Our People

Aneesa Ally is the Program’s Officer within the PLACE Centre, a Smart Prosperity Institute initiative. She supports the delivery of projects and programs within the PLACE Centre by improving our overall ability to influence groundbreaking environmental and economic change.

Aneesa has a diverse educational and professional background in law, public administration, employment advising, and the non-profit field. Aneesa’s professional experience in international and domestic development organizations has a strengthened her passion for helping create a sustainable society. Aneesa hopes to continue to leave a positive footprint where-ever she goes!

Teslin is a Senior Research Associate at the Smart Prosperity Institute. At SPI, Teslin is working towards advancing the Institute’s Clean and Resilient Growth agenda with a special focus on addressing the skilled labour Canada needs to meet its 2030 and 2050 climate goals.

Teslin brings over six years of international experience to SPI including as a Legislative Assistant to a Member of the Indian federal Parliament and as a Government Relations consultant to Fortune 500 companies. She is a DAAD Public Policy and Good Governance Scholar and has a Masters in Public Policy from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy in Germany. She also has a BA LLb (Hons.) degree and is a lawyer called to the Bar in India.

Teslin is based out of Toronto. On her weekends you will find her cooking south Indian food for friends and family, building DIY projects, and thrifting.

Talha is an interdisciplinary researcher whose interests lie at the intersection of nature, human health, and social equity. He holds a Master of Urban Planning from McGill University where he conducted a research project on using urban nature-based solutions to promote health and address environmental inequity in the City of Montréal. Before joining SPI, Talha worked as an intern at Nova Scotia Environment’s Climate Change Unit and as part of Œuvre Durable’s policy brief team, advancing climate change adaptation in informal settings in Latin America and the Caribbean. In his free time, Talha enjoys playing soccer, spending time in nature, and sketching.

Rebecca is the Communications Specialist at CANZA. Driven by her passion for nature, Rebecca pivoted from healthcare research early in her career to the environmental sector, where she has worked since 2019.
She has a breadth of experience working in government, academic, and non-profit settings, specializing in climate change and climate action communications, community engagement and education, and knowledge mobilization. Rebecca led the design and implementation of a climate change course for women in Canada before joining the environmental-economy policy space at Smart Prosperity Institute (SPI) as a communications associate.
Rebecca is looking forward to bringing her communications skills and experience to CANZA and helping elevate the impact of the organization’s work to reduce emissions in Canada’s agri-food system. Outside of work, Rebecca likes gardening, crafting, and skateboarding.

Karianne is a graphic designer and communicator whose passion is working with scientists and policy writers to transform their knowledge into public engagement and action. She specializes in crafting inspiring words and images to clarify complex topics for non-technical audiences.

Her passion for science communication began with her experience as a graphic designer and digital engagement strategist at the David Suzuki Foundation. Since then she has collaborated with a diverse range of organizations across the fields of environment and health. Recently she has worked extensively with Fisheries and Oceans Canada to craft a series of public-facing infographics and reports on the links between climate change and ocean ecology.

Karianne holds a Bachelor in Design from Emily Carr University and lives in Montréal.

Emily has always been fascinated by the natural world. Growing up on a small island off the west coast of British Columbia, she learned early in life of the important connection between healthy communities, economies, and the environment. She is passionate about working collaboratively across sectors to support the implementation of sustainable environmental practices.

Emily is a recent graduate of the Master of Environmental Management program at the University of New Brunswick, and holds an undergraduate degree in Geography from the University of Calgary.

As a Senior Associate, Sarah supports businesses and other organizations with integrated sustainability visioning, strategy and implementation as well as organizational learning. Previously the lead of The Natural Step Canada’s Advisory Services Team (and a member of this organization since 2007), Sarah has worked with a wide range of partners to share her expertise on sustainability and strategy development, including a sustainability strategy and visioning program for Pratt & Whitney Canada; a comprehensive sustainability training, strategy, visioning and implementation program for The Landmark Group of Builders; and a strategic positioning and organizational change program with ISL Engineering and Land Services. Other clients include multi-national chemical company Rohm and Haas (now Dow Advanced Materials); SMART Technologies; BC Hydro; Accommodation and Real Estate Services of British Columbia; the City of Ottawa, the County of Hawaii; and many others. Sarah also provides training with international Natural Step offices.

