Tara has an academic background from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor’s degree in History and Law & Society (double major). Currently, Tara is a PhD student at UCalgary in the Environmental Design program. Supplemented by her work experience as a former research assistant in UCalgary’s Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering and current role as a research assistant in the School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape, Tara’s ability to conduct research and explore complex topics is versatile, creative, and effective. Her ongoing research focuses on the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of energy poverty, energy security, productivity, climate change, and other topics in relation to sustainable development.

Tara believes that sustainable development solutions require holistic approaches that integrate the triple bottom line of sustainability and contextualized insight. She has always approached research with the idea that the people and places impacted by current global challenges are central. She has observed that research often fails to capture the personal stories and contexts for local individuals and communities behind the data. To her, discussions should include the who, what, where, and how people and places are affected, expressed both from their perspectives and through their voices - its not a story, its their story. Driven by a belief in engaging directly where stories, challenges, and targeted solutions come to life, Tara is highly interested in pursuing critical, underexplored, and evolving global issues and perspectives. This, with her passion for creating lasting impact, was her motivation for co-founding AMPP with the team.