Each year, we select exceptional candidates to organize networking events across Canada, host national webinars, represent #CWNSYP on social media and participate in our online events. To volunteer at local events, please contact the committee representative in your region.
Sophie Gagné-Landmann
President
Email: [email protected]
Sophie is a lawyer who was called to the Quebec Bar in June 2023. She completed her articles at Ivanhoe Cambridge – Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, a major public institutional investor in ethics, anti-corruption and privacy law. This Fall, she is completing a clerkship at the Interamerican Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica. In 2024, she will clerk at the Federal Court of Canada, which holds jurisdiction over a diverse range of public law areas, including environmental law, maritime law and Aboriginal law.
As an avid white-water canoeist, Sophie’s interest in ensuring the navigability of rivers ignited her passion for water management and conservation. This led her to advocate for the protection of rivers from environmental damage caused by damming and deforestation.
Prior to pursuing her law degree at McGill University, Sophie completed a bachelor’s degree in international development and environmental studies. She focused much of her academic work on water issues. For example, she conducted her undergraduate thesis on the socio-environmental impacts of hydropower in the Amazon, participated in a watershed management project, explored the injustices of water access in Panama, and took a negotiation course focused on transboundary water management in law school.
These experiences have cultivated Sophie’s keen interest in addressing water-related challenges, particularly from a legal and policy perspective, both in Latin America and within Canada. She is particularly attentive to the pressing water access issues faced by Indigenous communities and is eager to contribute to meaningful water-related initiatives in her home country.
Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Sophie enjoys canoe-camping, ski touring, social dancing and following the latest developments in artificial intelligence. She is fluent in French, English and Spanish.
Sophie Eva Gagné-Landmann
PresidentBio | Contact
Faezeh Absalan
Vice President
Email: [email protected]
Faezeh is a Ph.D. candidate in environmental engineering with a passion for water-related issues. She is committed to advancing and improving water protection and management in Canada and beyond. Her research focuses on predicting the potential negative effects of climatic events on drinking water quality in cities. Faezeh has also studied the impact of green infrastructure on water quality in cities. She believes that increasing green spaces in urban areas can boost the drinking water quality and protect communities from the effects of global warming.
Faezeh holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering, with a focus on industrial wastewater treatment using advanced oxidation processes. She also holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, through which she learned about chemical processes in the oil and gas, mining and petrochemical industries. She has three years of experience as a chemical process engineer, where she gained insight into the environmental impacts of industrial processes.
Prior to this, Faezeh served as the vice president of the Iranian Petroleum Council-Young Professional Division and participated in several networking events and workshops. She has a strong background in science communication and believes that sharing knowledge and experience among communities is crucial in increasing the resilience and preparedness of our systems. Faezeh is honoured to be a part of CWN’s Student and Young Professional Committee, and looks forward to collaborating with emerging water leaders and brilliant individuals to promote a sustainable future.
Faezeh Absalan
Vice PresidentBio | Contact
Dima Balaa
Social Media Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Dima is a master’s student with a strong passion for environmental and public health. Having lived in Beirut, Lebanon, Dima was exposed to a variety of environmental issues from a young age, including pollution and the depletion of natural resources. These challenges sparked her interest in pursuing a career in environmental health.
Dima completed her undergraduate degree at the American University of Beirut, majoring in environmental health and minoring in public health. During her time there, she gained valuable experience in the field through internships with local environmental organizations and research institutes.
Following her undergraduate degree, Dima decided to continue her education and pursue a master’s degree in environmental applied science and management at the Toronto Metropolitan University. Her thesis research focuses on the public’s risk perception of microplastics and nanoplastics in water, plastic behaviour patterns, and the stakeholder perspectives on this pollution. Through her research, Dima hopes to explore the public’s awareness and understanding of this pollution and help enhance policymaking and develop bans and effective solutions to this pressing issue.
Dima has worked on environmental outreach and education in Beirut and Abu Dhabi. Her goal was to inform the public about environmental issues and encourage healthy behaviours that protect the environment and in turn, human health.
Outside the realm of research and work, Dima enjoys painting, drawing, calligraphy, and hunting for cute cafés!
