Building a Greener, Fairer Future—Together
Join us virtually on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 for an engaging conversation with distinguished University of Toronto New College alumni— Catherine Abreu, Dana Collins, and Faith Edem, who are making an impact at the intersection of climate action and social justice.
Moderated by Professor Steve Easterbrook, you will explore how meaningful climate solutions must also centre on justice and equity.
In This Conversation:
- Explore why a sustainable future must also prioritize justice and equity
- Gain a clearer understanding on how climate solutions can support, not leave behind, vulnerable communities in the transition to a greener world
- Discover how innovative approaches uplift underrepresented voices and how they navigate and thrive in climate and environmental issues
Whether you’re passionate about climate action, curious about sustainability, or interested in how social justice and the environment connect, this discussion is for you!
Event Details:
Intersecting Paths: Climate Action and Social Equities Panel Discussion with Catherine Abreu, Dana Collins and Faith Edem. Moderated by Professor Easterbrook.
Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET
Location: Online via Zoom (Registrants will receive a Zoom Link via email prior to event)
Meet the Speakers:
Moderator:
Professor Steve Easterbrook – Director, School of Environment; Professor, Department of Computer Science
Steve Easterbrook is the Director of the School of the Environment and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. He received his Ph.D. (1991) in Computing from Imperial College in London (UK) and joined the faculty at the School of Cognitive and Computing Science, University of Sussex. From 1995-99, he was lead scientist at NASA’s Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility in West Virginia, where he investigated software verification on the Space Shuttle Flight Software, the International Space Station, and the Earth Observation System. He moved to the University of Toronto in 1999. His current research is in climate informatics, where he studies how climate scientists develop computational models to improve their understanding of earth systems and climate change, and the broader question of how that knowledge is shared with other communities. His book, “Computing the Climate: How we know what we know about climate change” was published by Cambridge University Press in 2023, and in 2025 he launched a new interdisciplinary first year undergraduate course ENV101: Confronting the Climate Crisis.
Panelists:
Catherine Abreu – Director, International Climate Politics Hub; Advisor, Canada’s Net Zero Advisory Body
Catherine Abreu is an internationally recognized, award-winning climate justice advocate with 15 years of experience in the heart of the global climate movement. She is the newly appointed Director of the International Climate Politics Hub, a global network of high-impact organizations and individuals working to accelerate climate action in the realm of multilateralism. Recognized for her diplomacy, communications, and coalition-building skills, she’s one of the world’s top 100 climate policy influencers according to Apolitical. Catherine is honoured to have been named 2023’s National Hero by Canada’s Walk of Fame. She is one of 14 appointed members of Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body, the legally-mandated expert body tasked with providing advice to government on pathways to meet its climate commitments. She serves as an advisor to the Canadian Climate Institute and sits on the Boards and steering committees of several organizations, including Climate Action Network Canada, Canada’s Affordability Action Council and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. Catherine is the recipient of the 2020 Jack Layton Progress Prize for her transformative work, and was named to Canada’s Clean50 in 2018. Her expertise makes her a vital figure in climate policy and action, shaping global discussions on the transition toward clean energy.
Dana Collins – Manager, Partnerships, Mosaic Forest Management, Managing Director, The Juniper Collective
Dana Collins has dedicated her career to Canada’s forest sector—an industry at the forefront of sustainability, innovation, and climate resilience. Working across industry, academia, and the not-for-profit sector, she champions the multifaceted role forests play in ecological balance, economic prosperity, and community well-being.
Currently with Mosaic Forest Management as the Manager of Partnerships, Dana plays a pivotal role in developing collaborative partnerships with First Nations and Indigenous businesses, and upholding Indigenous rights across the operating area. Before joining Mosaic, Dana was a sessional lecturer within the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Forestry, and made history as the youngest Executive Director of the Canadian Institute of Forestry and only second woman to hold that role in its 110-year history.
A recognized leader in the forest sector, Dana was named one of the Canadian Forest Industry’s Top 20 Under 40 in 2024, and previously honored on WXN’s 2021 list of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women. These accolades reflect her advocacy for increased visibility of equity-deserving groups in forestry and initiating a national initiative to support a workplace culture shift focused on increasing equity for all.
Dana holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Forest Conservation from the University of Toronto and is a proud alumnus of the University of Toronto Women’s Volleyball team. She remains passionate about mentoring the next generation of forestry professionals and creating pathways for diverse voices to shape the sustainable future of Canada’s forests.
Faith Edem– Policy Advisor, Government; Board Director, Black Environmental Initiative
Faith Edem is a leader in sustainability with six years of experience in climate policy, climate justice and youth leadership. She has been recognized as a 2025 CXC Changemakers for the Planet Fellowship, 2023 Clean50 Emerging Leader, 2022 Aspen Institute Future Leader Fellow, 2021 Corporate Knight 30 under 30 Sustainability Leader, and published climate resilience author. Faith is also a Board of Director for the Black Environmental Initiative focused on accelerating BIPOC engagement on climate justice, climate consultation and youth development. She is passionate about shaping community-informed projects and opportunities to support an intergenerational approach to climate action. As a New College Alumuna, Faith completed her Honours Bachelors of Arts in Criminology and Political Science at the University of Toronto. She also completed her Masters in Public Administration with a focus on Economic Policy at Queen’s University.
We look forward to connecting with you on Wednesday. May 28th!
