People

Founding Director

Dr. Romila P. Verma

An innovative teacher, researcher, speaker, and documentary film maker, Dr. Verma lectures on water and environmental issues in the School of the Environment and Department of Geography at the University of Toronto. Dr. Verma’s experience growing up with resource inequity in India fuel her desire to educate, research, and find creative solutions to global challenges like freshwater shortage and climate change impacts. Her upcoming documentary- Water Be Dammed… narrates a compelling journey of river Satluj in Punjab, India, by tracing the story of challenges, hopes and aspirations of water’s will to survive and rejuvenate.

She is the founder of Water Speaks, www.waterspeaks.org an initiative that strives to translate the voice of water through research, education and action. She is spearheading educational workshops for elementary and middle school students through the concept of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). This innovative learning program strives to develop the children’s education and curiosity through the lens of four Es- Exploration, Experimentation, Expression and Enterprise.

As part of her research work, Dr. Verma has spearheaded notable projects on climate change impacts and freshwater. Her research on the impacts of weather variables on municipal water consumption are implemented by the City of Toronto to model and project water usage in the changing climate. Her other notable work is on watershed management, source water protection and hydrological analysis of river systems. She has published multiple academic reports and articles on climate change and its impacts on communities and regions; water; and resource conflicts. She is currently working on a book about emerging water issues, Deconstructing Water.

A sought-after speaker for her leading-edge perspectives on water and environmental issues, Dr. Verma has presented at several conferences all over the world. She runs engaging workshops to create awareness and participation from people who are interested in being changemakers.

She has received recognition from India’s Aadhi Aabadi Society for her 20 plus years of contribution in the field of teaching, research and creating solutions for sustainable freshwater management. Outside of work, Dr. Verma is an avid waterscape painter in acrylic. She also enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening and above all, spending time with her family and friends.

Research Assistant / Writer

Maya Fleischmann

I am honoured to be a part of the Water Speaks team, and to have the opportunity to expand my environmentalism beyond personal activism and into a professional capacity. 

I am currently a graduate student at the University of Guelph studying Sustainable Commerce. When not studying for my courses or working with Water Speaks, I can be found writing poetry and campaigning for environmental and social justice.

Having grown up in the waters of Georgian Bay, our local Lake Huron was a fundamental aspect of my youth. My friends and I would spend days on the waterfront picking up litter left behind by tourists and looking in awe at the minnows and crawfish that lived within the shallows. From a young age we had a special understanding of the importance of our aquatic ecosystem, and a deep connection to the waters that were home to so many amazing creatures and that formed an integral part of our local culture.

I have long been an avid writer and throughout high school, as I learned more about the social and environmental injustices threatening Canadians and our ecosystems, I began shifting my writing away from fiction and toward the alarming realities that our planet is facing. Living in a town surrounded by fresh water, the realization that so many on our planet do not have access to clean drinking water and sanitation shook me and instilled in me a desire to enact change on a global level. It is of great importance for me to give back to not only my local community but to my global community as well, and through my work with Water Speaks I hope to help provide a voice for our planet’s waters as well as for the people who greatly rely on them.

Director

Zehra

I graduated from University of Toronto-Mississauga in 2014 with Honors Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Geography and double minor in Earth Science and English. As an Environmental Scientist, I have experience in conducting Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessments including soil and groundwater sampling programs. 

I am passionate about understanding the Earth, its structure, our environment and the way its system functions to allow the Earth to thrive. I loved collecting rocks and sea-shells when I was about  5 years old. My obsession to collect these wonderful treasures continued even as an adult. My favorite place to find solitude is the beach with its pristine water, smooth sand and indulging warm heat from the sun. 

Unfortunately, with the increased rate in global warming and other environmental concerns such was land, water and air pollutions; it is disheartening to hear the news with global crisis and our community around the world suffering from natural hazards, poverty, famine, drought, war and other factors contributing to increasing health risks over the years. 

Water Speaks has given me a platform and an opportunity to share my voice and opinions with the team in how to be proactive in our society. It is very easy to spew out a list of problems, but what if we come up with solutions that can change everything, steer the community in the right direction and our environment. Water is essential to our vital being and like water, each one of us are droplets that make an ocean. Let us unite and be an ocean of hope, trust, respect, love, mercy, justice and peace.

Blog Editor, Scriptwriter

Colin Sostar

I am a Masters of English graduate currently working as a representative at Linwood Veterinary Services, assisting veterinarians in their aims to best serve the agricultural community in Southern Ontario. When not in work mode or considering the paths of current written projects with Water Speaks, I find myself inexorably drawn to the written word, pursuing personal projects as I find my own unique narrative voice.

