Our Guest Speakers
Chief Doreen Davis
Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation
Chief Doreen Davis, known by her Algonquin name, Eagle Cloud Woman (Kiniwi Wanakwad Ikwe) is a distinguished leader from the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation, a community west of Ottawa, Ontario. Her leadership journey commenced in 1995 with her election to the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation council. In 1999, she ascended to the position of Chief, representing her community in pivotal land claim negotiations. Her dedication to Modern Treaty negotiation is unwavering as she strives to secure a prosperous future for her Algonquin people. Her dedication and leadership were recognized by her community in 2005 when she was honoured with a head dress, designating her as an ancestral as well as an elected Chief. Varied life experiences have equipped her with the skills necessary for effective leadership and complex negotiations. On a personal note, Chief Doreen Davis has been married for 51 years and is a proud parent of three children and nine grandchildren. Chief Doreen Davis’s journey as a woman is a testament to her unwavering commitment to her community, her leadership abilities, and her dedication to securing a better future for the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation. Her achievements and contributions will continue to inspire the next seven generations.
Sarah Hasenack
Conservation Campaigns Coordinator, Ontario Nature
Sarah joined Ontario Nature in 2022 after completing her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences, both at the University of Guelph. She coordinates research, communications, and engagement for the organization’s wetlands campaign while supporting other conservation policy initiatives. Her work has included researching wetland conservation policies and practices at the local and provincial level, gathering lessons she is happy to share as a co-author of Ontario Nature’s new report, Wetland Conservation for Local Planning Authorities: A Review of Wise Practices in Southern Ontario.
Nick Stow
Program Manager (A), Natural Systems, City of Ottawa
Nick Stow is a husband, father, and grandfather. He works as the Program Manager for Natural Systems at the City of Ottawa. Originally from Victoria, B.C. on the territories of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, he has lived for more than 30 years in the Ottawa Valley on the territory of the Algonquin Anishinabek nation. He has a doctorate from the University of Ottawa in Ecology and has expertise in both forest and wetland ecology. He is also a certified Environmental Practitioner with Eco Canada, with a specialization in environmental conservation. You can find examples of his interests on his website, “Naturally Ottawa”, and on his YouTube channel, “The Ecology of the Ottawa Valley.”
Sommer Casgrain-Robertson
General Manager, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
Sommer grew up on a small family farm in Eastern Ontario on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Her upbringing taught her firsthand through woodlot management, farming practices, and waterfront living that everything in the natural environment is connected and that the decisions we make today will impact our land, health, and communities for generations to come.
Since graduating from Queen’s University, Sommer has been fortunate to work for the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. Beginning as a Resource Specialist in planning and regulations, she later joined the newly formed drinking water source protection program, then in 2013 she became General Manager, a position that enables her to champion watershed management through community engagement.
Koreen Millard
Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University
Driven by a love for the outdoors and a desire to protect and understand the environment, Koreen’s academic background is rooted in geography and geomatics. She completed a Master of Science (2008) at Acadia University and PhD at Carleton University (2016), both of which used geomatics and remote sensing to map and monitor wetland ecosystems. The immense amount of remotely sensed imagery that is being captured daily presents continual opportunities and challenges for her research. By coupling remote sensing with extensive monitoring in the field, her research helps untangle hydrological, vegetation, and climate interactions so that we can better predict the responses of wetlands and northern ecosystems to change. She joined the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies in 2019, and her current major research projects aim to monitor drought and predict wildfire in northern peatlands using a variety of remote sensing data. She is also a director of the Geomatics and Landscape Ecology Laboratory, where she aims to work closely with ecologists and biologists to integrate the data products produced through remote sensing with ecological applications such as habitat mapping and biodiversity monitoring.
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