Our Team

Emily brings her perspectives as a planner, systems thinker and community engaged researcher to her work as the SDG Cities Co-Lead in Guelph. Emily has roots in and around Guelph, where she grew up on a small farm and attended the University of Guelph, earning an undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture.

From there, Emily travelled to the west coast where she continued her practical education in sustainable community development, worked on organic farms and actively supported neighbourhood level sustainability and food security projects. Emily is also an experienced food systems researcher and has worked closely with communities and local governments, in BC and across Canada, to better understand local food systems challenges and develop community-based solutions.

Emily holds a Masters degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia and is a Candidate member with the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Luis has been working with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2019 aligning the global goals with local priorities in London Ontario through an extensive community engagement process.

Luis has experience in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, including many cross-sector collaborations. Luis has been involved in a wide range of sustainable initiatives including urban placemaking, local organic farms, zero waste programs, cycling advocacy, alternative education, arts and sport.

Luis was born and raised in Brazil. He chose London as the new home for him and his family when he moved to Canada in 2016. Luis holds a Masters degree in Urban Management and is a Ph.T. candidate doing research in Urban Literacy.