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Staff
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Sujane Kandasamy
Co-Founder & Director of Education
Sujane Kandasamy
Co-Founder & Director of Education
Sujane Kandasamy, MSc., PhD is a planetary health focused knowledge translation scientist. She is passionate about the intersections between societal issues as they relate to planetary health, which she aims to bring to our education programs. Sujane enjoys working with youth on hands-on biology and biodiversity workshops and training educators on innovative ways to inspire communication and leadership skills in the classroom.
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Kyle Empringham
Co-Founder & Director of Finance and Fundraising
Kyle Empringham
Co-Founder & Director of Finance and Fundraising
Kyle is a civic engagement specialist with a masters degree from Simon Fraser University’s School of Resource and Environmental Management. Kyle hopes to bring guidance and mentorship to The Starfish Canada as it grows and develops into a common source for youth engagement for Canadians. In his spare time, Kyle likes to swim, run and cycle (although has yet to attempt a triathlon).
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Taylor Lim
Digital Fundraising Lead
Taylor Lim
Digital Fundraising Lead
As a current Master of Management student at the University of British Columbia, Taylor is passionate about bridging the gap between community engagement, sustainability, and socially mindful business. In her role as the Digital Fundraising Lead, Taylor’s goal is to shine a spotlight on the incredible work being done by The Starfish community and support the creative and talented minds within it. In her spare time, Taylor enjoys exploring B.C’s beautiful hiking trails, traveling through the city on her bike, and trying new restaurants in the Vancouver area.
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Kurt Steigleder
Web Development Lead
Kurt Steigleder
Web Development Lead
Kurt is a user experience evangelist with a passion for bringing data into design. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Capilano University and an entrepreneurial background, Kurt bridges the gaps between design, data, and development to create solutions directly focused on business goals. When he’s not working, Kurt likes to read fantasy novels, lift weights, and plays lead guitar in two death metal bands.
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Elyse Economides
Editorial Team Lead
Elyse Economides
Editorial Team Lead
As Editorial Team Lead for The Starfish Canada, Elyse is responsible for supporting a virtual team of editors and writers as they work to impact environmental change. She holds a BA in English Language with a minor in Family Studies from the University of British Columbia and a certificate in Digital Communications Strategy from the UBC Sauder Executive Education program. Drawing on more than 10 years of experience managing digital content creation and engaging diverse student audiences, she aims to help young leaders find their voices. As a current Vancouver resident, she loves getting outside and enjoying all the beauty British Columbia has to offer.
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Denise Zhu
Graphics and Communications Manager
Denise Zhu
Graphics and Communications Manager
Denise is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall with a BA in Creative Writing, English, and the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH) at Western University. She is passionate about storytelling as a means of inspiring others and is excited to support The Starfish community in its efforts to uplift youth voices across Canada. Denise hopes to use her background in digital communications to connect youth across the country and spread environmental positivity. She also volunteers as an editor and workshop facilitator with The Starfish. In her spare time, Denise enjoys creating digital art, reading webcomics, and working on her YA novel.
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Ryan Krause
Fund Development Manager
Ryan Krause
Fund Development Manager
Ryan is a dual degree student in the juirs doctor and honors business administration programs at Western University who has a passion for environmental and social sustainability. Through his work as Fund Development Manager, he hopes to further The Starfish’s ability to inspire young people to be environmentally focused and drive social change. During his spare time, Ryan loves to go on runs, play music, and chase sunsets.
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Meha Shah
Director of Programs
Meha Shah
Director of Programs
Meha brings over a decade of program management & leadership experience in the civic tech and education space. She currently leads the Partner Success team at Code for Canada, where she works with government teams to build inclusive digital products. Prior to that, she worked on fellowship programs in the education and nonprofit space, focused on bringing diverse talent to schools that need them most and ensuring that students have access to a high-quality education. Meha also holds a MSc in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics and a BA in Economics from Queen’s University. In her free time she loves to travel, bake and binge-watch TV shows.
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Micaela Yawney (She/Her)
Editor-in-Chief
Micaela Yawney (She/Her)
Editor-in-Chief
Micaela Yawney (she/her) is a writer, poet, adventurer, and digital nomad with four years of experience working within the field of sustainability. Her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo has led her to research and work which revolves around storytelling, sustainability education, environmental journalism, and vulnerability.