Dima Balaa
Social Media SpecialistBio | Contact
Ali Zoghi
Social Media Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Ali Zoghi is a PhD candidate in Environmental Engineering at Carleton University, where he works as a research and teaching assistant. Ali’s research interests focus on urban flood mitigation, hydrological modeling, urban infrastructure resilience, nature-based solutions, and data assimilation and machine learning. His expertise in these areas is demonstrated through his publication in ASCE’s Journal of Hydrologic Engineering and his presentation at the EWRI Congress 2021.
Ali’s academic achievements include being ranked first among all Environmental Engineering students at the University of Tehran, where he earned his Master of Science (M.S.) degree in civil and environmental engineering. Additionally, he finished among the top 1 percent of participants in the nationwide university entrance exam for the M.S. degree in civil engineering in Iran in 2019. Ali is also an Affiliate Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a member of Iran’s National Elites Foundation.
In terms of research experience, Ali has worked as a research assistant at Carleton University. He is currently working on a project funded by the NRC on nature-based solutions for urban flood mitigation in Canadian urban centers. He has also worked as a research assistant at the Water and Environment Research Office at the University of Tehran, where he worked on his thesis on integrating inshore and offshore best management practices for coastal flood preparedness.
Ali has also worked as a teaching assistant for several courses on topics like the design and analysis of experiments, advanced groundwater, and analysis and management of water resources systems.
Ali Zoghi
Social Media SpecialistBio | Contact
Marie-Belle Achkar
Regional Representative for Quebec
After completing a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in Lebanon, and following her excellent academic results, Marie-Belle was awarded a scholarship to pursue her postgraduate studies in Montreal. She is a second-year M.Sc. in Civil Engineering student at Polytechnique Montréal, in the field of water and the environment.
Marie-Belle’s research project focuses on the development of a practical model for projecting future urban water demand while considering the impacts of climate change. Once developed, it will serve as a tool to help decision-makers preserve the quality of the water production service, test and develop strategic plans/policies for water conservation, and adapt to climate change.
Marie-Belle grew up in a Lebanese village surrounded by mesmerizing landscapes, where she valued every season and observed with interest natural phenomena such as the flow of spring water and the snow melting. These experiences influenced her career choice and in turn, her love for science and technology.
In her professional life, Marie-Belle tends to focus on water management as well as climate change impacts on natural and human systems. She believes that the scientific knowledge related to water should be communicated to all the stakeholders to ensure the sustainable protection of the resource for the current and future generations.
In her spare time, Marie-Belle enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it is for a walk, a run or a hike. She loves wandering around the city and discovering hidden gems with friends. Cooking and sports are part of her daily routine, so you’ll either find her in the kitchen or at the gym!
Marie-Belle Achkar
Regional Representative for QuebecBio | Contact
Jillian Booth
Regional Representative for Southwestern Ontario
Email: [email protected]
Jillian is a research technician on the Plant Responses and the Environment team at Vineland Research and Innovation. In this role, she focuses on improving soil health to promote healthy plant establishment, support the urban tree canopy, and create absorbent landscapes.
Jillian holds a Master of Sustainability from Brock University, where she developed a socio-ecological framework to identify priority sites for low-impact development (LID). Her professional interests include flood mitigation, water resource management, urban planning and climate change adaptation.
Jillian spends most of her free time outdoors, participating in activities like fishing, boating, hiking and camping. Jillian grew up having a cottage in the Muskoka River Watershed, where the impacts of the 2018 flood sparked her interest in watershed management.
Jillian Booth
Regional Representative for Southwestern OntarioBio | Contact
Emilie Derochie
Regional Representative for Northwestern Ontario
Emilie grew up on the St Lawrence River and has had a love for the River and water since she could remember. Her background is in environmental sciences and education. Emilie is a qualified secondary school teacher with teachable subjects in the sciences. Currently, Emilie is a biology course instructor for the St. Lawrence College Environmental Technician program in Cornwall, Ontario. She is also a river strategy coordinator and educator at the River Institute. In her main role, Emilie is working collaboratively to create a communication and collaboration hub for the Upper St. Lawrence River to achieve a beautiful and healthy river for all. She also develops outreach and education materials for the Great River Rapport project and coordinates content for the River Institute’s social media accounts. Outside of work, Emilie is a Master of Education (environmental and sustainability education) student at Lakehead University.
