Co-Primary Investigator
Dr. Sinead Earley
Sinead Earley (she/her) is a critical resource geographer and policy studies scholar in the School of Planning and Sustainability at the University of Northern British Columbia. In teaching and research, she integrates themes of energy, policy, and justice with the intent to contribute to more progressive, practical, and equitable solutions in a low-carbon society.
Co-Primary Investigator
Dr. Tamara Krawchenko
Dr. Tamara Krawchenko is an Associate Professor in Public Administration at the University of Victora. Her expertise is grounded in a deep understanding of how governance and public institutions shape the lived realities of communities and regions. She serves as a Strategic Research Area lead with the CFREF-funded Accelerating Community Energy Transformation Initiative (ACET), as Chair of the Local Governance Hub and as a core team member of the Coastal Climate Solutions Leaders program.
Co-Primary Investigator
Dr. Kara Shaw
Kara Shaw is Professor in the School of Environmental Studies, Academic Director of the Transformative Climate Action Certificate and the UVic Sustainability Scholars Program, and a member of the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems—all at the University of Victoria. A political ecologist, she researches and teaches about the social and political dynamics of environmental problems. Her current work, pursued in collaboration with students, fellow researchers, and community partners, explores how energy transitions can support communities that are more just and supportive of ecological, social, and cultural thriving.
cea research lead
Rob Van Adrichem
Rob van Adrichem was born and raised in Prince George and currently works for the Community Energy Association (CEA) serving two main roles: increasing awareness of CEA as an organization helping to accelerate local action related to climate and energy, and fostering northern participation in climate action through various initiatives including the Northern BC Climate Action Network (NorthCAN), which was established in 2022.
Prior to joining CEA, Rob served in senior Communications roles with the City of Prince George and the University of Northern British Columbia, where he was a founding employee. These experiences, which included completion of two degrees at UNBC and research in Scandinavia, have fostered a deep appreciation for public engagement and northern development and the potential of small, northern, and resource-based communities to lead in the low-carbon transition.
cea strategic lead
Jen Grebeldinger
Jen is the Director of Communications & Engagement within the Communications & Engagement Service Area at the Community Energy Association (CEA), based on Ktunaxa ʔamakʔis, the territory of the Ktunaxa Nation, in Fernie, BC. With over 15 years of experience in communications and engagement, she leads all things communications at CEA, grounding strategies in social science and climate communications theory to inspire individuals and organizations to adopt low-carbon lifestyles. Jen brings a values-driven, creativity-forward approach to her work — crafting compelling stories, relationships, and experiences that distill big, bold ideas into strategic steps for lasting change.
research fellow
Joel Krupa
Dr. Joel Krupa is a researcher and advisor whose work has focused on financing the energy transition, navigating systemic climate risk, and supporting Indigenous economic inclusion through clean technology deployment. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard University and the University of British Columbia, and holds degrees from the University of British Columbia, the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics, and the University of Toronto. He has also served as a visiting researcher at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies and Imperial College London’s Centre for Climate Finance & Investment, and has held senior leadership and advisory roles across public, private, and civil society organizations.
Community Coordinator
Aleah Jordan
Aleah Jordan (she/her) is a Community Coordinator with the Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) initiative and the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems at the University of Victoria. She completed her BSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering at Simon Fraser University. Her work experiences emphasized the technical, social, and collaborative dimensions of clean energy transitions. In her role, Aleah supports the Northern Regional Energy Dialogues project, fostering relationships with communities, rightsholders, and stakeholders to advance community-driven energy transitions in northern British Columbia.
Graduate Student
Meg MacDonald
Meg MacDonald (she/her) is a master’s student in the Department of Geography at the University of Victoria. She has a BA in Environmental Governance from the University of Guelph and her undergraduate research experience focused on decolonizing place narratives and Indigenous histories. Her current research interests include northern energy geographies, energy justices, local energy politics, and mis/disinformation.
Graduate Student
Sara Chitsaz
Sara Chitsaz (she/her) is a PhD student in the Department of Geography at the University of Victoria under the supervision of Dr. Kara Shaw. She has a BA in Sociology from the University of British Columbia, and an MSc in Rural & Environmental Sociology from the University of Alberta. She has research experience in social and economic impacts of, and barriers to, First Nation’s renewable energy in BC, and in Canadian energy utility regulations. Sara’s current research interests lie in the social dimensions of community renewable energy projects, rural and Northern energy transitions, and implications of energy planning for justice.
sarachitsaz@uvic.ca
Graduate Student
Sarah Korn
Sarah Korn (she/her) is a Master’s student in the UVic School of Public Administration. While completing her BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia, Sarah engaged in research around the themes of decarbonization, food security, climate action, networked climate governance, and energy transitions, all within the context of northern BC. Sarah’s current research interests include place-based climate and energy solutions, decarbonization policy interventions, and rural and remote community participation in policy development.
sarahkorn@uvic.ca
