Our Team

Carol Fraser (they/them) is an urban planner and sustainable design specialist with over a decade of experience in equitable community economic development, community organizing and stakeholder facilitation, the circular economy, and local food systems. At SSG, Carol leads US business development and works as an analyst on climate action planning projects for municipalities and regional governments, including the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission, the Oregon Global Warming Commission, the City of Tigard, OR, and the City of Bellingham, WA. Prior to joining SSG, Carol designed and implemented programs to support sustainable and equitable food systems at the City of Austin. Carol is passionate about cooperative development and is currently Board President of the Austin Cooperative Business Association.

Camilla (she/her) is an environmental scientist with a background in conservation, habitat and landscape modelling, community climate planning, and collaborative problem-solving. Her environmental background and experience in adaptation and mitigation planning makes her a versatile thinker, able to make links between diverse fields. Camilla’s expertise lies in analyzing data and translating the technical details into programs and policies that address the needs of the community. Her work has frequently involved working with broad stakeholder groups, and navigating their competing needs to identify common ground and common solutions. With SSG, Camilla has most recently worked on climate plans in British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Ohio, and Ontario.

Rodrigo (he/him) is a trained engineer and climate analyst with a decade of experience in climate planning, data analysis, and public policy design and evaluation. Rodrigo has applied his expertise in air pollution, heating, and district energy systems to many projects in Chile and Canada, working as an analyst for Chilean Air Decontamination Plans for the cities of Temuco and Huasco, as well as climate action plans for the City of Hamilton, University of Manitoba, Town of Whitby, and City of Markham. Rodrigo has also evaluated heating solutions including district energy for several cities in Chile and co-developed the report for ARClim, a national map for Chile describing climate change risks at the municipal level.

John (he/him) is a researcher and modeller specializing in energy and environmental systems and processes. He has developed and worked with models focused on informing decision-makers about the consequences of novel energy technologies and their role in a low-carbon energy future. At SSG, he focuses on climate action planning in municipalities. John also has experience working on energy and emission projects in provincial and corporate contexts across Canada. John holds an MASc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, where his research explored the feasibility and practical implications of electric mobility transition at a community-scale and on the operational advantages of microgrid systems. Outside of work, John enjoys experimenting with full-stack technologies for product development, learning new languages, and creating art.

Erik (he/him) utilizes his experience in energy modelling to quantify environmental projects and provide clear-cut insight to key decision makers. He has worked on energy models since 2011, when he was a research assistant at HEC Montreal. At SSG, Erik has worked on several high-profile projects, including the Government of Canada’s plan for Low-carbon Federal Operations in the National Capital Region. He has also led modelling for many community climate action plan projects and played a key role in the development of SSG’s climate adaptation model. Erik holds an MSc in Economics from HEC Montreal, where his research focused on the energy and environmental impacts of meat and dairy consumption in Canada.

Naomi (she/her) is a sustainability policy, communications, and engagement expert. She has built a career at the leading edge of sustainability and climate policy, advising and working with universities, local governments, and civil society organizations. Naomi created groundbreaking sustainability policy at the University of Victoria and served on BC’s pioneering Premier’s Climate Action Team. She stewarded Whistler 2020—an award-winning community sustainability plan—through the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. As a part of this process, she led the development of a change management plan and facilitated the action planning work of 17 task forces focused on creating the town’s sustainable future. Naomi has also led community engagement for climate action planning in municipalities, as well as higher levels of government, across North America.

Colin (he/him) has spent most of his career in and dedicated most of his passion to the co-operative sector. He was one of the first members of La Siembra Co-operative, creators of Camino fair trade and organic products. From sales to logistics to board president, Colin played a number of roles at La Siembra; however, he ultimately found his calling in functions of finance, administration, governance, and organization strategy. From La Siembra, Colin moved to the Agency for Co-operative Housing to serve as Director, Corporate Services. After dividing his time between the Agency and SSG for several years, Colin began working full-time at SSG in 2021.

Vesta (she/her) started her worker co-op journey by founding the Eyemole Arts and Technology Worker Co-operative, producing a show about co-ops at Co-op Radio, joining Co-ops and Mutuals Canada’s Emerging Co-operators, and embedding the co-operative spirit in her daily life. Her role at SSG encompasses the coordination of all stages of a project lifecycle. She believes that sustainability is intricately linked to all aspects of human life, and puts deliberate focus on social justice in her daily work.

As a specialist in energy and emissions modelling for municipal climate action plans, Amber (she/her) has worked on projects for several communities in Canada and the United States. She is also leading a technical review of how equity is integrated into the CityInSight model. Previously, Amber spent over eight years in the process design industry helping to create, develop, and support simulation software. She has also helped design and implement reactor models for a group of simulation products used in chemical, oil and gas, and polymer industries. 

