Learn more about these emerging climate leaders, the 2025 mentees, their innovative projects and the mentors who supported them throughout the program.
rax
Marley Alles is the founder of rax, Canada’s peer-to-peer wardrobe rental app, leading the charge in transforming the fashion industry with sustainability, innovation and social impact at its core. Through rax, Marley empowers individuals to reduce their environmental footprint by lending and borrowing fashion from each other’s closets. Every garment rented on rax reduces the carbon, water and waste footprint of fashion production by 8 per cent, making rax a critical player in driving a circular fashion economy that values both style and sustainability. Marley holds a degree from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and a Technology MBA from Hult International School of Business. Her career spans impactful roles at Ernst and Young and Head of Marketing positions across seven startups, where she had ground up experience growing and scaling companies.
Hot Architecture
Lea Baribeau is building HOT Architecture, a company at the forefront of innovation in sustainable architecture. Dedicated to transforming the construction industry, HOT Architecture reimagines what is possible by designing, building and delivering prefabricated homes that are not only elegant but also efficient and sustainable. By combining the precision of prefabrication with smaller, smarter designs, these homes use fewer resources, reduce waste and leave a lighter environmental footprint. The process is streamlined through HOT Architecture’s website, where people can select house models, interior and exterior palettes of colors and materials, and access information. With 56 per cent of Toronto’s carbon footprint attributed to the building sector, this project makes sustainable housing affordable and aligns with Toronto’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. HOT Architecture is more than a single project. It is a multifaceted firm that continually evolves to address the challenges and opportunities within architecture. Guided by a vision of sustainability, the firm is committed to rethinking traditional approaches and finding new ways to create positive impacts in the built environment. Every step HOT Architecture takes is toward building not just homes but a future where design and innovation work hand in hand to support people and the planet.
OneHub Growth
Sann Chan is a registered social worker in Ontario with her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in social work. Sann has worked for many non-profit and charitable organizations, giving voices to vulnerable populations. She feels privileged to be able to use her social work values and compassion to make an impact on the community. She co-founded a not-for-profit organization, OneHub Growth, to promote social justice and equity, empowering vulnerable groups to access community resources and improve their lives. Her project is called ‘Ready-to-Work Closet,’ an inclusive movement that aims to increase public awareness of climate change, reduce local poverty, and improve mental health vulnerabilities experienced by immigrant and refugee women. The initiative advocates for reusing clothing items to minimize waste, focusing on the climate priority of sustainable waste management and renewable resources. By collecting used, ready-to-work clothing from individuals/apparel companies and redistributing it to immigrant and refugee women, this meaningful process can empower this vulnerable group to find jobs to increase their income security, reduce poverty, and improve their mental health and overall well-being. Outside her work and commitments, she loves nature and enjoys swimming, yoga and spending quality time with her family.
SeaFoam
Chloe Doesburg is a co-founder of SeaFoam (with Amy Yang). She is an architect and entrepreneur with eight years of experience in the construction industry, and another eight years building and growing a successful tech startup. She is passionate about regenerative nature-based climate solutions. SeaFoam is building a regenerative future through innovative construction materials. Its carbon-storing, seaweed-based building insulation replaces high-GHG-emitting conventional alternatives, turning one of the planet’s most carbon-intensive industries into a major climate solution. Building materials account for 13 per cent of global carbon emissions. SeaFoam is building at a pace equivalent to constructing a new New York City every month for the next 40 years. During this critical period, we must reduce emissions and remove existing carbon from our atmosphere. SeaFoam harnesses the superpowers of seaweed which can grow and sequester carbon rapidly without use of freshwater or land degradation, all while restoring marine ecosystems. Seaweed’s unique properties make it an ideal insulation material, it is self-binding, and naturally fire and mildew resistant. We’re not just insulating buildings, we’re building a regenerative future to address the climate emergency head-on.
