Charlene Winger-Walker is a Water Walker, walking for the water. It is the responsibility of all of us to take care of the water. I have walked in ceremony across the whole Niagara Escarpment, called G'chi Bimaadinaa in my language. The 740km Bruce Trail is a walking trail used by my people since time immemorial for trade, and we walked about 20km per day, and it was a six-week commitment. I also attend community events about the environment and water, asserting Indigenous rights, and am part of the Hereditary Council at Nawash as the Headwoman of the Jones family. I am proud to be a climate leader trained by Al Gore in Minneapolis in 2019, and co-chair of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Network since 2022, and I want to create more awareness about the water.

Victoria Serda is one of the Co-Chairs of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Network. She lives in Saukiing Anishnaabekiing (Saugeen Ojibway Nation territory) in Wiarton with her husband Jaime and daughter Corrina, both of Nahua descent. Victoria has been an active Climate Leader and Mentor in the Climate Reality Project since 2007, and sits on the board of the Canadian charity. She has a degree in Democratic Education and a post-graduate certificate in Indigenous Governance and Administration. Having helped found many organizations, such as the Bagida’waad Alliance, SauGreen for the Environment, the Grey Bruce Sustainability Network, and the NEBN, she is happy to share her knowledge with others. She was also an elected Municipal Councilor in Saugeen Shores and a Strategic Advisor to the Band Council of the Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation. Her heart is in nature – both with hiking around G’chi Bimadinaa (the Niagara Escarpment) with her family, and hiking in wild places while reconnecting with All Our Relations around us.

Tasha Gunasinghe is a sustainability researcher with a background focusing on Indigenous-led conservation and climate change. With a master’s degree in Sustainability and three years working with the NEBN, she has concentrated her research in understanding how Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk) and Co-Governance methodologies can be implemented in conservation action for more sustainable and ethical climate change solutions. Tasha is committed to fostering resilient and inclusive approaches to environmental sustainability and is dedicated to the lifelong process of respectfully weaving appropriate Indigenous and Western knowledge systems through listening, learning, and relationship-building.

Doran is a member of Saugeen First Nation with extensive experience in Indigenous governance, sovereign-based decision-making, environmental policy, and joint resource management. He has proven expertise in integrating Indigenous Knowledge (IK) with Western governance structures, pioneering Two-Eyed Seeing approaches in fisheries, land use, conservation, and infrastructure projects. As well as being recognized for groundbreaking policy reforms, particularly in aggregate resource management, national park co-governance, and land claims negotiations, Doran is also adept at building high-trust relationships with governments, NGOs, industry leaders, and First Nations to drive mutual collaboration and ethical space engagement.

Stephanie Otto is a scientist at the Canada Water Agency working in Great Lakes ecosystem management. She is involved in projects that emphasize community involvement in coastal management and works with geospatial data to inform the Canadian Nearshore Waters Assessment, a cumulative effects assessment of the Great Lakes nearshore. Stephanie completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Guelph majoring in Environmental Biology and minoring in Statistics, and a Master of Environmental Science at the University of Toronto.

Mujtaba Ali is a Science Policy and Planning Officer at Natural Resources Canada where he leads projects under the Climate Resilience Coastal Communities (CRCC) program. He specializes in climate adaptation with a strong focus on Indigenous-led initiatives. With over eight years of experience managing climate change and economic development projects across Canada, Africa, Europe, and East Asia, he brings a global perspective to community resilience and environmental planning. Mujtaba holds a Master's in Climate Change from the University of Waterloo and combines technical expertise with strategic project oversight, data visualization (including Power BI dashboards), and policy development. His work supports informed decision-making and future funding strategies for climate resilience at local and national levels.

Phillipe (Phil) Murphy-Rheaume joined the Cities Initiative in October 2021 and serves as the Chief Development Officer. Phil leads the organization’s fundraising and member recruitment efforts, along with assisting on strategic projects for the organization, including the Cities Initiative’s annual conference. Previously, Phil served as the Canadian Policy Director for the Cities Initiative and has more than eight years’ experience in public affairs and government relations with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and Bimbo Canada. Sustainability has been the driving force of his career throughout roles in the for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors. Phil studied at McGill University in Montréal, Quebec and is currently based in the Greater Montréal Region.

Bonnie Fox is the Director of Policy and Planning for Conservation Ontario, the association for Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities. She has been with Conservation Ontario for over 25 years with extensive involvement in files related to the Great Lakes and natural hazards and most recently coastal resilience. Bonnie is a member of the binational Great Lakes Executive Committee under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and a member of the Water Quality Board of the International Joint Commission.