Emilie DeRochie
Regional Representative for Northwestern OntarioBio | Contact
Mohannad Elsalhy
Regional Representative for the Northwest Territories
Mohannad Elsalhy is a highly motivated and skilled engineer. He has over ten years of experience in both civil and environmental engineering, both in Canada and the Palestinian Territories.
Mohannad has experience in conducting environmental impact assessments, carrying out technical reviews and engineering inspections, and liaising with stakeholders. He is passionate about protecting our land, water, air, wildlife and aquatic life. Mohannad is also an advocate for the use of traditional knowledge and engaging with Indigenous communities in environmental management and monitoring.
Currently, Mohannad works as an environmental specialist with the Environmental Monitoring Advisory Board for the Diavik Mine (EMAB) in Yellowknife. In this role, he participates in reviewing Diavik’s Environmental Management plans and reports. He also provides technical support, conducts environmental data analysis, and prepares communications materials.
Mohannad completed his Master of Engineering in Environmental Systems Engineering in 2022 from the University of Regina. He has taken courses focusing on water and wastewater treatment. His graduation project focused on the biological treatment of dairy wastewater. Mohannad also holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the Islamic University of Gaza and a professional graduate diploma in management of civil society organizations from the same institution.
In his spare time, Mohannad enjoys reading, playing soccer, and spending time with friends and family.
Mohannad Elsalhy
Regional Representative for the Northwest TerritoriesBio | Contact
Harmanpreet Singh Grewal
Regional Representative for Quebec
Harmanpreet’s interest in water resource management stems from his experience studying the Indian government’s ambitious project, Interlinking of Rivers, during his undergraduate program.
Harmanpreet is currently pursuing his master’s research at both McGill University and the Ohio State University, where he is working on forecasting simulations based on computer models. These simulations predict the best management practices for farmlands to mitigate fertilizer losses from fields to surface water resources. Through his studies, Harmanpreet has gained a comprehensive grasp of the intricate relationships between land use practices, environmental conditions and water quality outcomes.
Overall, Harmanpreet’s interests in improving freshwater resources and advocating for effective water management policies are directly connected to his passion for creating a more sustainable and equitable future for our planet.
Harmanpreet Singh Grewal
Regional Representative for Quebec Bio | Contact
Keziah Lanski
Regional Representative for Alberta
Keziah is currently building a career focused on the effective and efficient delivery of municipal public services in her home community of Medicine Hat.
While working at the City of Medicine Hat, she has held roles with the parks department and the water and wastewater utility. She especially enjoys tasks rooted in stakeholder and community engagement, project management, and data analysis. Prior to joining the City of Medicine Hat, Keziah worked in environmental compliance with the Department of National Defence.
Keziah holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Conservation Sciences from the University of Alberta, and is currently completing a Master of Public Health from the University of Waterloo.
Outside of work and school, Keziah enjoys spending time outdoors with friends and family (including her dog), rock climbing, and eating great food
Keziah is passionate about water conservation and is looking forward to being a regional representative on CWN’s Student and Young Professional Committee. She looks forward to making new connections with other like-minded people and working together to positively impact water management across Canada.
Keziah Lanski
Regional Representative for AlbertaBio | Contact
Matthew McClure
Regional Representative for Southwestern Ontario
Email: [email protected]
Matthew is currently a master’s student in the Chemical Engineering Department at McMaster University. His graduate research focuses on the use of membrane technology as a means of filtering and cleaning wastewater streams from industrial facilities. Wastewater treatment and filtration is one of Matthew’s areas of interests as it has the potential to increase the sustainability of clean water at a global scale.
Matthew is excited to be a part of CWN’s Student and Young Professional Committee. He is excited to discuss and share knowledge related to the intersection of climate issues and water availability. He looks forward to using the information he has to participate in these talks and discussions while also learning as much as he can from the other bright individuals who make up the committee.
Outside of school and other related water interests, Matthew enjoys being active by playing sports (volleyball and baseball especially) or relaxing by spending time with his family and friends.
