As a Technical Trainer & Project Coordinator at Water First, Keegan spends most of his time planning and delivering water science workshops in Indigenous communities in Canada. Keegan has been working in water science for 8 years, in academic research support and for an NGO. Keegan holds an M.Sc. in Geography from Carleton University.

Kate Schwartz is a Research Assistant and Biologist at the River Institute, with a lifelong passion for environmental science and education. Her journey began at age 11 when she attended the Institute’s “Ecofriends” day camp, fostering her interest in nature. She progressed to the Junior Scientist camp and, by 16, joined the River Institute as a summer intern. Over the years, Kate has contributed to various research projects, often leading field crews in activities such as seine netting and water quality assessments. She also shares her enthusiasm for the natural world through educational initiatives, including nature journaling sessions and workshops on water quality monitoring.

Karissa Aubie is a Project Manager at the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), where she oversees water and wastewater infrastructure projects. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Trent University and a Master of Science in Environmental Practice from Royal Roads University. Karissa is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Her expertise includes environmental compliance, project management, and sustainable water management practices.

Kaoru is a senior project manager for the Region of Waterloo’s Water Services Division, where he is primarily responsible for long-term planning of water and wastewater infrastructure.

Prior to the Region, Kaoru worked in many Middle East, Asia, and Caribbean countries as a water supply engineer.

He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering at the University of Waterloo and Kyoto University respectively.

Kaoru enjoys discussing career paths in the water sector through his volunteer work with the local chapter of the Professional Engineers Ontario and with the Ten Thousand Coffees initiative, run through his alma mater.

Kalpna Solanki is a leader with a passion for building high performance teams. Focusing on strategy, culture, and purpose, she believes that all organizations have the potential of going from ‘good’ to ‘great’.

Currently, she is President and CEO of the Environmental Operators Certification Program, Canada’s first water and wastewater facility classification and Environmental Operator certification program.

Kalpna also has significant board experience, and currently sits on two boards.

With a focus on her own well-being, in her spare time, you will find Kalpna kayaking, cycling, or hiking with her three dogs, and on the slopes in the winter.

I hold a master in civil engineering and have over ten years working across six countries in regeneration, sustainability and public space through water. I am focused on supporting the global movement towards sustainable communities and have a strong commitment to collaborate across sectors and organizations to address climate change and improve our neighbourhoods, starting from the community. I share my thoughts in a newsletter at www.josetorcal.substack.com

Soy un ingeniero de caminos con más de diez años de experiencia trabajando en seis países en proyectos de regeneración, sostenibilidad y espacio público a través del agua. Estoy comprometido a colaborar con profesionales de otras disciplinas y organizaciones para contribuir al movimiento global de comunidades sostenibles. Mis proyectos abordan el desafío del cambio climático y buscan mejorar nuestros barrios, partiendo de la comunidad. Comparto mis ideas en mi boletín, www.josetorcal.substack.com

A recognized expert in water sustainability who excels in helping clients develop strategies to identify and mitigate water risk, and to translate those strategies into actions. Leveraging over 30 years of experience in the water industry, including 17 years leading Coca-Cola North America’s water stewardship program, to assist clients in setting realistic targets and achieving meaningful outcomes that reduce material risks and enhance social license to operate.

A proven subject matter expert in the areas of water risk assessment, water replenishment, stakeholder engagement, water optimization in operations and agricultural supply chains, with a keen ability to engage internal and external stakeholders to drive innovative collaborative solutions.

Jeff O’Driscoll, P.Eng., is the Infrastructure Division Manager at Associated Engineering’s Winnipeg office, bringing over 30 years of experience in civil engineering. He specializes in assessing climate change resilience for infrastructure and holds the Infrastructure Resiliency Professional (IRP) designation from Engineers Canada. Jeff has been involved in climate risk assessments across Canada and internationally, including the first application of the PIEVC Protocol for the City of Portage la Prairie’s waterworks infrastructure in 2007. He actively contributes to professional organizations, serving on the Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba Sustainable Development Task Group, the Association of Consulting Engineers of Manitoba Board, the American Waterworks Association Board, and the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association Climate Change Committee. Additionally, he chairs Associated Engineering’s Climate Change Advisory Group.

Isaac Armstrong is a Ph.D. candidate in Biology at Queen’s University, specializing in paleolimnology. His research focuses on the ecological impacts of historical mercury and heavy metal contamination in the Cornwall waterfront area of the St. Lawrence River. Using subfossil chironomid assemblages, he examines long-term ecological changes caused by industrial pollution. His work supports environmental management and remediation efforts, and he has presented at seminars and published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research.

