Who We Are
Get to know the team behind OneEarth Living
Who We Are
Get to know the team behind OneEarth Living
The OneEarth Living team has long-standing and varied experience in sustainability issues, from local to global levels and across research, policy and practice.
Our capacity to produce quality work and engage in action-oriented partnership builds on our individual careers and that of the organizations we work with.
Meet the Team
Dr. Vanessa Timmer
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
Co-Founder
Vanessa Timmer is a social change expert and co-founder of One Earth Living, where she integrates sustainability, systems thinking, and storytelling to inspire transformative action. With over 25 years of experience bridging research and practice, she has led global projects on sustainability, systems change, and futures. Vanessa is a Senior Research Fellow at Utrecht University and a recognized thought leader, earning accolades such as YWCA’s Woman of Distinction for Environmental Sustainability and Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 under 40. Holding advanced degrees from Queen’s University, Oxford University, and UBC, Vanessa’s work spans advising governments and international organizations, teaching sustainability and systems thinking, and fostering collaboration across sectors. She is passionate about envisioning positive futures as a catalyst for social change.
Dagmar Timmer
MANAGING DIRECTOR - STRATEGIC INITIATIVES |
Co-Founder
Dagmar Timmer brings over 25+ years of experience as a facilitator, researcher, policy analyst, and activist dedicated to advancing sustainability. She worked with IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in Switzerland and later as a political scientist with the World Agroforestry Centre in Kenya, where she facilitated a network of rainforest-agriculture margin research sites across the tropics and contributed to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. With an MA in Political Science, Dagmar is deeply committed to urban public policy and fostering collaboration to build sustainable, resilient communities. Her passion for youth leadership stems from her own experiences, including co-founding the Environmental Youth Alliance at 16 years old.
Kate O'Connor
PROJECT MANAGER
Kate O’Connor is a climate and youth activist who is passionate about intergenerational approaches to climate change, decolonization and public policy. She is the youngest MLA candidate in BC’s provincial history and was named one of Canada’s 2021 Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 by The Starfish. She is currently in her fourth year at McGill University where she is pursuing a degree in Honors Political Science with a double minor in Indigenous studies and Islamic studies. She has received multiple academic awards and was most recently awarded a Faculty of Arts Scholarship for being one of the top 5% of academic performers in McGill’s Arts Faculty. She is deeply interested in the intersection between public policy, climate change and Indigenous sovereignty.
Erica Priggen-Wright
CREATIVE DIRECTOR |
Social & Environmental Media
Erica Priggen Wright is an award-winning creative strategist and producer with over 15 years of experience helping mission-driven brands tell stories that inspire action. She has produced impactful projects such as The Story of Stuff series, Autodesk Sustainability Workshop, and the Alliance for Climate Education’s national assembly program. With expertise spanning micro-documentaries, animation, and live-action content, Erica combines bold brand strategy with a collaborative approach, ensuring both the process and the outcomes are transformative. Passionate about sustainability and social impact, she excels in making complex ideas accessible and motivating audiences toward meaningful change.
Lisa Mastny
SENIOR ASSOCIATE |
Communications Strategist
Lisa Mastny is a seasoned researcher, editor, and communications strategist passionate about sustainable living and equitable development. She holds master’s degrees in environmental management and international relations from Yale University. With nearly two decades at the Worldwatch Institute, she edited influential publications like the State of the World reports and synthesized complex environmental data into actionable insights. Lisa has worked with organizations such as the UN Environment Programme, International Renewable Energy Agency, and REN21, advancing 1.5-degree lifestyles through storytelling and strategic communications.
Cora Hallsworth
SENIOR ASSOCIATE |
Cities Sustainability Strategist
Cora Hallsworth is a sustainability strategist and urban planner with over 20 years of experience advancing community and organizational sustainability. Recognized as one of British Columbia’s top planners by BIV500, she leads initiatives like One Planet Saanich, which engages schools, businesses, and community groups in creating sustainable plans. With the BCIT Centre for Ecocities, she manages the Ecocity Peer Network, advancing collaboration among municipalities to adopt science-based strategies for climate action. Cora specializes in planning, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable consumption.
