Learn more about these emerging climate leaders, the 2026 mentees, their innovative projects and the mentors who supported them throughout the program.
Studio Dialectica
Arushi is the founder of Studio Dialectica, an educational apparel company based in Toronto, dedicated to sustainability, inclusivity and accessibility. The studio transforms existing textiles—often cultural garments—into unisex, size-inclusive garments while prioritizing local, small-batch production and ethical manufacturing practices. In just two years, Studio Dialectica has diverted nearly one thousand pounds of clothing from landfills through its upcycled clothing line, and hands-on sewing and repair workshops. These workshops equip community members with practical skills to extend the life of their garments, reduce personal textile waste and adopt more sustainable consumption habits. Arushi’s interest in circular fashion systems began during her undergraduate studies where she became aware of the environmental impact and exclusionary nature of the fashion industry. Her work focuses on making sustainable fashion accessible across body types, cultures and income levels, demonstrating that climate-conscious design can be both inclusive and impactful.
Green Salvaged Materials 
Green Salvaged Materials (GSM) is a Canadian circular-construction company building the systems that make material reuse practical at scale. GSM operates as an “operating system for circular construction,” integrating a digital marketplace for salvaged, surplus and manufacturing-offcut building materials with advisory services and the ReUse Collective—a cross-industry network of owners, designers, engineers, contractors, manufacturers and municipalities. Together, these tools help projects plan for reuse early, unlock cost and carbon savings, divert materials from landfill, and generate trusted data for reporting and decision-making. GSM works across multiple material categories, including brick, stone, steel, roofing, interiors and MEP, and supports both new construction and existing buildings. Carly Connor, P.Eng., CAHP, is the Founder and CEO of Green Salvaged Materials. With a background in structural engineering, heritage conservation and building science, Carly has spent her career working at the intersection of existing buildings, carbon reduction and practical delivery. She is a recognized advocate for material reuse in Canada, serving on national committees and collaborating with industry and government to modernize standards, procurement and project workflows. Through GSM, Carly is focused on enabling collaborative, market-ready solutions that reduce embodied carbon while strengthening local construction and manufacturing ecosystems.
Alterner 
Mahta Davoudi is an architectural designer with over 20 years of experience in design, project coordination and systems thinking related to the built environment. Her professional journey has been shaped by a strong interest in how design, infrastructure, and energy systems influence environmental outcomes and long-term community resilience.Through work across diverse regions and contexts, Mahta has developed a strong understanding of how climate change disproportionately impacts communities with limited access to reliable and efficient energy infrastructure. Mahta is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Alterner, a clean-energy initiative focused on addressing greenhouse gas emissions, energy inefficiency and resource waste within renewable energy systems. Alterner’s mission is to provide feasibility analysis, performance modelling and predictive maintenance tools to enable the adoption of renewable resources. In her role as CTO, she leads the technical and strategic development of Alterner’s platform, which uses continuous system monitoring, material tracking, and lifecycle-based planning to advance circular energy management and extend the lifespan of renewable assets. Grounded in long-term systems thinking, Mahta’s work emphasizes practical, inclusive climate solutions that integrate environmental, social and economic outcomes to strengthen resilience in the face of climate uncertainty, across diverse communities, infrastructures and scales.
The Laneway Project 
Danielle Goldfinger is the Executive Director of The Laneway Project, a Toronto-based nonprofit that works with communities to reimagine underused laneways as welcoming, functional public spaces. The organization’s work sits at the intersection of community building, public space and local climate resilience, using small-scale, people-centred interventions to improve neighbourhoods. Through its flagship program, Laneway coLabs, residents collaborate with artists, designers and local partners to co-design improvements such as murals, lighting and greening. While the primary goal is to strengthen social connection and community stewardship, these projects also contribute to climate-positive outcomes by introducing more greenery, shade and permeable surfaces into dense urban areas. Danielle brings over 20 years of experience in community engagement and nonprofit leadership. She is particularly interested in how community-led design can support the long-term care of public spaces and how modest, neighbourhood-scale interventions can help build more inclusive and resilient cities.