Matthew McClure
Regional Representative for Southwestern OntarioBio | Contact
Navya Vikraman Nair
Regional Representative for Southwestern Ontario
Email: [email protected]
Navya is a Ph.D. candidate in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo. Her research focuses on linking blue carbon ecosystems and water quality to address the vulnerability and viability of small-scale fisheries. As part of the Entrepreneurial Ph.D. Fellowship, Navya is pursuing a part-time Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) at Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business.
Prior to joining the Ph.D. and MBET programs, Navya completed a Master of Environmental Studies in Sustainability Management, a Master of Technology in Environmental Engineering and a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering.
In addition to her academic achievements, Navya has over one year of research experience in air quality monitoring and wastewater treatment projects. She worked as a senior research fellow at ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management and EDF for microbiological filter development and air pollution repository establishment.
Broadly speaking, Navya’s research interests include water quality analysis, coastal wetlands, wastewater treatment, coastal fisheries, microbial fuel cell, and bio-energy generation. Over the course of four years at the University of Waterloo, she has worked on a variety of topics related to climate adaptation and sustainable development goals. She is actively engaged with outreach activities related to sustainability across campus.
Outside of school and work, Navya enjoys dancing, learning about philosophies of life and sketching. She is very excited to contribute and learn from CWN’s Student and Young Professional Committee.
Navya Vikraman Nair
Regional Representative for Southwestern OntarioBio | Contact
Randy Paquette
Regional Representative for Calgary
Randy is an environmental scientist for an environmental consulting company. Through his role, Randy supports various levels of hydrologic modelling within the South Saskatchewan River Basin and utilizes geographic information systems to conduct spatial analyses.
Randy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from the University of Alberta. While pursuing his degree at the University of Alberta, Randy contributed to several studies that focused on wetland ecology in relation to wildlife and habitat management. He also contributed to studies on streambank bioengineering/restoration activities.
Randy also holds certificates in sustainability and building capacity for reconciliation. Randy furthered his education to become a certified Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) Technician, a nationally recognized freshwater biological community-based program for assessing stream quality and health.
Outside of work, Randy enjoys biking, hiking, kayaking and photographing wildlife.
Randy Paquette
Regional Representative for CalgaryBio | Contact
Nicole Stott
Regional Representative for Northern Ontario
Nicole is an environmental professional focusing on water-related issues and promoting the protection of clean drinking water.
Nicole holds a B.A.Sc in Environmental Sustainability from Lakehead University, and an Environmental Technician Diploma from Georgian College. She is also trained as a risk management official and inspector through the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Nicole started her water-focused career at a health unit where she monitored water bodies and watercourses. She also tested for various pathogens to help protect public health. From there, Nicole worked on combating invasive species and promoting biodiversity in wetlands to help increase environmental health. Over the past year, Nicole has been working to protect our source water for drinking so that our drinking water is protected for now and the future.
Nicole is excited to be volunteering on CWN’s Student and Young Professional Committee along with passionate young professionals across Canada.
Nicole Stott
Regional Representative for Northern OntarioBio | Contact
Sam Thyret
Regional Representative for British Columbia
Email: [email protected]
Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in science and business, with a minor in biology, from the University of Waterloo. She is currently a graduate student in the Master of Land and Water System program at the University of British Columbia. Her master’s research project focuses on the environmental impacts of tourism in the Niagara Region, and recommends ecotourism practices to help the region to adapt to the growing tourist industry.
Sam is excited to graduate in August 2023, and is looking forward to a career in integrated water resource planning and management. She is passionate about creating a sustainable urban water supply and ensuring access to safe drinking water for all.
In her free time, Sam enjoys gardening, amateur astronomy and practicing yoga. She can often be found with tea in one hand and her Kobo in the other.
Sam Thyret
Regional Representative for British ColumbiaBio | Contact
Samantha Lau
President
Hamilton, Ontario
Email: [email protected]
Sam is an environmental professional who has rooted her experiences addressing water-related issues and advocating for environmental protection across various landscapes. She believes that the key to a resilient and equitable future lies in community-driven efforts to protect our natural spaces and resources. Sam is a conservationist who is passionate about sustainability, science communication and science literacy. In her current role, she is the Lead, Research and Analysis within the Water and Circular Economy program areas at Pollution Probe in Toronto, ON. She has also engaged in building national partnerships and initiatives advancing freshwater habitat restoration and protection with Aquatic Habitat Canada.
