Youth Advisory Council

Alexis Fulton

Alexis is a proud Métis woman, youth advocate, and volunteer leader from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Alexis is a first year student at Athabasca University, studying for her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She believes the most effective way to enact real change within the world is to understand each other on a fundamental level. Alexis has spent years advocating for youth rights, Indigenous youth, and conservation efforts. She spent several years engaging in cultural tourism, educating guests from across the world on Métis culture and history. In this role, she developed land-based learning for youth, focusing on educating youth on the concept of Wahkohtowin — a Cree word that acts as the guide for our responsibility to all of our relatives on this world.

Alexis is also heavily engaged with Canadian charity LiveDifferent, a youth-focused organization that empowers youth with the knowledge that they can have an impact in the world. Alexis got engaged through school programming, traveling with LiveDifferent to build homes down the Baja for families in need of basic shelter. These builds held a huge impact for Alexis, and she continued to get involved with various community and volunteer initiatives. Alexis later joined LiveDifferent’s road team, traveling across Canada to engage youth in presentations and workshops focused on encouraging youth to define their own values. Now, Alexis has transitioned into being a member of LiveDifferent’s National Youth Advisory Council. In her free time, you can find Alexis walking everywhere, exploring Winnipeg’s vintage stores, and confusing her relatives with unannounced travel plans.

Amrit (Emmy) Butter

Emmy is currently completing an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Community Social Services at the University of Guelph-Humber, with a minor in Mental Health and Addictions. She stays actively involved in her community through volunteering, advocacy, and community engagement initiatives.

She is passionate about wholistic wellness, mental health, environmental stewardship, and the interconnectedness of people, communities, animals, and the planet. She believes that our wellbeing is deeply connected to the wellbeing of the natural world and that fostering healthy, inclusive communities benefits us all. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, birdwatching, spending time in nature, and experimenting in the kitchen by baking without a recipe.

Avery Perreault

Aaniin, Boozhoo! Avery indishnikaz, Ketegaunseebee indoonjiba, Ajijack indoodem. Avery is Ojibway from Garden River First Nation and is crane clan. She is currently studying at the University of British Columbia for her Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship, also known as BILS.

She is passionate about the land, conservation, sustainability and the empowerment of Indigenous voices. She loves being outdoors for hikes, birding, and photography.

Diego Arreola Fernandez

Diego Arreola Fernández is a climate advocate and promoter of environmental youth leadership committed to making environmental action more accessible, inclusive, and impactful, recognized with the Brower Youth Award. As a Lester B. Pearson Scholar and graduate of the University of Toronto in International Relations and Economics, Diego has worked at the intersection of climate policy, environmental education, and youth empowerment in Canada and internationally.

As Founder and President of Green Speaking, an international nonprofit that started in Mexico, Diego leads a global team working together to make environmental action more fun, simple, and attainable for all youth. Together with 16 more youth leaders, he has developed programs for more than 10,000 young people across multiple countries, helping them build the confidence, knowledge, and leadership skills needed to drive environmental change in their communities.

He has contributed to research on local plastic pollution and environmental diplomacy, represented youth voices at United Nations climate processes, and helped advance sustainability initiatives at the University of Toronto. Currently, he serves as Regional Coordinator with the Captain Planet Foundation, where he helps prepare the next generation of professionals for careers in the green economy across the Americas.

Diego is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to shape a more sustainable future. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, learning about new cultures, and exploring how policy, communication, and community engagement can work together to create lasting change.

Erik Barrett

Erik Barrett was proudly raised and shaped by the small but mighty community of Minnedosa, Manitoba. He is completing a Master’s in Bioresource Engineering at McGill University as a 2025 McCall MacBain Scholar. His research focuses on designing and testing new adsorbent materials to remove contaminants from water bodies.

Erik enjoys working at the interface between technology, policy, and community engagement. He believes that the most effective solutions come from co-designing and educating the communities that will be using it. He hopes to engineer a world where sustainable solutions are being co-developed within communities to bring forward a more equitable and sustainable world.

Erik is also a passionate advocate for the Huntington’s Disease community. He currently serves as the Youth Board Representative for the Huntington Society of Canada and a Canadian Ambassador for the Huntington Disease Youth Organization.