Aoya Irrigation Systems 
Jessica is a community leader and social impact entrepreneur motivated by a deep care for both people and the planet. With a background in international business and community development, her work focuses on equity, sustainability and community-led solutions.
Aoya Irrigation Systems, a water irrigation venture was inspired by her time spent in Jamaica, where she learned from traditional, low-tech watering practices rooted in environmental stewardship.
Reimagined for urban communities, the project conserves water, supports healthy plant growth and makes growing food more accessible. Jessica believes caring for the earth and caring for people are inseparable, and that meaningful change often begins with simple, time-tested ideas.
The Grow App 
Jessica is the founder of The Grow App, the world’s first Virtual Community Garden designed to save people money and build healthier communities. The Grow App makes urban farming achievable by allowing members to grow at a small scale while gaining access to a grocery store wide selection. When you become a member of The Grow App, you will learn how to utilize your small space to grow one crop really well, then connect to a broader Virtual Community Garden to trade produce. From seed to harvest, we’ll guide you through your gardening journey to improve your chance of success. You can create your own Virtual Community Garden with friends or search by postal code to find one in your neighbourhood. The Grow App aims to tackle food insecurity by providing low and high cost growing options (soil vs hydroponic) and reduce global carbon emissions by improving access to better quality food closer to home.
Climate Literacy Initiative
Kriti Murthy is a climate educator, nonprofit founder, and mom advancing climate literacy for youth in Toronto schools and the broader community through accessible, evidence-based programming grounded in the latest IPCC findings. Having lived in four countries across three continents and led complex initiatives, she brings a global, strategic perspective and experience leading high-impact programs with clarity, care and measurable results. She is the co-founder of the Climate Literacy Initiative, an organization that delivers structured, collaborative learning experiences that help participants connect the dots between how human systems are designed and their impacts on the environment and human well-being. Her work focuses on closing the climate literacy gap early and building collaboration, critical thinking and decision-making skills needed on a climate-impacted planet. Through Climate Literacy Initiative, Kriti is currently developing a youth leadership pipeline designed to train young people as climate educators, support them in delivering workshops, and intentionally build a local, in-person community of peers and mentors to sustain long-term impact.
Biophile Media 
Avesta Rastan is a science communicator who thrives at the intersection of art and science. Driven by a desire to help people understand how their health is connected to the environment, she founded Biophile Media, a multimedia platform that uses creative storytelling to demystify science, health and climate research. In a time of misinformation and rising healthcare costs, Biophile Media cuts through the noise. The platform delivers reliable information on topics like biology, food, pollution, infectious diseases, Indigenous wisdom, and climate solutions with the goal of empowering people to make informed decisions that improve their health and protect our planet. Beyond making education accessible, Biophile Media builds community by bringing together scientists, artists and curious people through local educational events, creative workshops, and gallery shows that celebrate biodiversity and inspire local action. Avesta’s scientific visuals have reached millions across the globe. Her work has been on the cover of Nature, translated into 18 languages, and featured by NASA, BBC, World Economic Forum and UNESCO. She holds an MSc in Biomedical Communications from the University of Toronto and a BSc in Life Sciences from Queen’s University.
Materials Future
Iris Redinger, founder and CEO of Material Futures, has a background in architecture and biotechnology-driven materials innovation, with a focus on translating scientific research into commercially viable, sustainable products. She founded Material Futures in 2019 to address the environmental and health challenges associated with conventional colorants used in food and plastic systems. Her work sits at the intersection of biology, materials science and circular economy principles, and she has led projects supported by Canadian innovation agencies and industrial partners in the food and materials sectors.
Material Futures is a biotechnology company investigating biologically derived dyes and pigments as alternatives to synthetic colorants such as Red 40 while also enabling improved recyclability of plastic materials. The company develops bio-based colour solutions using renewable and waste-derived feedstocks, with the aim of reducing reliance on petroleum-based additives that pose health, regulatory and end-of-life challenges.
By designing pigments that are compatible with food systems and modern recycling streams, Material Futures seeks to create safer, more sustainable colour solutions that align with evolving regulatory requirements and circular manufacturing goals.
