Iman Lalani

Background

About Iman Lalani

I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, where I majored in Environmental Management and Human Geography with a minor in Environmental Policy and Law. Throughout my studies, I was honoured to receive several academic and leadership distinctions, including the full-ride Lester B. Pearson Scholarship, Laidlaw Research Scholarship, Canadian Association of Geographers Award, Top Human Geography Student Award, Outstanding Program Performance Award, Geography and Environment Ignatt Kaneff Award, and UTM In-Course Scholarship. Growing up in the U.K, Pakistan, and Kenya, I led a number of community afforestation, education, and youth empowerment initiatives. These formative experiences instilled in me a deep commitment to sustainable development and environmental justice, shaping my path toward roles with organizations such as GivingTuesday, Youth4Nature, the Aga Khan Education Services, and Stand Up Shout Out. I completed an Honours Thesis examining Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) across Canadian Geography departments and expect to publish the findings this year. I also undertook independent research through the Laidlaw Scholarship Program, exploring how neo-colonial legislation in sub-Saharan Africa affect the region’s climate governance. My commitment to advancing social good extends to my professional career, where I currently serve as a Senior Policy and Program Analyst at Ontario’s Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. In this role, I support the development of evidence-based policies and programs that serve children with special needs and their families.