In his free time, you can find Erik running on the trails, finding new books to read, practicing his French (he is quite fond of Le Petit Prince), or enjoying time with his friends and family. Erik is excited to work alongside fellow Youth Advisory Council members to work towards meaningful and long-term change for the environment and its youth.

Hanna Grover

Hanna Grover is a youth advocate, researcher, and public speaker from Surrey, British Columbia of South Asian descent. She is a first-year student at Queen’s University, pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences. Hanna is passionate about the connection between environmental sustainability, health equity, and youth leadership. She founded Poet2Poet, a global youth initiative using poetry to promote mental well-being spanning more than 70 countries, and also led evidence-based health education workshops to diverse communities across Canada.

Hanna contributes to national organizations and research teams advancing climate, health, and youth-informed policy including Children’s First Canada and Plan International Canada, impacting thousands. She has been recognized through the BC Medal of Good Citizenship, Canada’s Top 10 Youth Changemakers, and the Canadian Parliament. In her free time, Hanna hikes, paints, and finds comfort in nature.

Henrietta Odiwa

Henrietta Odiwa is a first-year medical student at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador with Nigerian roots and a background in Biochemistry (Nutrition). She currently serves as President and Co-Founder of her school’s Black Medical Students’ Association chapter and is passionate about health equity, environmental health, and improving representation of diverse skin tones and populations in medical education and research.

Henrietta believes caring for people and caring for the planet go hand-in-hand. In her free time, she enjoys baking, experimenting with recipes, volunteering, and the occasional cinema visit.

Isabella Frey

Isabella is currently studying Natural Science and International Indigenous Studies at the University of Calgary. She was born and raised on Treaty 7 territory, and grew up with an absolute love for the Rockies and the Foothills. Isabella spends a lot of her time camping, hiking, and just being outside, and also loves crafting and writing.

Isabella has over seven years of experience in science education and communication, and her recent studies have been focused on Indigenous-informed conservation science. She is currently working on an ongoing research project to support Indigenous-led Bison restoration, and she has presented at multiple conferences including the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Julia Baribeau

Julia Baribeau bridges tech with environmental sustainability and community resilience. Her goal is to engineer a peaceful and inclusive global society, and she is especially passionate about water resilience.

Julia has a BASc in Mechatronics Engineering from University of Waterloo and is pursuing an MSc in Bioresource Engineering, Integrated Water Resources Management, at McGill. She was raised immersed in outdoor education.

Working in sustainability engineering at Enviro-Stewards, she helps industrial facilities waste less water, energy, and food. She teaches outdoor education and promotes truth and reconciliation with Thrive Tours, and volunteers fixing bikes and fostering dog guides.

Julia dabbles in many hobbies, including dancing, trail running, guitar, designing costumes, and camping.

Krithi Shankhari

Krithi graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Genetics and Biotechnology, and lives and learns as a settler on the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Her work sits at the intersection of science, storytelling, policy, and stewardship.

She works in climate policy and municipal government, with a deep interest in how systems shape people’s daily lives and in what it takes to build public institutions that are truly accountable, inclusive, and responsive. Her work is grounded in a commitment to equity, community-rooted knowledge, and collective action, and in a conviction that thoughtful, compassionate public service can help build healthier, more just futures.

She continues her work with the Youth Advisory Council with hope, humility, and an unwavering commitment to intergenerational learning. In her free time, she can be found blasting her carefully curated playlists at decibel levels unsafe for the human ear, cat-sitting for a friend, or with her nose buried in a book.

Liam McNally

Liam McNally is a community member who’s passionate about advocating for youth and protecting Canada’s unique biodiversity. He grew up in eastern Prince Edward Island, in a family of generational farmers on Mi’kmaq territory.

Liam has served his community in many ways, volunteering with local meals, sports clubs, and environmental conservancies. He earned recognition as a finalist for the prestigious Loran Scholarship. He has worked as an oyster farmer, and is now working at his local watershed.

Liam is pursuing his Bachelors of Science in Biology and Environmental Science at Dalhousie University. In his free time, he enjoys gardening, fishing, and connecting with nature.