You can find her as one of the voices behind the Sierra Youth Podcast, Advisor to the Global Innovation Story Map Project at Threading Change, or in the woods or up in the mountains, finding solitude in nature. She is currently working on her first collection of poetry that will appear later in 2022. Her poetry is rooted in gratitude and love for the natural world, along with speaking to the intuitive and sensitive souls of the world, and the heartache and heavy feelings that come along with being such a person.
Micaela is an avid outdoors-woman, storyteller, daydreamer, food-lover, and sustainability advocate. You can follow along with Micaela’s adventures at micaelayawney.com .
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Crystal Chen (She/Her)
Digital Marketing Lead
Crystal Chen (She/Her)
Digital Marketing Lead
Crystal completed her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences at McMaster University and will be pursuing her MSc in Speech-Language Pathology. She is passionate about the intersection between science and communication and making scientific information accessible to everyone. Crystal is excited to promote environmentalism and share the voices of inspiring changemakers across Canada in her role as the Digital Marketing Lead. In her spare time, Crystal enjoys drawing, cooking, and gaming.
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Aish Ravi Shankar
Editorial and Top 25 Program Manager
Aish Ravi Shankar
Editorial and Top 25 Program Manager
Aish is the Editorial and Top 25 Program Manager here at The Starfish Canada. You might spot one of her articles on the youth journal! Outside of her day job she is an Eco Canada Environmentalist in Training, a 2022 Young Ravine Leader at LEAF, and an avid volunteer with Sierra Club’s Ontario Chapter. She is passionate about making a difference in the world of sustainability and climate change. When she’s not growing her collection of houseplants, she enjoys indulging in a good book.
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Becca Sarchese
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Manager
Becca Sarchese
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Manager
Becca is an undergraduate student studying linguistics at York University’s Glendon Campus. From a young age, she has been passionate about language learning and inclusion, and she loves to combine these interests when she can. After finishing her studies, she hopes to become a forensic linguist and a professor of sign language linguistics, using her knowledge to ensure that Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals are represented fairly in legal cases. In her spare time, Becca enjoys swimming, reading, and playing with her service dog, Mabel.
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Mei-Ling Patterson
Social Media & Community Manager
Mei-Ling Patterson
Social Media & Community Manager
Mei-Ling is a MASc candidate at Toronto Metropolitan University in the Environmental Applied Science and Management program. She is passionate about environmental justice and hopes to inspire youth to take climate action through her role as the Social Media & Community Manager at The Starfish Canada. During her free time, Mei-Ling enjoys running, doing yoga, and trying out new coffee shops and breweries.
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Winnie Tam
Executive Director
Winnie Tam
Executive Director
Winnie is a social purpose driven leader with 20+ years of experience managing education programs in the environmental and arts sectors. With her extensive work in youth-focused organizations combined with her Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) and Bachelor of Education, Winnie strives to support youth leaders to address the important environmental and social issues of our time.
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Tristan Berezowski
Web Developer
Tristan Berezowski
Web Developer
Tristan became a full stack developer because of his love for building projects and problem solving. When he isn’t coding, Tristan loves to go adventuring in North Vancouver, gaming with his childhood friends, and dancing to electronic music.
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Laura Vaché
Bilingual Development Manageer
Laura Vaché
Bilingual Development Manageer
Laura studied communications at Grenoble University and has done a Master Degree in Scientific and Technical Communications which helped her develop a strong interest in the fields of environment and education. She is excited about bringing her work experience to the Starfish Canada to develop the French capacity of the organization and to make the programs accessible to all French speaking communities in Canada.
En dehors du travail, Laura aime danser, lire, jardiner et faire du bénévolat, en particulier dans des fermes biologiques.
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Sophia Gregory
Senior Program Manager
Sophia Gregory
Senior Program Manager
Sophia Gregory (she/her/elle) is an educator, community builder, and small-scale farmer with a degree in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences from McGill University. Her passion for climate action, youth engagement, and sustainable food systems led her to co-found Neighbourhood Farm Schools, an organization that delivers farm-based, educational programming on Salt Spring Island, BC. She is thrilled to bring her experiences in environmental program development and management to The Starfish Canada and to be able to support this amazing network of changemakers.
When she’s not developing workshops or coordinating programs, she loves rock climbing, camping, and learning new languages.