Certitude by K
Dilini Fernando is an ecopreneur and business partner at Certitude by K, a sustainable fashion brand focused on social and environmental sustainability. Passionate about reducing waste and promoting slow fashion, Certitude by K repurposes and upcycles materials to create unique clothing and accessories. Its mission is to minimize waste in the fashion industry by promoting mindful consumption and extending the lifecycle of garments through creative upcycling. Certitude by K inspires individuals to make eco-conscious choices and embrace a zero-waste lifestyle, not only through its products but also by raising awareness of the environmental impact of fast fashion. The brand combines innovative design with ethical production, working with local communities and artisans to create sustainable livelihoods. Certitude by K is dedicated to making a positive impact on both the environment and society, offering stylish, sustainable alternatives to traditional fashion.
Trees of Life
Trees of Life is the first Toronto-based service to re-imagine traditional burial practices with the eco-conscious alternative of planting memorial groves tailored to Ontario’s ecological conditions. Founded by Rosa Fragomeni, Trees of Life empowers loved ones in their choice of location, ceremony and plant species. With a background in medical anthropology and environmental science, Rosa combines her passion for entrepreneurship to honor loved ones. Amidst upcoming changes related to climate change, Trees of Life provides a model for cities to adapt in an overlooked area, cemeteries. Conventional burials consume significant resources, from concrete and wood to embalming chemicals like formaldehyde, which can harm groundwater. Trees of Life replaces these methods with family-led tree ceremonies, where a family or loved ones participate in the seed pod transport, planting and tree monitoring. Through partnerships with municipal and conservation authorities, clients can choose private and public lands in meaningful locations that are both affordable and within walking distance. Rosa’s dedication to sustainability is reflected in Trees of Life’s innovative seed pod technology that integrates ashes into biodegradable packaging. These memorial groves support urban reforestation, enhancing carbon sequestration, air quality, and stormwater management in urban areas. Under Rosa’s leadership, Trees of Life is more than a business—it’s a movement for sustainability and community connection, designing urban green spaces with intention and inspiring cultural change in end-of-life practices.
ShowerThoughts
Amanda Horn is a brand marketer, professional scuba diver and ocean advocate whose life and work are inspired by the profound connection between humans and water. As the founder of ShowerThoughts (formerly Loless Blue Beauty), a circular consumer packaged goods (CPGs) company focused on water wellness and personal care, Amanda turns moments of clarity into meaningful, water-responsible innovations. Guided by the belief that the ocean reflects all we do and all we are, her mission is to inspire people to deepen their connection to water and take mindful, everyday actions to protect it. With over a decade of expertise in brand building and portfolio management, Amanda develops solutions that merge sustainability with convenience. Her latest innovation, Merroir, is a proprietary seaweed-based biomaterial designed to replace single-use personal care and beauty products. This regenerative breakthrough underscores her commitment to driving a circular and regenerative economy while redefining how we interact with everyday essentials. Beyond innovation, Amanda is passionate about fostering community and collective action for ocean stewardship. Through platforms like The Undertow, she invites individuals to explore their relationship with water and embrace a shared responsibility for our blue planet—wherever they may be.
Humber River Pals
Ikinori is a first-generation Canadian of Guatemalan-Chinese heritage, born and raised in Tkaronto. For a decade, she called the Weston neighborhood home, where she developed a deep connection to the Humber River as a source of peace and renewal amid urban life. Her frequent visits to the river inspired her to co-found Humber River Pals, a collective dedicated to organizing cleanups and fostering environmental stewardship along the river’s banks. Through these initiatives, Ikinori cultivates a reciprocal relationship with the land, promoting a healthier and more sustainable community. As a Registered Social Worker, Ikinori is deeply committed to community building, nature therapy and enhancing overall well-being by reconnecting people with the natural world. Her work extends beyond environmental action, as she also leads climate-focused workshops to inspire and educate others about the importance of environmental care. Ikinori’s efforts are guided by the principle that caring for the environment is a shared responsibility, one that offers profound benefits for both ecosystems and individuals. Her belief is captured in the ethos of Humber River Pals: “When you take care of nature, nature will take care of you.” She continues to aspire to inspire others to take action for a more connected and sustainable future.
