after living in Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. Specialized in sustainable development, specifically the circular economy, she’s passionate about tackling challenges associated with resource scarcity and fostering socio-economic resilience in the face of climate change.

Through her studies, she has researched overlapping topics of interest, such as philanthropy, political science, as well as the connection between waste and anthropology.

Working as a circular economy Project Manager for the Paris Region in France, she has worked to reduce single use plastic by encouraging the scaling up of local reuse and recycling projects. More recently, she has been exploring the connection between sustainability and finance, including green finance and its application for developing countries.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Alexia is a voracious reader and finds joy in exploring the nature of Québec and Ontario. 

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

Sophia is the Founder & Executive Director of Threading Change, an ethical fashion organization working at the intersections of climate, gender, and racial justice in alignment with the necessary transition to a circular economy. Threading Change specializes in facilitating creative events, convening unlikely allies, and initiating valuable industry and citizen connections to co-create a local fashion industry that is equitable, youth-driven, and climate-resilient.

Sophia also dedicates her time to working as a Corporate Campaigner at the award-winning environmental advocacy organization Canopy Planet, collaborating alongside the world’s leading fashion, booking publishing, and consumer packaged goods brands to ensure that Ancient Endangered Forests are kept out of supply chains, with a robust focus on implementing Next Generation fiber solutions.

Sophia is the recipient of the City of Vancouver’s Greenest City Leadership Award in 2022, Corporate Knights’ Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders in Canada list in 2021, recipient of the No.9 Contemporary Art & The Environment and Harrowsmith Magazine’s inaugural Youth Changemaker Award in 2023, Starfish Canada’s Top 25 Under 25 Environmentalists award in 2017 and 2018, and has attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference 4 times representing various delegations. In her spare time, she’s a techno/house DJ under the moniker KALEIDO.

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.

Anita Lazurko is a PhD Candidate in Social and Ecological Sustainability at the University of Waterloo. Her research addresses the use of participatory scenarios and imagination to navigate transformations to sustainability, focusing on adaptation to climate change in river basins. After her B.Sc. in Civil Engineering at the University of Calgary, Anita completed a joint Erasmus Mundus MSc in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management at the Central European University (Hungary), Lund University (Sweden), and the University of the Aegean (Greece). She has experience in transboundary strategic planning, decision making under uncertainty, and natural infrastructure for climate adaptation with various institutions in Sri Lanka, Canada, the Netherlands and across southern Africa. She is a Donella Meadows Fellow and a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar and sits on the board of WaterAid Canada.

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.

Tim is a senior lawyer and business advisor with a 25-year track record of building tier-one legal services businesses, as well as helping clients navigate complex corporate finance, restructuring and regulatory matters. His practice is focused on domestic and cross-border M&A, financing and restructuring transactions, as well as the establishment, governance and investment activities of private investment funds.

Prior to joining the team at SkyLaw, Tim spent 14 years as an expat based in London and then Dubai. He served as partner, and in progressive leadership roles at Linklaters, Latham & Watkins, and Bennett Jones. He also spent a year seconded to Credit Suisse in London with its Financial Sponsors Coverage Group. Tim was General Editor of Oxford University Press publication Financial Services Regulation in the Middle East.

Tim can often be found in the great outdoors. He is an enthusiastic hiker and camper, occasional sailor, keen skier, and half-decent golfer and tennis player. Pickleball is a new favourite.

Dominique Souris is co-founder and Executive Director of Youth Climate Lab, a youth-for-youth organization focused on transformative climate action. She leads YCL’s partnerships, strategy, and design of projects that enable young people to build just, climate-resilient futures.

Dominique holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and Master of Arts in Global Governance from the University of Waterloo, and nerds out on all things climate finance, social innovation and international policy. She’s also a Board Member with the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices and Foundation for Environmental Stewardship, and a member of WEF Global Shapers and Smart Prosperity’s Leaders Initiative.