Tanya Chung-Tiam-Fook, PhD (She/Her)
I specialize in research, education, and Indigenous/community engagement in the areas of climate and ecological resilience, environmental stewardship, technology and innovation, placekeeping and city building, and health and mental wellness. My cross-sectoral experience includes non-profit, academic, government and community settings across Canada and internationally. I currently lead Indigenous-informed research, program and content development, curriculum, partnerships, strategy and advising as: Director of Research and Academic Programs for the Centre for Indigenous Innovation and Technology (CIIT); and Associate of Evergreen and Future Cities Canada (FCC). She also acts in an advisory role as subject specialist on numerous panels and committees.
My academic training includes: a PhD in Environmental Studies; postdoctoral fellowships in Community Climate Adaptation (ParCA/UPEI) and Community Indigenous Health and Climate Change at the Dahdaleh Institute of Global Health Research; an MA in International Development Studies; and a diploma in psychodynamic psychotherapy. I have many years experience as a university lecturer, delivering educational modules and workshops, presenting my research, and developing publications. She also holds an advisory role as subject specialist on diverse panels and committees. In collaboration with colleagues Jayne Engle and Julian Agyeman and many other practitioners and scholars, Tanya is co-editor and co-author on a new book entitled Sacred Civics: Building seven generation cities due to come out in 2022. My multi-ethnic ancestry via Guyana and the Netherlands - combined with interdisciplinary and international experiences - enable me to infuse my work with Indigenous, inter-cultural and multifaceted perspectives.
Tanya holds a PhD in Environmental Studies, an MA in International Development Studies and a diploma in psychodynamic psychotherapy. As an educator and thought leader, she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, educational workshops and presented and published her research and writing across Canada and internationally.
She is particularly passionate about environmental stewardship and protection; community-building; restoring and deepening relationships between people and the natural environment; learning teachings from Elders and the Earth; and global forms of music, dance, martial arts and literature.