Rameesa Badar

Rameesa Badar graduated with honours from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. Her academic background includes studies in geography, minerology, geographic information systems, environmental sustainability, ecology, biogeography, and environmental law and policy.  

Throughout her undergraduate studies, Rameesa developed a strong understanding of environmental challenges and recognized that meaningful and lasting change often requires action at the governmental levels. This realization sparked her interest in environmental law and policy, particularly in the development of frameworks that support sustainable environmental management and conservation.  

In her final year of study, Rameesa completed an eight-month internship with Ontario Parks, where she supported the organization’s efforts to evaluate and implement open-source GIS software. Her primary responsibility involved developing Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the use of QGIS within Ontario Parks, helping facilitate the transition from proprietary GIS platforms to more accessible and cost-effective open-source alternatives. In addition, she conducted a jurisdictional scan examining the use of QGIS by organizations worldwide and contributed to policy development supporting its implementation within Ontario Parks.  

Outside of her academics, Rameesa enjoys playing video gaming (her favourite game is Red Dead Redemption 2) and visiting the movie theatres. She is a passionate animal advocate, who volunteers regularly at her local animal shelter.