Maisha Morshed

Maisha is a Bangladeshi Environmental Analytics student at the University of British Columbia and an International Scholar. She is the founder of InfrastructHER, a venture incubated through Innovation UBC that amplifies BIPOC voices in shaping climate-resilient infrastructure.

As a COP30 delegate, she contributed to discussions on the Gender Action Plan, forest conservation, and climate finance, driven by her commitment to reducing the gender gap in Global South leadership.

Beyond her advocacy, Maisha hopes to be a solo traveler, a Rabindra Sangeet enthusiast, and a storyteller who documents her unpredictable life — one chess move at a time.

MJ Torres Vargas

MJ is a youth and climate justice advocate whose work is deeply rooted in lived experience. As a Colombian immigrant and person with a disability, MJ has faced systemic barriers that have shaped their approach to advocacy. Instead of letting those challenges become obstacles, they became fuel for change.

MJ works at WWF Canada, co-leads Uptown Climate Conversations, and mentors youth through the Green Career Centre. With a focus on intersectionality, accessibility, and community-based solutions.

MJ brings both empathy and leadership to their work — striving to make climate action more inclusive, collaborative, and justice-driven. In her free time, MJ loves going out for hikes, doing puzzles, and building Legos.

Morgan Hussey

Morgan is a parliamentary and legislative affairs professional, researcher, and youth leader from rural Nova Scotia. Her research interests include Canadian parliamentary politics, empowering women in politics, rural food security, and conservation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies and a Master of Education in Lifelong Learning, both from Mount Saint Vincent University, where she was named valedictorian and received the President’s Prize.

During her time at university, Morgan served as Program Coordinator for her university’s Model United Nations program, where she not only led the program’s initiatives but also lectured on topics related to diplomacy, international relations, and debate skills. In this role, she empowered students to engage with real-world global issues while building key skills in strategic problem-solving and effective communication.

Recognized for her contributions to sustainable agriculture and food security, Morgan received a 4-H Canada Leadership Excellence Award of Distinction under the pillar of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security. Her academic research has explored the experiences of women in agriculture, particularly the mental health challenges faced by women who rely on farming for income amid growing environmental pressures.

In her spare time, Morgan enjoys pursuing volunteer opportunities. She recently completed a term on the Nova Scotia Youth Climate Council, where she provided policy recommendations to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change for the province of Nova Scotia and planned educational events for youth across the province to promote conservation initiatives.

Morgan is eager to collaborate with fellow Youth Advisory Council members to work towards positive change and innovative solutions in the areas of environmental inequality, biodiversity loss, conservation, and youth leadership.

Nayis Majumder

Nayis Majumder is a third-year University of British Columbia (UBC) student studying Gender, Race, Sexuality, Social Justice (GRSJ). At school, Nayis is a Social Event Director for UBC’s GRSJ Undergraduate Association, where they are proud to have hosted events UBC’s “Most Performative” and “Heated Rivalry Lookalike” contests this past year.

Outside of school, Nayis works as a Youth Development Leader in several Richmond community centres and is the President of SHAREsocialjustice — a grassroots organization dedicated to providing “S”exism, “H”omophobia, “A”bleism, “R”acism “E”ducation. Nayis enjoys bouldering in their free-time and is so excited to be involved with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada!

Rhona Sinamtwa

Rhona Sinamtwa is a sustainability professional, researcher, and community advocate passionate about driving impact through inclusive and systems-focused solutions. She holds a Bachelor’s from the University of Alberta and a Master’s in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Ottawa, with over four years of cross-sector experience spanning academia, think tanks, finance, and community initiatives.

She currently serves as a Technical Areas Analyst with MEDA, an organization focused on alleviating poverty through sustainable economic development. Her work has explored sustainable development, climate resilience, ESG strategy, and inclusive economic opportunities across Canada and East Africa.

Rhona is deeply passionate about systems change, particularly through sustainable finance, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and measurable social impact. She is committed to creating pathways for youth, newcomers, and underserved communities to access leadership, mentorship, resources, and meaningful opportunities. This passion is reflected in her active involvement with Age Of Africa, LEagler, the Onyx Initiative, and I.PRODUCEART.

