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 has over 7 years of experience in advancing action in the environmental sector by running a variety of environmental programs in London while working at ReForest London and the London Environmental Network. 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 was awarded the Top 20 in their 20’s in 2018 by Business London and the Leading Women, Leading Girls Award from the Province of Ontario.

Skylar is responsible for overseeing the development of new programs and initiatives including Green Economy London, as well as all other aspects of running the London Environmental Network.

Marianne Griffith  | Green Economy London Hub Manager

Marianne Griffith is a committed environmentalist and an advocate for local, sustainable food systems and renewable energy. She's worked with London based organizations to promote sustainability and community driven carbon and waste reduction, including Growing Chefs, The Root Cellar and Building Better. She's worked on social justice and sustainable development projects in Indigenous communities in many countries and she works closely with First Nations communities in Ontario to increase access to clean water, clean energy sources and sustainable, affordable housing.

She is a Certified Energy Auditor, a member of the Association of Energy Engineers, a LEED Green Associate, and has extensive building science training including Energy Star and CHBA Net Zero Builder. She is currently the Green Economy London Hub Manager where she is committed to help London businesses set and achieve sustainability targets.

Leah Derikx  | Environmental Projects Coordinator

Leah is passionate about mobilizing the community to empower environmental change. In 2018, she graduated from Western University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology - specializing in ecosystem health and sustainability. Her interest in sustainable development led to her involvement with local environmental non-profit organizations, including London Environmental Network. She is enthusiastic about all things food and believes in cultivating food systems in which local food is celebrated, food literacy is the norm, and farmers and consumers alike experience food security. In her free time, you can find Leah enjoying a fair-trade coffee and a nature book. At London Environmental Network, Leah is responsible for coordinating special events, educational workshops, and communications to help the network strengthen and thrive.

Natalie Merchant  | Sustainability Coordinator (Green Economy London)

Natalie is a passionate advocate for sustainability and environmental stewardship. Growing up in Thunder Bay surrounded by vast forests and lakes, she is constantly reminded of nature’s astounding beauty, value, and the use we can make of it. She believes healthy environments are essential for healthy communities, and wants to help build and promote sustainable practices to ensure healthy environments for future generations. Natalie is completing her Masters at Western University in Environment and Sustainability (MES) and has a degree in biology specializing in conservation and biodiversity. She recently completed a project with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, researching new methods for calculating carbon sequestration and urban forest management best practices.

Kaitlin Creighton  | Communications Specialist (Green Economy London)

Kaitlin is currently completing her Masters of Environment and Sustainability at Western University. In 2019, she graduated from the University of Guelph with a B.A. in Environmental Governance. Her education and work experiences so far have instilled a strong passion for environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, specifically in the agricultural sector. In Kaitlin’s spare time you can find her enjoying a good cup of coffee, learning about natural remedies or spending time at the beach in Port Stanley. She is looking forward to contributing to the collaboration between communities and businesses through Green Economy London in support of long term sustainability.

Molly Miksa  | Podcast Producer

Molly is excited to be working on a podcast series for the London Environmental Network. Originally from Thorndale, Ontario, Molly got her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from York University. She went on to manage an environmental general store in downtown Toronto, coordinate a directory of green businesses, and become chief photographer for a magazine about bicycle culture. In 2015 she moved to London with her two children. Since then, she has been getting to know and love the Forest City—making cyanotype prints of local wild plants, profiling some of London's senior activists, and sitting on the board of London Cycle Link. She is now completing a master’s degree in journalism and communication at Western. She finds balance in the kitchen, cooking, baking and sharing food. Molly wants to be a contributor to the story of London’s green future.

Sonja Teichert - Chair  | Consultant

After graduating with a PhD (2016), Sonja has worked as a postdoctoral researcher, project manager and most recently, consultant. 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.

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.

Deirdre Crilly  | 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.

Heenal Rajani | Reimagine Co. (Co-founder)

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.

Kaitlin Richardson | Nature Conservancy of Canada (Conservation Biology, Coordinator)

Kaitlin is currently the Coordinator of Conservation Biology for the Nature Conservancy of Canada's Midwest Ontario region. She holds a Bachelor's and Master's of Environmental Studies and diplomas in Ecological Restoration and Rehabilitation as well as Environmental Assessment. Kaitlin is passionate about protecting, stewarding and restoring land for Ontario's biodiversity and species at risk. Kaitlin's passion for conservation goes beyond the workplace. She spends her spare time tending to her native plant garden, volunteering in the environmental sector and hiking to admire local plants, birds and turtles. Kaitlin has over 5 years of experience in many aspects of ecology and the non-profit sector, having worked as the Stewardship Coordinator at TTLT in the past as well as the Project Manager at ReForest London and an Urban Forestry Technician at the City of London.