Board of Directors
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Guillaume Courcy
Board Chair
Guillaume Courcy
Board Chair
Guillaume is an experienced program manager with an engineering background and a MBA from HEC Montréal. He has a passion for turning ideas into reality, a commitment to support sustainable development, and an aspiration to have an impact on the mobility sector. As a citizen of the world, Guillaume believes mobility is a vector for peace, in complement to education and communication. These are the values that drive his engagement in The Starfish Canada, and the other educational or program development roles he takes on.
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Laura Chang
Board Director
Laura Chang
Board Director
Laura is a design strategist, marketing professional and seasoned account manager with extensive, multi-sector experience. Her generalist skill set is grounded in a Political Studies degree from Queen’s University and a post-grad certificate in Public Relations from Humber College. Laura is focused on leveraging her experience consulting on strategic initiatives, communications, and stakeholder management to help other exceptional organizations tackle meaningful challenges. In addition to her work at The Starfish, Laura is passionate about the civic tech space and a keen advocate of tech for good.
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Clarissa Huffman
Board Director
Clarissa Huffman
Board Director
Clarissa is a community and sustainability planner with a passion for discovering and pushing the leverage points that exist within decision-making contexts to move towards more sustainable communities. Her role as the Environmental Coordinator at the City of Port Coquitlam means she spends most of her time developing and implementing environment and climate change policy for local government using strategies that are equitable and resilient. She believes firmly that educated opinions are critical to evidence-based policy making. At Royal Roads University, her graduate research focused on the local government role in community sustainability and climate action. Finally, she believes that to truly commit to growth, one must also be ready to gracefully acknowledge when mistakes are made, and when we need to ‘unlearn’ internalized harmful habits and beliefs. In sum, her vision is for a future generation of Canadians who, with passion, strong leadership, and bold action, can build and reimagine communities that are diverse, multigenerational, and climate resilient. You can often find her curled up with her knitting or at the climbing gym, but her favourite pastime is exploring the west coast (from the Lower Mainland to the North Yukon) with her Alaskan Husky, Nymeria and her son, Wren.
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Alvinia Lao
Treasurer
Alvinia Lao
Treasurer
Alvinia is a financial analyst who provides decision support to directors and business partners through financial planning and analysis. Having had the opportunity to work on a number of rapidly growing products and teams in the telecommunications and technology sector, she is committed to delivering data-driven insights that drive organizational growth. Alvinia holds a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting from the University of British Columbia.
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Samia Sami
Board Director
Samia Sami
Board Director
Samia is an electrical engineer with demonstrated experience in sustainable energy, electricity grids, and engineering design. After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan, Samia is committed to bridging her two passions, sustainability and engineering, to integrate environmental stewardship into engineering projects. Samia is currently working for SaskPower where she is designing transmission stations. Samia supports equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives in her community. As a member of the Starfish Canada Team, Samia is excited to participate in sustainable development and youth empowerment. At home, Samia can be found appreciating memes, camping, travelling, admiring science and tech innovation, doing exercise, and hoarding succulents
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Nicole Odo
Secretary
Nicole Odo
Secretary
Nicole is from Fredericton, New Brunswick, currently pursuing her Master of Science in Civil Engineering. She has experience in project management, process improvement and communications, and enjoys leveraging her experience in these areas to further the organizations she volunteers with. Nicole has always been passionate about the environment and sustainability, which lead her to becoming involved with The Starfish Canada. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys highland dancing, hiking, yoga, strength training and reading!
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Blake Bunting
Board Director
Blake Bunting
Board Director
Blake is a founder, business development director, solar PV project manager, and environmentalist. His technical background, stemming from degrees in mechanical engineering and computer science, paired with his commitment to researching and understanding innovative cleantech solutions worldwide, has given him the tools to address how young Canadians want to contribute to the growth of the green economy. Blake is focused on the democratization of impact finance, passionate about directly engaging with young investors and industry stakeholders through the development of GoParity Canada, which recently awarded him one of Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25. As a young entrepreneur himself, Blake is outgoing and eager to bring anyone interested into the world of impact investing, breaking down barriers to accessibility for young Canadians
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Soomin Han
Board Director
Soomin Han
Board Director
Driven by her passion for climate justice and her lived experiences, Soomin has been engaged in climate work with a focus on intersectionality, youth engagement, and gender equality. Currently as a GreenPAC parliamentary intern, she is working with MPs championing climate justice and gender equality on Parliament Hill. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Environmental Studies at the University of Manitoba, and has worked with various environmental and justice-oriented non-profits, community organizations, and advocacy groups. She attended CSW61 (Commission on the Status of Women) and UNFCCC COP25 (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties) to advocate for gender equality, climate justice, and youth engagement in international policy spaces, and was named Top 25 Environmentalists under 25 by The Starfish Canada.