Remarket
Kelly Okamura is a change professional experienced in design intelligence research with nearly 30 years of working with international leaders in trend forecasting. Her current work is as an independent contributor collaborating on systems changes learning. She is a founding member of a 10-year independent research project on Systems Changes Learning, now in Year 7/10. Kelly grew up in Southern Alberta and moved to Toronto to pursue a career in fashion. She has an undergraduate degree in Visual Communications, and continued to pursue her quest for knowledge through formal academic studies including post graduate study in Sustainable Fashion Production. Through independent learning, she has had the privilege to learn directly from acclaimed change and systems thinkers. She has contributed innovative change strategy to peers, clients and the public through presentations, podcasts, writing and project work. Prior to 2000, she began a pursuit to answer the question of how to make equitable goods for a finite planet, in order to address the pending paradigm shift in business for making and selling discretionary consumer products. More recently, this has changed from theory to action, and she has proudly accomplished several collaborative change initiatives including REmarket.
Kaumodaki
Kaumodaki is aiming to create the first circular economy for cigarette butts. Cigarette butts are the most littered item on the planet. Contrary to popular belief, they can be recycled—and in fact, they already are, though on a small scale. Each cigarette butt is made up of three main components: the paper outer layer, the tobacco filling and the plastic cellulose acetate filter. The paper and tobacco can be composted, while the plastic filter is transformed into innovative products like park benches, fortified asphalt and even sunglasses. Brilliant companies are already recycling cigarette butts into these items. Instead of duplicating their efforts, Kaumodaki’s mission is to build an ecosystem that connects them to the supply they need. At the core of this ecosystem are our pocket-friendly bins, designed to help smokers responsibly store and discard their cigarette butts. By preventing cigarette butts from ending up on the ground, Kaumodaki can collect and track materials, generate valuable data, and provide recycling companies with both insights and a steady supply, enabling them to scale their operations efficiently. Together—with consumers, governments, and recycling companies—we can tackle the trillions of cigarette butts discarded each year, transforming them into valuable resources and building a thriving circular economy.
Start Nøw
With over 35 years in the technology sector, Mary has ushered in many of the most innovative, often disruptive, technology- driven changes to business and society. She believes nothing that has come before compares to the disruption we are facing due to the climate crisis. How we live our lives, grow our food and protect our homes and buildings will be redefined. The urgency for action spurred a refocus of her IT consultancy toward sustainability, prioritizing climate crisis action. The company addresses the ever-changing, complex environment, social and governance (ESG) environment by developing tools, templates and technology to help small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) develop policies, establish a climate strategy and map a journey to net zero. Services include facilitating workshops for leaders and board of directors, strategic consulting including speaking sessions, and subscribing to START NØW, a platform designed to aid organizations in undertaking their climate journey in a self-serve, self-paced environment. Mary has taken several Board level Certification programs in Sustainability, Circular Economy, Carbon Accounting and Reporting, becoming board certified in ESG and Climate Governance. As an experienced global corporate executive, consultant and three-time entrepreneur in the IT industry, Mary has a unique perspective and the experience to guide organizations through the significant change required to build a sustainable, resilient business.
Regrain
Biophyter is an innovative biorefinery that is transforming agri-food byproducts into natural products, including our Regrain-branded food products made with butternut squash seeds and upcycled soaps. Biophyter’s mission is to promote a circular Canadian economy through research, collaboration and community climate action. The idea to upcycle food byproducts stemmed from Chengye’s experience working at a food processor and seeing the large amount of food waste produced. It has inspired Chengye to apply their background in research to address the pressing problem of climate change.
Smart Density
Naama Blonder has a bold vision: to change what good housing can and should look like in a growing city like Toronto; with that in mind, she co-founded Smart Density. Her professional practice combines the disciplines of architecture, urban planning and urban design to bring a deeper, more realistic understanding of how cities can address housing affordability and champion inclusive neighbourhoods with more equitable access to housing.
