Dr. Hannah Ascough is an instructor at Aurora College, developing climate change courses for northern students. A feminist political ecologist and staunch climate advocate, she completed her PhD in September 2025 at Queen’s University, focusing on climate change communication strategies, and the important role that “caring” – as something we do and feel – plays in sustaining climate movements and action. Hannah is passionate about the importance of storytelling in the climate movement, and believes that we need all kinds of skills, including compassion, creativity, and care, to create the futures we want. 

Nicolas D. Brunet is an environmental governance scholar and professional with expertise in partnership development, community-led science and knowledge systems. He is an associate professor at the University of Guelph, where he also leads the Rural Planning and Development program. His research explores the intersections of resource management, sustainable community development, and climate change. His research aims to build institutional and community capacity to more meaningfully engage in decision-making in response to various contributors of environmental change.

Elvis Asong is Principal Climate and Risk Specialist at Climalogik Inc., with more than 16 years of experience in climate modelling, hydrological modelling, water resources management, and climate risk assessment. His work focuses on translating complex climate projections into practical, place-based information that supports adaptation planning, particularly in northern and data-sparse regions.  

He has worked with governments, Indigenous organizations, industry, and communities to assess climate risks and develop long-term resilience strategies across multiple sectors. His recent work includes supporting climate-informed stewardship planning for the Giant Mine Remediation Project in the Northwest Territories. Elvis is an Expert Reviewer for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan.   

The climate has been at the centre of Michael Nabert’s work for three decades. In addition to staying abreast of the science and providing climate analysis in various contexts, he has worked organizing activist events, for not for profits, on environmental political campaigns, and specialized in making the complexities of the science accessible to public audiences at all levels of scientific literacy. This has ranged from lecture series for school groups of all ages to creative endeavours like educationally themed musical theatre projects. Michael currently serves as a member of the Giant Mine Remediation Project working group representing Alternatives North.

Dawn Tremblay is a settler of French and Irish descent, born in Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́, Denendeh (Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories), and raised in Sǫ̀mba K’è, Denendeh (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories). She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta in Political Science and French. After returning home, Dawn sought out northern focused educational opportunities. First, she completed a certificate in Circumpolar Studies online through the University of the Arctic. Next, she became involved with the Dechinta Bush University, where she enhanced her passion for land-based intergenerational learning. From 2015-17, Dawn was a Jane Glassco Northern Fellow in the third cohort of the program. Her policy research area was waste management in the Northwest Territories with a focus on used-tires and organics recycling. She also can be seen around town volunteering for different sport organizations.

Aarisha holds a degree in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and brings over four years of experience in climate justice, decolonial research, and project management. Her approach to this work was shaped by a transformative global seminar in Peru, where she lived and learned alongside the Indigenous Kichwa-Lamista community and was introduced to the Rights of Nature framework, a concept that continues to inform her practice today. 

She is the project manager for the Climate Ready Mine Project, leading stakeholder relationships, pulling together subject matter experts to fill in gaps, and conduct market research on climate risk assessment frameworks to support the delivery of the project, including the development of a decision-making prototype. 

Aarisha also has recently completed her certification from the Royal Roads University on Climate Change and Infrastructure Risk Assessment - The PIEVC Protocol & Indigenous Perspectives on Climate Adaptation in November 2024.   

Aarisha will facilitate our panel discussion, bringing her experience in bridging diverse perspectives and her commitment to centering community voices in climate dialogue.