Meet the staff and board members behind Water Watchers

We are movement organizers, communications experts, science & policy specialists, relationship-builders, and community members supported by a small army of grassroots activists & volunteers working hard to protect water, ignite action to address the climate crisis, and advance justice for people & planet. 

Sonia Persaud - Board Chair

Sonia Persaud grew up in Guelph. She is currently a Professor of Communications at Sheridan College and a Rotary Peace Fellow. Sonia holds a Ph.D. in English and Cultural Studies from McMaster University. Her current research investigates the legislative and cultural concepts of water in Canada. Sonia believes that water is a fundamental human right and is dedicated to facilitating water justice and peace.

Rebekah Jamieson - Board Secretary/Treasurer

Rebekah has lived in the Guelph and Fergus area for most of her life. As a mother, teacher and citizen, she is passionate about protecting water and educating young people. She is an avid camper and hiker who loves swimming in Ontario's freshwater lakes as often as possible, and believes that water is sacred and should be protected as a basic human right.

Kylee Smith - Member at Large 

Kylee Smith is an Ojibway woman from Neyaashiinigmiing (right on the coast of Lake Huron). Her passion and personal connection to the land and water make her excited about this opportunity to be a board member. With experience in ecological restoration, community education, and grassroots coordination, Kylee is deeply committed to advancing social and environmental justice through the protection of water. This role resonates strongly with both her professional background and my personal dedication to Indigenous stewardship and water advocacy.

Karen Rathwell - Member at Large

After retiring in 2011 from a 28-year career in public education, Karen pursued her keen interest in plastic waste/recycling and local and global water issues. She brings her enthusiasm for life and her love of water to her volunteer work, both at Water Watchers and as the Chair of the Guelph Wellington Coalition for Social Justice.

In her volunteer roles, two of Karen’s primary goals are to encourage more people to engage in crucial local issues and to build a network of community members who support the social justice and water related challenges we are now facing. She aspires to being a “good ancestor”, leaving behind a legacy of equity, pure air, soil and abundant, potable water for generations to come. She believes this can be achieved through teamwork, commitment and a shared collective vision. Karen Rathwell lives in Guelph, ON

Christina Turner - Member at Large

Christina Turner is a negotiator for Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. She holds a PhD in English from the University of Toronto, where she researched the connection between Indigenous stories, Indigenous legal systems, and the lands and waters of Turtle Island. Christina spent many years leading canoe trips through the lakes and rivers of Ontario's near north and is proud to support Water Watchers' mission to protect the waterways of the Great Lakes. Christina lives in Toronto with her family.

Lina Taing - Member at Large

Dr. Lina Taing is an expert in water security, climate resilience, and health equity, with nearly 20 years of experience connecting science, policy, and real‑world practice across four continents. She is an applied social and behavioural scientist with a Master’s in Integrated Water Management and a PhD in Public Administration, and she teaches environmental sustainability at Brock University. Her research focuses on water equity and stewardship to advance social justice, planetary health, and healthier futures for communities and ecosystems.

Michelle Jadormeo - Member at Large

Michelle is a Master of Public Policy and Administration student at Toronto Metropolitan University whose work focuses on freshwater governance, AI-driven data centres, and the growing pressures facing Ontario’s water systems. She is a Bruce Fellow in Canadian Freshwater Policy and has contributed to freshwater policy research, public engagement, and advocacy efforts connected to water protection in Canada. Michelle brings a strong commitment to public service, community-led environmental stewardship, and the belief that decisions about water must reflect both ecological responsibility and the needs of the people and communities who depend on it. She is honoured to support Water Watchers’ mission to protect Ontario’s waters and strengthen collective action for the Great Lakes and future generations. Michelle currently lives in Toronto.

Passionate about water & justice?

Apply to join the Water Watchers' Board of Directors!

Water Watchers Team Members

Sarah Alexander - Executive Director

Dr. Sarah Alexander is an environmental sociologist, educator, and community organizer with a lifelong commitment to social and environmental justice. As Executive Director, she brings a background in community organizing and knowledge of the sociology of water, along with abundant energy to connect, collaborate, and fervently support Water Watchers’ mission. Prior to becoming Executive Director, Sarah volunteered with Water Watchers and served on the board for over 4 years. Sarah is driven to explore and highlight the vital role of social factors in the way people interact with and perceive water. She has an M.S. and Ph.D. in Development Sociology from Cornell University; she also worked at Cornell’s Community and Regional Development Institute, studying the social landscape of flood risk. Her academic projects have included examining the rise of the bottled water industry and the commodification of water, and exploring drinking water preferences, especially the factors driving the increase in bottled water consumption at home. She also holds a B. Ed. (University of Toronto) and a B.A. in gender studies (Wells College, Aurora, NY).

“I see water as a connective force that unites every living being on this planet. By standing up for water justice, we are taking care of our neighbours and our futures.”

Dani Lindamood - Campaigns & Communications Director

Dani joined the Water Watchers in 2019, supporting strategic communications, program design, and campaigns. Dani has a Master’s of Sustainability Management from the University of Waterloo and a certificate in Collaborative Water Management. Water has been a key feature throughout Dani’s career, grounding her work across multiple sectors including academia, science communications, international sustainable development, and water advocacy. Water has been important to Dani since birth and speaks to her as a symbol of the unity and connectivity of all life. When she’s not enjoying a swim or hike by the water, you can find her traveling, playing music, working on her novel, volunteering, or enjoying a craft beer.

”I believe in this work because water touches all life, creating an important entry point for all people to understand the value of the natural world, find their power to affect change, & advance the environmental movement."

Ilham Abdulkadir - Great Lakes Organizer

Ilham holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from the University of Guelph. Her early years growing up in Kenya sparked a lifelong curiosity about natural systems and their connection to people’s lives. After graduating, Ilham’s path led her through a variety of roles each deepening her understanding of how people and the environment shape one another. Over time, she found her grounding in the ENGO space, a place where her values and work align.She is passionate about supporting movements that protect and restore our shared environment, and motivated by the belief that meaningful change happens when communities and ecosystems thrive together. Her hope is that future generations will inherit a world as full of life and beauty as the one that first inspired her, a world where everyone can experience the connection, balance, and renewal that water makes possible. Ilham believes Working toward water justice means protecting both people and place, so that all can thrive together. She is happiest reading in the sun, exploring trails, playing New York Times word games, and travelling to experience new cultures.

”I believe that working toward water justice means protecting both people and place, because caring for water is caring for people, and our wellbeing and the planet’s are inseparable."