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Etelle Higonnet
Founder & Director
Etelle Higonnet, attorney and environmental activist, has worked at Mighty Earth, National Wildlife Federation, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, as well as two war crimes courts. She was knighted as a Chevalier de l'ordre national du Mérite for her pioneering efforts to curb deforestation in high-risk commodities with an emphasis on cocoa, rubber, palm oil, cattle, and soy industries. She has worked in over 30 countries, is widely published, speaks 9 languages, and is a graduate of Yale Law School. Read more »
Joy Wahba
Chief Operations Officer
Joy Wahba is a lawyer with a background advocating for justice for vulnerable workers. Prior to joining Coffee Watch, Joy practiced labour law, employment law, human rights law and civil litigation. She has a particular interest in the intersection of climate activism and the labour movement. Joy has worked in environmental advocacy supporting several campaigns, including a campaign against human rights abuses in the cocoa supply chain. Her experience includes advocating for indigenous rights in Cambodia and access to rural water services in Malawi.
Sarah Syed
Social Media Director
Sarah Syed is a digital storyteller and climate justice advocate with over five years of experience leading youth engagement and communications across Canada. She has worked with nonprofits driving record-breaking engagement through fully funded youth summits, national awards programs, and Hamilton-Burlington’s first community engagement project on local climate action. As a UN-Habitat Youth Advisor, she brings grassroots insights to global advocacy for climate justice and sustainable cities. Her work has been recognized internationally— she is a Top 25 Under 25 Environmentalist in Canada, a Developer 30 Under 30, and has been acknowledged by Members of Parliament. Sarah is passionate about building digital spaces that drive environmental action, and center the voices of those most impacted.
Kymberly Reid
Digital Campaigns & Social Media Summer Fellow
Kymberly Reid is a digital marketing and communications strategist with over seven years of experience developing and executing multi-channel campaigns for mission-driven organizations. She has worked primarily with nonprofit advocacy organizations, creating content that translates complex issues into accessible, human-centered storytelling that moves audiences to engage and act. Holding a Master of Arts in Design for Social Impact, Kymberly brings a systems-thinking approach to communications, drawn to the interconnectedness between social, environmental, and human rights issues and is skilled at weaving those threads into cohesive, compelling digital narratives. She is particularly passionate about communications work that amplifies the voices of marginalized communities, and brings extensive experience partnering with both international organizations and local grassroots nonprofits whose missions center equity, justice, and systemic change.
Neeraj Garg Baruah
Mapping, data, and AI expert
Neeraj Garg Baruah is a geospatial and AI strategist with over a decade of experience advising governments, multilateral banks, NGOs, and think tanks on using satellite data, spatial analytics, and AI to address deforestation, climate risk, and socioeconomic vulnerability. He has led data-driven initiatives for the World Bank, McKinsey, UK Space Agency, Indian Space Research Organisation, and governments across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia—translating complex spatial data into actionable insights for policy and advocacy. Neeraj has designed geospatial platforms and decision tools now embedded in national strategies and campaigns across 20+ countries. As Director of Stahnix, he bridges big data, policy, and practice to solve complex challenges at the nexus of space, economy, and sustainability - building tools that turn big spatial data into meaningful impact. His doctoral research at the University of Cambridge explored how AI and earth observation can generate economic and social insights for underserved communities. He has been recognised as a Bright Young Climate Leader by Sacred Fig Foundation and 350.org, an EkoAward recipient, and a Young Scientist by the Government of India.
Honqian Li
Mapper
Hongqian Li is a geospatial data researcher focused on environmental justice and climate resilience. Prior to joining Coffee Watch, he worked with Columbia University’s Center for Spatial Research and Tongji University, applying GIS and machine learning to projects on urban heat islands, bail bond practices, and ecological adaptation. He has published and presented internationally on urban form, inequality, and environmental impacts.
Jessica Johnson
Volunteer
Jessica Johnson is an interdisciplinary advocate with a background in law and digital media. Prior to joining Coffee Watch, she worked as a litigation paralegal in New York City, where she gained hands-on experience with consumer protection and corporate accountability work, especially in coffee supply chains. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in International and Development Studies at the Geneva Graduate Institute in Switzerland, with a specialization in Environment and Sustainability. She has also worked as a graduate consultant with the United Nations on data governance and is a member of the World Food Forum Swiss Youth Chapter, where she engages with global conversations on transforming food systems. She is passionate about data-driven climate communication and connecting legal tools to environmental advocacy.
Nikoline Michalik
Creative Consultant
Nikoline Michalik is a multidisciplinary creative consultant specializing in graphic design, branding & visual identity, and web design. With a background in multimedia design and a bachelor’s degree in Design & Business - Creative Branding, she helps shape clear, cohesive visual communication that makes complex ideas feel accessible, human, and memorable. At Coffee Watch, Nikoline supports the organization’s visual identity across digital platforms and web experiences.
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