Sam holds a BSc (Hons) in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of Guelph. She also holds a MSc, Biology from McMaster University, where she specialized in Ecotoxicology and Fish Physiology. Her graduate work examined the effects of interactive stressors, like wastewater pollution and hypoxia, on fish health in impacted areas like Hamilton Harbour, Ontario. Sam is a science communicator and illustrator with a strong background in outreach and education, having worked with organizations like the Toronto Zoo, Wild Ontario, McMaster Water Network and Let’s Talk Science. Sam is very honoured to be a part of Canadian Water Network’s Student and Young Professional Committee and is thrilled to be working alongside like-minded individuals and emerging water leaders across the country to advance and improve water protection and management for many years to come.
Samantha Lau
President
Hamilton, ONBio | Contact
Mohamed El Badrawy
Webinar Coordinator
Vancouver, British Columbia
Email: [email protected]
Mohamed’s upbringing in Egypt ignited his interest in water resources issues at a young age. He is currently completing his Bachelor of Applied Science in chemical engineering at the University of British Columbia. In his previous role as a co-op student with Cargill, Mohamed spearheaded the installation of a wastewater treatment plant. During this term, Mohamed developed an understanding of the regulations and policies surrounding industrial wastewater discharge. He also learned about the sizing and design of water infrastructure by collaborating with consulting engineers and contractors. In June 2022, he will be joining AECOM’s water and wastewater team in Kelowna.
Mohamed enjoys engaging with students on water-related challenges through his involvement in the UBC British Columbia Water and Waste Association Student Chapter and the UBC Future Waters cluster. In his free time, Mohamed enjoys water sports, road trips and following soccer. Very recently, he got into snowboarding.
Mohamed El Badrawy
Webinar Coordinator
Vancouver, BCBio | Contact
Nicholas Wawryk
Social Media Specialist
Edmonton, Alberta
Email: [email protected]
Nicholas is a doctoral student in the Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology at the University of Alberta, where he is developing analytical methods for contaminants of emerging concern in water. Specifically, Nicholas identifies novel disinfection by-products and their precursors that form during water treatment. He has also conducted research related to tracing human impacts on water bodies.
Nicholas holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental studies from The King’s University (Alberta). To date, he has valued an interdisciplinary path and looks forward to working with many different specialists to address water issues. Nicholas is passionate about issues related to the quality of water and ensuring that all people have access to safe drinking water. He is also interested in scientific literacy and educating people on water-related issues.
Nicholas enjoys hiking and camping across western Canada with friends, photography and learning more about the world through books and podcasts.
Nicholas Wawryk
Social Media Specialist
Edmonton, ABBio | Contact
Kathleen Johnson
Social Media Specialist
Woodstock, ON
Email: [email protected]
Kathleen is currently an Engineer-in-Training with the City of London, Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Society from McMaster University and a Master of Applied Science in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Guelph. Her master’s thesis focused on understanding the flow and fate of contaminants in the fractured bedrock aquifer beneath the City of Guelph, one of the largest cities in Canada to rely solely on groundwater for drinking water.
Kathleen has worked with water and environmental teams in the public and private sector both in Canada and Australia. She is passionate about municipal water management, educating the public about water and advancing source water protection policies in Canada.
In her spare time, Kathleen enjoys reading, playing soccer, meditation, camping and spending time with family.
Kathleen Johnson
Social Media Specialist
Woodstock, ONBio | Contact
Tobin Benedict
British Columbia Representative
Kelowna, British Columbia
Email: [email protected]
Tobin graduated from the University of Calgary with a B.Sc. Honours in Environmental Sciences with a concentration in geography. She is currently working as an Environmental Planner and Aquatic Biologist at Jacobs Engineering Group. In her current position, she focuses on environmental regulatory frameworks and permitting.
Tobin’s professional experience in aquatics has encompassed a variety of baseline research projects, including, spawning surveys, fish community observations, fish and fish habitat assessments, lethal metal concentration sampling in sculpin species and aquatic biomonitoring projects. She has also worked closely with the Riparian Areas Protection Regulations (RAPR) and riparian reserve conservation.
