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2020-25 MacKenzie Young Project Manager MacKenzie is based at the St. John’s Campus of Memorial University. Her career in the tertiary education environment spans the management of research and technical assistance projects, international mobility programs, business development, and community engagement. MacKenzie’s work has largely been focused on the development and implementation of projects, consultancies and partnerships in the oceans and education sectors. These initiatives have ranged from short consultancies to multi-year, multi-stakeholder global initiatives, supported by a wide range of funders – including government agencies, foundations, multilateral development banks, and private sector partners. MacKenzie has worked extensively with partners and clients throughout Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Americas, cultivating high-impact collaborations and contributing to the achievement of shared goals through innovative, inclusive approaches.

THE CORE TEAM Paul Foley Co-Principal Investigator Read More Lorenzo Moro Co-Principal Investigator Read More MacKenzie Young Project Manager 2020-25 Read More Sheridan R. Thompson Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator 2022-25 Read More

2022-25 Sheridan R. Thompson Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator Currently, Sheridan is an Interdisciplinary PhD candidate conducting transdisciplinary research in Iceland focused on the impact that local knowledge has in adaptation to a rapidly changing coast in the face of a climate crisis. Sheridan has inquired into the making of knowledge with coasts through multiple ways of experience including story-telling, rock climbing, surfing, hiking, and research in both the natural and social sciences. Sheridan has been conducting experiential hiking tours in coastal landscape and culture since 2013 and has partnered with organizations such as Shorefast Foundation (Fogo Island), Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Network (NLEN), Oceans Learning Partnership (OLP), Coastal Connections, Harris Centre Public Engagement, and Fishing for Success (F4S). Sheridan came on board as the Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator with Future Ocean and Coastal Infrastructures (FOCI) in June 2022.

Memorial University Jacob Sargent Research Assistant (WP8) More to come.

Memorial University Obasanjo Joseph Oyedele Research Assistant (IWP3) Obasanjo Joseph Oyedele is a doctoral student in the Department of Sociology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He got his first Ph.D. on climate change communication to farmers in Nigeria from the Department of Communication and Language Arts University of Ibadan, Nigeria, where he also had his first and second degrees (B.A. & M.A.), and he was a Teaching Assistant for five years. Furthermore, he was a research assistant to two lead researchers on grants won by the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan. Also in Nigeria, he was a lecturer and researcher at Bowen University Iwo, Osun State, and Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, before he came to Canada in 2022 for another Ph.D. in environmental sociology. His research interests are in environment, social movements, development, climate change, health, and media. He has contributed some publications on these cross-disciplinary areas to scholarship and attended research training, summer schools and conferences both in Nigeria and abroad.

Grenfell Campus, Memorial University Umme Kulsum Postdoctoral Fellow (IWP1) Dr Umme Kulsum is a Postdoctoral Fellow in FOCI’s IWP #1 , conducting research that will undertake methodological comparison and advance application of ‘foresighting’ and ‘full-spectrum sustainability scenario comparison’ for future ocean and coastal infrastructures. She will play a leadership role in contributing to the synthesis framework, practical toolkit for coastal community and other practitioners. She is involved in engaging the Consortium’s ‘trainee caucus’, and the international Community of Practice organized by the work package. Kulsum in her most recent activities in Bangladesh, as National Climate Change and Risk Management Expert in Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has supported Department of Fisheries (DoF) on community-based climate resilient fisheries and aquaculture. She has facilitated climate risk and vulnerability assessment, developed manual, conducted training on integrated climate information services, climate resilience and ecosystem approaches to fisheries and aquaculture. She is an environmental science graduate from Khulna University, Bangladesh. Her interdisciplinary doctoral research has focused on participatory scenario-based approaches in bridging coastal community adaptation with adaptive delta management under uncertain climate and socioeconomic change. This research was in collaborative ‘Adaptive Delta Management’ project at Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology (Tudelft), in Netherlands, Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Technology (BUET) in Bangladesh and other international groups. She has a long experience in coastal community development, disaster risk management, food and livelihood security. Currently, Kulsum is working under the supervision of Asoc Prof Paul Foley and Dr Rob Stephenson (in FOCI) to integrate and apply the concepts of foresighting and full-spectrum sustainability, to further the aims and objectives of the wider FOCI project working groups.