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Laurence Audette-Lagueux
Board Director
Laurence Audette-Lagueux
Board Director
An entrepreneur at heart, Laurence is currently Director of Operations for Continuums, a consulting firm based in Montreal. After graduating specializing in the management of cultural organizations, Laurence turned to the universe of entrepreneurship, and creative and technological industries. Passionate about collaborative economy and participatory finance, she co-founded, in 2016, Ouishare Montreal, a think tank on the transformation of society through digital and the sharing economy. Since she sat on the advisory committee of the Working group on the collaborative economy of the MEI, Laurence is interested in the creation of public policies to better manage innovative and disruptive initiatives. In the fall of 2019, she had the opportunity to be invited to participate in the prestigious program International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) which led her to discover the four corners of the United States. Laurence participated in the development of several startups and nonprofits. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of the cooperative startup EVA and Ouishare Montreal.
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Sami Sekhon
Board Director
Sami Sekhon
Board Director
Sami is a values-based leader who is passionate about transforming communities to improve wellbeing for historically underrepresented populations. She holds a Bachelor in Kinesiology from UBC and an MBA from the Sauder School of Business. She finds joy in bringing diverse people and ideas together to generate innovative solutions and is always seeking ways to uplift those who may not see their full value and potential. She is currently working as a Public Sector Transformation Consultant with Deloitte Canada and hopes to continue to build the reach and impact of The Starfish Canada as a Board Member.
Editorial Team
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Charlotte Lee
Editor
Charlotte Lee
Editor
Charlotte is a graduate of the Health Information Science program at the University of Victoria, and now works in the healthcare technology sector. She has spent most of her life on the West Coast of Canada, where she enjoys getting out and exploring its scenic beauty. She believes that tackling environmental issues is an essential way to improve the state of many other problems that exist in society, such as inequities in health. Some of her other interests include books, brews (both beer and coffee), cabins, exploring, and hiking.
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Christine Séguin
Editor
Christine Séguin
Editor
Christine Séguin (she/her) lives in Limoges, Ontario, traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People, with her two cats and partner. Christine is a freelance Editor and full-time Production Coordinator with the Medical Council of Canada. When she’s not working, Christine loves reading, moving to music, and crafting.
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Danielle Saele
Editor
Danielle Saele
Editor
Danielle was born and raised in North Vancouver, British Columbia. From a young age, she spent the majority of her time playing in the natural surroundings of the North Shore mountains. This fuelled a passion for the environment leading her to later pursue a bachelor of science in natural resource conservation from the University of British Columbia. As an editor, she hopes to share her passion for conservation with writers on The Starfish Canada’s team. She currently lives in Coquitlam, B.C. where she enjoys yoga, hiking, camping and biking. -
Dorothy Dinh
Editor
Dorothy Dinh
Editor
As a graduate from the University of British Columbia with a double major in Biology and Food, Nutrition and Health, Dorothy aspires to educate others on environmental sustainability. In addition to editing for the Starfish, Dorothy is a research assistant, piano teacher and volunteers for several organizations. Moreover, she will be pursuing higher education as she is interested in exploring other educational interests. For leisure, Dorothy adores camping, overlanding, and road trips with her boyfriend.
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Jennifer Hong
Editor
Jennifer Hong
Editor
Born and raised in Vancouver, Jennifer is currently studying Forest Sciences at UBC with a specialization in Forest Ecosystem Services. Jennifer, with a passion for health and forestry, is eager to use her research to show how maintaining a close connection with nature can help improve overall health. She is passionate about getting individuals outside to develop their own passions for the outdoors and to spark feelings of stewardship in order to help combat climate change. She has worked for Parks Canada developing community outreach programs for all age ranges and has led a team of high school students in environmental restoration activities for the City of Surrey’s Salmon Habitat Restoration Program. Jennifer also strives to maintain a global perspective in her work which has found her working for Singapore’s National Parks Board and, currently, analysing energy policy solutions for Environment and Climate Change Canada in Ottawa. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys nerding out over movies and tv shows in addition to eating copious amounts of sushi, tacos, and dessert.
