Ewa Jackson is a strategist, storyteller, and systems thinker working at the intersection of climate resilience, community wellbeing, and local governance. Serving as ICLEI Canada’s Managing Director, over the last 24 years Ewa has led many projects of national and regional significance. With deep experience supporting municipalities across Canada, she brings a unique ability to translate complex climate challenges into actionable solutions that are equitable, collaborative, and rooted in place. Ewa has led national adaptation initiatives, designed tools and workshops that empower local leaders, and facilitated cross-sector partnerships that drive impact. Her work is defined by a passion for building connections—between people, policies, and possibilities—to create thriving, climate-ready communities.  

Aynsley Klassen is an experienced climate adaptation leader overseeing applied resilience initiatives across Ontario. As Project Manager for ORCCA, she guides capacity-building programs, develops practical tools and training, and supports the translation of climate knowledge into actionable strategies that advance implementation. Her work brings a strong public health perspective to climate adaptation, emphasizing equity, social–ecological systems, and the connections between climate resilience and community well-being. Based in Northwestern Ontario, Aynsley understands the governance and capacity realities facing small, rural, and northern communities and is known for her collaborative, relationship-based approach to advancing resilient and equitable climate action.

Rena Viehbeck is a Natural Assets Manager and experienced facilitator with more than 16 years of experience supporting municipalities in advancing practical, nature-based, locally-engaged climate solutions. Rena’s background spans climate change adaptation, climate change mitigation, urban forestry, and environmental education. She has worked extensively across Canada, developing municipal adaptation plans, facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops, and delivering capacity-building programs for local government staff and elected officials. Her work bridges science, policy, and community engagement, supporting cities in understanding climate risks and implementing actions that build long-term and equitable resilience and sustainability.

In her role as a Project Coordinator with ORCCA, Haley supports climate adaptation projects across planning and implementation milestones, leading community engagement initiatives, program design, and training. With her design thinking and co-creative approach, she contributes to the development of user-friendly, action-oriented resources such as the Climate Communications Toolkit, with more on the way.  She holds an Honours Bachelor of Design from York/Sheridan and a Master of Planning from Toronto Metropolitan University, and brings 15 years of experience in community- and sustainability-focused work. She is also an avid urban farmer, teaches Design for Sustainability at Sheridan College part-time, and volunteers on the organizing committee of the Toronto Circularity Network.

As Project Coordinator with ORCCA, Niloofar provides technical guidance and support across a wide range of climate change adaptation projects. Drawing on her expertise in urban planning policy, climate adaptation, climate equity, and qualitative research, she works with project partners to update policies and integrate climate resilience, environmental protection, and equity into plans, guidelines, and standards. Niloofar holds a PhD in Planning and has led research on equity in climate adaptation, focusing on green infrastructure, affordable housing, and urban design in academic and non-profit settings. She has experience in spatial climate risk analysis, including flood mapping, and has worked with the federal government to develop wildfire and flood maps at both federal and provincial scales.

Joshua is an experienced Project Coordinator supporting the delivery of ORCCA projects. He provides technical assistance on actionable policies, data-informed plans, and cross-sector initiatives that strengthen long-term climate resilience. As Project Coordinator, he works on a wide range of adaptation projects across local, provincial/territorial, and national scales. He brings extensive experience managing multi-year initiatives and partnerships that bring together municipal staff, Indigenous partners, NGOs, academic institutions, and private-sector collaborators to co-develop practical climate solutions. Joshua also has hands-on municipal experience from the Township of King, where he led the development of the Community Climate Action Plan and supported major infrastructure and planning initiatives, including a municipal EV network and Canada’s first zero-carbon design recreation centre.