Nura Mazloom | Schulich Dentistry at Western (Student)

Nura is passionate about education, equity and human wellbeing. She has worked for two years as a program coordinator and outdoor educator at Evergreen, an environmental not-for-profit based in Toronto. She also has over 10 years of experience in community building, capacity building and grassroots education focusing on empowering youth who wish to become active protagonists of the transformation of their communities. While studying Global Health and Human Geography at U of T she worked as a research assistant to help improve patient outcomes in kidney transplantation and neurosurgery, as well as consolidating learning on the health of refugees in Toronto. She now studies dentistry at Western University.

Rose Sirois  | Community Animator & Volunteer

Rose moved to London from British Columbia after a career with the federal government working in a variety of communications, program management and policy development roles. Her leadership has extended outside the boardroom to the natural world, leading groups as a sea kayak guide and teaching people how to river kayak. Rose believes in the power of community and the potential for a circular economy to shift our society away from take-make-waste to one where natural systems flourish and waste is eliminated.

Tallys Moreth  | Ontario Plants Propagation (Human Resources Administrator)

Born and raised in Brazil, Tallys arrived in Canada in 2016. Currently, he is the Human Resources Administrator at Ontario Plants Propagation, holding an Honours Bachelor of Laws, Master of Sciences of Strategic Management (with a focus in Human Resources), and a Diploma of Business Human Resources from Fanshawe College. He is passionate about unlocking the potential of vulnerable communities including temporary foreign workers, refugees, and indigenous individuals. Also, he is fascinated by themes involving health and safety in the workplace, harassment prevention, and human rights. Tallys enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors with his family.

Stephan Vachon   | Western University Centre for Environment and Sustainability (Director)

Stephan Vachon is currently the Chair of the Masters of Environmental and Sustainability (MES) program and the Director of the Centre for the Environment and Sustainability at Western University. He is also an Associate Professor at the Ivey Business School. He joined Western University in 2011 after being a faculty member for three years at Clarkson University (2003-2006) and five years at HEC Montreal (2006-2011) where he was a Department Chair (Operations Management). He was recently designated as a Western University Faculty Scholar for his research and service contributions. Stephan is also involved in the community being a Board member of St. John Ambulance (Southwestern Branch) and an Advisory Board member of Green Economy London.

Callista Ryan   | Western University Student Council (Associate Vice President Communications)

Callista is an International Relations student at Western University where she is the incoming Associate Vice President Communications for the University Students’ Council. Hailing from Squamish, British Columbia, she is extremely passionate about local sustainability initiatives. She is currently doing contract work for a community greenhouse in the Northwest Territories where she has previously interned. Callista is passionate about youth engagement in and has been involved with the British Columbia Youth Parliament and represented young Canadians at the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation last year with Young Diplomats of Canada. In her spare time, you can find her sprouting broccoli, hiking, or mountain biking.

Miguel Belcina  | KPMG (Manager, Tax)

Miguel is a Manager of Tax at KPMG LLP. He holds a degree in Accounting (BSc) and is a Certified Public Accountant (Michigan). While at KPMG, Miguel has been involved in working with not-for-profits, and coordinates community initiatives for the office, such as volunteer tax clinics and blood donation drives. Miguel has a passion for sustainability and the environment, and is excited to be a part of LEN. In his spare time, Miguel enjoys spending time outdoors and staying active.

Nadine Castonguay   | Western University (Master's Student)

A student at Brescia University College completing a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in pursuit of a Master’s in Environmental Sustainability. I am a young and passionate leader interested in becoming a recognized professional environmentalist, committed to seeing policy reform so that environmental concerns are appropriately represented in Canadian politics. Non-profit work is important to me as it helps to create communities built on strong and shared values of connection. It’s my civic duty to participate and serve through the political system to ensure that effective interventions are applied in attempting to solve the environmental problems faced today. I am excited that this step is purposeful in striving for environmental justice through community action, and hope to see London as a Blue Community one day. I love spending my time caring for plants, biking, practising yoga, and doing anything that gets me outside.

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.