Team Members Archive - The Starfish Canada

Leadership Team

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.
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).
Kieryn Matthews

Educational Program Manager

Kieryn Matthews

Educational Program Manager

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.
Anthony Cho

Editorial Program Manager

Anthony Cho

Editorial Program Manager

Anthony is a soon graduating Communication student at SFU with junior level of marketing and community engagement experience. He is currently a part of the CityHive EnviroLab cohort and working towards circular economy and zero-waste initiatives. His career goal is to pursue the non-profit sector after graduation and help resolve different civic and social issues, specifically climate change and youth engagement.

During leisure time, Anthony enjoys playing tennis and ultimate frisbee with his friends, or diving into philosophical topics and explore his inner world.
Taylor Lim

Digital Fundraising Lead

Taylor Lim

Digital Fundraising Lead

Taylor is a fourth-year undergraduate student with combined studies in Sociology and Business in the Bachelor + Master of Management Dual Degree Program at The University of British Columbia. Taylor is passionate about community engagement and bridging the gap between sustainability, social responsibility, and business. As the Digital Marketing Manager, Taylor hopes to facilitate engagement and initiate discussions on the importance of sustainability and education within the community. During her spare time, Taylor enjoys hiking, baking, and trying new restaurants around the Vancouver area.
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.
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.
Denise Zhu

Digital Marketing Manager

Denise Zhu

Digital Marketing Manager

Denise is a third-year undergraduate student at Western University pursuing a BA in Creative Writing & English Language and Literature with a major in the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH). She is passionate about storytelling as a means of inspiring others and is excited to support efforts for environmentalism across Canada. Denise hopes to use her background in digital marketing to facilitate community engagement and promote environmental education in the community. In her spare time, Denise enjoys creating digital art, reading webcomics, and working on her YA novel.
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.
Niyonella Kamera

Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Manager

Niyonella Kamera

Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Manager

Niyonella is an undergraduate student at Western University and the Ivey Business School pursuing a dual degree in International Relations and Business Administration with a Certificate in Sustainability. She has always had a passion for environmental sustainability and uplifting underrepresented youth voices. Niyonella one day hopes to use her education to advocate for the inclusion of young people’s perspectives in environmental legislation. In her spare time, Niyonella enjoys baking, reading, and playing music.
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 is currently Manager, Delivery at Code for Canada where she supports government teams with building 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.
Micaela Yawney

Digital Marketing Manager & Editor-in-Chief

Micaela Yawney

Digital Marketing Manager & Editor-in-Chief

Micaela is a writer, poet, and adventurer with 3 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, sustainable fashion, emotional attachment to clothing, and mindful consumption.

When she’s not working on dismantling the patriarchy, you can find her as one of the voices behind the Sierra Youth Podcast, leading the Global Innovation Story Map Project at Threading Change, or in the woods, finding solitude in nature. She is currently working on her first collection of poetry that will appear sometime 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 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 .

Board of Directors

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.
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.
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.
Marie Louise Aastrup

Board Director

Marie Louise Aastrup

Board Director

Marie Louise Aastrup is an environmental geographer with a focus on the social and human dimensions of nature conservation. She has research experience working on various conservation issues across North America and Europe and is currently concluding her PhD from Memorial University which focuses on the social implications of establishing a new protected area in Romania. Her educational background includes a B.Sc. in geography and geoinformatics from the University of Copenhagen and a M.Sc. in sustainable resource management from the Technical University of Munich. When not in front of a computer working towards a sustainable future, Marie Louise loves experimenting in the kitchen, painting, and exploring the beautiful island of Newfoundland.
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.
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
Sebastian Muermann

Board Director

Sebastian Muermann

Board Director

Sebastian Muermann is a Program Officer at the McCall MacBain Foundation. There he manages the delivery of several scholarship programs for different levels of study. He is a multi-disciplinary community organizer and policy professional, originally from British Columbia, but now based in Montréal, Quebec. For five years, Sebastian gained progressive experience in the public service, across three federal departments, leading to a role as a Senior Economic Analyst in Strategic Policy at Global Affairs. Sebastian is a graduate in the inaugural MPP cohort of the Max Bell School at McGill University, and completed a bilingual Honours Degree in Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Ottawa as a Loran Scholar. He is passionate about global education, climate change, and youth empowerment. He currently volunteers with two non-profit organization, and as the former Vice-Curator of the Montreal Global Shapers Hub, with a focus on local/global projects in climate as well as equity and inclusion
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!