Indra Maharjan is the director of innovation, technology, and alternative delivery at the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA). In this role, he builds strategic partnerships to develop and deliver innovative projects through alternative delivery models. He also fosters innovative solutions in the water and wastewater sector by working with technology providers and municipalities. In addition to this, Indra helps transform existing water treatment plants and wastewater treatment plants into net zero resource recovery facilities through codigestion, waste diversion, clean fuel generation, and alternative delivery models.

Ian Moran is an emerging leader at WSP, driven by a passion for technical expertise and strategic development. Since joining the WSP Team in 2020, Ian has collaborated with professionals across Canadian, building a strong network of major public clients, government officials, and industry advocates. His technical work has been influential in supporting First Nations development and addressing infrastructure challenges in remote and northern communities. In addition to his technical and market development initiatives, Ian is an active voice in industry conversations. His articles on thought leadership and technical excellence have been published in national and international magazines, and he presents at technical society conferences several times per year.

Water and Air treatment professional with strong foundation in Carbon Adsorption, Advanced Oxidation, Filtration, and Reverse Osmosis with field experience in Equipment Startup, Project Management and Troubleshooting. Two and half years of research experience in Ozone wastewater treatment and Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO) of Biomass.

Winner of the 2022 Water Canada Awards’ Emerging Leader Award

Greg Ford is the director of water programs at Swim Drink Fish Canada and the executive director at Niagara Coastal Community Collaborative. Taking initiative in may environmental issues not limited to water, Greg is a young and strong headed person who likes to help in any way they can. Has won many awards for his part in Swim Drink Fish and Niagara Coastal Collaborative.

Cleaning the fresh water all over Canada, the app and the initiative have been applied all over Canada and the use of an app to engage young people in the conservation of our great lakes and all fresh water is a great way to engage the community.

Geoffrey Gunn is a Senior Analyst working in the Canada Water Agency’s Data Office. A geographer by training, Geoff has worked at the interface of science and policy for over a decade from the Canadian Prairies to the high Arctic. Before joining the Canada Water Agency, he’s had roles at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the International Institute for Sustainable Development and IISD-Experimental Lakes Area, and the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Earth Observation Science.

Winner of the 2023 Water Canada Awards’ Emerging Leader Award

Farokh laqa Kakar is a Ph.D. Candidate at the Civil Engineering department of Ryerson University and an instructor at George Brown College in Toronto, Canada. She is the president of Canadian Young Water Professionals at International Water Association (IWA), President of Graduate Leadership Council at Ontario Water consortium, and Vice President of Young Professionals in the Canadian Association for Water Quality (CAWQ). In addition, she is the Global Ambassador at the Society of Women Engineers. She has won the most prestigious Ph.D. scholarship in Canada, which gives her the privilege of being a Vanier scholar. This competitive scholarship is given based on leadership and academic excellence, only a few per university. During her studies at Ryerson, she has joined more than 25 conferences playing different roles as conference chair and co-chair, and has won seven best presentation awards. Three of them are the best student presentation awards (First place). Also, she has won the TA award of excellence at Ryerson and has served the community at the senate level. While in Afghanistan, Farokh was an Assistant Professor and vice dean of the engineering faculty at Balkh University. She also led women-related projects regarding teacher training at the International Assistance Mission. She has won several teaching developments awards from USA and Germany while in Balkh University.

Eric Meliton is the Manager of the Sustainability Office at Wilfrid Laurier University. Eric is a thought leader and industry conduit with over 15 years of strategic experience, which includes analyzing cleantech trends, execution of CSR, SDG, and ESG objectives, and strengthening stakeholder and governmental relationships. Eric’s role is to provide sustainability leadership in a collaborative, multi-campus environment for Waterloo, Kitchener, Brantford, and Milton. The Sustainability Office supports the exceptional employees, students, researchers, and educators to maintain Laurier’s reputation as a sustainability leader and a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact.

PhD student in Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo. My research is focused on resilience and climate change adaptation for drinking water treatment.

Emily Stahl is the Manager, Technical Services in the City of Guelph’s Water Utility. In this role she is responsible for the technical team that supports the operational division. This includes management of capital programs, hydrogeology, water supply management and planning and sourcewater Protection. As Guelph is reliant on groundwater for their municipal water supply these roles ensure the long term sustainability and protection of the resource. Emily is a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo) with a Masters in Water Resources Engineering possessing significant government and private consulting based experience in integrated water management, water resource planning, source water protection and associated technical studies and stakeholder engagement processes. Her experience has included working is both the private and public (municipal and conservation authorities) sectors.