Memorial University Ismael Golmohammadi Postdoctoral Fellow (WP7) Ismael is a researcher at Memorial University, specializing in Corporate Strategy and Sustainability. His research focuses on how institutional actors shape environmental sustainability and climate governance. He has received several academic accolades, including the Best Paper Award from the Administrative Science Association of Canada (ASAC), the Bank of Montreal’s scholarship for academic excellence, Mitacs Accelerate fellowship, Memorial doctoral fellowship, and the Dr. R. Sexty Scholarship for Social Responsibility in 2020. His research has been presented at leading academic conferences and published in high-ranked management journals.

Grenfell Campus, Memorial University Diana Burbano Postdoctoral Fellow (WP5) Diana Burbano obtained a Master’s in Ecology from Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador, and a doctoral degree from the Department of Geography at McGill University, Canada. She was a post-doctoral fellow with the Ocean Frontier Institute at Dalhousie University’s Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology. She is currently a post-doctoral fellow at Memorial University. Her work focuses on understanding the human dimensions of biodiversity conservation. Diana has engaged in interdisciplinary projects across various regions of Ecuador. For the past 16 years, Diana has worked on issues related to small-scale fisheries and the interaction between tourism, biodiversity conservation, and resource-based livelihoods (fisheries and farming) in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. In the last three years, she has concentrated on the human dimensions of marine conservation in Atlantic Canada and Brittany, France. Using case study research and a mixed-methods approach, Diana investigates stakeholders’ attitudes and perceptions of marine conservation, evidence-based decision-making, public participation in consultation processes, collaborative governance, management and conservation of marine protected areas (MPAs), environmental justice, and social equity.

Memorial University Mohammad Awad Co-op Student (WP3) Mohammad Awad is a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering student at Memorial University of Newfoundland, set to graduate in 2026. He has been actively involved in mapping Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to support search and rescue operations. By analyzing ship movement patterns and integrating data-driven approaches, he aims to enhance maritime safety and improve emergency response times. His efforts contribute to the development of predictive models that assist in locating distressed vessels, further demonstrating his commitment to using engineering and data science for real-world problem-solving. In addition to his work in search and rescue, Mohammad is passionate about aviation and aerospace technology. As the founder of Memorial University’s first commercial aerospace design group, he leads a team focused on creating VTOL unmanned aircraft aimed at tackling environmental challenges such as forest fires and overfishing. His hands-on experience in drone development, coupled with a deep understanding of mechanical systems, has positioned him at the forefront of innovative aerospace solutions. His expertise spans aerodynamics, structural design, and thermal analysis, with a strong foundation in computational modelling and SolidWorks simulations.

Memorial University Fatima Hodroj Master's Student (WP1) My name is Fatima Hodroj, and I am a registered nurse. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2018 (Lebanon), where I got the first rank in the Faculty of Nursing. I have a strong nursing and health education background, particularly in women's health and childcare. I have always loved helping people and making a difference in their lives, and it is an honor to be able to do so. I am also passionate about providing quality care to all patients, and I believe every aspect of an encounter should be considered when providing care to patients. My goal is always to achieve the best possible positive outcomes for patients' health goals. I believe that being compassionate can help us treat our patients better. Currently, I'm pursuing my graduate degree of Science in Medicine (Community Health) at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), where I'm working on the thesis: "Seafarers' Perceptions and Attitudes towards Occupational Noise Exposure and Its Health Impacts in Canada: A Mixed-Methods Study," which is a part of my master's degree. Hoping this research study will make a difference in seafarers’ health and life. Finally, I am a big fan of giving back to the community by volunteering at events and campaigns that aim to help people and raise their health awareness.

Dalhousie University Shahrokh Bairami-Khankandi Master's Student (WP1) More to come.

Desai Shan Co-investigator (WP1, WP8) Desau Shan is a Assistant Professor, Division of Population Health and Applied Health Studies, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Desai is a dedicated researcher in occupational health and safety (OHS), she has published more than 40 research articles, book chapters and research reports on Canadian and international seafarers’ rights to occupational health and safety. She has been awarded/co-awarded 17 research grants from international and Canadian funding agencies. She contributes her knowledge to the Canadian National Seafarer’s Welfare Board as a maritime health and law expert. Between 2022 and 2023, she was appointed as the research expert by Transport Canada to draft a federal government report, Fatigue in the Maritime Sector 2023 , which contains the first baseline study of workplace fatigue levels among Canadian seafarers. In 2022, she was appointed as an international labour law expert by the International Labour Organization to draft a flagship report: Occupational Safety and Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Legal Analysis of China.