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  | Director of Programs

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 Director of Programs where she is committed to help London businesses set and achieve sustainability targets.

Leah Derikx  | Operations Manager

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. 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 events, educational workshops, volunteers, and communications to help the network strengthen and thrive.

Natalie Merchant  | Green Economy London Hub Manager

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 has completed her Masters at Western University in Environment and Sustainability (MES) and has a degree in biology specializing in conservation and biodiversity. She supports businesses in the Green Economy London program with their sustainability journeys.

Sarah Mediouni | Digital Community Outreach Specialist

Although Sarah is new to London, she is committed to bettering her community and the environment. Sarah recently graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a research based masters in Biology, focusing on plant ecology and remediation. She has been advocating for the environment since she was a young girl, when she petitioned to end the use of cosmetic pesticides in her home town of Orangeville. She hopes to combine her education and passion for the environment to make a positive impact on the London Community. As the Digital Community Outreach Specialist, she cannot wait to connect with local organizations and residents!

Nicole Braden | Digital Database Coordinator

Nicole is a recent graduate from Fanshawe with a diploma in Internet Applications and Web Development. She comes from a non-profit background, graduating with a diploma in Non-Profit Management from Western University in 2016. She has been a volunteer for many organizations and is currently supporting Kid’s Country Club and Golden Rescue. In her spare time, you can find Nicole enjoying London’s trails with her dog, cooking, or drawing. Nicole is passionate about her community and is excited to contribute to London Environmental Network.

Mackenzie McKim | Member Engagement Specialist

Growing up in London, Mackenzie has always felt a strong passion for the environment and living sustainably. While completing her Honours Specialization in Social Justice and Peace Studies at King's University College, she studied a number of different global issues but was always drawn back to environmental issues, specifically water security and waste reduction. She became involved with local environmental groups which further fueled her desire to see London become an even stronger hub for green leadership. She is committed to living more sustainably and is excited to connect with the many groups and individuals that LEN supports.

Maddy Hendriksen | Content Creator (Blog)

Maddy grew up in the outskirts of London and has always been passionate about environmental sustainability and doing her part to contribute to her community. She is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in social justice and peace studies at King's University College.

On her spare time, Maddy enjoys going on hikes, as well as photography and reading. She is dedicated to learning and raising awareness about topics relating to sustainability, environmental racism, and ecofeminism. Maddy is so excited to be working with the London Environmental Network to help raise awareness about environmental justice, and environmental initiatives in the London community.

Seungwon Han | Event Support Volunteer

Seungwon grew up in South Korea, Germany, and Toronto. She’s now in London as a student at Western University, pursuing an undergraduate degree in Medical Sciences.

When she’s not at work or studying for her never-ending slew of tests and quizzes, Seungwon enjoys long walks around her London neighbourhood and up-cycling old clothes. Seungwon is also an active member of various environmental and social justice organizations at Western, and she is excited to be working with the London Environmental Network as an Event Volunteer to continue her journey in environmental activism.

Isabel Taylor | General Researcher (Green Economy London)

Isabel is currently enrolled in the Masters of Environment and Sustainability program at Western University. She is a recent graduate of the McMaster Arts & Science program, where she studied a wide range of topics, and learned to examine contemporary issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. She is deeply passionate about sustainability, and has a particular interest in renewable energy, green buildings, and environmental policy. Isabel is thrilled to be facilitating a more sustainable future in London through her research with Green Economy London.

Aranya Iyer  | General Researcher (Green Economy London)

Aranya Iyer is a Masters student at Western University with the Department of Geography and Environment. She is interested in studying and protecting long-distance migratory birds. She is excited about the real-world applications of GIS and is drawn to how we can use it as a problem-solving tool to map bird movement across the continents.

When she's not looking at or studying birds, she enjoys reading political autobiographies, talking about her ever-growing collection of houseplants and watching home renovation shows.

Her life's goal is to make science-based academia be applicable and accessible to as many people as possible. She is excited to volunteer with Green Economy London because she will be able to work on projects that are truly effecting change at the community level!

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.

Tina Do  | Event Support Volunteer

Tina is in her junior year of high school at London Central S.S. and plans to pursue a science-based degree in the near future.

Stemming a love for the environment from her father, Tina is interested in learning more about the implications that climate change currently has on our Earth. Some topics that have motivated her passion for the environment are sustainability, environmental engineering, and environmental recovery programs. During her time off, Tina likes to indulge in digital art and comic books. She is excited to be able to support the LEN with their future endeavours!

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.

Miguel Belcina - Treasurer  | 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 - Secretary   | 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.

Nicholas Rothernel, CPA, CA  | 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

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.

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.

Heather Schulz  | Hydra Dyne Technology Inc. (Controller)

Heather Schulz holds an Honours Economics and Accounting degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Heather works in the manufacturing industry and has been involved in initiatives to reduce energy consumption in the facilities through retrofit and green energy programs. She is looking forward to contributing her finance and operational background to the London Environmental Network's Governance and Finance Committee. In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending time with friends and family, gardening, camping, and playing rec sports.

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.