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Kaitlyn Nightingale
Editor
Kaitlyn Nightingale
Editor
Kaitlyn Nightingale was born and raised in the Okanagan Valley and is currently attending Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia for Communications, New Media, and Global Studies. She has been passionate about the environment from a young age and now hopes to use her communications skills to help educate others about sustainability, ethical consumer habits, and the impacts of climate change. Kaitlyn also enjoys travel, hiking with her golden retriever, photography, camping and reading.
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Lauryn Margarit
Editor
Lauryn Margarit
Editor
Lauryn is a graduate of the Arts and Science program at The University of Guelph, where she focused her studies on biology and philosophy. During her time at school, her passions for conservation, sustainability, and science communication grew. She is specifically interested in how environmental problems relate to food insecurity and other broader social issues. -
Manushi Gera
Editor
Manushi Gera
Editor
Manushi completed a double specialization in Computer Science and Commerce from McMaster University. A federal public employee for 7+ years, editing for Starfish satisfies two of her passions: perfecting the written word and taking actions to preserve nature. She continues to enhance circular life cycles of things and processes, grow plants, visit farmer’s markets, journal, meditate, and enjoy long nature walks where she stops often to stare at and smell the flowers.
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Melissa Ray
Editor
Melissa Ray
Editor
Melissa Ray is a registered early childhood educator with over 10 years of experience in the field. She possesses a B.A. in English along with various diplomas and certificates and has over five years of proofreading/editing skills. Melissa enjoys reading, listening to music and learning new languages (French at the moment). She fluently speaks two languages and is conversational/beginner level in two.
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Sara Caissie
Editor
Sara Caissie
Editor
Sara holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the UBC Sauder School of Business, specialized in Marketing. She has 11+ years of experience in the marketing industry, both with advertising agencies and brands. While based in Vancouver, Sara is an explorer in travel and in life, always looking to try new things.
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Sarah McDonald
Editor
Sarah McDonald
Editor
Sarah McDonald is an ecologist with GEI Consultants where she provides support and input into a variety of natural resource management and ecological restoration projects. Prior to working for GEI, Sarah completed her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Guelph with a focus on ecology and plant science. These studies led her to pursue a Master’s Degree at the University of Western Ontario, where she conducted research in the areas of plant-pollinator interactions and global change biology. Sarah continues to expand her knowledge and experience via volunteer work with the NPCA and Niagara Coastal Collaborative, as well as through her mentorship of young environmental writers at The Starfish! In her spare time she enjoys dessert, being outdoors, working on her plant ID skills, and large mugs of tea.
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Tamiza Nanji
Editor
Tamiza Nanji
Editor
Tamiza Nanji is a recent PhD graduate of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program at The University of British Columbia. She previously attended McMaster University in Ontario where she actively engaged youth through science and residence life. She currently resides in the beautiful British Columbia and enjoys long walks with her adopted dog, yoga, as well as ongoing learning through personal and professional development.
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Veronika Lewis
Editor
Veronika Lewis
Editor
Veronika is currently a Microbiology and Immunology undergraduate student at UBC. Other than school, she works as a high school math tutor for an autistic student and enjoys this position very much! In her spare time she loves being out with her friends or spending time in nature exploring Vancouver’s outdoors. Veronika decided to join The Starfish as an editor because she believes that by working together with other people, our collective small efforts can together make a huge difference especially when it comes to the environment!
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Aish Ravi Shankar
Writer
Aish Ravi Shankar
Writer
Aish is a recent graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University with a B.Sc in Environmental Biology. Currently, she is the Editorial Program Manager at The Starfish Canada and an ambassador for Sierra Club’s Breathe Easy project. She is passionate about making a difference in the world of sustainability and climate change. When she’s not growing her collection of houseplants, she enjoys indulging in a good book.
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Alexander Cressman
Writer
Alexander Cressman
Writer
Alex is a passionate outdoorsman from Ottawa with a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. He’s worked on numerous environmental conservation and ecological restoration efforts, and writes about ecology, energy and sustainable development. Hobbies include plant identification, exploration and Live Action Roleplay.
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Alicia Richins
Writer
Alicia Richins
Writer
Alicia Richins is a Sustainability and Social Impact Consultant based in Toronto, and a fierce advocate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In her day job, Alicia leads Partnerships and Standards development at the Common Approach, and volunteers with Leading Change Canada as Director of Strategy & Governance. A dual citizen since birth of Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, Alicia holds a Master in Environmental Studies, and a BA in Economics and Social Science, both from York University. Alicia loves writing about the intersections of climate with other social and economic issues.