Max Serpa
ASSOCIATE | Data Analyst & Project Manager
Project management guru skilled in group facilitation and data organization.
Majid Khoury
MOTIVATIONS | Advertising and Brand Strategist
Market research expert with 30+ years’ experience across sectors who brings insights to our work together.
Alka Tandan, CAIP
MOTIVATIONS | Research & Service Design Strategist
Specialist in research, service design and cultural innovation, with a focus on critical perspectives and transformative change.
Edna Catumbela
PROJECT MANAGER | Information Designer
Biophilic designer with a passion for leveraging visual and graphic design in service of sustainability awareness.
Keiko Lee-Hem
COMMUNICATIONS | Graphic Designer
17 years of graphic design; passionate about creating impactful graphic design that helps changemakers communicate their message with clarity, simplicity and beauty.
Zach Horsman
WEBSITE | Web Developer
Lynda Gerty
ORGANIZATIONAL CONSULTANT | Strategic Approach
Skilled coach, advisor and guide to global social and environmental leaders.
Harvey McKinnon
ORGANIZATIONAL CONSULTANT | Non-profit Management
Leading North American fundraising expert and best-selling author.
Gilles Giusta
BOOKKEEPING | Account Management
Trusted accountant and bookkeeper to charities and nonprofits for 20+ years. Year-end financials and audits are conducted by V&A Group Inc., a Chartered Professional Accountants firm.
Meet the board
Esther Speck
DIRECTOR | Corporate Social Responsibility Expert
Leader in driving positive corporate change internally at companies including Lululemon and MEC.
Dr. Alastair Moore
DIRECTOR | Planning & Urban Sustainability
Energy expert and planner who started Canada’s first green building supply store.
Joji Kumagi
DIRECTOR | Economic Development
Ecologist and accountant leading municipal community and economic development.
Dan Burns
DIRECTOR | Interdisciplinary Programs and Philanthropy
Management professional with a track record in capturing revenues for organizations.
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Edna Catumbela
PROJECT MANAGER | Information Visualization
- Biophilic Designer and Building Science Researcher
- Exploring the human-nature relationships within the built environment
- Passionate about leveraging visual and graphic design to make information more digestible and accessible
- Experience curating educational content for global environmental sustainability awareness
- M.S. (Building Science), B.Sc. (Architecture), Certificate (Global Business)
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Blake Robinson
SENIOR ASSOCIATE | Sustainable Cities Expert
- Sustainable cities expert with qualifications in marketing and sustainable development
- Desire to change the way cities operate to support social and environmental goals
- Combination of sustainability knowledge, strategic thinking and communications experience accredited
- Passionate about promoting sustainability thinking and inspiring positive behaviour that supports greater intra- and inter-generational equity
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Nicole-Anne Boyer
SENIOR ASSOCIATE | Future-Visioning Designer & Facilitator
- Futurist and facilitator, specialising in catalysing positive disruptive innovations
- 15 + years experience with future-visioning projects and named one of the top 10 female futurists
- Future of healthcare and biosciences to manufacturing and consumption patterns
- Managing director, Adaptive Edge (futures thinking, strategy, and innovation)
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Dr. Jennie Moore
SENOR ASSOCIATE | Cities & Footprint Sustainability Expert
- Director, Institute Sustainability, British Columbia Institute of Technology
- BCIT’s Centre for Ecocities works with cities around the world
- LEED professional
- PhD on Vancouver’s ecological footprint
- YWCA Woman of Distinction (Environment)
- Host of the Ecocity World Summit (2019)
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Lauren Thu
ASSOCIATE | Futures Designer
- Interdisciplinary designer, researcher, writer and storyteller
- Committed to promoting futures thinking and deep sustainability pathways through design
- Founding member of the Roving Designers, a group dedicated to place-based and community-minded design work
- 2021 recipient of the ECUAD DESIS Radical Sustainability Award
- BDes: Industrial Design, Minor: Curatorial Practice. (2021) Cert.: Motion Picture Production (2009)
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Fergus Kinnaird
ASSOCIATE | Enviromental Economist & Climate Campaigner
- Environmental economist and climate campaigner