Prior to her work here, Sarah was a natural building instructor, working to enable communities to create structure from locally available, minimally processed materials. She has worked with people from over 22 countries in this capacity.

Sarah holds a master’s degree in “Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability” from the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden and an undergraduate degree in Geography from Mount Allison University.

Mark is President From Here to There Consulting and Associate of Tamarack – An Institute for Community Engagement. Mark’s current focus is building the practice of Developmental Evaluation integrating real-time feedback and learning in emerging, complex, and fast-moving environments.

Mariana is a fourth-year student in Communications with a minor in Environmental Studies at uOttawa. She’s passionate about sustainability and nature-based solutions. Based in Ottawa, she hopes to grow mushrooms and work with mycomaterials.

Previously she worked at the Office of Campus Sustainability, where she now enjoys volunteering.

I am a Posdoctoral Fellow and Researcher at the Smart Prosperity Institute at the University of Ottawa. I hold a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia, where I studied topics at the intersection of economics and the environment. At SPI my main job is conducting research on nature-based solutions for climate, with a particular focus on market mechanisms to store more carbon in forests, while also conserving biodiversity and helping develop sustainable Indigenous economies.

My other research interests include investigating the impact of newspaper closures on monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations in the United States. Other projects I have focus on developing countries, more specifically on how internal migration can offset losses in consumption caused by weather and climate shocks in Indonesia, and on lead pollution and education outcomes in Mexico. Before joining UBC, I worked as a research analyst for the Office of the Chief Economist, Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank in Washington DC, on projects based in Latin America. When I am not in front of my computer, you can find me here.

Interests
Environmental economics
Sustainability
Climate change economics
Applied econometrics
Nature-based solutions

Elizabeth holds an MSc in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Ottawa, a BA in Government from St. Lawrence University, and a Certificate in Law from the Université de Montréal. She previously worked at Public Services and Procurement Canada in the Greening Government Directorate focusing on sustainable buildings. She has also worked on the mapping of species at risk with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys skiing, hiking, gardening and baking.

Christine is a Research Associate at the Smart Prosperity Institute. Before joining SPI, Christine worked for several years as an environmental engineer and sustainability consultant in Canada and Australia. She holds a BEng from the University of Guelph and a MEng from the University of Toronto, where she studied environmental engineering and sustainable urban systems. Christine now brings her expertise in water resources and green buildings to SPI. Her research interests focus on nature conservation, climate adaptation, and an equitable low-carbon economy. Outside of work, Christine is also a yoga teacher, sailor, traveller, musician, skier, and wine-lover.

Dr Hem Dholakia is a Senior Research Associate at the Smart Prosperity Institute, where he supports the work of the Clean and Resilient Growth team. Before joining SPI, he brings eleven years of international experience managing climate risks for infrastructure, mitigating air pollution and strengthening public health.

Providing strategic advice to senior government officials and multilateral organizations has been integral to his experience. Hem is passionate about communicating science to different audiences and has contributed to several knowledge products, workshops, webinars and conferences.

A recipient of the International Visitor Leadership Programme Award (US Department of State), he was nominated to the UNFCCC Expert Roster by the Government of India in 2021. He holds a doctorate in Public Policy from the Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad), and a Masters in Exercise Science from the University of Brighton (UK).

Stewart Elgie is a professor of law and economics at the University of Ottawa, and director of the University’s interdisciplinary Environment Institute. He received his Masters of Law from Harvard, and his doctorate (J.S.D.) from Yale. He is also the founder and chair of Smart Prosperity Institute (formerly Sustainable Prosperity), Canada’s premiere green economy think tank and policy-research network. His research involves environmental and economic sustainability, with a particular focus in recent years on market-based approaches.

Elgie started his career as an environmental lawyer in Alaska, litigating over the Valdez oil spill. He returned to Canada and founded Ecojustice, now Canada’s largest non-profit environmental law organization; he was counsel on many precedent setting cases, including four wins in Supreme Court of Canada on constitution and environment issues. He was later hired by Pew Trusts as founding executive director of the multi-stakeholder Canadian Boreal Initiative.

Prior to his faculty position at University of Ottawa (2004), Elgie held appointments at several Canadian universities (U.B.C., Alberta, York). He has served on or chaired many advisory bodies in the environment/sustainability area. In 2001, Elgie was awarded the Law Society of Upper Canada medal for exceptional lifetime contributions to law – the youngest man ever to receive the profession’s highest honour.