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Amber Rose Alupay
Writer
Amber Rose Alupay
Writer
Amber Rose (any pronouns/elle) is an undergraduate student at the University of Winnipeg studying Honours History and Environmental Studies. They are passionate about the interactions between intersectionality and environmentalism in urban settings, particularly within the Canadian prairies. In their free time, Amber Rose enjoys indoor gardening, digital painting, and drinking tea. -
Ana Yellapa
Writer
Ana Yellapa
Writer
Ana is an environmental activist and science enthusiast. She enjoys educating others about important social and environmental issues, as well as inspiring meaningful change. Ana’s passion for environmental advocacy was sparked when she learned about the devastating effects of climate change. In her spare time, Ana enjoys reading, playing with her puppy, swimming and traveling. -
Annabelle Liao
Writer
Annabelle Liao
Writer
Annabelle is an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia studying English. She has been passionate about sustainability and climate justice since volunteering at the Vancouver Aquarium during high school, and continues to work in various operational sustainability efforts across campus. In her free time, she loves to bake and go for walks.
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Ashley Kim
writer
Ashley Kim
writer
While still currently finishing off her last few years in high school, Ashley Kim is striving to become an environmentalist. She keeps herself busy through her schoolwork and when she has the chance, by hanging out with her friends. Ashley would like to continue her passion through writing with The Starfish, while learning more about environmentalism through the process.
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Bartosz Osiecki
Writer
Bartosz Osiecki
Writer
Bartosz is a Master of Science graduate from the University of Toronto’s program in Geography. He specializes in air quality and wildfire emissions, and has a strong interest in the role of climate change in exacerbating these issues. He hopes that through his passion for environmental writing he can help drive progress on the current environmental crisis.
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Becca Sarchese
Writer
Becca Sarchese
Writer
Becca is an undergraduate student studying linguistics. Passionate about language, writing, and disability, she is always looking for ways to combine her interests and spread awareness about the Disabled community. In her free time, you can find Becca reading, paddleboarding, or swimming.
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Bodhana Sivagurunathan
Writer
Bodhana Sivagurunathan
Writer
Bodhana Sivagurunathan is a junior at Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute in Guelph, ON. Her life revolves around her family, nature, DECA, school, and basketball and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She aspires to start-up her own green business, while pursuing a career in biomedical engineering.
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Charlotte Taylor
Writer
Charlotte Taylor
Writer
Charlotte Taylor is an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia, pursuing an Honours degree in English Literature. She has written a number of short stories, one of which, Calm Before the Storm, won first prize in the 2019 Islands Short Fiction Contest. She also enjoys writing blog posts on her personal website, about environmental and digital sustainability. If you would like, you can read more of her portfolio at: charlottetaylor.work. -
Chris Chan
writer
Chris Chan
writer
Chris is an environmentally conscious grade 9 at St George’s school in Vancouver. He enjoys sports, model u.n, and regularly competes at local business competitions.
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Claire Ehlert
Writer
Claire Ehlert
Writer
Claire has always enjoyed spending time in nature and exploring new places as much as she can. She has a degree in Environmental Governance from the University of Guelph where she combined her passion for the environment with her love for travel, with a focus on studying the potentials for sustainable tourism. Claire has lived and worked in many places around the world but she is now making her home in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia. -
Conor Drennan
Writer
Conor Drennan
Writer
Conor is a recent graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University in Environment and Urban Sustainability. He has worked on projects ranging from student thesis films to volunteer gardening. His interests lie in Zero-waste, public transportation, urban agriculture, and urbanism. His hobbies include gardening, hiking, and travel. -
Eden Luymes
Writer
Eden Luymes
Writer
Eden Luymes is a political science Masters student at the University of British Columbia and is passionate about environmental policy and climate justice. Her research focuses on climate justice and the influences of neoliberalism and neocolonialism in global climate governance. Eden sees addressing climate change as an unprecedented opportunity to heal our relationships with the Earth and with each other. She loves hiking on glaciers, bike camping, and scanning the Salish Sea for orcas in her free time. -
Edris Formuli
Writer
Edris Formuli
Writer
Edris is a 17-year-old from Toronto with a passion for the life, health and environmental sciences. During his free time, you can catch him reading non-fiction, spending time with his bird or going on long hikes by the Rouge River. He hopes that his writing will bring awareness about the severity of the climate crisis, and inspire the progression to a greener and more sustainable future.
