Hello everyone, I’m Nelly Leo, Embark’s new Executive Director and I am looking forward to meeting you either virtually or in-person soon. I am thrilled to be a part of this community and I look forward to continuing our collective journeys toward building a more just and inclusive vision of sustainability.

I have always had an affinity for nature and a deep appreciation for the delicate balance in our ecosystems. I grew up with the sound of the waves and warm ocean breeze blowing on my face as I play so I am thankful that my journey from the coasts of Southeast Asia via the hills of Western Ghats in India has brought me to unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) lands, a different coast where I continue to learn and find my place in community.

More formally, prior to Embark, I had worn different hats working on multi stakeholder collaborations, policy, and research in all things food, biodiversity, and people through various roles as strategist, educator, community facilitator, and project manager. Shortly after completing my interdisciplinary degree in Global Resource Systems at UBC, I went on to pursue a Master’s at the University of Oxford, where I looked at the role of ecosystem services in climate-smart agriculture programs, combining my passion for climate, biodiversity, food systems, and people. I feel strongly about representation within research, policy, and academia specifically around who gets to claim “knowledge” and expertise, which surprise surprise, has brought me back to working in higher education, supporting students in becoming transformative leaders in critical issues we face locally and globally – things like food security, the climate crisis, and justice for people and planet. 

I’m excited to be joining Embark’s growing team of changemakers and can’t wait to see what the next couple of years will look like with you all. When it is safe again for us to do so, please do pop by our suite at the SUB for a chat, our doors are always open 🙂