Her work has received numerous awards including the prestigious Ontario Association of Architects’ Best Emerging Practice Award for 2022. To fight stigma around housing, Blonder’s work seeks to inform both residents and industry colleagues about the mutually beneficial outcomes of reimagining what our big cities can look like: greater access to established public transport, shortened commutes, improved housing costs and vacancy rates, greater diversity in housing, and strengthened local economies and communities. She practices what she preaches, living with her husband and two children in a multi-family building in a transit-accessible area of Toronto, where the park is their backyard.
Green Salvaged Materials
Carly Connor has worked across academia, heritage masonry construction and building science consulting, and thrives at bringing the heritage community together to work collaboratively to solve project challenges and provide solutions. Carly is on the Board of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) and chair of the CAHP Advocacy Committee, focusing on embodied carbon, policy, climate action and circularity for existing buildings. Carly is also the co-chair of the Association for Preservation Technology Technical Committee for Sustainable Preservation and a joint CAHP/APT representative to the Zero Net Carbon Collaboration for Existing and Historic Buildings. Carly has practiced within the engineering community over the last decade, focusing on the mentorship and development of women across the industry. More recently, Carly is the CEO and Founder of Green Salvaged Materials – a consulting and materials company that focuses on generating the connection between the heritage, existing building and sustainability communities through discussions around adaptive reuse, deconstruction, material salvage and reintegration of used materials into the design ecosystem.
Daisley Communications
With a proven ability to creatively develop and implement strategic marketing and communications programs, Allison Daisley draws from over two decades of brand management and agency experience in both Canada and the UK working for global brands and entrepreneurial organizations. Driven by curiosity, collaboration, and strong project, team, and client management, in 2020 Allison redirected her business to focus exclusively on supporting brands and organizations that strive to make a positive impact environmentally or socially.
City of Toronto
Meaghan Davis is the Manager of the Circular Economy and Innovation unit. Since she joined the City in 2016, Meaghan has proudly been part of many first-of-their-kind projects including the Baselining for a Circular Toronto circular city scan, circular procurement pilots in City infrastructure and the public realm, and Toronto’s first project to generate renewable natural gas from Green Bin organic waste, which is realizing closed-loop and low carbon outcomes for the waste system. She has had the privilege of representing the City of Toronto’s circular economy leadership at global events, including as a programming partner for the Government of Canada when it co-hosted the World Circular Economy Forum. Meaghan’s top priority with the Circular Economy and Innovation unit is the delivery of Toronto’s first Circular Economy Road Map, which is unrivaled in Canada in its level of ambition and scope. Through deep engagement with residents and businesses, and interdivisional integration with 15 Co-Creating City Divisions, Meaghan is excited to help Toronto achieve its full circular city potential.
Hospice Mississauga
Emily has over five years of experience in digital marketing and communications, currently serving as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Hospice Mississauga. In this role, Emily manages Hospice Mississauga’s social media strategy, executes website content, and handles external communications. Prior to this role, Emily was the Social Content Associate at the Toronto Business Development Centre, a non-profit dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs in North America. Additionally, Emily has previously founded a small business focused on creating sustainable and biodegradable clothing, which aimed to reduce waste and landfill impact. This entrepreneurial experience has provided Emily with firsthand insight into the unique challenges faced by founders in Toronto, especially those committed to sustainability. Emily is passionate about climate-innovative initiatives and eager to contribute to a community that prioritizes sustainability.
GHD
Lavita is a Senior Marketing executive with broad experience in all aspects of branding, communications and marketing strategy. Lavita has worked and led teams in several geos including Canada, the Middle East and Africa, the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Lavita also has a solid background in sustainability, and resilience communications resilience strategy. Lavita’s specialty? Not your typical Marketer, Lavita likes to think of themselves as a structured creative. Someone who is positioned as a trusted marketing advisor, to raise awareness of their client’s brand by simplifying marketing terminology and strategy, so that their stakeholders can easily see the return on investment (ROI) and the benefits of a sound marketing budget. Lavita prides themselves on being a self-starter and is adept at developing marketing frameworks from ground level. Lavita has built highly efficient and effective marketing teams from the ground up at over five international organizations, including Zurich International, Aviva and Oliver Wyman. Lavita’s specialties include Strategic Marketing, Digital Marketing, Product Development, Brand management, Market Research & Competitive Intelligence, Corporate Reputation Management, Marketing Communications, Corporate Strategy, Business Development, etc.