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Gabriela Valadão
Writer
Gabriela Valadão
Writer
Gabi (she/they) is a Brazilian student that is passionate about researching and talking about sustainable production and food security. With more than 10 years of volunteering with youth development and environmental education, she consider herself a storyteller and is very excited to share articles at The Starfish Canada Journal. She enjoy writing, but also painting and reading. -
Hannah Freeman
Writer
Hannah Freeman
Writer
Hannah was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, but moved to Halifax to study at Dalhousie University. She is heading towards a Bachelor of Science with a major in Environmental Science and a minor in Biology. When not focusing on school or work she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and trying to ID plants in the wild! -
Harshil Ahir
Writer
Harshil Ahir
Writer
Harshil is a student at Wilfrid Laurier University studying data science and financial risk. Harshil is passionate about sports and sustainable living. Connecting these two together is something he feels can bring in important change. In his free time you can catch him watching MMA or football!
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Holly Beato
Writer
Holly Beato
Writer
Originally from Colorado, Holly is a lifelong outdoorswoman and conservationist. Currently living in Montreal, she is a student of sustainability, science, and society and computer science at McGill University. She’s passionate about local involvement and believes that strong, green communities and lifestyles are key to a sustainable future. When she’s not working, studying, or writing, Holly loves reading, baking, rock climbing, bird watching, camping, and everything outdoors. -
Jessica Lee
writer
Jessica Lee
writer
Jessica writes to connect her audience to meaningful stories she finds in articles, books, graphic novels, film and television. Her love of stories sprouts from her studies in english literature and creative writing for her Bachelor of Arts at the University of British Columbia. She is currently working on her editing certificate at Simon Fraser University to improve her skills as a writer and editor. When she is not writing, Jessica spends time catching up on a television show or film, researching high-intensity interval training workouts to try, or learning Japanese.
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Kieryn Matthews
Writer
Kieryn Matthews
Writer
Growing up on Coast Salish Territory fueled Kieryn’s love of the outdoors and passion for conservation. This led her to get a degree in Environmental Science from Simon Fraser University. Since then, she has been dedicated to building a better world as an environmental educator. Kieryn is working towards being zero waste and her favorite activity is curling up with a good fantasy book.
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Lily Nordgren
writer
Lily Nordgren
writer
Lily is a high school student with a passion for writing. With the opportunity to volunteer at The Starfish, she hopes to engage people with local and global environmental efforts. In her free time, she enjoys visiting the library, hiking with her cat, and learning about herbalism.
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Maheep Mahil
writer
Maheep Mahil
writer
Maheep Mahil is an author and a high-school student. He wrote his first book, The Dagger at Jackson Drive, at age 14, and he continues to write on his personal website. He is passionate about the climate and, with his love for writing, he advocates for environmental responsibility. In his free time, Maheep reads fiction novels and enjoys the company of his family.
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Micaela Yawney
Writer
Micaela Yawney
Writer
Micaela Yawney (she/her) is a writer, poet, adventurer, and digital nomad with four years of experience working within the field of sustainability. Her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo has led her to research and work which revolves around storytelling, sustainability education, environmental journalism, and vulnerability. You can find her as one of the voices behind the Sierra Youth Podcast, Advisor to the Global Innovation Story Map Project at Threading Change, or in the woods or up in the mountains, finding solitude in nature. She is currently working on her first collection of poetry that will appear later in 2022. Her poetry is rooted in gratitude and love for the natural world, along with speaking to the intuitive and sensitive souls of the world, and the heartache and heavy feelings that come along with being such a person. Micaela is an avid outdoors-woman, storyteller, daydreamer, food-lover, and sustainability advocate. You can follow along with Micaela’s adventures at micaelayawney.com.
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Mollie Symons
Writer
Mollie Symons
Writer
Mollie is an undergraduate student at Memorial University (MUN) where she studies political science and history, as well as sustainable rural community development. She is passionate about emotional, wonderment centred connections with nature, and her favourite authors on this subject include Robin Wall Kimmerer, Robert Macfarlane, and Anna Koska. When not reading or writing, Mollie loves swimming in the ocean, exploring coastlines, and marvelling at trees. -
Natalie Weder
Writer
Natalie Weder
Writer
Originally from BC, Natalie grew up with a love for mountains and rain. With a degree in biology, she’s driven to respond to our environmental and social crises. She’s eager to empower youth by sharing news of promising solutions and challenges, and is particularly interested in the future of food and water systems. She works as a lab scientist in Nova Scotia.