Tobin enjoys collaborating with multiple disciplines and a variety of people to discover innovative solutions. She looks forward to spreading her passion for aquatic ecosystems and learning from other water professionals. In her spare time, you can find her out in the mountains, rivers or, most recently, learning to tie flies!
Tobin Benedict
British Columbia Representative
Kelowna, BCBio | Contact
Mostafa Dorosti
British Columbia Representative
Prince George, British Columbia
Email: [email protected]
Mostafa is currently a PhD student in natural resources and environmental studies at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). His research, which is funded by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), focuses on enhancing water security in small, rural and remote communities. Mostafa is exploring effective solutions to address the critical water security issues faced by these communities. His goal is to develop locally applicable, low-cost, simple yet effective water treatment systems.
The paramount importance of retaining our environment pollutant-free and challenges in water quality management inspired Mostafa to choose environmental studies as his academic career. He completed his master’s degree in environmental engineering at the University of Tehran, Iran. Mostafa conducted several projects concerning water and wastewater treatment. He developed a pilot project for his thesis, which was about heavy metals removal from groundwater and disinfection by an electrochemical cell.
Mostafa currently serves as a director at large for the Graduate Students’ Society of UNBC because of his passion for providing a vibrant environment for graduate students and involving them in several activities. Outside of school, he is self-employed and works on graphic design and photography projects. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, traveling, backpacking and playing ping pong.
Mostafa Dorosti
British Columbia Representative
Prince George, BCBio | Contact
Tanjot Grewal
Regional Representative
Brampton, Ontario
Email: [email protected]
Tanjot is passionate about water advocacy, quality, and access. In high school, she volunteered with Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and participated in stream restoration projects to increase habitat resiliency to rising water temperatures. She also planted trees along riverbanks to prevent soil erosion. These long days outdoors exposed her to local water resources and fostered her desire to safeguard our freshwater. In 2021, Tanjot also collaborated with CVC and Water for the World to run a Youth Water Advocates initiative funded by Rising Youth, where she recruited and trained 22 high school students to deliver water workshops to over 500 elementary school students. This initiative empowered youth to develop their public speaking and leadership skills while advocating for water quality and security.
Tanjot’s eagerness to be an environmental steward also shaped her research interests throughout her undergraduate degree in the Chemical Biology co-op program at McMaster University. She pursued a co-op term with Environment Canada where she quantified copper in contaminated soils. She also quantified plastic additives in wastewater samples during her undergraduate thesis. Through these experiences, Tanjot discovered her research interest for quantifying emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment. She also conducted in-silico research with Dr. Roxana Suehring to create a priority list of persistent, mobile and toxic plastic additives registered for use in Canada.
Tanjot is eager to meet other water enthusiasts through the Canadian Water Network while pursuing her master’s degree in the Environmental Applied Science and Management program.
Tanjot Grewal
Ontario Representative
Brampton, ONBio | Contact
Morel Kotomale
Ontario Representative
Sudbury, Ontario
Email: [email protected]
Morel is a young leader committed to environmental protection. He has more than three years of work experience related to agriculture, the environment and climate change. He holds a master’s degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture. Currently, he is a student at Collège Boréal, located in Sudbury, in the Agricultural Techniques program.
Morel was inspired by the famous Chinese philosopher Confucius who once said, “no matter where you go, go with all your heart.” Keeping this in mind, Morel has volunteered for several associations and organizations to support environmental education and the fight against global warming (e.g. Association des Résidents du Plateau in Gatineau).
Morel has also worked as the Head of the Agroforestry Department and a Project Manager at Page Verte, an NGO headquartered in Côte d’Ivoire. He led several projects while working for the NGO, including projects that involved environmental education and agroecology. Morel also helped draft a national storage strategy for Food Security in Benin (SNSSA) in his role as a technical assistant and independent consultant.
Morel has benefitted from several training programs in leadership and related fields (e.g. Euro-Mediterranean Forum of Young Francophone Leaders in Essaouira, training program of the BMZ African-German Leadership Academy, etc.). These programs enabled Morel to boost his leadership qualities.
Morel’s work and volunteer experience have led him to participate in several international summits and be nominated as Green Ambassador for Climate in Africa in 2020 by the CCAO.
Morel intends to continue the path he is on. If he sees volunteer opportunities, he readily takes them on!