- Policy and technical analyst
- Company engagement, stakeholder activism and social / digital tactics with Australia Conservation Foundation
- Co-founder of Shift Australia, which supports people to meaningfully engage in democratic processes and take action on social justice, environment
- Program Manager of the CoolIt Climate Leadership Training Program (BC Sustainable Energy Association)
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Max Serpa
ASSOCIATE | Data Analyst & Project Manager
- CityHive EnviroLab Graduate
- Data analyst and education administrator
- Project coordinator/designer in community and institutional consultations
- Project manager for community programs
- Somatic psychology enthusiast
- BA (Sociology, Counselling), Diploma (Business Management), Certified Associate (Project Management)
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Gilles Giusta
BOOKKEEPING | Account Management
- 30+ years of bookkeeping and accounting experience
- Owner and manager, Scorpio Consulting whose clients include businesses
- Charities and nonprofits such as Le Centre Culturel Francophone and Potluck Cafe Society
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Lynda Gerty
ORGANIZATIONAL CONSULTANT | Strategic Approach
- Professional Certified Coach, group facilitator, and organizational consultant for many organizations across British Columbia
- Managed public engagement, David Suzuki Foundation
- Directed public engagement, Vantage Point
- Managed national campaigns in the Nathan Cullen Leadership Campaign
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Harvey McKinnon
ORGANIZATIONAL CONSULTANT | Non-profit Management
- Author of five books; published in 9 languages
- Co-author of the #1 Penguin bestseller, The Power of Giving: How Giving Back Enriches Us All
- Highly rated trainer who has keynoted conferences from Australia to Norway
- Producer of award-winning documentary films on AIDS, the environment, racism, plus biographies on David Suzuki and William Shatner.
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Majid Khoury
MOTIVATIONS | Advertising and Brand Strategist
- Advertising and branding strategist
- 30+ years of market research expertise focusing on advertising and brand research
- Optimises the collection of and insights from marketing data and research
- Previously Senior Vice President of the Western Region for Ipsos ASI until going independent in 2012
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Kim St-Pierre
LIFE TRANSITIONS | Sustainability Scholar
- Pursuing a Master’s degree in Land and Water Systems at UBC
- B.A. in Cognitive Science and Environmental Studies
- Passionate about storytelling as a way to share knowledge
- From Quebec City (French speaker)
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Erin Kennedy Tsunoda
RETHINKING REDUCE | Eco-social Researcher
- Transformation to Sustainable Lifestyles Researcher and PhD Candidate – Lund University. With experience in leading research projects in China, Japan, Sweden and Canada.
- Leader in research on eco-social transformation models of intervention and innovation for businesses, social enterprises and non-profit organisations.
- Founding member of the research group Energy Equity and Justice in Engineering Education and Industry.
- Educator and university lecturer.
- Transdisciplinary coordinator with experience in carrying out cross-sectoral collaborations between academic institutions, municipalities, local businesses and social organisations, as well as key actors, community members and stakeholders.
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Zach Horsman
WEBSITE | Web Developer
- Provides online services including website development, web hosting & search engine optimization across a wide array of industries
- Passionate about providing support to tech-oriented NPOs such as Computers for Schools Saskatchewan
- Owner of Magna Web Services based out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
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Jamie Clarke
COMMUNICATIONS | Strategy & Engagement
- A leading global advocate for effective public engagement, passionate about creating a social mandate for climate action.
- Operated from the global policy level through to climate communication projects with oil workers in Alberta or conservatives in Oxfordshire.
- Previously headed up Climate Outreach for a decade and co-authored the book Talking Climate: From Research to Practice in Public Engagement.
- Studied participatory development practices in Brazil for his Masters and is an active travel advocate.