David Unrau is currently the Director of Public Works for the Town of Petawawa. He brings with him more than 20 years of municipal experience, having held similar roles in other municipalities including the City of Pembroke. David also brings similar expertise from employment in the private sector (CNL) as well as federally through positions held with Defence Construction Canada. His skillset includes those in management, leadership, communications and critical thinking. He has proven to be an excellent resource on the Board and has voluntarily participated in and attended many other meetings and functions in order to gain more knowledge about the Hospital and the Board. He also sits on the Ottawa River Energy Solution Board and national/provincial committees on Asset Management, Active Transportation and Vision Zero.

Leading sustainability and asset management at Dillon Consulting, Darla works with leaders in the municipal and private sector to deliver sustainable services. In her previous role as Executive Director of the Ontario Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (OCSI), Darla helped advance sustainable infrastructure by focusing on innovation in municipal procurement, sustainable funding, and communication to convey the value of infrastructure and asset management. A speaker at various conferences across the country on climate change and municipal infrastructure, Darla is adamant that strategic thinking and public engagement are essential in solving the infrastructure deficit.

I am a Registered Professional Planner (RPP). I obtained my Bachelor of Arts in City Studies Co-op and Political Science from the University of Toronto in 2017 and a Master of Science in Planning from the University of Toronto in 2020. Since then, my professional journey has unfolded through diverse work and volunteering experiences on a global scale.

In 2017, I participated in the Kakihashi Project, venturing to Japan to study and learn about the rebuilding efforts in the tsunami-devastated cities of northeastern Japan. The same year, I joined Parks Canada’s Northern Engagement team in Vancouver, gaining valuable insights into the West Coast and contributing to Parks Canada’s conservation efforts. That summer also saw me in the Canadian High Arctic and Greenland as part of the Students on Ice expedition, focusing on understanding the impacts of climate change and acknowledging the significance of Indigenous knowledge in conservation. Subsequently, as a delegate at the IMPAC4 conference in La Serena, Chile, in September 2017, I deepened my understanding of international marine conservation efforts. In 2018, I became part of the Ocean Bridge program, undertaking visits to Haida Gwaii and the Gulf Islands to explore marine conservation within a Canadian context.

Motivated by my Arctic experiences, I enrolled in the Master of Science in Planning program at the University of Toronto in the fall of 2018. Throughout the program, I collaborated with exceptional classmates and learned from leading professors, gaining a profound understanding of decolonizing the planning process and the importance of working with Indigenous communities, and knowledge to reshape existing planning structures. As part of this program, I co-produced a report on the significance of mentorship for BIPOC students and early professionals in planning. My thesis, which explored planners’ obligations to the Dish with One Spoon treaty in Southern Ontario, received recognition.

Since graduating in 2020, I have applied my expertise working for Parks Canada on their Indigenous Relations team, collaborating with Indigenous partners on diverse projects. Since June 2022, I have worked at Transport Canada’s Indigenous Relations Unit in Ontario, focusing on files related to the Canadian Navigable Waters Act (CNWA), Cumulative Impacts of Marine Shipping (CEMS), and the Ocean Protection Plan (OPP).

My professional interests lie in youth engagement, urban planning, Indigenous relations, and fostering non-scientific engagement in marine conservation.

Chris has 25+ years’ experience in environmental program development, implementation, evaluation and monitoring for private, public and non for profit organizations. Chris’s work as an environmental regulator in the Northwest Territories, leadership of a Canadian environmental NGO and extensive water and wastewater operations experience has him uniquely positioned to contribute to the success of the Water First team. Chris is responsible for program leadership and management, operational systems, and implementing program efficiency and improvements. Chris holds a Masters’ degree in Environment and Management from Royal Roads University.

Chris has been an environment and sustainable development professional for over 20 years and joined the Pollution Probe team in August 2018. Chris has worked in government, consulting, academic and not-for-profit settings and has had an association with Pollution Probe for much of his career.

Known more generally for his public policy and communications experience, he is recognized as a leader in freshwater policy and Great Lakes issues. A Canadian appointee to Great Lakes Water Quality Board of the International Joint Commission (IJC), Chris has served as the Canadian Lead on emerging issues for the last 4 years. In 2007, Chris was appointed to the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy, where he served as Chair of the Water Programme.