Jennifer Kyle is the Manager of Public Engagement & Digital Strategy at Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO). Her main responsibility is the promotion of beef and beef farming to the general public. She is also the team lead on BFO’s diversity, equity and inclusion work and a strong advocate for farmer mental health. She has sat on a number of committees and advisory groups provincially and nationally on both topics. Jenn has served as a director on the AgScape Board of Directors and the marketing and communications committee of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Outside of her work at BFO, Jenn is a municipal councillor in the County of Brant serving in her first term. She sits on the agriculture advisory committee, library board and community safety and wellbeing working group locally, as well as currently serving as the Vice Chair of the South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation. At home, Jenn and her husband operate a dairy, lamb and cash crop farm with their family near Ayr, Ontario. She is a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP), and is an active community volunteer in any spare time.

Sandra Vos is a first-generation farmer in Brant County, Ontario. As a trained nurse, farming is Sandra’s second career, and although she is married and has three children, she is essentially the sole person working on the farm. Sandra operates a grass-fed beef business on 80 acres and has demonstrated her commitment to the sustainability of her land by focusing on pasture management, caring for waterways, and protecting wildlife habitat. As a result of her efforts, Sandra was the recipient of the Ontario Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) in 2018. Like many Ontario beef farmers, Sandra is devoted to raising healthy cattle on healthy land, producing top quality beef for her customers, while also farming sustainably.

Carolyn Callaghan is a Senior Conservation Biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Federation. She obtained a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Guelph with a thesis on the ecology of wolf habitat use, survival, and persistence in the Central Canadian Rockies. Carolyn has also done research on biodiversity on farmland, migratory bird conservation, boreal caribou, and agricultural and environmental policy.

Andrew Campomizzi began working in avian ecology in 2001. He co-founded BECO in 2013 after completing post-doctoral research at the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources at Texas A&M University, where he also completed a MS and PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. He has contributed to the study and conservation of birds through peer-reviewed publications, presentations at conferences, and many meetings with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private landowners. Andrew's research focus is on spatial and temporal patterns of distribution, abundance, and reproductive success in birds, particularly for species at risk. His work for BECO includes study design; field data collection; geographic information systems; statistical analyses; and writing proposals, reports, and manuscripts for publication.

Thorsten Arnold is a resilience and food systems analyst, climate advocate, and co-owner of Persephone Market Garden in Ontario. With academic training in environmental engineering, Earth systems science, and a PhD in watershed governance and agricultural economics, he bridges global climate dynamics with local land use. Thorsten has led initiatives like Eat Local Grey Bruce, advised organizations including the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario, and contributed to projects on climate resilience, food systems, and cooperative development. A certified educator with the Savory Institute, he is currently coordinating the Regenerate Grey Bruce project, focusing on narrative change and ecological regeneration.

Ali English guides the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO) as Executive Director, supporting ecological farmers through leadership, partnerships, and organizational stewardship. She holds a B.Sc. in Food Production and the Environment from McGill University and an M.Sc. in Agroecology from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Before joining EFAO in 2015, Ali worked on farms, co-founded a CSA, and spent six years at FarmStart developing training and resources for new farmers across Ontario. Passionate about ecological agriculture, Ali champions the farmers who are innovating, growing food, and building resilient communities across the province.

Dustin Brown is lead coordinator of Carolinian Canada's Big Picture Ecological Corridors program, where he helps advance a regional collaborative approach to growing and monitoring ecological connectivity in southern Ontario. Dustin has extensive and diverse experience within various sectors. He works towards equitable ecological communities, Indigenous sovereignty, and the health of all human and non-human neighbours.

Samantha Whiteye is a community leader from Eelünaapéewi Lahkéewiit. Samantha comes from grassroots immersed experiences where she utilizes her lived experience and understandings to create space, advocate, and lead conversations centering on Truth and Reconciliation. Leading with an ethical Two-Eyed Seeing approach, Samantha demonstrates leadership as a changemaker in the environmental sector. Over the past 4 years, Samantha has worked closely with Carolinian Canada Coalition as a Director of the Indigenous Leadership Pillar and co-lead for the Conservation Impact bond.

Daniel Layden (MSc) is a University of Guelph Researcher with interests in place-based belonging and building resilient rural communities. They focus on social research of historically marginalized communities, such as 2SLGBTQ+ communities, in rural spaces. With an MSc in Rural Planning and Development, Daniel is entering further education through a PhD in Rural Studies at the University of Guelph to continue their research.

Songrui Li is currently a second year master’s student in Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph, with a background in Architecture and almost a decade of professional experience in the field before pursuing further studies in Landscape Architecture. Her research interests focus on ecological restoration and native plant design, exploring how landscape strategies can heal disturbed environments and foster resilient ecosystems.