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Alka Tandan, CAIP
MOTIVATIONS | Research & Service Design Strategist
- Expert in designing human-centered experiences that transform how organizations work and serve customers.
- Strategic advisor helping Fortune 100 companies and startups build sustainable customer engagement in hybrid environments
- 20+ years translating research insights into practical tools for employee and customer success across different industries and platforms
- Affiliate at the Policy Innovation Lab of Tomorrow (PILoT) at Penn State University, connecting technology innovation with real-world business practices
- Combines anthropology and diversity perspectives to create more sustainable and inclusive experiences and workplace cultures
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Keiko Lee-Hem
COMMUNICATIONS | Graphic Designer
- 17 years of graphic design experience
- Member of iilo Creative Alliance, a woman-led B-corp communications collective, since 2016
- Engaged in Art and community projects that help me stay grounded in, and inspired by, the beauty in the world around me
- Passionate about growing food in our communal .5 acre Permaculture-inspired garden
- Live intergenerationally in a certified Passive House since 2012
- Born and raised in Trinidad & Tobago
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Esther Speck
DIRECTOR | Corporate Social Responsibility Expert
- VP of Global Sustainability and Social Impact for Lululemon
- Previously led sustainability at MEC and for the Resort Municipality of Whistler
- Corporate social responsibility expert, and practitioner of the Natural Step framework
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Joji Kumagi
DIRECTOR | Economic Development
- Manager, Economic Development at the City of Port Moody
- Previously ED of Strathcona Business Improvement Association and ED of Tonari Gumi
- Second-generation Japanese Canadian, with deep roots in the local Japanese Canadian community
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Dr. Alastair Moore
DIRECTOR | Planning & Urban Sustainability
- 15+ years in planning and urban sustainability
- Founder, GreenWorks, Canada’s first green building supply store
- LEED accredited
- Previously, Richmond’s community energy manager
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Dan Burns
DIRECTOR | Interdisciplinary Programs and Philanthropy
- 25 years experience developing / teaching interdisciplinary programs for universities and professional programs including Simon Fraser University
- UNEP regional facilitator in the leadup to the UN Environmental Assembly (2021)
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Additional Collaborators
Nicole-Anne Boyer
SENIOR ASSOCIATE | Future-Visioning Designer & Facilitator
“Top 10 female futurist” leading projects in areas from healthcare to transportation.
Kim St-Pierre
LIFE TRANSITIONS | Sustainability Scholar
Sustainability scholar interested in exploring the relationship between people and the environment to advance sustainable living.
Fergus Kinnaird
ASSOCIATE | Environmental Economist & Climate Campaigner
Policy and technical analyst with expertise in grassroots climate action programs.
Jamie Clarke
COMMUNICATIONS | Strategy & Engagement
Dr. Jennie Moore
SENIOR ASSOCIATE | Cities & Footprint Sustainability Expert
Leading urban ecologist working with cities globally to radically reduce ecological footprints.
Blake Robinson
SENIOR ASSOCIATE | Sustainable Cities Expert
Leader on city projects, futures and circular solutions in Africa and globally.
Erin Kennedy Tsunoda
RETHINKING REDUCE | Eco-social Researcher
Leading eco-social researcher focused on capturing the ‘how’ of sustainable urban development, including how to transform to sustainable lifestyles that create pathways to living well for all within our planetary boundaries.
Lauren Thu
ASSOCIATE | Futures Designer
Interdisciplinary designer awarded a DESIS Radical Sustainability Award.
Founders Circle
OneEarth Living was launched at the 2006 World Urban Forum in Vancouver, Canada, and officially established as a nonprofit society in 2007.
Its five founders – Dagmar Timmer, Vanessa Timmer, Tobi Reyes, Emmanuel Prinet, and Dr. William E. (Bill) Rees – came together from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to create the organization. Vanessa and Dagmar Timmer continue to lead OneEarth Living. Dr. William E. (Bill) Rees, an award-winning ecological economist, is best known as the inventor of the ‘ecological footprint.’ Tobi Reyes brings his business experience and passion for environmental stewardship. Emmanuel Prinet is an expert in sustainable consumption and production, with extensive experience in international processes including the UN Environment and European Commission.
