As Co-CEO of Tamarack Institute, Liz leads the Collective Leadership practice and is recognized for her thought leadership and authorship of several influential papers. She collaborates with the Collective Impact Forum, Inspiring Communities New Zealand, and Collaborating for Impact, Australia.

Danya has a decade of experience supporting diverse, outcomes-focused partnerships in roles spanning operational leadership and facilitation. Her background includes working with refugees and individuals affected by the criminal justice system, and she integrates racial equity, continuous improvement, adaptive leadership, and more in her coaching. 

Heather is Executive Director of Live Educate Transform Society (LET'S), a non-profit they founded in 2005. Heather’s own experiences as an asexual, disabled, neurodivergent, queer, trans person led them to become a well-known and respected advocate, educator, and speaker. See Heather's full bio here.  

Natalie Johnston holds a Master’s in Public Health and has been a Community Health Specialist at Fraser Health for the past 3.5 years. In this capacity, she works closely with municipal governments and community organizations to develop and implement health promotion initiatives and public policies designed to enhance community well-being. Her role involves creating strategies that address public health needs and foster environments where individuals can thrive. Natalie is deeply committed to working alongside the community on projects that advance resilient, sustainable communities. She is dedicated to meaningful community engagement and the power of collective action to create lasting positive change.

During her tenure with Reep Green Solutions, Becca has helped hundreds of property owners create landscapes that are more resilient to climate change. She has led the design and construction of green infrastructure projects on residential and civic properties throughout Waterloo Region and beyond, striving to fold ecological and human equity considerations into the process. Becca received her Master's in Landscape Architecture from University of Michigan and a B.S. In Environmental Science from University of North Carolina.  

Sharmalene Mendis-Millard is the Director of Partners for Action, an initiative of the Faculty of Environment at University of Waterloo that aims to empower Canadians to become flood resilient through applied research with an equity lens, and by promoting awareness and preparedness actions that are inclusive and evidence-based. A mixed-methods geographer by training, She has worked for several interdisciplinary research centres that aim to advance community well-being and social justice through partnerships, program evaluations, and learning programs. She is passionate about community engagement, applied research, and the not-for-profit sector, with experience that includes being the Board Vice Chair and serving on the Equity Committee of Reep Green Solutions after having been an employee. Sharmalene's focus is now on multi-hazard resilient retrofits, community engaged preparedness, and equity in climate risk reduction and adaptation strategies such as managed retreat.

I guide leaders, founders, changemakers, and impact driven organizations to reconnect with their inner wisdom, collectively envision possibilities, and design healing-centered ecosystems with transformational and lasting impact.

My work resides mostly in the dreaming, designing and illumination of new systems. I work with impact driven organizations who are serving groups whose voices need to be heard through training, mentoring programs or are weaving communities of practice to deepen and integrate change. As a consultant, facilitator, mentor, board leader, I support these organizations by helping them collectively expand their vision, connect them with their inner compass, define strategic actions for their services, & design meaningful & engaging trainings, practices or cohort programs.

Emelia is a highly educated and passionate woman with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Calgary. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Security Studies with a focus on the global South, particularly Eastern Africa. Emelia is a Director on the board for Black Eco Bloom and Manager of the African Indigenous Knowledge Research Project. She works closely with the research team to study the sustainability and spirituality of African and Caribbean Indigenous groups. As a Caribbean woman, Emelia understands that sustainability equals survival, making the African Indigenous project one of her passions. Her activism is driven by the desire to explore, learn, and research Afro-Caribbean Indigenous sustainability. She has also worked as a research assistant for an Indigenous Maternal and Child Wellness lab where she researched the impact of maternal incarceration on Indigenous and non-Indigenous youths

Nation, with 20 years in community development, leads United Way's initiatives for inclusive communities, youth development, and local economic strategies.

Sylvia is dedicated to community change and believes in the transformative power of a shared aspirational vision among residents and sector leaders. She emphasizes that recognizing and connecting community assets can be a powerful catalyst for driving change. 

Marina is a multifaceted individual with a strong research, public speaking, and program design background. She founded marketcityTO, which unites stakeholders to unlock the power of public markets as places that foster social connection & resident wellbeing, enable climate action and regional resilience and foster inclusive economies in Toronto and globally. See Marina's full bio here.

Heather is passionate about harnessing the power of people and communities as solutions to local problems. She advocates for building a sense of belonging to enhance community engagement and supports shifting municipalities from a "doing for" approach to empowering communities to act independently. 

Dr. Chúk Odenigbo is a recognized changemaker in Canada with a background in environment, chemistry, public health, and medical geography. He also has extensive experience in environmental activism, adult education, and community engagement. 

Sonja Miokovic is a seasoned educator, social scientist, and innovator with over 16 years of experience across 80 countries. She excels in community-led innovation and development, known for transforming ambitious ideas into reality and helping communities connect creatively to address challenges. 

Prachir, Manager of Communities for the Building Belonging and Community Climate Transitions teams at Tamarack, focuses on enhancing community resilience in climate transitions and integrating social innovation with sustainability. 

Yas is dedicated to community development and engagement with a focus on ethical co-creation and collaboration. Yas works on driving systems change by addressing gaps in areas such as Black liberation, Indigenous sovereignty, anti-racism, belonging and more.

Duncan oversees the development and management of e-learning courses, supports consulting contracts, and contributes to creating learning resources. 

Maureen holds Bachelor’s degrees in Health Promotion and Education. She advocates for equity and community involvement in poverty reduction.

Laura holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master’s in Global Studies. She champions climate action and social innovation while balancing advocacy with family life across continents.

Colleen facilitates community partnership and evaluation for the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership, and co-leads the Evaluation and Analysis working group for the CFICE project. Her role enables her to catalyze, convene, and coordinate community-based efforts to drive change and build capacity.

Rochelle leads Tamarack’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives, focusing on community building, volunteerism, and advocating for underrepresented groups. She works to advance anti-racism within the organization and support members and learners in achieving equitable outcomes. 

Shanese, Senior Community Animator, specializes in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. She is passionate about writing, LGBTQAI2S+ advocacy, and creating inclusive spaces. 

At the Tamarack Institute, Jorge is leading a pan-Canadian, asset-based movement that supports municipalities, institutions, and individuals to increase the sense of community belonging reported by everyone. Previously, he worked at the Metcalf Foundation, where he supported the development of its poverty reduction program. He also spent five years at the McConnell Foundation, where he contributed to the development of its place-based work and explored the role of philanthropy in cultivating a more equitable society.

Jorge is a realistic optimist, and he believes in everyone’s potential to build more equitable & regenerative futures. He brings a diverse background of experience in strategy development, program design, and urban policy. Throughout his career, Jorge has collaborated with communities, funders, and international organizations working to achieve more equitable outcomes. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fondation Béati.