Morel Kotomale
Ontario Representative
Sudbury, ONBio | Contact
Rachel Krueger
Ontario Representative
Toronto, Ontario
Email: [email protected]
Rachel Krueger is a Master of Environmental Studies candidate in Sustainability Management — Water at the University of Waterloo. Her graduate research focuses on developing meaningful ways to promote individual and community-level flood risk mitigation action by drawing on behavioural science and risk communication practice.
Rachel’s interest in community flood resilience began during an undergraduate co-op placement at the City of Mississauga, where, in her role as a Storm Drainage Assistant, she had the great pleasure of exploring the City’s network of creeks and rivers to monitor its natural and built stormwater infrastructure.
Rachel continues to be eager to learn about stormwater management and flood risk management through a climate change adaptation lens. She is currently contributing to the Canadian Red Cross’ and Partners for Action’s (University of Waterloo) Inclusive Resilience study. The study aims to improve communications materials about floods, wildfires and earthquakes to help people better prepare for these emergencies.
When she’s not looking after her neighbourhood’s catch basins, Rachel can be found cycling, singing loudly for all to hear (whether or not she knows the lyrics) and spending time with family and friends.
Rachel Krueger
Ontario Representative
Toronto, ONBio | Contact
Xinyi Li
Ontario Representative
Hamilton, Ontario
Email: [email protected]
Xinyi is a Ph.D. candidate in Civil Engineering at McMaster University. Her Ph.D. research focuses on generating reliable climate projections for water resources management. The results provide the most updated climate information for formulating appropriate mitigation and adaptation.
Xinyi holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Beijing Normal University (China) and a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from McMaster University. She has prior internship and project experience in the water sector, such as global water availability assessment, automated surface water extraction with remote sensing data, and wetland ecosystem conditions assessment in the National Nature Reserve. She also has project experience in machine learning, big data analysis and developing simulation and optimization models. Xinyi is passionate about water resources management, climate change, wetland conservation and energy planning.
In her spare time, Xinyi enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, reading, cooking and dancing.
Xinyi Li
Ontario Representative
Hamilton, ONBio | Contact
Kyra McKenna
Ontario Representative
Ottawa, Ontario
Email: [email protected]
Kyra holds a diploma in Ecosystem Management from Fleming College and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental and Resource Science from Trent University. She recently started a new position at the Ornamental Gardens of the Central Experimental Farm and is excited to see where this opportunity will lead. Kyra is at the beginning of her career journey and hopes to eventually end up in a conservation-based career, a goal identified after participating as a mentee in Project Learning Tree’s Green Mentorship Program 2021 cohort.
Kyra is passionate about environmental science and conservation. She became fascinated by the microscopic world of water when introduced to plankton and algae in college. She is also interested in environmental toxicology. Kyra has experience presenting youth education programs on wetland ecology and she is excited to educate others on these interesting topics throughout this program.
In her spare time, Kyra enjoys exploring natural areas and documenting their beauty through photography. She also tends to a small collection of houseplants, which she enjoys watching grow.
Kyra McKenna
Ontario Representative
Ottawa, ONBio | Contact
Derek Mueller
Alberta Representative
Edmonton, Alberta
Email: [email protected]
Derek is currently a Climate Adaptation Analyst with One Water Planning at EPCOR. In his current role, he supports the planning and execution of capital project and assists with Integrated Resource Plans. He has also led the creation of an urban wildfire adaptation framework for drainage assets.
He graduated with an undergraduate degree in Environmental and Conservation Sciences from the University of Alberta. After this, he worked as an environmental consultant for two years; his passion for hydrology was sparked during this time.
This passion led him back to school where he completed his master’s degree in Water and Land Resources, also from the University of Alberta. During his master’s degree, Derek researched the impacts of forest harvesting on subsurface water quality and how those changes affected receiving water bodies.
During this time, he was able to travel across Canada to learn about other communities’ source water and water treatment challenges. Derek has a strong interest in exploring solutions to the issues urban communities face when it comes to water.
Outside of work, Derek enjoys playing volleyball, running, hiking and skiing.
Derek Mueller
Alberta Representative
Edmonton, ABBio | Contact
Sorour Nasimi
British Columbia Representative
Vancouver, British Columbia
Email: [email protected]
Sorour is a first-year PhD student in natural resources and environmental studies at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). Currently, she is working on enhancing water security in rural and remote communities.