With roots in Tanzania and experience across Canada and East Africa, Rhona is passionate about creating pathways for young people and underserved communities to access mentorship, resources, and meaningful connections, while fostering knowledge-sharing across the diaspora.

Shir Gruber

Shir Gruber holds a Bachelor of Science in Hydrology with a minor in GIS and is completing an Master of Science at McGill focused on wetlands as Nature-Based Solutions for water quality and climate mitigation.

A long-standing youth climate leader, she organized the 2019 Montreal climate marches, led Dawson College’s shift to composting affecting 10,000 people yearly, delivered a TEDxYouth Talk, and published a framework for grassroots environmentalism in academia.

She now serves as national co-director of Sustainable Youth Canada, a youth-led organization creating community climate projects, and sits on the board of the Legacy Fund for the Environment, a charity providing legal aid to protect green spaces.

While completing her Master’s, she advised Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources as part of the NRCan Youth Council. She also helped elevate the Youth Climate Corps from grassroots proposal to national recognition, featured in the 2024 federal budget and 2025 platforms. She was named one of Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 by The Starfish Canada.

Shreya Rao

Shreya Rao is a passionate human rights and climate activist from Vancouver, British Columbia. She holds a Bachelor’s in Environment, Resources, and Sustainability at the University of Waterloo. She is the founder of an organization, Planted, which empowers young people to find opportunities in the social impact space.

Her work spans gender equity and climate policy, working with organizations like Care Canada, Plan International Canada, and Apathy is Boring. She is currently the Impact and Development Lead at Youth Climate Lab.

In her free time, you can find her outside. Whether she’s at the beach or in her garden, she’s her happiest in nature with her friends!

Sruthee Govindaraj

Sruthee Govindaraj is an environmental scientist, project manager, and MSc candidate in Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University. She holds a BSc in Biology from the University of Ottawa, a Graduate Certificate in Northern Climate Change Policy from Yukon University, and is a Biologist-in-Training with BC’s College of Applied Biologists. Her work combines environmental consulting, research, and community engagement.

She is passionate about environmental stewardship, climate action, and science communication, and is committed to engaging youth and amplifying their voices in decision-making processes. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, exploring the outdoors, volunteering, staying connected with her community, and spending time with friends and family.

Vanessa Fiore

Vanessa Fiore is an environmental professional and climate advocate. Beginning as a leader of school eco-clubs, her passion drove her to volunteer with Citizens Climate Lobby Canada, where she lobbies parliamentarians for robust climate policies.

In 2017, she won the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s Youth Innovation Challenge for a small-scale biogas project and was later named one of Starfish Canada’s Top 25 Under 25 Environmentalists in 2019.

Her career spans conservation, clean technology, and electrification across industries. Currently, she works as an Officer of Partnerships at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Outside work, she practices martial arts and yoga.

Cameron Armstrong

Cameron Armstrong is a third-generation, mixed Filipina environmentalist and youth advocate from Winnipeg, Manitoba/Treaty 1 Territory. Her interests lie in environmental justice, water protection, and empowering Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) youth in environmental spaces.

Recognized as one of 2023’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 by the Starfish, Cameron serves as a Program Specialist at Youth Climate Lab, where she runs From Root to Sky, a program for BIPOC youth focussed on anti-racist climate action and deconstructing systems of oppression within environmental work.

She has served as a member of EarthEcho International’s Youth Leadership Council advocating for just ocean conservation and has conducted research at the University of Manitoba, focussed on environmental racism and water control structures in collaboration with Lake St. Martin First Nation and Dauphin River First Nation.

Cameron also works on Consider Climate, Manitoba, advocating for climate-centered policy decisions in Manitoba. In her free time, you can find Cameron volunteering with Lake Winnipeg Foundation’s Community-Based Monitoring Network or dancing to Carly Rae Jepsen.

Divya Dey

Divya Dey is a community leader passionate about translating sustainability into accessible, community-driven action. Her work sits at the intersection of sustainability, policy, research, and public engagement, with a particular focus on bridging the gap between institutions and the communities they serve.

