Anastasia is a community-based environmental social scientist with several years of experience conducting research in both academic and consulting spaces. Her doctoral dissertation will explore how regional and international food networks that connect local food producers can be better supported by the global food system with particular attention to governance mechanisms that could support local food producers and territorial food markets. Anastasia also has a background in protected areas governance, Indigenous governance, boundary approaches to research, and participatory-based research centered on meaningful partnerships and collaboration with communities.

Anastasia holds a Master of Environmental Studies from Dalhousie University. Her master’s research was a community-partnered project with two Mi’kmaw organizations, the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources and the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, wherein she explored governance mechanisms and Mi’kmaw values and aspirations for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in Nova Scotia. During and following her master’s studies, Anastasia worked with and/or for a variety of sectors including public, non-profit, and private. She has several years of experience working as a research assistant and consultant on projects both within Canada and internationally. Her experience working with Indigenous Nations and organizations on protected areas governance issues led her to the food governance space since issues of territory and livelihoods are intricately connected to food systems and decision-making power across and within different governance scales.

Anastasia is committed to bringing a participatory and transdisciplinary lens to her work and is motivated by contributing to projects and initiatives that support socio-ecological resilience and adaptive capacity.