Editorial Team

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.
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.
Ember Dickson

Editor

Ember Dickson

Editor

Ember Dickson is completing a Biology-Psychology double major at the University of Victoria as an aspiring neuropsychiatrist. Her passionate curiosity surrounding biological systems, creative engineering design, and human nature is paired with her lifetime adoration of the arts. She is a singer, songwriter, pianist, painter, writer, and at her core, an actor. She has performed with The Vancouver Opera in multiple productions and enjoys acting in theatre and film between her studies. Growing up on the West Coast, Ember has always loved rainy Vancouver days and camping by the ocean.
Harleen Parmar

Editor

Harleen Parmar

Editor

Harleen is an English student working towards her bachelor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She aspires to be a secondary level teacher focusing on English and History. Growing up in British Columbia, she has always felt connected with the environment and the earth’s natural beauty. She is passionate about environmental change and hopes to bring awareness through writing and working with other activists. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, yoga, and traveling.
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.
Jonathan Wang

Editor

Jonathan Wang

Editor

As a recent graduate from the University of Toronto with a Master of Environmental Science, Jonathan is interested in exploring how environmental sustainability can be applied through policymaking to meet both the needs of the environment and a constantly-growing society. In his spare time he enjoys doing archery, reading, and playing the violin and viola.
Josephine Ling

editor

Josephine Ling

editor

Josephine is a graduate from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography and Biology. She is interested in environmental sustainability and increasing its accessibility through public education and outreach. In her spare time, Josephine enjoys travelling, reading, and being led fully by her stomach whatever she does.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Zahra Anwar

editor

Zahra Anwar

editor

Zahra is an undergraduate student at McGill University. She has a major in Sociology and a minor concentration in Education. Zahra aims to guide youth with succeeding in their writing journey. As a mentor, she wants to help young writers expand their writing skills and increase awareness on important environmental issues. Zahra is very excited to learn what topics her writers are most passionate about.

Aashi Anushree

Writer

Aashi Anushree

Writer

Aashi is an 11 year old girl from Surrey, B.C. She is currently studying at Walnut Road Elementary. She is interested in environmental sciences and is passionate about nature. In her spare time, she enjoys reading books, spending time outside and singing!
Aish Ravi Shankar

Writer

Aish Ravi Shankar

Writer

Aish is currently finishing her undergraduate degree at Ryerson university in Environmental Biology. Currently, she is a sustainability ambassador at Ryerson, 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.
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.
Alice Zhu

Writer

Alice Zhu

Writer

Alice is a PhD student at the University of Toronto Scarborough studying plastic pollution. She is an avid environmental advocate in her community and beyond, and wants to inspire young people through her writing with The Starfish. Her hobbies include hiking, cooking, and playing badminton!
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.
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.
Avery Cole

Writer

Avery Cole

Writer

Avery is a recent graduate from Global Development Studies at Queen’s University. As a self-declared tree hugger, Avery loves being outdoors and enjoys camping, canoeing and foraging. Her personal research interests include Indigenous environmental justice, urban environmentalism, and the local wildlife that she sees in her current home base of Kirkland Lake in Northern Ontario. In her spare time, Avery is a volunteer glider pilot instructor with the Toronto Soaring Club.
Axelle Lafortune

writer

Axelle Lafortune

writer

Axelle Lafortune is a Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of British Columbia. Through her concentration in sustainability and social impact, she hopes to expand corporate social responsibility in business. Her love for nature started after taking a high school environmental science class. She hopes that through conversation, media, real-world experiences, and education, others will also feel that “aha” moment.
Badria Almurshidi

Writer
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.
Benjamin Cannon

Writer

Benjamin Cannon

Writer

Benjamin Cannon is a fourth-year political science student at the University of Toronto & a climate advocacy intern with Citizen’s Climate Lobby. He also does volunteer policy research for The Sierra Club, and stream monitoring for Arlington County Parks & Recreation.
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.
Brynna Kagawa-Visentin

writer

Brynna Kagawa-Visentin

writer

Originally from Toronto, Brynna is currently completing her BSc degree in Environmental Practice from Royal Roads University, with a previous degree in Kinesiology at McMaster University. Though it happened later than she liked, her eyes to the gravity of the climate crisis were opened as a result of the global climate strikes in 2019. Ever since, she has been determined to research and work in areas around intersectional environmentalism, climate justice, climate policy, and ecosystem and community health. She is currently devoted to working as the Remote Climate Coordinator for Youth Climate Lab, volunteering as the Chair of the Sierra Youth Executive Committee, and writing for the Starfish Journal. At Sierra Youth Executive Committee, she is overseeing the development and creation of a podcast, entitled “10 Minutes to Change,” to inspire youth-led change through environmental education in just 10 minutes.
Caroline Marais