QuadReal Property Group
Meirav Even-Har is a sustainability professional with over 15 years of experience in the commercial real estate sector. In her current role as National Manager, Sustainability at QuadReal Property Group, she leads multiple environmental and social initiatives across office, residential, industrial and retail properties throughout Canada. As part of the corporate sustainability team, Meirav oversees key areas such as stakeholder engagement, accessibility and various green certifications. She plays an instrumental role in helping QuadReal meet its Net Zero and sustainability reporting commitments. Before joining QuadReal, she held sustainability management roles at GWL Realty, the Recycling Council of Ontario, BOMA Canada and Canadian Business for Social Responsibility, where she developed a broad expertise in sustainability within both the corporate and non-profit sectors. She is also a published author with numerous articles on sustainability, green building practices and corporate social responsibility. Meirav holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Norwich University, a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility from the University of Toronto and an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Resource Management.
International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB)
Karen is a Manager at the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB), focusing on sustainability reporting technical projects. She is currently developing the inaugural Climate-related Disclosures Standard for public sector entities worldwide. Prior to joining the IPSASB, Karen provided professional geographic information system (GIS) services at Esri, where she developed an expertise in flood mapping. Her career as a sustainability professional began when she joined EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services team in Hong Kong, where she worked on projects involving sustainability and climate risk advisory, sustainability reporting, sustainable finance assurance, greenhouse gas accounting and climate risk modeling through GIS. She later worked with the Blockchain and Climate Institute, addressing climate-related issues with governments globally, and with Zevero, a carbon management SaaS startup. Karen holds a BSc (Hons) in Geology from the University of Edinburgh, an MSc in Sustainable and Green Finance from the National University of Singapore, and studied permafrost and climate risks at the University Centre in Svalbard. Additionally, she holds the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) Certificate from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).
Nexa Avenue
As a Global Marketing Executive, Sabine has reshaped marketing and sales divisions, driven companies toward customer-centric strategies and led digital transformation initiatives worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sabine earned a coaching certification and has since supported over 100 individuals on their change journeys. Sabine recently launched their own consulting and coaching company in Toronto, helping individuals and businesses achieve sustainable growth. Sabine’s focus is on empowering impactful leaders with the ambition to shape a better future for generations to come.
Brightspot Climate Inc.
Deepika is a licensed professional engineer with a degree in chemical engineering with close to a decade of experience working with greenhouse (GHG) regulatory compliance (quantification, auditing and reporting) and voluntary carbon markets (offset projects) in multiple jurisdictions and sectors in Canada. Deepika also continues to work with private and governmental funding agencies, providing GHG expertise on clean energy technologies. Outside of work, Deepika is a well known singer-songwriter in her local community and loves building a safe space for aspiring artists to express themselves.
Public Ventures
Zoey Dash McKenzie is an investor, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for climate resilience and health equity. As the founding partner of Public Ventures, a $100 million impact fund, she invests in early-stage life science and clean tech startups, with a strong focus on Canada. Zoey is the creator of the DECA Impact Framework, which bridges climate, health and innovation to drive systemic change.
A former model turned investor, Zoey was nominated for Forbes 30 Under 30 in Consumer Technology in 2015 and has since dedicated her career to leveraging capital, policy and philanthropy to advance solutions for underrepresented communities. She believes that strategic investments and bold policy shifts can unlock significant capital for social and environmental impact.
As a mentor for Women4Climate Toronto, Zoey is committed to supporting the next generation of female leaders in climate innovation, helping them scale breakthrough solutions that address the world’s most pressing challenges.
