Our team

I have been a passionate advocate for sustainability for over twenty years. I have previously worked with UN Agencies, the trade union movement, academia and the federal government on issues related to natural resource governance, corporate sustainability performance and sustainable finance.

I hold an MA and PhD in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and an MA in Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads University. I serve on the advisory boards of Diversity in Sustainability and the Academy for Sustainable Innovation.

Priya cherishes her South Asian roots and has varied interests in art, travel, hiking and transformational leadership practices.

Courtney leads partner engagement at the Nature Investment Hub, a collaborative initiative that seeks to stimulate a fivefold increase in investment directed toward the conservation, restoration, stewardship, and sustainable use of nature in Canada.

Prior to taking on this role, Courtney worked for six years as a consultant with Stratos Inc. – a management consultancy specializing in environmental, social and governance issues. She brings experience working with federal government departments/agencies, private companies, industry associations and Indigenous organizations to advance their goals and achieve their objectives in a number of impact areas – including conservation and nature. She is most known for leveraging her natural ability to cultivate strong relationships and her convening and facilitation skills to ensure space is created for people to feel heard.

In addition to her work as a consultant, Courtney is an owner-operator of a commercial lobster license in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and brings over a decade of seasonal experience. It is in this experience that Courtney has come to develop a deep appreciation for the need to balance ecological outcomes with economic, social and cultural outcomes, to ensure today’s generation and future generations have equitable access to nature’s benefits.

Courtney holds a Master of Science in Environmental Sustainability from University of Ottawa’s Institute of the Environment as well as a Bachelor of Social Science in International Development and Globalization from University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Saint Francis Xavier University.

Paige is an environmental scientist whose research focuses on how we account for, make decisions about, and value nature – from a personal as well as economic standpoint. At SPI Paige is leading the conservation finance initiative, examining financial mechanisms and enabling conditions to catalyze interest and investment to support ecosystem services and the natural environment. Her expertise centers around ecosystem services, nature-based solutions for climate change, ecological economics, and environmental and relational values. With a common thread of connecting people and nature, her work has spanned rural agricultural settings in Latin America and South East Asia, to advocating for change in international policy settings, to providing sustainability guidance to private sector actors. In this work and past positions at the Earth Institute in New York City and UNEP in Geneva, she enjoys working with a range of stakeholders to address conservation challenges — including local communities, NGOs, various scales of government, academia, and the private sector. Paige maintains affiliations with the CHANS (Connecting Human and Natural Systems) Lab at UBC, and the Copenhagen Business School as part of the Impact for Innovation Lab. She holds a PhD from the Institute of Resources, Environment and Sustainability at UBC and a Master’s of Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University.

Iswariya Tirunagaru is a government and public affairs professional with cross-sector experience spanning the public, private, and non-profit landscapes. Guided by a lifelong passion for Canadian governance, she is dedicated to advancing initiatives that reflect Canada’s values of inclusivity, collaboration, and global leadership. Specializing in strategic communications, government relations, and public affairs, Iswariya brings a thoughtful and solutions-oriented approach to her work — translating complex policy challenges into clear, actionable strategies. She is particularly interested in the intersection of policy, sustainability, and social impact, and strives to build meaningful connections between people, policy, and purpose.

Iswariya holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Double Minor in Human Rights and Immigration from Concordia University. She continues to be inspired by opportunities to drive positive change and strengthen the systems that shape Canada’s future at home and abroad.

Hamish is a Senior Advisor on Oceans Investment, with a focus on corporate and sovereign blue bond opportunities, and blended finance structures. Since 2014 he has worked with leading investors, insurers, and banks on climate risk strategy, reporting, and product structuring. Alongside his work with capital markets and investment industry leaders, Hamish advises fintech, ocean deep tech and nature based solutions startups. He has worked with issuers and investors on projects covered by the ICMA Guidelines for Blue Finance and the IFC Guidelines for Blue Finance, among other standards, and is passionate about channelling finance into climate solutions and supporting healthy ocean ecosystems. He recently participated in the drafting and launch of the Climate Financial Risk Forum’s 2025 suite of publications on adaptation and resilience. Hamish holds an MSc from the London School of Economics.