writer

Caroline Marais

writer

Caroline obtained her BA in Environmental and Resource Studies and a minor in Geography at Trent University. Through her studies, she found a passion for ocean conservation and the promotion of sustainability. Growing up in Burlington, Ontario, she has always felt a deep connection to the lakefront as it beings her a sense of serenity and an escape from the busy world. During her free time, you can always find her down at the lakefront, hiking along trails or roller skating nearby. She is now working on achieving her scuba diving certification.
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.
Claudia Healey

writer

Claudia Healey

writer

Claudia was born and raised on the West Coast of British Columbia and has been an outdoor enthusiast since she can remember. She recently graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BA in Communications and concentrated in environmental communications, social change, and media studies. She believes that the way we convey, share and spread messages is important for empowering and educating people to make adaptable changes to their lifestyles. Her current professional interests are finding sustainable options, utilizing her voice to shed light on current issues, and inspiring others to care for the natural environment. On her time off she can be found adventuring, snowboarding, hiking, traveling, writing, or reading.
Danielle Saele

Writer

Danielle Saele

Writer

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 the environmental movement with writers on the starfish team. She currently lives in Coquitlam, B.C. where she enjoys yoga, hiking, camping and biking.
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.
Emily Lai

writer

Emily Lai

writer

Emily is currently an Environmental Engineering student at BCIT. Previously, she worked at UBC’s chemistry teaching labs. After years of forcing students to properly clean up their experiments, she hopes to launch a career in waste management or air pollution management, where she can continue cleaning on a much grander scale. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, solving puzzles, biking, and snowboarding.
Emma Chang

Writer

Emma Chang

Writer

Emma is a high school student in Surrey, British Columbia. Through writing for The Starfish Canada, she hopes to learn more about environmentalism and improve her writing skills along the way. In her free time, Emma enjoys reading, volunteering for meaningful initiatives, and spending time with her family.
Florence .O. Agina

Writer

Florence .O. Agina

Writer

I am an undergraduate student of the University of Waterloo, ON, majoring in Biological sciences. I am passionate about creating awareness on the issues that affect the environment, and the importance of protecting the resources nature has provided for us. My curiosity for issues surrounding environmentalism and sustainability started after taking environmental science classes. I hope to write articles that will prompt youths and other age groups in the society to begin to contribute to protecting the environment.
Guillaume Courcy

Writer
Hannah Brown

Writer

Hannah Brown

Writer

Hannah Brown is an Alberta-based writer and nature lover holding a BSc degree. She is a published mathematician and tutors on the side. She loves bird watching and playing guitar, violin, or keyboard, depending on her mood and who she’s playing with. Her values are rooted in environmentalism, social justice, and building community. More of her writing can be found at hebrown.medium.com/
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!
Hayley Cloona

Writer

Hayley Cloona

Writer

Storyteller, Scientist, Policy Advocate, Nature Lover.
Isabel Lara Roque

writer

Isabel Lara Roque

writer

Isabel is a high school student who is passionate about the environment and writing. She hopes to invoke a positive change on the world while thinking of ways to improve herself.
Isobel Griffin

writer

Isobel Griffin

writer

Isobel has an MA in History from the University of Victoria with focus on the relationship between humans and wildlife. She hopes to continue exploring this relationship in its many different forms as a writer with The Starfish. In her free time, Isobel can be found paddle boarding, hiking, or trying to convince her dog, Monkey, to swim with her.
Jack Scher

writer

Jack Scher

writer

Jack is a third-year Environmental Sustainability student at The University of British Columbia and is a varsity athlete competing on the Men’s Rugby Team. He is passionate about climate change and through his undergraduate degree is exploring topics in Resource Management. Born in London, England, Jack moved to the French countryside where he spent his childhood and gained a love of the outdoors and nature. Now, in his home city of Vancouver, he enjoys participating in sustainability volunteer initiatives is excited to contribute to The Starfish Canada as a volunteer writer.
Jacqueline Cheung