She is the founder of Research Reimagined, a youth-led sustainability knowledge translation symposium that brings together emerging researchers from across Canada to transform academic research into accessible conversations and community action. She has also led recreational and community-building initiatives for Black, Indigenous, and Women of Colour across Canada and delivered sustainability programming that has engaged hundreds of community members.

Divya holds a Graduate Diploma in Public Management and Governance, a Master of Science in Sustainability Management, and an Honours Bachelor of Science in International Development and Environmental Science from the University of Toronto. In her spare time, you can catch Divya rock climbing, dancing, or doing improv!

Elaina Cox

Elaina Cox is a Top 25 Environmentalist Under 25 award winner equipped with several years of experience in environmental, climate and sustainability work through affiliations with governments, academic institutions, national and international organizations and non-profits.

She completed her Master’s Degree from the University of Waterloo with a thesis based on Indigenous Conservation while simultaneously working at Parks Canada’s National Office in Indigenous Stewardship and Engagement and as a researcher on a developing book regarding First Nations Treaties and the SDGs. She previously acquired a Bachelor in Honours Environmental Governance and a double minor in Honours Political Science and Geographic Information System and Environmental Analysis from the University of Guelph.

She is currently employed with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative as an Indigenous Relations Coordinator to support diverse community interests within the forestry sector of Canada and the United States. Elaina sits on a variety of boards and councils to which she has made significant contributions to their evolving projects and successes.

Her areas of expertise encompass national and international biodiversity, reconciliation, and climate instruments and agreements; the incorporation of Traditional Knowledge and practices; and, advocating for the inclusion of women, youth and Indigenous Peoples and their perspectives in decision-making processes.

Kyla Horsting-Minnabarriet

Kyla is Nlaka’pamux and Secwepemc through her father Darin Minnabarriet. She grew up in and around Ashcroft, British Columbia, but currently lives on Nlaka’pamux and Sylix Territory in Merritt, British Columbia.

She has her Bachelors degree in Natural Resources Science and is eager to use her degree to support environmental protection and Indigenous Rights. She is excited to continue to learn about the land from knowledge holders in her family, community, and other YAC members.

She is passionate about finding a way to responsibly manage the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories as it is vital to both the physical and mental health of our communities. In her free time, you can find her spending time with her family, harvesting plants, and camping.

Maggie MacDonald

Maggie is a Master of Environmental Studies student at Queen’s University, conducting research on the social and environmental impacts of diamond mining and mine closures on Indigenous communities in the Northwest Territories.

Maggie holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from Queen’s University. She has worked with Bee Ambassadors Canada as an Environmental Educator, Earth Day Canada as a Waste Auditor, and Soy Canada as a Sustainability Officer.

Maggie is excited to continue working with the Youth Advisory Council to promote environmental sustainability, climate justice, and reconciliation. She enjoys hiking, camping, skiing, sailing, birdwatching, and yoga.

Meral Jamal

Meral Jamal is an independent journalist and union worker based in Iqaluit, Nunavut, since 2022. Originally from Lucknow and Gujarat in India, she was born in the United Arab Emirates and raised there as well as in Pune in Maharashtra, India.

Meral moved to Ottawa for her undergraduate studies in 2017, graduating from Carleton’s University’s School of Journalism with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and history in 2021. Since then, she has worked with organizations including The Narwhal, Canadian Geographic, APTN and IndigiNews.

Meral has been a frequent (and the youngest) guest on the Unexpected Elements podcast by the BBC. She has also been the Persephone Miel fellow and a global reporting grantee with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, a fellow with Nordic Bridges by the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, and a fellow with the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations.

Sara Perry

Sara was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina, the Stoney Nakoda, and the Métis Nation of Alberta. She received her BSc in Zoology (studying fish population variation) at the University of Calgary and her MSc in Biomedical Sciences (studying lizard bones) at the University of Guelph.

Sara has a lifelong passion for wildlife and conservation. She is especially interested in biodiversity preservation, how conservation projects can benefit communities, and engaging people with nature in their own backyards.

As a Youth Advisory Council Fellow, Sara is eager to continue working with like-minded folks to raise awareness of the three crises, spotlight youth voices, and share the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada’s message of hope with Canadians. She enjoys hanging out in nature, watercolour painting, and reading!