Second Stage Dance
Marissa is the Founder and Executive Director of Second Stage Dance, a circular fashion initiative rethinking how the performance arts sector addresses costume waste. In Canada alone, nearly 500 million kilograms of textiles (roughly one billion pounds) are discarded each year, despite the majority retaining reuse or recycling potential if effective diversion systems existed. Drawing from her experience in the performing arts industry and as a former dance competition host, Marissa witnessed firsthand the volume of high-value costumes purchased annually, only to be worn a handful of times. Through Second Stage Dance, she is developing a circular redistribution system that diverts dancewear and performance costumes to community-based arts programs, aiming to reduce textile waste while lowering financial barriers to participation.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Marissa brings strengths in research, communication and storytelling to advance sustainable change. Her background in e-commerce operations and customer fulfillment informs her approach to designing scalable redistribution systems. She is passionate about advancing equity in creative spaces while embedding climate-conscious practices into the culture of performance.
Save the Earth Every Day (SEE) Maps
Jenna is on a mission to inspire people to turn everyday travel decisions into opportunities to be more active and tread lighter on the planet. SEE Maps was born from the realization that existing maps apps lack a holistic view of routing. SEE Maps brings carbon emissions, physical activity and financial cost into everyday navigation, giving users clear insight into the impact of their mobility over time.
The City of Toronto has committed to having 75 per cent of school and work trips under 5 km be walked, cycled or taken by public transit by 2030. SEE Maps supports this goal by guiding users toward lower-carbon routes and anonymously aggregating data to understand behaviour change and progress toward sustainability targets.
Jenna is a socially conscious product designer, former risk professional and avid thrifter who values engagement, well-being and connection. SEE Maps is her first entrepreneurial endeavour, combining her passion for product design with her desire to help the environment.
Classic Juice Co.
Tamara Shelly is the Founder and CEO of Classic Juice Co., a Black-owned, woman-led wellness company in Toronto’s East End. Inspired by her Jamaican grandmother’s natural remedies, she transformed a personal health journey into a thriving business, growing from three handcrafted blends in 2014 to over 50 cold-pressed juice flavours today. Through ROOTED CYCLE, Classic Juice Co.’s circular food systems initiative, Tamara has diverted over 150,000 pounds of organic waste to Black and BIPOC-led farms across Toronto, turning juice pulp into compost that supports regenerative agriculture. Her work has earned recognition including 2025 Women Who Build (NACO Canada) and 2024 Meridian Bank Small Business Big Impact Award Finalist. A Schulich Mini-MBA graduate and alumna of more than fifteen accelerator programs, Tamara speaks on food sovereignty, sustainability and community-driven entrepreneurship. ROOTED CYCLE transforms Classic Juice Co.’s organic food waste into regenerative agricultural inputs through partnerships with Black and BIPOC-led farms, creating a closed-loop system that reduces greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening local food security.
Real Estate Advisory Services
Renée Bourgon is the Founder of RB Consulting, a strategic advisory firm delivering CMO-level insight to real estate organizations navigating marketing transformation. With over 20 years of senior executive experience in national portfolios and proptech, Renée partners with clients to reposition assets, digitize the customer journey, implement AI marketing tools and align marketing with business strategy. Her approach blends brand strategy, operational precision, and digital innovation to unlock growth and optimize performance across leasing, retention and asset value.
Metrix Marketing
Emma Boghossian is a senior marketing and brand strategist with over 15 years of experience leading marketing and communications for global engineering, technical and B2B organizations, as well as advising founders and executive teams. She is the Founder of Metrix Marketing, where she supports impact-driven businesses in translating complex solutions into clear, credible stories that drive growth. Before founding her agency, Emma led marketing and communications for large, global engineering and consulting firms, working across technical, engineering and business-to-business (B2B) environments. Drawing from a background that spans both engineering and marketing, with a strong focus on sustainability and the built environment, she brings a unique ability to connect technical depth with effective brand and marketing strategy. In addition to her advisory work, Emma is a frequent speaker on marketing, branding and storytelling for technical, engineering and B2B audiences. She is passionate about helping founders articulate their vision, build trust with stakeholders, and grow with clarity and confidence.