Writer

Jacqueline Cheung

Writer

Jacqueline is a Medical Sciences student at The University of Western Ontario. Her love for nature began during the COVID-19 pandemic as she began biking and talking walks in her city. Moreover, Jacqueline is passionate about living sustainably and hopes that by writing with the Starfish, she can invoke environmental awareness in Canadian youth.
Jamie Chiam

writer

Jamie Chiam

writer

Jamie Chiam is an aspiring environmental engineer and currently studies at UBC. Jamie enjoys exploring new places and cultures, but she finds solace in nature most of all. Her goal after graduation is to work in the clean energy or water resources sector. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamie keeps herself busy with reading and writing.
Jennifer Deol

Writer
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.
Jordan Fish

Writer

Jordan Fish

Writer

Jordan is an environmental educator with years working at Ocean Wise and facilitating sustainability workshops to empower folks to take climate action. When she wasn’t in the classroom, she worked in eco-tourism ranging from being a marine naturalist on whale watching excursions to rigging participants at the UBC Ropes course. She currently resides on Vancouver Island where she can be found exploring the wilderness, reading on the deck or (trying) to teach her parents how to use technology.
Julia Moioli

writer

Julia Moioli

writer

Julia has a BA in Communications and is currently working towards a degree in Tourism Management at Capilano University. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, she recently moved to Vancouver to live closer to nature and pursue a career in Canada. She is committed to contributing to environmental protection in every way she can. In her spare time, Julia enjoys travelling, exploring the outdoors, reading books of multiple genres, singing rock and roll, and going to live music concerts.
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.
Kristen Tymoshuk

Writer

Kristen Tymoshuk

Writer

Kristen is a recent graduate from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology. Still living in Halifax, Kristen is passionate about protecting marine life and the environment across Canada.
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.
Linda Clarke Harter

writer

Linda Clarke Harter

writer

Linda is currently studying Applied Animal Biology at the University of British Columbia, and hopes to work in wildlife rehabilitation one day. She has loved writing since a young age, as she grew up in the school library her mother worked in. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, reading, running and walking her dogs.
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.
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.
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.
Samantha Mills

Writer

Samantha Mills

Writer

Samantha Mills has been writing for many years now. Officially, she has been writing since attending the University of Waterloo but unofficially, she has been writing since she was ten years old. She lives in Guelph but spends her holidays on Manitoulin Island, surrounded by lakes, forests and mountains.
Shelley Sanghera

writer

Shelley Sanghera

writer

Shelley is a recent graduate of the University of Victoria with a B.Sc. in Biology. She is particularly interested in environmental law and believes that we should take advantage of our access to technology to raise awareness about environmental causes. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and travelling.
Shramana Sarkar

Writer

Shramana Sarkar

Writer

Shramana (She/Her) is an undergraduate student at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador pursuing Geography and Earth Sciences. Born and brought up in India, she has always been passionate about the earth, climate issues and the environment. She spends her free time volunteering, painting, and practicing Ballroom and Latin dancing.
Sicellia Tsui

Writer

Sicellia Tsui

Writer

Sicellia Tsui is a graduate from SFU’s communication program with experience in community engagement and writing for social change. Her interest in environmentalism—or what we might call “sustainability” today—began at a young age, when she developed a deep sense of connection to the curious lifeforms that surrounded her home, from trees to snails to beings she could neither name nor know. Frustrated and disappointed by the inertia of transnational capital—and its utter disregard for democracy, animal, human-animal and planetary wellbeing—she began exploring ways to mobilize people towards dialogue and positive social change. From participating in civic innovation, digital democracies, to sustainable development efforts, she’s yet to find anything more powerful and enabling than a good story. At The Starfish Canada, which is founded on the premise of a similar belief, Sicellia hopes to empower others through honest and contextually rich storytelling, often using personal stories to highlight her own connections to the dilemmas, struggles, and contradictions in the issues that permeate “sustainability”.
Taylor Koel

Writer

Taylor Koel

Writer

Taylor is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Royal Roads University pursuing a BSc in Environmental Science. She is passionate about local initiatives which enhance the land and engage the community with eco-social improvements. She hopes to use her education to work within the environmental planning and monitoring realm on projects which support sustainability.
Victoria Ciupac

Writer

Victoria Ciupac

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.
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.
Victoria Lim

writer

Victoria Lim

writer

Victoria is a recent graduate of the International Bacalaureate diploma program and will be heading into her first year in the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia. As former President of World Wildlife Fund and UNICEF clubs at her school, she maintains her passion for humanitarian work and wildlife conservation. She hopes to continue learning more about what it means to be an enviromentalist and to share that knowledge through her posts
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.