Lauren Bernardi

IPCA Education & Food Systems Coordinator

Lauren Bernardi joins the IISAAK OLAM Foundation after connecting with co-founder Eli Enns through her Master’s degree course work at the UN University for Peace in Costa Rica. During this time, she pursued research in agroecology, food sovereignty and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) through an Ethical Space lens.

Lauren is deeply curious and passionate about the intersections of food systems, place-based education, climate adaptation, and peacebuilding. Throughout her career, Lauren has gained unique knowledge and experience in program management, community engagement, and pedagogical design. She has cultivated her skills in organic and agroecological food generation, equitable food policy analytics and advocacy, capacity building for community and school food security initiatives, and curricula design focused on environment and food for youth in various locations including British Columbia, Costa Rica, Indonesia, the UK, and Australia.

Lauren is inspired by a vision of a global food system rooted in peace that empowers community self-determination, is informed by culture, is ecologically restorative, and leaves no one behind. Lauren is a Canadian settler with Italian and Hungarian ancestry and was raised in Ligwiłda’xw territory in Campbell River, but currently calls the unceded territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples in Victoria, B.C. her home.

LB headshot

Other Team Members

OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Mackenzie graduated from the University of Victoria with a B.Sc. (Honours) in geography and environmental studies. Before joining the IISAAK OLAM Foundation, Mackenzie’s education ...
IPCA Planning and Research Lead
Dr. Justine Townsend holds a cross-appointed position with the IISAAK OLAM Foundation (IOF) and Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute. ...
IPCA Education & Food Systems Coordinator
Lauren Bernardi joins the IISAAK OLAM Foundation after connecting with co-founder Eli Enns through her Master's degree course work at the UN University for ...
Officer of the Order of Canada
Dr. John Borrows is one of the world’s leading scholars on Indigenous law. Dr. Borrows is a full professor of law at the University ...
IISAAK OLAM Foundation Co-Founder and CEO, Vice President of the Board
Eli Enns is an internationally recognized expert in Indigenous-led conservation. From Tla-o-qui-aht Nation on his father’s side, and of Dutch Mennonite heritage on his ...
Education and International Relations
Dr. Soudeh Jamshidian is a passionate leader, experienced in crafting dynamic and creative solutions for addressing environmental and social justice challenges. She is a ...
IPCA Infrastructure and Systems Design
Eric is a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering at the University of Victoria. His position with the IISAAK OLAM Foundation is made possible by ...
President of the Board and West Coast IPCA Conservation Director
Terry is from TLA-O-QUI-AHT FIRST NATIONS from the House of Hi-you-eah which is represented by the SEITCHER family. In 2003, when he got married ...
Director
Joseph (Joe) Martin has spent decades mastering the art of traditional ƛaʔuukʷiatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) canoe carving. ...
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Monica is a highly strategic, creative, and solutions-oriented leader, acknowledged for her ability to transform visions, concepts and ideas into successful programs and initiatives. ...
WEST COAST IPCA CONSERVATION COORDINATOR
Abby is passionate about catalyzing creative and holistic solutions that address complex conservation challenges. She approaches her work with an artistic lens, woven with ...
CEO and Founder of the Indigenomics Institute and the Global Centre of Indigenomics
Carol Anne Hilton, MBA is the CEO and Founder of the Indigenomics Institute and the Global Centre of Indigenomics. Carol Anne is a dynamic ...
Research and Engagement Coordinator
Isabel's interests can mostly be pinned at the intersections between community planning, ecology, and regenerative economic development. ...
Award-Winning Producer, Author, Director and Scriptwriter
Barbara Todd (Metis/Cree), owner of Aarrow Productions, Inc., is a producer, author, documentary director and scriptwriter. She is the daughter of Judy Todd (Sharp) ...
Director
Jeremy Williams is an award winning filmmaker with 25 years of experience producing grassroots documentary films. ...
Chief of T’Sou-ke Nation and Clean Energy Innovator
Gordon Planes (Hya-Quatcha) has been the elected chief of T’Sou-ke Nation on southern Vancouver Island since 2008 and has embarked on a 100-year process ...
Cross-Cultural Relations Coordinator
Anaïs Brusel is an aspiring leader and entrepreneur in Transpersonal Psychology, dedicated to inner healing and community development. Hailing from Northern France, she embodies ...
Goldman Environmental Prize Recipient
Marilyn Baptiste is a former councillor and former Chief of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation in British Columbia, one of the six First Nations ...
Director of Communications
Kristy Tomkinson is a thoughtful and conscientious collaborator who is passionate about storytelling that inspires curiosity, creates meaningful connections, and advances social justice. She ...
Tla-o-qui-aht Elder and Cultural Educator
Levi Martin was born in Opitsaht, a Tla-o-qui-aht Nation village on Meares Island, on the west coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino. As a ...