My experiences with water are, I should think, much more the product of personal happenstance than scientific endeavour; for myself contact with water is as incidental as it is with anyone else. I have grown up around competitive swimmers, gone fishing with family, and taken the time to relax and watch the waves on a beautifully lit evening. And, personally, the wildlife within is what I appreciate the most about water – particularly the goofs and gaffes of seabirds and waterfowl.

I find water to be a curious thing, truth be told. It is life-giving but also life-taking, beautiful but dangerous, mesmerizing yet fear-inducing and that last point I jot here as an honest thalassaphobe. In its own way water shapes the flow of history with its presence and dominates so much of our societal verbiage that even our voyages into the stars take their lexicons from the nautical traditions so firmly ingrained in our civilizations. Water shapes society with the same ease that it carves rivers, crevasses, and canyons into the landscape. And now, in the age of industry, we have turbocharged our ability to shape it back, for better and for worse. With water so seemingly omnipresent it’s easy to take for granted, which is why I found myself drawn to this organization. Here I see people looking to draw awareness to the tragedies and triumphs of water distribution, scientific research, and climate change awareness. And within those fronts I feel equipped to contribute to awareness through my medium of choice; the written word. Through working with Water Speaks and its most excellent team, I hope to help bring the stories of water to people of all walks of life, and help inspire others to shape the future of water for the better.

Blog Editor

Danielle Montochhio

Having been born in South Africa and raised as a Canadian, I have a unique perspective of the difference between a world of “Haves and Have-Nots”. South Africa, as a developing country in the midst of a great economic and energy supply crisis, is and has also struggled with water-availability. When visiting extended family in Cape Town, more often than not, a water restriction is in effect, which requires using grey water to flush toilets, restricted shower use, and no car washing or watering of gardens. Juxtapose this with my day-to-day experience in Canada, a country that has 25% of the world’s freshwater within its borders, where water as a precious resource is not on anyone’s mind.

However, in my recent years as a PhD candidate at McMaster University, studying coastal wetland ecosystems and communities in Lake Huron, I have learnt that even Canada has “Have-Nots” and, we as a society, are generally not aware and therefore are not concerned. In Canada, 73% of our First Nations peoples do not have access to safe drinking water. Working in northern Ontario, where coastal wetlands are relatively undisturbed, I often work with Indigenous communities on their reserve lands. I am always welcomed with open arms in these communities and honoured to meet the descendants of the first ecologists of this land.

I believe as a scientist, and a person with this unique background, and a voice which has the privilege of being heard on a wider stage than most others, it is my responsibility to speak out and advocate for those without access to drinking water, both at home and abroad. Through my research, I am able to quantify just how large the cascading impact water quality can have not only on our ecosystems, but people too. Through Water Speaks, I hope to gain new knowledge and insights and where possible share this knowledge with a wider audience and be a part of a positive change in the world working towards clean water for all living things.

Research Assistant

Tilly Dixon

I am a final year student from the University of Manchester in the UK, studying for a BSc in Geography with an academic leaning towards physical geography and environmental sustainability. Last year I studied on exchange at the University of Toronto where I was fortunate enough to be taught by Romila Verma in her Water Resource Management course and begin volunteering for Water Speaks. I am honoured to be a part of the team and continue this role back in the UK. 

I come from a small rural village in the countryside, near both the ocean and a plethora of rivers and I was fortunate enough to have water as an integral part of my landscape growing up. I feel an immense privilege to have had this relationship with such a precious resource and this appreciation of water is something at the very core of the Water Speaks organisation that really spoke to me.

The community-based management lens used at Water Speaks was very different to the technocentric approach in the UK and challenged my preconceptions about water management with an involvement of culture and place attachments. In such a saturated NGO market the alternative methods like educational documentaries that Water Speaks employs are more important than ever to bring these issues of water mismanagement into the mainstream. I approach the Water Speaks organisation from a scientific and sustainability grounded lens and look forward to helping in my role as a researcher and through involvement in the social media campaign and hopefully in helping to raise the profile of Water Speaks in the UK.

Documentary Coordinator & Research Assistant

Selin

When I first met Dr. Verma, she asked a question I never thought about before: which water archetype am I?

I am a second year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto with membership to Victoria College pursuing a Specialist in Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology, and my water archetype is waterfall. I am originally from Istanbul, Turkiye and came to Canada for university in 2022. I chose my water archetype as waterfall because I believe everyone and everything is constantly in change, and sometimes in life we have a big and sudden change that alters the course of our lives.

