The Youth Climate Cabinet is comprised of award alumni and is the body that administers the National YCAA and serves as the peer review panel for submissions. In its spare time, the Cabinet speaks TRUTH TO POWER.
The YCC is also responsible for adjudicating the National Youth Climate Activism Award each year.
FINNEGAN BROWN
โฆพ Chair
Finnegan is a climate advocate, visual artist, and youth leader, recognized for his creative activism and civic engagement. He was awarded the NYCAA in 2023 for his climate action work in artistic activism and engagement with local government. He advocates for connecting with nature through visual art, believing that experiencing its wonder inspires us to protect biodiversity.
As a Member of Parliament in BCโs Youth Legislative Assembly, Finn introduced a bill in the BC Legislature to redesign the grounds with a focus on habitat restoration and sustainable practices. The bill was passed with support from youth MPs representing ridings throughout British Columbia. He previously served in the Vancouver Island Youth Parliament, where he passed a private memberโs resolution to install beehives on the Victoria Parliament Buildings to promote biodiversity and food security.
Now in his first year studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of British Columbia, Finnegan is fascinated by the ways ideas shape policy and society. His editorial cartoons have been recognized with the Global Young Journalist Award and selected for publication by the George Orwell Foundation in London. He was honoured to deliver the keynote address at the Victoria Climate Action Youth Forum, where he inspired and mentored other youth. Through his creative and civic work, Finnegan seeks to connect with others to take meaningful, collective action for social change.
Finnegan is an avid swimmer, competitive water polo player, and certified lifeguard. Now living away at university, he misses his two dogs, Lucy and Fred, but stays connected to pups by helping train facility and service dogs through UBC Campus Canines in partnership with PADS, promoting accessibility and inclusivity on campus.
โ Check out Finn being interviewed on the National Observer by Patricia Lane HERE.
โฆพ Secretary
KASEY CHEN
Kasey was a recipient of the YCAA in 2022 and is a senior at Mount Douglas Senior Secondary in Victoria, BC. She loves reading Bronte novels with a large cup of coffee on rainy days, learning about old growth, and taking walks up Mount Tolmie.
She has lobbied MLAs in the past and spoken to Justin Trudeau about youth concerns as part of the City of Victoria Youth Council because of her interest in climate activism. Kasey's favourite pastime though is helping out in her school's garden, where they grow produce and maintain a native meadow with Gary Oaks, shrubs, and perennial flowers.
PARKER LITTLE
โฆพ Communications Officer
Parker was a recipient of the YCCA in 2022, where she was recognized for her recycling reformations at Claremont Secondary School. This included the opening of a Cafe (named the Zero Waste Cafe), writing Claremontโs One Planet Saanich plan, and speaking alongside Saanichโs immediate-past mayor, Fred Haynes, when the municipality accepted a Carbon Disclosure Project award. She has spoken to over 1,200 youth about the importance of recycling, and placed second nationally for her speech about the importance of the skilled trades in Canadaโs future in the 2022 Skills Canada competition.
Parker is now doing a double major in Economics and Environmental Science as an undergraduate student at the University of Victoria. Her Environmental work continues through her research on soil carbon sequestration through the VKURA research internship, through her membership with the Universityโs sustainability project, and as a board member of I-SEA.
AMY ZHANG
โฆพ Coordinator
Amy is the Youth Outreach group leader in Mount Douglas Secondaryโs Environmental Leadership program. Their mission is to educate students about climate change, local environments, conservation techniques, and harmful toxins such as micro-plastics. Her group inspired middle schools to take concrete steps to combat climate change.
This year, Amy is excited to expand Youth Outreach to elementary schools. Other than Youth Outreach, Amy volunteers within the program to remove invasive species at Mount ToImie, transplant camas in the school garden, and attend beach cleanups.
ELAINE XIAO
โฆพ Marketing & Growth Officer
Elaine was awarded the YCAA in 2024, highlighting her proactiveness in protecting wildlife and fostering sustainable consumption. Her non-profit Mism has recycled $10,000+ worth of items and galvanized thousands of youth in environmental action while being distinguished by the prestigious Diana Award. She is recognized by figures such as Waterloo Mayor McCabe and the Hon. Member of Parliament Mike Morrice, with whom she spoke on her YouTube channel.
Elaineโs drive for social justice is rooted in climate action and challenging beauty standards. Beyond engaging in activism, she enjoys reading up on global happenings and body ideals, plus the occasional contemporary fiction. Currently in her final year at Laurel Heights Secondary School in Waterloo, ON, Elaine is committed to expanding the Youth Climate Cabinetโs efforts both across the continent and the web.