FLIK FX
Shevonne Chin is the CEO of Flik FX and Canada’s First Woman Swarm Drone Pilot. A Black woman pioneer in aerospace, she works at the intersection of advanced technology, creative production and large-scale public experiences, transforming the sky into a platform for storytelling, connection and impact.
Her path to leadership was unconventional and technically rigorous. Shevonne earned multiple certifications in fireworks and pyrotechnics before becoming a licensed advanced drone pilot, building rare expertise across both traditional aerial effects and unmanned systems. This dual mastery allows her to design and execute complex, highly regulated aerial productions with precision, safety and creative ambition.
Through Flik FX, Shevonne has delivered cultural celebrations, civic activations and immersive brand experiences in demanding operational environments. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including Air Canada’s Ready for Takeoff Award.
Beyond business growth, Shevonne is deeply committed to expanding access to STEAM and aerospace careers. She actively mentors and collaborates with government, industry and community partners to create pathways for underrepresented groups, measuring success not only by projects delivered, but by doors opened for the next generation.
Hydro One
Giselle De Grandis is Manager of Business Development and Market Strategy with Hydro One, Ontario’s largest electric utility. She leads innovative programming to build the grid of the future by engaging customers and their distributed energy resources. Giselle also helped develop the company’s innovation strategy and manage its venture capital investment. Giselle is passionate about startups that activate citizens, decarbonize the economy and advance the energy transition. A policy master’s graduate with a decade of experience in clean energy and transportation policy with the Government of Ontario, she holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an MSc from Erasmus University Rotterdam and a professional certificate from Yale University in Financing and Deploying Clean Energy.
Zafin
I am a Senior Marketing exec with broad experience in all aspects of branding, communications and marketing strategy. I’ve worked and led teams in several geos including Canada, MEA, Americas, Europe and APAC. I also have solid background in Sustainability and resilience communications resilience strategy. My specialty? Not your typical Marketer, I like to think of myself as a structured creative. Someone who is positioned as a trusted marketing advisor, to raise awareness of my client’s brand by simplifying marketing terminology and strategy, so that my stakeholders can easily see the ROI and the benefits of a sound marketing budget. I pride myself on being a self-starter and am adept at developing marketing frameworks from ground level. I have built highly efficient and effective marketing teams from the ground up at over five international organizations, including Zurich International, Aviva and Oliver Wyman. Specialties include Strategic Marketing, Digital Marketing, Product Development, Brand Management, Market Research and 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.
Dunsky
Mabel is a Managing Consultant at Dunsky, and brings 15 years of experience in consulting, business development and project delivery across the energy and cleantech sectors. She is recognized as a leading practitioner in vehicle-grid integration, vehicle-to-grid distributed energy resources (DERs) and virtual power plants (VPPs), with particular depth in the Ontario market and hands-on experience across leading North American jurisdictions including California, Massachusetts, and New York.
Mabel is known for her ability to bridge technical complexity and business priorities, facilitating stakeholder workshops to gain meaningful insights and solve challenging, cross-sector problems.
Prior to joining Dunsky, Mabel was Director of Innovation Partnerships at Peak Power, where she led utility, automaker, OEM and government collaborations to commercialize Canada’s largest V2X deployment and secure multi-million-dollar innovation funding. She also held management and consulting roles at Heliolytics and ICF.
Shower Thoughts™
Amanda Horn is an award-winning founder, brand strategist, and mentor working at the intersection of resilience, innovation and the human–water connection. With over a decade of experience building and advising global brands, she is known for helping founders translate moments of clarity into meaningful, market-ready innovation, particularly in complex and resource-constrained environments. Guided by the belief that to sustain the planet, we must first sustain ourselves, Amanda supports leaders in building businesses that honor both human well-being and ecological responsibility. Her work blends story-based brand strategy, purpose-driven design and Blue Mind science, helping founders navigate uncertainty, align values with execution and lead with clarity under pressure. An SSI Divemaster, global brand ambassador, and ocean advocate, Amanda brings a systems-level perspective shaped by deep engagement with water as both teacher and mirror. She is the founder of Shower Thoughts™, a circular blue beauty company creating water-responsible personal care products designed to dissolve beautifully back into ecosystems. Through innovations such as a biobased wet wipe that keeps bodies fresh and waterways clean, her work challenges conventional personal care while inviting deeper accountability to the world’s bodies of water. As a mentor, Amanda is committed to supporting resilient founders and impact-driven teams building at the edges of sustainability, wellness and systems change, helping them move from vision to impact with confidence, care and durability.