The founders were inspired to create OneEarth Living as a platform to connect the dots between who we are, what we consume, and how we live, reimagining sustainable consumption and production patterns for a thriving future. Learn more about Our Story.
Founders of OneEarth Living – World Urban Forum June 2006 – Emmanuel Prinet, Tobi Reyes, Vanessa Timmer, Dagmar Timmer,
Bill Rees with Herb Girardet and Keith Jardine
Gratitude
Founders of OneEarth Living – World Urban Forum June 2006 – Emmanuel Prinet, Tobi Reyes, Vanessa Timmer, Dagmar Timmer,
Bill Rees with Herb Girardet and Keith Jardine
We are grateful to the people we have worked with for their contributions towards what OneEarth Living has become today over the past 20 years. Our co-founders are Vanessa Timmer, Dagmar Timmer, Emmanuel Prinet, Tobi Reyes, and William E. Rees.
Associates and team members have included the following (alphabetical by first name): Ami Muranetz, Alice Henry, Alicia Tallack, Aleksandra Nasteska, Claude Galette, Dwayne Appleby, Emily Gorham, Flocia Akeyo, Georgia Campbell, Helen Beynon (2009-2013), Joe Hsueh, Joe Tankersley, Jorge Amigo, Joyce Shen, Lindsey Ridgeway, Justin Ritchie, Lindsey Boyle (Senior Associate), Lindsey Ridgeway, Linda Booth-Sweeney, Marie-Pierre Daigle (2011-2013), Nanaki Vij, Michael Raab, Raquel Rodrigues, Rosemary Cooper (Senior Associate), Selin Oğuz Severn Cullis-Suzuki (Senior Associate), Theodora Geach and Victoria Wee.
With thanks to Erica Priggen Wright, Edna Catumbela, Keiko Lee-Hem, Adrian Rojas Elliot, Clive Goodinson, Keiko Lee-Hem, Junxion Strategy and Lisa Hemingway (iilo Creative Alliance inc.) for creative, graphic design and branding support over the years.
We are also grateful to our past advisors: David Boyd, Dianne Dillon-Ridgley, Mark Holland, Michael Kuhndt, Bruce Schearer and Peter Victor. We are grateful for Jason Mogus and Raagini Appadurai for their collaboration and strategic advice. A big thank you to the New City Institute, which supported OneEarth Living when it first started.
Over the years, our volunteers have included (alphabetical by first name): Alex Paterson, Andrew Chen, Betsy Agar, Carlo Valle, Carolyn Webb, Chanel Ly, Dana Logalbo-Baij, Danette Moulé, Dennis (Dong) Pang, Doris Tang, Heather Keate, Henny Coates, Jesse Grubb, Jessica Brodeur, Karly Pinch, Kim Slater, Kyle Rosetta, Laura Slater, Lisa Hemingway, Matt Ruen, Meghan Woods, Michael Cody, Nichole Borgal, Noel Allison, Özgün Gündüz, Rebeka Ryvola, Ruth Legg, Sara Elder, Sharlene Shaikh, Sheila Smith, Siavash Khasha, Susan Dean, Susie Poulsen, Ted Sheldon, Thomas Moore, Ting Pan, Vanessa Brown, Victoria Wee, Weilin (Lina) Li, Winnie Yip and Yaheli Klein.
Our volunteers included all those involved in:
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The Sustainable Lifestyles and Education Cohort (2021-2022), a network of young leaders from around the world co-hosted by OneEarth Living as part of the One Planet Network. Together, they amplified sustainable living initiatives globally and ran a week-long conference.
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The WECANada initiative (2010-2013), when more than 90 volunteers from across Canada worked – some full-time – to bring the voices of Canadians to Rio for the UN Earth Summit. Check out the video.