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Nicole Howes
Writer
Nicole Howes
Writer
Nicole (she/her) is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo studying Biochemistry with a specialization in Biotechnology. She is passionate about finding ways microbes can be used to create more sustainable systems and is currently looking at their ability to degrade plastic. -
Nora Alsafi
Writer
Nora Alsafi
Writer
Nora is a MSc student at the University of Alberta studying how climate change is affecting freshwater ecology in the subarctic. She is passionate about bridging the gap between climate science and action. After graduating from her bachelor’s degree, she spent a year teaching English abroad; she has also dipped her toes in environmental consulting, outdoor education, nature guiding, and agricultural research. In her spare time, she likes to read sci-fi, paint, do yoga, and hike. -
Rebecca Kempen
Writer
Rebecca Kempen
Writer
Rebecca is a graduate of the University of Guelph with an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science degree with a double minor in Zoology and Geography. She is passionate about photography, kayaking, vegetarian cuisine, and sharing her knowledge about the biophysical environment. This novice naturalist is a passionate science communicator that enjoys topics surrounding human impact on the environment and solutions for positive individual to global improvement. She is forever inspired by the work and practices of Aldo Leopold, known as the father of wildlife ecology. -
Sierra Christodoulou
Writer
Sierra Christodoulou
Writer
Sierra is a third-year undergraduate at McGill University studying International Development, with a focus on conservation, ecology and the environmental challenges to development. She loves nature and writing, and decided to combine the two by joining The Starfish and advocating for the environment. In her free time, Sierra loves travelling, volunteering, hiking, and catching up on TV shows. -
Victor Xu
Writer
Victor Xu
Writer
Hi, my name is Victor, and I am currently a Grade 9 student in Toronto. I am passionate about studying climate change and writing about potential solutions to our current climate crisis. I enjoy reading and writing climate fiction short-stories and novels as well as advocating for sustainable living.
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Victoria DePaulo
Writer
Victoria DePaulo
Writer
Victoria obtained her BSc in Biology from McMaster University and her graduate certificate in Environmental Management and Assessment from Niagara College. Through her educational and personal experiences, she has gained a passion for sustainability and engagement. As a writer, she is interested in educating the public in an accessible and engaging way. She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario where she enjoys walking by the lake, playing video games, and spending time with her cats.
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Victoria Lim
Writer
Victoria Lim
Writer
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Victoria Russu
Writer
Victoria Russu
Writer
Victoria is a young writer with a general focus on nature in her written pieces, in both creative and non-fictional writing. She is passionate about marine conservation, and enjoys playing beach volleyball, dancing, swimming, planting, sewing, and trying out water sports. She is fluent in English, French and Russian, and would like to deepen her knowledge of other languages, with time.
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Yamin Rahman
Writer
Yamin Rahman
Writer
Yamin is a graduate student at the University of Guelph doing his MA in Anthropology. While his academic research is focused on Indigenous land rights and concerns in South Asia, he is very eager to learn about environmentally sustainable ways to explore nature. Emerging from a country where there are millions of people being climate victims each year, he wants to learn and write about the factors responsible for climate change and what role we can play to minimize its adverse impacts. -
Zhaleh Esmaeili
Writer
Zhaleh Esmaeili
Writer
With a Master’s degree in English Literature, it is only natural to love reading, writing and editing. I also believe in leaving the world better than we found it and I will do my share by living conscientiously or maybe writing about things that I am passionate about including the environment. I aspire to learn more everyday and be a better human and writer.
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Zhilu Zhang
Writer
Zhilu Zhang
Writer
You can always find Zhilu Zhang (she/her) learning about conservation biology, working on an environmental campaign or getting inspired by other environmentalists…under her pile of schoolwork. A devout science nerd, she volunteers with Starfish to stimulate her creativity, while contributing concretely in raising public awareness on climate change. Between her filled schedule, Zhilu enjoys reading, playing guitar, doing yoga, or even hurtling down the snowy slopes, enjoying the wonderful sensation of being free.