Kristan (she/her) has previously worked for various environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advocate for biodiversity across Canada. She graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) in 2021 with a Bachelor of Environment and Urban Sustainability. From her experience of doing fieldwork in Canada’s Boreal Forest to researching environmental issues, Kristan has developed a passion for the world and all its inhabitants. Currently, Kristan is an experienced project coordinator who has been working for Generate Canada and Smart Prosperity Institute since 2022. She is passionate about the transitions toward sustainability and the interrelations between the environment, society, and economic systems.

Shalyn (she/her) studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, with degree specialties in Biochemical Engineering and Communications. Prior to joining CPP, Shalyn has over 8 years of experience in the food and pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, providing project and operations management expertise at greenfield GMP manufacturing facilities. She has also worked with Métis Nation – Saskatchewan as an Environmental Program Manager, facilitating delivery of climate change, conservation, and consultation programs to Métis communities and citizens in Saskatchewan.

Jean Paul (JP) Gladu is currently Principal of Mokwateh and dedicated to creating innovative partnerships and solutions to reveal equitable opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous business communities.

JP previously served as the President and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) from September 2012 until April 2020. Anishinaabe from Thunder Bay JP is a member of Sand Point First Nation located on the eastern shores of Lake Nipigon, Ontario. JP completed a forestry technician diploma in 1993, obtained an undergraduate degree in forestry from Northern Arizona University in 2000, holds an Executive MBA from Queen’s University and the ICD.D from Rotman School of Management University of Toronto. JP has over 30 years of experience in the natural resource sector. His career path includes work with Indigenous communities and organizations, environmental non- government organizations, industry and governments from across Canada.

Currently, JP serves on the board of Suncor, Institute for Corporate Directors, Broden Mining, First Nations Major Projects Coalition Advisory Centre, Chair of Canada’s Forest Trust, as well BHP’s International Forum for Corporate Responsibility committee. He previously served on the Board of Ontario Power Generation, Noront Resources and past Chair of the Mikisew Group of Companies. He is a senior fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and served as the Chancellor of St. Paul’s University College Waterloo from 2017 to 2020. His previous appointments include Canadian Electricity Association Public Advisory Panel, Colleges and Institutes Canada (previously ACCC), the Northern Policy Institute, Canadian Foundation for Economic Education, advisory member to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, a committee member to the Ontario Provincial Forest Policy Committee.

JP is a sought-after public speaker both nationally and internationally, sharing insights into the challenges and successes of Indigenous business and the growth of the Indigenous economy within Canada today. His achievements are being recognized by the Public Policy Forum as a 2024 Honouree.

Moojan’s unbridled creativity and passion for driving positive change led her to study journalism at Carleton University. From speaking out on the damaging effects of toxic cosmetics to raising awareness about plastic pollution to tackling the environmental and social impact of food waste, Moojan has strived to amplify conversations around the need for innovative solutions that promote sustainability. Now with more than 10 years of experience working in the writing field, Moojan has developed her expertise in communications, marketing, and fundraising. She has written countless stories and created compelling campaigns that have elevated the brand and mission of various nonprofits and businesses. Moojan sat on the Board of Directors at Foodsharing Ottawa, which is an organization committed to reducing local food waste. She is currently writing a fictional short story collection on the effects of climate change.

Jesse Helmer is Senior Research Associate at SPI, where he focuses on climate-friendly housing policy and the real costs of urban sprawl. Based in London, Ontario, where he has served two terms as a city councillor, including six years on the planning and environment committee, two years as deputy mayor (2018-2020) and eight years on the transit commission. He is particularly interested in the intersection of housing, mobility and climate policy and actionable strategies to build cleaner, greener and more affordable cities and communities. He was named one of London’s Top 20 Under 40 in 2019.

Jesse is a graduate of University of Waterloo (BA) and Queen’s University (MPA) and is currently a PhD Candidate in political science at Western University, where his research focuses on the political participation gap between homeowners and tenants (www.greatsuppression.ca). He teaches part-time at Western in the local government program and at Huron University College in the governance, ethics and leadership program. Jesse lives with his wife, Kate Graham, and their daughter, Flora, in Old North.