Our People

Pinna's Staff

Jenny Baker, Ph.D  (she/her)
Senior Associate - People and Operations 

Jenny is a public health practitioner with over 12 years of experience in community engagement, research and evaluation. Her background in health promotion and social marketing has led her to work with communities and organizations to address issues related to air pollution, active transportation, alcohol use, tuberculosis, physical activity, tobacco, and nutrition. She is a qualitative researcher with strong skills in quantitative research approaches. Jenny is able to strategize, plan and execute project plans and approaches, and demonstrates the ability to effectively meet deliverables on time and within budget.

Jenny has participated in the development, implementation and evaluation of quasi-experimental designs, community-based research and social marketing strategies. Jenny is an engaging facilitator able to work with diverse groups to share knowledge, exchange ideas and develop action plans. She has experience working with a wide range of stakeholders including youth, the public, First Nations, Inuit and officials from local, provincial and federal governments. Recently, Jenny led the development and implementation of responsible use of alcohol strategy with the Government of Nunavut, and, working with Health Canada, conducted pilot research to support a study aimed at updating a national survey to inform health impacts of change in air pollution.

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Rodrigo Reimann Baston, B.Sc., RPF (he/him)
Sustainability Specialist

Rodrigo R. Baston is a dedicated Registered Professional Forester and Sustainability Specialist, with a focus on sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and mitigation planning. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from the University of British Columbia, where he specialized in Forest Resources Management.

Previously, Rodrigo worked for over five years as a professional forestry consultant, engaging in a wide range of land and forest management projects throughout British Columbia. This diverse portfolio has equipped him with invaluable experience and insights into the intricacies of sustainable practices and their effects on the environment.

Rodrigo's current focus is on crafting effective strategies to tackle environmental challenges in the context of climate change. His expertise allows him to develop comprehensive plans that help organizations and communities adapt to the changing climate while also mitigating the impacts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Through his exceptional engagement and facilitation skills, Rodrigo fosters meaningful collaborations and drives successful outcomes in the realm of climate change planning. Rodrigo's expertise extends to developing GHG emissions inventories and leveraging geographic information system (GIS) analysis to provide insightful solutions. By establishing productive relationships with various stakeholders, including government bodies, private companies, landowners, and First Nations, Rodrigo ensures the success of his projects. 

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Denni Clement, B.A. (she/her)
Senior Associate - Indigenous Engagement

Denni Clement is from ʔAq'am, a Ktunaxa Nation community located in the Kootenay region of BC. She is a facilitator, planner, researcher, writer, community engagement, and sustainability specialist. Denni led the creation of ʔAq'am’s comprehensive community plan from 2009 to 2011, and has contributed to ongoing planning efforts since. Denni’s facilitation style is grounded in Ktunaxa teachings from ʔAq'am Elders and Knowledge Holders. She is able to understand diverse Indigenous protocols and has created safe, creative engaging spaces for Indigenous peoples for over 10 years. She has worked for the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy’s Climate Action Secretariat and the BC Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation supporting innovative engagement with Indigenous peoples on climate change. She is a contributing author for the BC chapter of the national assessment on climate change titled “Canada in a Changing Climate”. Denni holds a Bachelor of Arts with distinction from the University of Victoria and is a dancer performing regularly with Indigenous women’s groups in Victoria. 

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Courtney Crichton, MsC Marketing and Business Analysis (she/her)
Associate - Engagement 

Courtney is a research and project management professional with vast experience meaningfully engaging a variety of stakeholders and project partners, and over ten years of experience designing, implementing and managing quantitative and qualitative research projects. She holds a Master’s degree in Marketing and Business Analysis from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Victoria. Her passion for sustainability was ignited with a course on business sustainability in her undergrad and she has layered sustainability into her career ever since.

Courtney has a proven ability to collaborate respectfully and effectively with project partners, including municipal and provincial governments, local businesses, global firms, not-for-profits, and academia. She takes great care to ensure projects are produced to a high standard and are delivered on time. She is adept at survey design, with deep consideration to ensure accurate and unbiased results, and is highly skilled in conducting meaningful engagement with external stakeholders through individual outreach and organized events.

Prior to joining Pinna, Courtney worked as a research manager at the Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC). In her eight years at VEC she worked on a variety of research projects focused on areas such as ESG; the circular economy; business GHG emissions; decarbonization; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) for new immigrants; Indigenous economic prosperity; and traditional economic development. 

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Maria Jacome, B.A. (she/her) 
Sustainability Specialist 

Maria is a sustainability specialist who has over 17 years of experience in public education.  Her background includes Community School Coordinator and Inclusion Support Teacher with two Metro Vancouver school districts. Maria brings to Pinna her expertise in assessments, goal setting, visioning, analysis and ongoing evaluation. Throughout her career in education, Maria has actively promoted the goals of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), including collaborating with colleagues, engaged students, and involved elders and Indigenous leaders in curriculum initiatives focusing on understanding, respect, and healing. As a Community School Coordinator, Maria focused on building partnerships, facilitating interagency councils, and organizing activities to address community needs. Her passion lies in creating safe, inclusive, and equitable spaces where diverse voices are heard.

Maria is an active community member, and devoted time to volunteering on the Board of Directors for Project Somos Children’s Village, an eco-sustainable community in Tecpán, Guatemala. Here, she actively contributes to strategic planning, needs assessments, and budgeting. She also played a pivotal role in coordinating volunteers and speaking at public events, promoting the organization's mission of poverty reduction and sustainable living through health and education.

Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences with a major in Anthropology, a Bachelor of Education, and a Liberal Arts Degree from Simon Fraser University (SFU). Currently, she's pursuing a Post-Graduate Diploma in Applied Planning at Langara College and working towards certification with PIBC and CIP.
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Kat Jin, B.Ec., MFRE
Climate and Sustainability Analytics Consultant

Kat is a versatile sustainability analytics professional who focuses on helping clients make data-driven decisions to achieve their sustainability goals. With over three years of experience in sustainability, she has developed a deep understanding of the challenges associated with climate change and the need for sustainable practices within community and organizational contexts. Kat's expertise in sustainability analytics is complemented by her Master's degree in Food and Resource Economics from the University of British Columbia, which provides her with a solid foundation in the economic drivers of sustainability practices. Additionally, her five years of experience in B2B and social marketing have equipped her with valuable data-focused expertise that she now applies to her work in sustainability analytics. 

Kat is also an experienced researcher with a proven track record in designing, implementing, and analyzing data collected through qualitative and quantitative research methods. She is highly skilled in conducting literature reviews, environmental assessments and market analysis, as well as collecting data through interviews, focus groups, workshops, and surveys. With her research proficiency and expertise in various data analytics and statistical tools (e.g., Microsoft Excel, NVivo, Qualtrics, SPSS, SAS, Power BI, and Tableau), Kat excels in translating large amounts and complex information through data modelling and visualization into actionable insights that drive sustainability initiatives. Moreover, Kat is able to communicate complex sustainability data to diverse audiences and develop compelling sustainability strategies that align with the goals of key stakeholders. Her extensive knowledge in sustainability spans a wide range of topics, including renewable energy, sustainable agriculture practices, sustainable transportation, waste solutions, and circular economy. With a commitment to lifelong learning and a dedication to innovation, Kat continually expands her knowledge in sustainability-related topics. 

Kat possesses excellent project management skills, which she has demonstrated through her successful collaborations with indigenous communities, various levels of government, crown corporations, universities, non-profits, and private sector clients. In addition, her leadership abilities and commitment to teamwork have enabled her to lead teams toward success, resulting in positive sustainability outcomes.

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Tamsin Mills, M.Sc, RPP (she/her)
Senior Associate - Adaptation and Resilience 

Tamsin is a Registered Professional Planner with over ten years of experience as a planner, project manager, facilitator and sustainability specialist with municipal and provincial levels of government, First Nations and the private sector. Her experience ranges from watershed-level sustainability planning with First Nations to urban development planning. Tamsin has developed an internationally recognized expertise in climate change adaptation and natural hazard risk management and communication.

Tamsin led the development of the first Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in Canada that follows the ICLEI framework – the City of Vancouver’s Adaptation Strategy http://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/climate-change-adaptation-strategy.aspx. As project manager and author of the strategy, she has also been responsible for implementing the strategy and monitoring progress. Development and implementation of the Strategy relied on strong project management skills and relationships throughout the organization and with partners. Tamsin has a large, international network of adaptation colleagues, climate scientists, and adaptation subject matter experts.  

Tamsin’s experience includes development planning providing a valuable background in how cities are built and in structured decision-making, an important element of all planning initiatives.

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Gala Munoz-Carrier, BA, M.Sc Sustainability Science, Diploma in Applied Planning (they/them)
Sustainability Specialist 

Gala is a Sustainability Specialist with a background in urban planning, community engagement and climate action research. They hold a Diploma in Applied Planning, as well as a Master of Sustainability, and blend their community facilitation and analytical skills to support collective approaches on climate solutions. Their research on climate change messaging and education has broadened their understanding on the ways our worldviews and perspectives shape our willingness to engage on climate change issues and how to build bridges towards shared understanding.

Previously, Gala has held coordination and volunteer/training management roles in youth climate justice organizing and community resource direct action with the goal to help meet the needs of those historically marginalized/underserved, including IBPOC, immigrants and 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Having opportunities to learn and be accountable to diverse perspectives, has been paramount to shaping the way that they aim to engage with others and move work forward. Gala has also spent time as a Youth Advisory Board member for a Greater Vancouver organization that enables and empowers youth to become more actively involved in civic planning and decision making, especially as it relates to sustainability. Recently, Gala helped deliver a comprehensive community profile to a growing Okanagan Valley municipality to help inform their OCP update. With their varied skillset and vested interest in just and holistic approaches to planning projects, strategies and programs, Gala strives to empower community-led solutions and advance sustainability in all forms.

Pinna's Associates

Samantha Agtarap, P.Eng

Samantha has over ten years of experience working with clients to translate complex technical information into accessible communications material.  Her core strengths include the ability to synthesize large amounts of information while ensuring that key messages are conveyed clearly.   Samantha is a Professional Engineer with experience in energy options analysis and planning. She has worked on community energy planning and forecasting with First Nation and non-aboriginal communities, building energy consumption analysis and program development.   Samantha has a wide range of experience, primarily focusing on energy and the environment.  Through her work, she has gained valuable experience working with First Nations and remote communities.  In particular, her work on the Haida Gwaii Community Electricity Plan and BC Hydro’s Remote Community Electrification Program provided her with an understanding of the unique set of issues facing First Nations and remote communities throughout the province.

Dara Edmonds, B.A, LL.B

Dara is a skilled sustainability consultant who specializes in sustainability reporting and has extensive experience in report development, the application of reporting frameworks, and report assurance. Previously, Dara managed sustainability reporting at Teck Resources, Canada’s largest diversified mining company. Dara is currently an internal consultant at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA), supporting sustainability reporting and strategic initiatives to embed sustainability in corporate culture. She supports other companies with reporting, performance and compliance, strategy development, and stakeholder engagement. She has provided report assurance to clients including Vancity and Diageo Inc., and reporting and advisory services for Goldcorp, lululemon, Metro Vancouver, McCain Foods, and Transport Canada.