After getting a BSc degree in civil engineering, Sorour discovered her enthusiasm for interdisciplinary science. She switched her major to environmental engineering and immediately realized the vital role of water in all environmental, social and economic aspects of life. As an MSc student, she conducted research on the high-efficiency removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater using inexpensive functionalized polymeric fibers.
The main focus of Sorour’s PhD research is to assess challenges and issues rural and remote communities encounter in obtaining clean drinking water. Current water treatment technologies cannot be applied in rural and remote communities because of fundamental differences and financial barriers. As a result, most proposed methods for these areas are temporary solutions. The remoteness, low population, old infrastructure and lack of budget, maintenance, and operation have led water treatment systems in these communities to be very susceptible compared to cities. As a member of our research team, Sorour’s work focuses on improving low-cost, effective and sustainable water treatment technologies in rural and remote communities as well as supporting community engagement.
Sorour believes having access to safe drinking water is a primary right of humans regardless of geographical location. She would like to dedicate her life to make sure all the people in rural and remote communities, within and outside Canada, have an equal chance of drinking secure clean water.
Sorour Nasimi
British Columbia Representative
Vancouver, BCBio | Contact
Taryn Pedersson
British Columbia Representative
Vancouver, British Columbia
Email: [email protected]
Taryn is currently working towards her joint Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering (co-op) at the University of British Columbia and the University of Northern British Columbia. Through her academic and professional experiences, Taryn has explored topics related to climate change adaptation, urban water management, remediation and other water-related issues. Her previous co-op experience focused on surface water and groundwater remediation projects in B.C. at Golder Associates.
Taryn is thrilled to be graduating in December 2022 and eager to start tackling water problems relating to sustainable water management, nature-based solutions, water quality and policy. Her specific interests are related to effective water management and leveraging the management of natural assets to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Outside of her studies, Taryn enjoys getting outside through hiking, kayaking and climbing; creating new recipes in the kitchen; and getting her hands dirty through gardening and pottery.
Taryn Pedersson
British Columbia Representative
Vancouver, BC
Andrew Sheroubi
British Columbia Representative
Vancouver, British Columbia
Email: [email protected]
Andrew graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering. During his time in university, Andrew focused on water treatment applications. This included designing a modular water treatment system for remote communities. He is currently the Technical Sales Engineer with Delco Water, focusing on water and wastewater treatment applications for BC, Yukon and Northwest Territories.
Andrew is quite passionate about humanitarian and social work, particularly access to clean water around the world. His interests include cooking, reading and outdoor activities. He particularly enjoys exploring new hobbies, especially those that get the heart pumping. If you want a buddy to go skydiving, kite surfing, whitewater rafting or anything similar – he’s your guy!
Andrew Sheroubi
British Columbia Representative
Vancouver, BC
Jocelyn Zambrano-Alvarado
Manitoba Representative
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Email: [email protected]
Jocelyn is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Microbiology at University of Manitoba. She was recently awarded the Visual and Automated Disease Analytics (VADA) graduate scholarship to continue her research in the field of environmental microbiology.
Her research applies advanced molecular methods to identify different types of microorganisms present in aquatic bodies impacted by anthropogenic activities in rural Manitoba. With the outcomes of her project, she hopes to provide insights that help understand the influence that contaminating activities have in the microbiome of waterways.
Jocelyn considers assessing freshwater microbial composition particularly important because environmental, animal and human health are closely interconnected. She believes more efforts should be applied to promote the One Health approach for the benefit of all living things.
Jocelyn is also working on a scientific article that promotes the application of affordable and long-lasting biological methods for water sanitation that could be applied in remote communities that do not have safe drinking water.
Finally, Jocelyn is very excited to identify the variations and interactions between viruses, bacteria and microeukaryotes in aquatic bodies to help set a baseline of indicators of aquatic pollution. One of her hobbies is sharing information in a colorful way in my social networks about the scientific findings I read for my research. I think with this I help increase awareness regarding the importance of water safety in my community.
Jocelyn Zambrano-Alvarado
Manitoba Representative
Winnipeg, MB