He is an active volunteer and has served on boards and advisory bodies for numerous organizations including Ryerson University, Pollution Probe, WaterAid Canada, Carleton University’s Global Water Institute, the City of Toronto’s Task Force to Bring Back the Don, Green Living Enterprises, the Vimy Foundation and the George and Helen Vari Foundation.

Chloe Lajoie is an outdoor enthusiast who has been studying and practicing Environmental Stewardship since 2009. She attended Nipissing University and graduated with an Honours Degree in Environmental Biology and Technology. As part of her program, she also attended Canadore College and completed the Environmental Technician – Protection and Compliance Program. While completing her studies, Chloe was able to take part in the Undergraduate Research Conference in 2013, presenting her thesis on the effects of Forest Tent Caterpillar outbreaks on Trembling Aspen. In the past, she has worked at Ferguson Forest Centre and Lake Superior Provincial Park.

Chloe joined the team at Watersheds Canada in 2015 as a Stewardship Program Assistant and is now managing our Natural Edge Program, working with landowners to create resilient shorelands to better withstand the impacts of climate change. In her spare time, Chloe can be found having fun with family and friends, camping, kayaking, fishing, hiking, and trying out tasty new recipes!

Cathie O’Toole is the General Manager of Halifax Water and prior to that was Halifax Water’s Director of Corporate Services/CFO. Cathie has held senior roles such as Director of Finance/CFO and Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management with the Halifax Regional Municipality, and most of her career has been in the public sector and government business enterprises. As member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, Cathie enjoys contributing to the community and water industry through volunteering and serving on Boards. She currently serves on the American Water

Dr. Johns is currently the Interim Director of the School of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation. She was the inaugural Graduate Program Director (GPD) of the interdisciplinary doctoral program in Policy Studies, and has served as GPD of the MA program in Public Policy and Administration and the Undergraduate Program Director of the Public Administration and Governance program.

Dr. Johns is currently a Co-Principal Investigator on a new Global Center for Understanding Climate Change Impacts on Transboundary Waters with University of Michigan and McMaster University which received joint funding  from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).  This 5 year project (2024-2029) focuses on interdisciplinary research and climate vulnerable communities in the Great Lakes region and other North American and global transboundary water regions.

Dr. Johns also serves as Chair of the Geoffrey Bruce Fellowships Program in Canadian Freshwater Policy; as a member of the International Joint Commission’s Great Lakes Water Quality Board (external link)  (external link) ; and as a member of Toronto Met Urban Water.

Bruce Taylor is the founder and President of Enviro-Stewards Inc., which is a social venture that has been selected by B lab as one of the Best Companies for the World and by the UN Global Compact Network Canada for their Sustainable Development Goal award. Enviro-Stewards’ projects for Tim Hortons, Andrew Peller, Southbrook Winery, Dextran, Maple Leaf Foods, Maple Lodge, Campbell Company of Canada and a food loss project at 50 Food Processors have each won Clean50 national sustainability awards.

Mr. Taylor graduated from U of W in chemical engineering, is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and was selected as the top sustainability consultant in Canada (Clean 16) for 2022. He has 31 years of experience in the fields of water and energy conservation, pollution prevention, sustainable development and treatment process design. He has won the highest awards in the Pollution Prevention field in both Canada and the United States.

In 2004, Enviro-Stewards founded the Safe Water Social Venture Project to empower communities in South Sudan and Uganda to construct water purification systems using locally available materials. The locally owned and operated projects are taught business principles and sales techniques to help local residents understand that investing in safe water is typically 10 times less expensive than their current expenditures on water related illnesses.

With a chemical engineering diploma and a PhD in water management, Anna Scheili has a profile integrating know-how from the fields of research, public and private sectors. During her professional activities she gained more than fifteen years of experience in the water sector with increased expertise in data acquisition, management and exploitation. WaterShed Monitoring benefits from her strong project management skills through multiple major projects as source vulnerability analysis or development of decision-making tools.

Anna has 10 years of experience of working and connecting youth within the Sustainable Blue Economy (SBE), and brings this passion to the SOI Foundation. After graduating from her Masters in Marine Management, Anna co-founded OCEANS-NS, a registered not-for-profit organization that seeks to enhance and strengthen oceans education in Nova Scotia. From there, Anna continued to develop her skills and brings experience in project management, program development, and youth engagement for her position as Program Manager for Blue Futures Pathways. Anna focuses on providing internships, mentorships, career opportunities/training and developing initiatives that support Canadian youth to chart their career within the SBE.