Kiana Bonnick (she/her) is an environmental professional who specializes in climate change adaptation, resiliency, equity, and community development. Focused on bridging the physical and socioeconomic aspects of climate change to create solutions for equitable and sustainable communities, she has worked within Canada and internationally. Kiana has designed impactful programs to increase environmental awareness and facilitate intergenerational and intercultural knowledge sharing. At SSG, Kiana has worked as an analyst and engagement specialist for the development of several community climate action plans. She also contributed to the development of updated Sustainability Score Thresholds for the assessment of development proposals in the City of Brampton.

Francisca (she/her) is an environmental professional with a scientific background in chemistry and a master’s in climate change and development. She has provided support to different countries in Latin America regarding climate change mitigation and adaptation, such as Peru, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Chile, and Costa Rica. Previously, she was a leading consultant in circular economy projects and supported MRV tool creation for the waste and transport sectors. Currently, Francisca is an analyst in SSG assessing mitigation solutions and pathways in South America. Francisca strongly thinks that communicating environmental research to the public is essential to achieving a more sustainable future, which is why she spends part of her time volunteering with NGOs to promote a research dissemination culture.

Nadia (she/her) is a versatile and analytical researcher, with expertise in environmental sustainability and advocacy. She is experienced working on data-heavy projects for various cities internationally, which has been valuable in informing program-level decisions around climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. A passionate professional, Nadia’s drive to reduce carbon emissions globally have set her on a path to assist groups ready to adapt core activities for a more sustainable future.

Carla (she/her) has more than 15 years of experience in the environmental field. She has worked in Chile, in the private sector and, over the past 9 years, in government at the Ministry of Environment. Carla has a degree in Industrial Engineering with a diploma in Bioprocesses and a Master’s degree in Industrial Ecology. She has a background as an analyst and project and team lead, where she has focused on providing technical and economic insight and feedback on public policies for local pollution problems. She has also assessed cost for environmental damage remediation and explored environmental justice issues. Carla is passionate about creating and implementing better policies for an environmentally just society.

Aishah (she/her) is an energy professional with over a decade of experience coordinating energy and climate action projects at municipal, national, and international levels. Before joining SSG, Aishah taught, published, and provided research and consultancy services in Malaysia and the broader APEC region in her role as a Senior Lecturer at the Universiti Tenaga Nasional.  Aishah has also led climate action planning and implementation at a rural municipality that achieved four out of the five PCP Milestones within three years.

Cong (she/her) has five years of expertise in the field of planning and transportation before joining SSG. She has experience as a freelance planning consultant in Canada and a sustainable transportation consultant in China. Cong is passionate about sustainable planning and design. Her professional experience involved a broad range of transportation and planning projects such as long-term transportation initiatives, sustainable transportation development guidelines, net-zero community plans, self-sufficient agricultural community conceptual design, etc. She is also interested in graphic design, data visualization, and data analysis.

Peter is the principal of Affinity Consulting, a practice engaged in co-operative development, research, training, and management. Peter recently retired from his long-term position of Financial Officer of the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation. He is also the Fund Manager of “Tenacity Works”, the CWCF’s revolving loan fund. Peter has 25 years of experience as a member, manager and director of worker and consumer co-operatives. In addition, he has assisted with many co-operative start-ups, developing bylaws, conducting training programs, completing feasibility studies and business plans, and providing post start-up mentoring.

Ralph is an internationally recognized expert in the field of sustainable energy and climate change response strategies, for governments and business.  He pioneered many of the conventions now used throughout the world for local government GHG emissions planning, and he was the principal author of Canada’s first low carbon scenario analysis – the first such analysis done anywhere. He served as the Assistant Coordinator of the Energy Research Group of the United Nations University and the International Development Research Centre, Vice President of ICF International, Managing Director of Navigant Consulting and Managing Director of the Trottier Energy Futures Project.

He is a senior associate of the University of Calgary’s Canadian Energy Systems Analysis Research (CESAR) initiative. Ralph works with SSG on numerous projects related to energy and climate change response planning.

Rebecca is a versatile urban planner who is dedicated to integrating a holistic understanding of sustainability in growing healthy communities. She has worked closely with municipalities, higher education institutions and school boards across the country on leading sustainability plans and strategies including Western, McGill, Algonquin College, Vancouver School Board, Oxford County, Halton Hills and the City of Kingston. Working closely with our academic partners, she has organized numerous e-Dialogues with Dr. Ann Dale involving thinkers, mayors, planners, academics and activists. Foon is also an internationally acclaimed (and Juno award-winning) cellist and composer.