Nasha Choudhury will kick things off by sharing insights from her work at the Peace & Environmental Resource Centre (PERC), where she co-chairs the BIPOC Fellowship. This program is designed to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color leadership in the environmental sector, offering mentorship, peer support, and funding to advance BIPOC-led initiatives. Nasha will highlight the importance of cultivating diverse voices in sustainability and environmental justice.
Following Nasha, Kaela Neil will take the stage to talk about the Nature Trust of New Brunswick, a charitable land conservation organization dedicated to preserving the province’s unique landscapes. Kaela will emphasize the essential role youth and students play in the organization's work, discussing how internships and work experiences at the Nature Trust give emerging leaders valuable hands-on experience while contributing to conservation efforts in New Brunswick.
Finally, Hannah Rockburn will present PERC’s Youth Support Program, a vital initiative that helps environmental nonprofits engage young professionals by providing career-building opportunities and skill development. She will also introduce Sustainable Capacity Solutions (SCS), a program that assists organizations with tailored capacity-building services, including training, staffing, and strategic support, to help them grow and thrive.
This event is a fantastic opportunity to learn about transformative programs, hear from passionate leaders in the field, and gain valuable insights into the future of environmental leadership. Don’t miss out on this chance to get inspired and informed!
Guest Speakers
Nasha Choudhury - Partnerships Program Manager, Peace & Environment Resource Centre
Nasha Choudhury is an experienced professional in the environmental non-profit sector, with over five years of diverse roles across local, national and transnational ENGOs. Her journey began with an internship at a grassroots charity in Ottawa, where she facilitated community workshops on sustainability. Since then, she has held positions as a Program Coordinator, Program Manager, and Executive Director at various organizations. Currently, Nasha serves as the Partnerships Program Manager at the Peace & Environment Resource Centre, where she coordinates the BIPOC Fellowship in her role as Co-Chair. Nasha resides in Ottawa.
Hannah Rockburn - Operations Manager, Peace & Environment Resource Centre
Hannah Rockburn has spent the past five years empowering young professionals in Canada’s environmental nonprofit sector. As Operations Manager for Eco-Internships for three years, she played a key role in developing youth-focused programs that provide meaningful work experiences and career pathways in sustainability. Hannah has helped over 80 grassroots environmental organizations secure more than $1.5 million in wage subsidies, creating job opportunities for emerging leaders while strengthening the sector’s capacity. Now serving as Operations Manager at the Peace and Environment Resource Centre (PERC), she fosters collaboration between nonprofits, funders, and youth. She is also engaged in strategic partnerships through Sustainable Capacity Solutions (SCS), bridging gaps in funding, training, and support for young professionals.
Kaela Neil - Strategic Policy & HR Manager, Nature Trust of New Brunswick
Born and raised in Canmore, Alberta, Kaela grew up with a passion and love for the outdoors and the natural world. Moving to Fredericton for university, she completed a Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies from the University of New Brunswick’s Renaissance College, with a secondary major in Environmental Studies. During her undergraduate studies, she completed the Haida Gwaii semester in Natural Resource Science and an 11-week internship at Navdanya, an Organic Farm and Seed Bank in northern India.
Kaela became involved in the Nature Trust of New Brunswick through a community outreach project during her undergraduate degree, and following graduation, was hired on as a Stewardship Assistant. Now, Kaela is the Strategic Policy and Human Resources Manager and couldn’t be happier working at an organization focused on preserving the beautiful landscapes of New Brunswick.
