| OUR GOVERNANCE

Catherine Abreu is an internationally recognized, award-winning campaigner whose work centres on building powerful coalitions to advance action on climate change. One of the world’s 100 most influential people in climate policy as named by Apolitical in 2019, she has over 15 years of experience campaigning on environmental issues including 7 years in the heart of the climate movement.

Dr. Ceecee Holz is the Senior Research Associate at the Climate Equity Reference Project and the Executive Director of the Climate Equity Reference Project Canada. Ceecee is also an Affiliated Researcher at the Stockholm Environment Institute and co-teaches the core course of Carleton University’s Masters’ specialization in climate change. Their focus is on research and advocacy in the context of international climate change politics, especially the multilateral UN climate regime.

Of mixed Anishinaabe and European descent, Graeme works at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) as a senior policy advisor, ensuring federal and international climate policy safeguards First Nations rights, jurisdiction and knowledge. He has presented to the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment (CCME), participated in the First Minister’s Meeting negotiating the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, and participated in multiple expert committees, such as the Expert Panel on Climate Adaptation and Resilience Results. During this time, he has had the opportunity to represent the AFN at the COP 23, COP 24, and COP 25 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Since 2019, he has been the Co-Chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change. In his spare time, he is a doctoral candidate at the University of Guelph, studying the intersection of Indigenous governance, environmental governance, and the climate crisis. He is an Action Canada Fellow, a Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability, and a St. Paul’s Young Alumni Award winner.

Jana Jandal Alrifai is an Arab-Canadian climate justice organizer living in so-called Windsor, Ontario. She is passionate about social change and the diverse voices that help lead it. She is a co-founder of Fridays For Future Windsor-Essex and an activist with Climate Strike Canada. She has worked on a variety of campaigns like Save Okavango Delta, national days of actions and other local issues.

Joy Kennedy is a consultant on ecological justice issues. A long-time member of various social and ecological justice boards, networks and committees, she served on the board as treasurer of the Climate Action Network (CAN-Rac) for many years.

Miranda Baksh is an environmental educator, climate action catalyst, and one of York University’s top 30 changemakers under 30 making a difference in the world. She obtained her Masters in Environmental Studies from York University and shortly after co-founded a non-profit organization based in her hometown, Brampton, The Community Climate Council. Her passion for biodiversity conservation led her to study EcoHealth and Disaster Risk Reduction in Costa Rica and Belize which brought her closer to local climate activism. She currently works at Environmental Defence and enjoys hiking on trails across Ontario.

Tony Snow is a member of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. One of seven children of the late Dr. Rev. Chief John Snow Sr., Tony was raised with his traditional cultural teachings and has worked for decades as an environmental technician and cultural advocate for Indigenous people in the resource development industry. As a traditional knowledge keeper, theologian and environmental activist, Tony has worked to protect the interests of First Nations in mediation, reclamation and traditional land use. He currently works as the Indigenous Minister for the Chinook Winds Region in southern Alberta and serves on the United Church of Canada Climate Advisory Circle and with the For The Love Of Creation campaign. Tony attended COP25 and COP26 with the UCC observer delegation in Madrid and Glasgow. Tony Snow is now Rev. Tony Snow.

Anna Johnston is a Staff Lawyer at West Coast Environmental Law, where her work focuses on strengthening federal environmental laws and environmental assessment reform. She earned her law degree from the University of Victoria in 2010, where she was enrolled in the Environmental Law Clinic intensive stream and was an active member of the Environmental Law Club. In 2010 Anna interned at the Institute of Environmental Law and Governance in Nairobi, Kenya before completing her articles at Ecojustice Canada. Called to the bar in 2011, Anna practiced as a sole practitioner in Aboriginal and environmental law before she joined West Coast in 2013.

Alex Callahan is the National Director of Health, Safety and Environment with the Canadian Labour Congress. He is responsible for coordinating national campaigns, providing advice and advocating on worker health and safety, and environmental and sustainability issues. Alex spent over a decade as a political staffer at Queen’s Park working on issues management, policy and engaging stakeholders, and has experience in opinion research and communications. Alex is a graduate of Mount Allison University, and a lifelong cyclist.