As an ecohydrologist, Nyssa integrates the fields of ecology and hydrology to assess the form, function, and hydrological needs of natural heritage systems and habitats. She has spent her career in the 'grey zone' between ecology and water sciences, and advocates for the advancement of ecohydrology in her work as a consultant. Nyssa thrives in environments where creative and innovative solutions are top of mind, and with project teams who work side by side to develop systems that support the hydrological needs of natural features. She has had the pleasure of working for Natural Resource Solutions Inc. for the past 14 years.

Wyatt Weatherson is a second year PhD student in the Environmental Applied Science and Management program at Toronto Metropolitan University working under the supervision of Drs. Claire Oswald and Carolyn Johns to understand the current and future challenges in winter road maintenance and with the use of de-icers, with a specific focus on the influence of climate change on de-icer application practices in Ontario, Canada. Wyatt previously completed his MASc. in the same program, between 2019-2022, where he investigated the frequency of water quality guideline exceedances for chloride in urban watersheds throughout Hamilton, Ontario.

Dominique Rumball is a third-year PhD student at the University of Toronto studying restoration in Great Lakes wetlands, focusing on the conservation of freshwater Species at Risk. Beyond her research, Dominique enjoys sharing her passion for conservation with the next generation through collaboration.

Stacey is a scientist at the Canada Water Agency with extensive experience in assessing and communicating ecosystem conditions in the Great Lakes using indicators. She co-leads a community-based science (CBS) program, raising awareness of the value of CBS data to fill gaps, inform decisions, and support reporting on Great Lakes conditions. Stacey holds a B.Sc. from McMaster University and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management from Niagara College. Outside of work, she and her family enjoy exploring campgrounds along the Great Lakes shoreline.

Ali guides the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO) as Executive Director, supporting ecological farmers through leadership, partnerships, and organizational stewardship. She holds a B.Sc. in Food Production and the Environment from McGill University and a M.Sc. in Agroecology from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Before joining EFAO in 2015, Ali worked on farms, co-founded a CSA, and spent six years at FarmStart developing training and resources for new farmers across Ontario. Passionate about ecological agriculture, Ali champions the farmers who are innovating, growing food, and building resilient communities across the province.

Jonathan Scott is Chair of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and a municipal councillor in Bradford West Gwillimbury. Jonathan brings experience from government, business, and the non-profit sector to his leadership roles. He was on the senior staff for a former Premier of Ontario and is an executive at an advertising agency. He currently serves on the board of VIA Rail Canada and as treasurer of CONTACT Community Services. He holds an MBA from Queen’s University, and a bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Toronto. Jonathan is committed to fostering partnerships that deliver strong environmental and economic outcomes for communities.

Sarah Rabideau has thirteen years of experience working with various levels of government, NGOs, and academic organizations in aquatic SAR research, monitoring and implementation of recovery actions. She has seven years post academic experience with an MSc. in Biology, focussing on fisheries management and ecology. Her favourite critters are Lake Sturgeon, Threehorn Wartyback mussels and every freshwater turtle species. Sarah has two beautiful daughters whom she is excited to share her love of the outdoors with, particularly canoe tripping.

Mark McKnight is the Chief Information Officer at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). He has worked and consulted in municipal government and public sector services for over 25 years. He has developed corporate information technology strategies, supporting digital transformation and modernization for multiple organizations. Mark has also implemented corporate systems and technology solutions in asset management, business intelligence, information and records management, ERP systems, and customer engagement. He is currently leading multiple digital transformation initiatives at TRCA as part of its IT & IM Strategy. Mark holds degrees in business from Wilfrid Laurier University (BBA) and York University (MBA).

Nicole Moxley is a Senior Planner at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) with over 20 years of experience in land use planning, including 18 years at TRCA. Working with municipal partners, she specializes in the review of complex proposals related to flood risk, erosion, and slope stability, ensuring alignment with TRCA’s regulatory and policy framework. Nicole is also a project lead in the modernization of TRCA’s digital permitting, planning review, and enforcement platforms. Her deep institutional knowledge and leadership contribute to more efficient service delivery and stronger risk mitigation, while supporting TRCA’s mission to protect public safety and promote sustainable, environmentally responsible development.

Jonathan Scott is Chair of the Green Initiatives Advisory Committee (GIAC) in Bradford West Gwillimbury and a municipal councillor for Ward 2. Under his leadership, GIAC has become a driving force for practical, community-based environmental action advancing local tree planting, climate strategies, and sustainable development initiatives. Jonathan is also Chair of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and serves on the board of VIA Rail Canada and CONTACT Community Services. A lawyer by training and public policy professional, he brings experience across government, business, and the non-profit sector, with a strong commitment to smart, sustainable growth and community-driven leadership.