In high school I had multiple opportunities to engage with environmentalism. I’ve been the President of the Nature Club and participated as a delegate (2020), Young Reporter (2021) and Junior Alumni (2022) in the Caretakers of the Environment International Conferences. Growing up I’ve lived next to the Marmara Sea, which has been facing the issue of pollution for years. This has affected my focus to be mostly on water in these occasions, some of which include microplastics and sea mucilage.

Outside of academics and environmentalism I also enjoy engaging with music. I’m a clarinetist and a choir executive of the Victoria College Chorus (Vic Chorus) as a social coordinator. I also volunteer at the student-run Caffiends cafe at the Victoria College and have become the Inventory & Space Management Director for 2023-2024.

I’m honoured to be a part of the Water Speaks organization and I’m excited to work with the amazing people belonging to this team.

Event Manager & Documentary Assistant

Xavier

I am currently in my second year of high school at St. Marcellinus secondary with a focus on business studies. I have also been a part of the literature club for almost two years, but I hope to broaden my horizons in the future. In my spare time I enjoy writing fiction stories and occasionally work on graphic design using Adobe Photoshop.

During the summer of 2019 I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend the STEAM summer camp at the Oakville Arts Studio. This is where I was introduced to Dr. Verma, while learning a variety of skills through unique and creative tasks. I decided to reach out to Dr. Verma about an opportunity to join the Water Speaks organization in late fall of 2022 and officially joined in early 2023.

I am very grateful for the opportunity Water Speaks has given me, and I hope to spread the message of the importance of water globally, creating a positive ripple of change in society.

Social Media Coordinator

Viana Sadeghi

Born in Iran, I witnessed the gradual disappearance of Urmia Lake, a catastrophic event that profoundly impacted the local residents. This once-thriving saltwater lake, known for its vibrant ecosystem and economic importance to the community, began to shrink due to a combination of factors including water diversion for agricultural irrigation, dam construction, and climate change. As the water levels receded, not only did the local climate become more arid, but the livelihoods of thousands who depended on the lake for agriculture, tourism, and salt extraction were devastated. The ecological imbalance also led to increased salinity, further endangering the remaining aquatic life and disrupting the natural habitat of migratory birds.

Emigrating to Canada at the age of 12, the profound impact of environmental degradation on communities like mine became a driving force in my life. I was determined to ensure that no one else would have to endure the loss and helplessness my community faced due to environmental neglect. This resolve steered me towards a path of advocacy and study that I believed could make a difference on a global scale.

Upon being accepted into the University of Toronto, it was clear to me that my mission required a multidisciplinary approach. Hence, I decided to double major in Environmental Studies and the Philosophy of Science. This unique combination of fields allowed me to delve deeply into the current environmental challenges facing our planet while also exploring the philosophical underpinnings of how societies understand and interact with the natural world. This dual perspective is critical for developing holistic solutions that are both effective and ethically sound.

Currently, in my third year, I am on the verge of completing a certificate in Environmental Sustainability. This certificate program is designed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of sustainable practices and the principles of environmental stewardship. It covers a wide range of topics, from the science of climate change and biodiversity to the economics of sustainable development and the ethics of environmental policy. This knowledge is crucial for anyone looking to make substantive contributions to the field of environmental conservation and sustainability.

My journey from witnessing the decline of Urmia Lake to studying at one of the world’s leading universities has been driven by a single goal: to prevent the environmental calamities of my childhood from repeating elsewhere. It is this goal that has led me to join the Water Speaks community. Here, I am dedicated to developing innovative solutions to the pressing environmental problems related to water and advocating for meaningful change. By combining my academic background with the passionate community at Water Speaks, I am committed to making a difference in how we understand, value, and protect our precious water resources for future generations.

Social Media Coordinator

Megan Fezi

I have always been interested in the world around me, examining how humans shape the environment and consequently, how our environments influence our quality of life. While specializing in Architecture at the University of Toronto, my interest in the environment has allowed me to also pursue a major in Environmental Geography, leading me to be interested in water management.

I joined Water Speaks to help bring awareness to the increasing global water crisis and the ways in which water is being mismanaged and overused. The current state of water management across the earth has caused many communities to lack access to clean water and sanitation. The water inequalities we see today will continue to escalate and affect many lives if no one takes action.

I am grateful to be involved in Water Speaks and am eager to expand my knowledge and understanding of water through it in search of effective solutions. I seek to apply my diverse knowledge of architecture, the environment, and water management to Water Speaks with the aim of constructing a more generous and equitable future.