Marilyn (she/her) is Saulteaux First Nation and was born in Kamsack, Saskatchewan. She belongs to the Cote Nation in Treaty 4 Territory. Marilyn and many of her family members, including her mother and her siblings were all forced to go to Residential School. First hand, Marilyn understands the impacts of the Residential School System and has devoted her career by educating others while using her personal journey. Based in Calgary and area, she is facilitates and trains through workshops and ceremonies. Marilyn is a respected Elder, Wisdom and Knowledge Keeper.

Chetna Khandelwal (she/her) is a second-year PhD student in Sociology at the University of Calgary. She analyses social movements across North America and South Asia, with an emphasis on narratives within activism on all sides of the political spectrum. Chetna’s PhD research will adopt a global lens to study the intersections of environmental justice and migration within climate advocacy. Chetna also conducts design-based research re-imagining environmental justice from the perspective of newcomer youth of colour in Canada. She’s most interested in the intersections of environmentalism with migration, animal rights, decoloniality, and anti-racism. 

Tomi Ajele (she/her) is a storyteller, civic activator, and community collaborator. She is a senior communications officer at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the Board president of Plastic-Free YYC, a freelance writer, and the former editor-in-chief of Afros In Tha City. Tomi holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Mount Royal University and a master’s in public policy from the University of Calgary; in 2022 she was named one of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40.

Subashini Thangadurai (she/her) is a 17-year-old climate advocate. She has a passion for working in the climate movement in hopes of creating a just, inclusive, creative, and innovative future. Subashini became a trained Climate Reality Leader in 2020, and since then continues to be involved in her community. Subashini is an enthusiastic advocate for climate education, as well as enjoys helping her school community take environmental initiatives. Subashini is also an aspiring poet, who uses words as a means to inspire action. Subashini feels immense gratitude for being able to have the opportunity to use her voice in the climate movement.

Larissa Crawford proudly passes on Métis and Jamaican ancestry to her daughter, Zyra, and is a published Indigenous, anti-racism, and climate justice researcher, policy advisor, and restorative circle keeper with over 15 years of experience. Larissa is also the Founder of Future Ancestors Services, an Indigenous and Black-owned, youth-led professional services social enterprise that advances climate justice and systemic barrier removal with lenses of anti-racism and ancestral accountability. Through an intergenerational, disabled, and queer team of professionals and advisors, they provide speaking, training, research and consulting services, and influencer and interview services to +400 diverse clients. They do this while centering decolonized and Indigenized practices, and are constantly reimagining how we can learn, relate, and work together in healthy ways.

Walter (he/him) is a Métis man living in Slave Lake with knowledge in Indigenous-led land use assessments, a familiarity with Métis Nation governance and rights, and experience in some best practices for Indigenous participation, collaboration, consultation and intercommunity partnership in environmental/impact assessments. He loves the land and the entire beauty of mother earth and all its natural wonders. He is also a trained Climate Reality Leader and a Rock hound and mushroom lover.

Sara Adams (she/her) is the Anglophone Coordinator at the Climate Justice Organizing HUB, a training center for climate and social justice activists and organizers. As a grassroots activist, Sara has previously been involved with Climate Justice Ottawa, Climate Justice Montréal, and Research for the Front Lines, and is currently a member of Common Horizon Montréal and Laurier-Sainte-Marie for Palestine.

Joe (he/him) is an emergency physician practicing at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. He was one of the key organizers for both the Alberta and Canadian Coal Phase Outs, the co-founder of Masks4Canada, and is the president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.

Host Steve Bentley (he/him) is a longtime Calgary climate activist, co-founding member of the Calgary Climate Hub and Alberta Regional Organizer for Climate Reality Canada. Prior to Covid, Steve hosted a series of 'Community Climate Conversation' events, bringing an array of sustainability experts to engage 17 communities across Calgary. As host of the "A Climate of Change" Zoomcast and the monthly "The Climate Lens" podcast, Steve has interviewed over 125 climate authors, activists, scientists and thought leaders from all over the region and across North America.

Molli Bennett (she/her) is the Alberta Talks Director at Alberta Environmental Network. Her organizing expertise comes from community building and volunteering on campaigns. She is excited to be having meaningful conversations with Albertans about climate justice. She believes that we need a variety of diverse perspectives to be able to address the climate crisis.

Angela McIntyre (she/her) is the Director of the Calgary Climate Hub. Her expertise lies in fostering collaborations between community stakeholders, businesses, and government entities to create impactful strategies addressing the pressing challenges of climate change. She is deeply passionate about Climate Justice and building a livable future for all people.

Whether it's snowboarding during the winter time or reaching mountain summits during the summer, Thana (he/him) is no stranger to the outdoors. It is this fondness for nature and the countless days and nights that he has spent outside that has motivated him to become a co-leader for the Protect Our Winters Canada - Calgary Chapter. Thana has a background in Environmental Engineering and currently specializes in large-scale greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Over the years he's helped advocate for strong climate policies and has been involved with several local climate organizations, and has also run for Federal and Provincial office.

Gerald Wheatley (he/him) has worked at the Arusha Centre since 1996. Gerald is a founding member of Calgary Dollars and current Manager of the Arusha Centre Climate program. He sits on the board of the Calgary Climate Hub, Norfolk Housing Society, CommunityWise Society, and the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Associations resident committee. Gerald has received the YMCA 2011 Peace Medal, the Calgary 40 Under 40 award and was awarded an Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005. He holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Alberta and a M.A. from the University of Calgary - EVDS in social research (thesis-complementary currency research in Ithaca, NY, Nelson BC, and Calgary, AB). Gerald was one of 27 arrests as part of the peaceful sit-in at Environment Minister MP Jim Prentice's office December 15, 2009 along with 7 Canada-wide sit-ins leading up to the Copenhagen Climate Conference.

Carolyn Horwood (she/her) is a fifth-year student completing her combined B.HSc. in Health and Society (Honours) and B.A. in International Indigenous Studies at the University of Calgary. As co-chair of the Sustainable Development Goals Alliance at the University of Calgary, Carolyn has engaged with hundreds of students on the topic of sustainable action and co-led a week-long internationally engaging summit contributing to the SDGA’s recognition in Canada’s 2021 Annual Report on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. Passionate about community-focused health equity, Carolyn completed her Honours thesis focusing on Indigenous perspectives for a possible Indigenous health data identifier in Alberta and continues to be passionate about health data equity. A published poet, Carolyn explores themes of sustainable action, gender expectations, and hope in her pieces. In her free time, Carolyn enjoys reading, hiking, and Brazilian jiu jitsu.

Andrea (she/her) holds a BSc in Physical Geography from the University of Victoria and Utrecht University. With a background as a GIS technician in the mining industry, Andrea gained insights into the role of mining in the energy transition. Andrea's passion for equitable climate solutions eventually led her to working at Iron & Earth, where she's been Director of Operations & Administration for 5 years.