Skylar Franke | Executive Director

Skylar Franke is a community mobilizer and engagement specialist. Skylar is happiest when talking to new people and eating good food with friends and family. Skylar is passionate about building community, environmental advocacy, local food systems, great wine and ethical coffee.

She graduated in 2013 from King’s University College at Western University with an honours B.A. in Social Justice and Peace Studies and French Studies. Skylar currently sits on the Agricultural Advisory Committee to the City of London as the Vice Chair and on the Urban League of London Board of Directors as Secretary.

Susan Ratz  | Go Wild, Grow Wild Expo Coordinator

Susan Ratz is a soccer mom, a communicator, a marketer, and lover of spreadsheets. She enjoys how a well planned event or project can concentrate focus on a specific goal and topic. Beyond trying to build momentum for environmental initiatives, Susan is a passionate vermicomposter, a big fan of Massassauga rattlesnakes, and enjoys supporting Monarch and Black Swallowtail butterflies.

Currently, Susan is the Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Environment for the City of London and has been involved with the Guelph Organic Conference since 2014. Other events she has helped coordinate include the Resilient Cities Event in 2017 and the Green in the City series in 2018. She is an alumni of Wilfrid Laurier University where she completed an Honours BBA.

Hailee Mah  | Content Specialist

Hailee is currently studying Media and the Public Interest at Western University. Hailee is interested in community-based sustainability initiatives and is happy when large institutional bodies implement environmentally sustainable strategies. As a Content Specialist, Hailee has developed promotional graphics, event brochures and website updates for the London Environmental Network and hopes to continue further work in the communications industry. If not studying on Western’s campus, you can oftentimes catch Hailee brushing up on her daily horoscope, discovering new hiking trails or eating pavlova.

Ben Switzer | Content Specialist

Ben is a writer, musician, neurohacker, and social innovator. When not reading Leaves of Grass up in a tree, you can find Ben petting animals or dropping poems in unusual places. With the power of storytelling, Ben aims to inspire, educate, and motivate on environmental issues, putting the spotlight on LEN's member organizations and the causes they champion.Can help members with storytelling, newsletter writing and article development.

Deirdre Crilly - Chair  | Let’s Talk Science (Development Officer)

Deirdre has been working in the non-profit field for eight years, holding a variety of positions in the fields of development and communications and is currently the Coordinator of Report and Proposal Writing at Let’s Talk Science. Deirdre has studied Biology and Not for Profit Management at Western University and is currently finishing her CFRE designation. In her spare time, Deirdre enjoys hiking, yoga and spending time outdoors with her family.

Sonja Teichert - Vice Chair  | Consultant

Sonja has been working as a postdoctoral researcher and project manager for the past year after graduating with a PhD (2016). With an academic background in ecology and an interest in species monitoring, over the past 20 years Sonja has worked in various capacities with citizen science programs and is passionate about community outreach and stewardship. Her best job ever was coordinating the Nova Scotia Herpetofaunal Atlas Project, with teaching Biology labs at Cape Breton University coming in as a close second. Most recently her work involves examining the drivers of change in the Boreal. Sonja has been contributing research to, and managing the teams across Canada who are conducting a scenario analysis to better understand risks to Boreal ecosystem services resulting from climate change’s impacts on the physical and social landscape of Canada.

Nicholas Rothernel, CPA, CA - Treasurer  | CARFAX Canada (Controller)

Nicholas is the Controller at CARFAX Canada Corporation, holding an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Windsor, an advanced diploma of Business Administration from Conestoga College and a certificate of Human Resources from the HRPA of Ontario. Nicholas has used this advanced financial training to support London’s business and not-for-profit communities. He has worked with various not-for-profits in business, consulting and volunteer based roles – most notably with Camp Oochigeas as the Ontario team captain for an international firm, and as building captain for KaBoom! Nicholas enjoys hiking, travelling, working with a local start-up on environmental education programs and spending time outdoors with his family. Nick is the Chair of the Governance and Finance Committee

Conor Brennan - Secretary  | County of Oxford(Waste Technician)

Conor is a Waste Technician with the County of Oxford, whose primary focus is on waste management projects. His experience in project management, field work, data analysis, research, and report and proposal writing through this 2cg has further developed his deep care for how we use our resources. Conor is excited to continue engaging Londoners on ways to reduce waste and use our resources efficiently and sustainably (Tool Library anyone?!) but also through a variety of other interests – transportation, natural areas and trails, biking, and energy. In the meantime, Conor will continue to be seen at the dog park or with a frisbee.

Carol Dyck | Thames Talbot Land Trust (Board Member)

Carol was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. She has degrees in International Relations (BA), Environmental Law (LLM), International Environmental Policy (MA), and Biodiversity, Conservation and Management (MSc). A resident of London since 2007, Carol has served on London’s Environmental and Ecological Protection Advisory Committee, and the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee. She has also been a volunteer with Reforest London, and was a candidate for the Green Party in 2015.

Heenal Rajani | Innovation Works (Community Animator)

Born and raised in England, Heenal is a newcomer to Canada who has lived and worked on four continents and has visited over 60 countries. After graduating with a MA (Hons) from Oxford University, Heenal spent his early career working in local government. Following three years as a union organizer, he moved to Central America and founded a green building and environmental education non-profit and a voluntourism social business, before spending two years in India studying tools and processes for collective social change. A new father, Heenal works at Innovation Works in Downtown London, as a community animator and sower of the seeds of collaboration.

Gillian Barker | Western University (Assistant Professor)

Gillian Barker is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Western University. Her research and teaching focus on scientific and ethical aspects of global environmental challenges, especially climate change. She is a founding member of the Rotman Institute of Philosophy, which brings together researchers from the humanities and the natural and social sciences to tackle multi-faceted problems and to promote public engagement and philosophical reflection on scientific issues affecting Canada and the world.

Dean Sheppard - Special Advisor  | ReForest London (Executive Director)

Dean Sheppard is an environmental consultant owning and operating his own consulting firm since 1996, specializing in management processes and systems. He has been the Executive Director of ReForest London since 2012 and also teaches a capstone project course in the Masters of Environment and Sustainability program at Western University. Being active in making his community a better place for today and for tomorrow is a hobby and a passion. He has served on several City of London Advisory Committees and taskforces.

Jay Stanford - Special Advisor  | City of London (Director of Environment, Fleet & Solid Waste)

Jay joined the City of London in 1995 and has held number of senior management positions. In 2012, he became the Director of Environment, Fleet & Solid Waste in the Environmental & Engineering Services Area. He has responsibilities for Solid Waste Services; Fleet Services, and Environmental Programs (including energy conservation, active transportation, urban watershed management, and outreach and behaviour change initiatives). Prior to joining London, he worked for 8 years for an environmental consulting firm in Toronto. He is currently on the Board of Directors at the Ontario Waste Management Association and involved in waste management policy development for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Regional Public Works Commissioners of Ontario.