Go Banana! Marketing Inc.
Elaine Kwok is the co-owner of Go Banana!, an empathy-focused marketing and design agency. They provide compelling brand development and impactful strategies to help small and medium businesses grow. Elaine has spent over 20 years in the marketing sector, from multinationals to small businesses. Whether leading a department or her own agency, she’s passionate about creating processes and initiatives that scale.
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 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).
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.
Deloitte
Marwa works at the intersection of climate action, electrification and the energy transition. She focuses on practical strategies that are responsive to real-world needs and help organizations move toward a low carbon future. Her experience includes collaborating with community groups, government partners, and industry to address environmental challenges and support more sustainable decision-making. Marwa is excited to share her experience with others who are beginning their climate careers. She serves on the Advisory Committee of Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE) and is a trained Climate Reality Leader. Marwa holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning and volunteers with the TRIEC Mentoring Partnership to support newcomers building their careers in Canada.
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). As an ex-P&G Brand Director, Maria has over 13 years of passion and expertise for developing winning communication to win the hearts and minds of the audience. In 2019, Maria was the Winner of two Cannes International Film Festival Lions (1) Glass: The Lion for Change, (2) Social and Influencer: Social Behaviour and Cultural Insights, for creating and leading the Canada-led Global Gillette #MyBestSelf campaign and Gillette First Shave film launch. Maria has more than 13 years of Teaching/Public Speaking experience across multiple Universities (most recently having joined the Faculty at the University of Toronto), Industries and Countries, helping student and young professional entrepreneurs use effective communication to advance their personal and business goals. Maria has over 11 years of Independent Strategic Consulting Experience as a Consultant, Investor and Officer of the Board, helping CEOs succeed in the market, with a focus on Organizational Effectiveness, including Brand-Building/Marketing/Business Development Strategy, Organizational Design/Development and Executive Coaching. Maria is a philanthropist with Rotary International, a service-based organization that provides humanitarian support, where she has led Global Teams in International Service Projects. English and Russian (native), French and Spanish (intermediate), Italian (basic).
Red Cross Crescent Climate Centry
Sajanika Sivanu is a Technical Advisor and Independent Consultant specializing in climate-responsive social protection, working at the intersection of climate adaptation, equity and resilience. She has over five years of experience supporting governments and partners in designing and scaling systems to protect vulnerable populations from climate-related risks. Her work spans climate-vulnerable contexts across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, with a focus on anticipatory approaches, policy innovation and inclusive system design. Through policy analysis, stakeholder engagement and strategic framework development, she has contributed to strengthening social protection systems as a core climate resilience tool. These global insights are directly applicable to urban climate challenges facing cities like Toronto. Sajanika is particularly interested in how climate-responsive social protection can strengthen local climate preparedness, reduce inequality and support inclusive urban transitions. Her work is driven by a commitment to ensuring climate solutions are not only effective but also equitable and people-centered.
Evergreen
Sunali brings more than 15 years of marketing, communications and fundraising experience across the public sector and national and international nonprofits. She currently leads Evergeen’s Marketing and Engagement team, where she has the privilege of turning bold ideas into meaningful impact. A passionate storyteller and strategist, she champions the vital role public spaces play in addressing some of today’s most pressing challenges for future generations while reconnecting people to what matters most: community, belonging and nature. Sunali is deeply committed to elevating human stories that inspire action and believes everyone has a part to play in strengthening the social fabric of our cities.
Electric Autonomy
Named a Top Woman in Electric Vehicle (EV) in North America in 2024, llana’s approach to driving change centres on showcasing transformative ideas through original, impactful formats, whether that’s orchestrating the international EV charging station of the future design competition or curating programming for the 2,000-delegate EV and Charging Expo. Her work has been featured in leading publications including Fast Company, Business Insider, Dwell and the Globe and Mail. As a sought-after speaker, Ilana has taken the stage at premier industry conferences across North America.