Canadian Tire Corporation
Marijke (pronounced Mar-eye-ka) is an experienced merchandising and ESG professional, sustainable living enthusiast and avid world traveller. Building a career in retail, she successfully led portfolios of up to $1.1 billion in annual sales during her tenures at Indigo, LS Travel Retail and the LCBO. A lifelong passion for sustainability brought Marijke to Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) where, as part of the ESG Strategy & Integration team, she has applied her background in category management and her knack for inspiring change to help guide the strategic work in reducing the environmental impact of CTC’s products by finding ways to better design, make, reuse and recycle them. Outside of work, Marijke is a keen practitioner of yoga and ardent champion for low waste, joyfully follows a plant-based and alcohol-free lifestyle, and takes every opportunity to travel the world—she’s just visited her 102nd country.
Cadillac Fairview
Melissa is a sustainability professional with over 15 years of experience leading, managing and implementing sustainability best practices for real estate including building operations and property management, energy efficiency, waste reduction, ESG strategy development, reporting and disclosures, green building certifications, ESG data platforms, internal/external engagement and transformational project delivery. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Toronto Metropolitan University, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a Project Management Professional (PMP).
City of Toronto
Sarah Rodrigues is a Senior Project Manager at the City of Toronto’s Environment, Climate and Forestry Division, specializing in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within the existing buildings sector. With over eight years of experience in climate policy and program development, Sarah currently plays a pivotal role in the development of a critical policy action, Building Emissions Performance Standards for Toronto. Via the City’s Deep Retrofit Challenge, Sarah has also collaborated closely with multi-unit residential and commercial building owners across Toronto, providing financial and technical support to guide owners through their complex deep retrofit projects. With a strong foundation in environmental politics and management, Sarah is committed to fostering sustainable practices and equitable policies that not only mitigate greenhouse gas emissions but also promote climate co-benefits such as resilience, workforce development and improved living conditions for all residents. Her work reflects a dedication to creating a more sustainable and equitable urban environment for future generations.
Global Cleantech Directory
Shohreh Sabaghpour is a serial entrepreneur with a rich history in cleantech, sustainability and climate change advocacy. As the founder and CEO of LumeSmart Inc., a leader in energy-efficient LED lighting solutions, and the visionary behind the LumeSmart Earth Day Conference, Shohreh has spent over a decade driving innovation and inspiring action toward a sustainable future. She is also the founder of the Global Cleantech Directory, a platform connecting cleantech entrepreneurs and businesses worldwide. Shohreh’s mission to “Create Peace by Harmonizing Humans, Technology, and Nature” reflects her commitment to transformative change through innovation and collaboration. With her extensive experience, Shohreh has mentored countless entrepreneurs and professionals globally, empowering them to lead with confidence in the fight against climate change. As a mentor for the Women4ClimateTO Mentorship Program, she is dedicated to supporting women leaders in developing impactful solutions for a sustainable future, offering her expertise, network and unwavering passion for environmental advocacy.
University of Toronto
Maria Shibaeva-Escarraga is an award-winning executive-level business leader, effective communication expert (Master Storyteller) and faculty at the University of Toronto (Top 20 Global University).
City of Toronto
Alice Xu has called Toronto home since immigrating to Canada as a teenager with her family. A proud public servant at the City of Toronto for over 20 years, Alice is the Director of Policy, Planning and Outreach in the City’s Environment, Climate and Forestry Division. In this role, she is committed to sustainability, climate resilience, circularity and climate justice. Prior to her current role, Alice led the Connected Community/Smart City program at the City of Toronto’s Technology Services Division as Director, Digital City. This team is committed to delivering broader quality of life value as a City through the use of data, technology and processes. Alice led the creation of the City’s Digital Infrastructure Strategic Framework, as well as leading the work on ConnectTO, a program that includes the creation of a city-wide high-speed internet network that connects underserved areas with affordable internet access. Alice also has extensive experience in other parts of the city, including leading the policy and implementation of the Ground Transportation Transformation to enable ride-sharing companies to operate in Toronto, heading up the Rooming House interdivisional working group, and even being on the dog-muzzle tribunal.