Maureen Reed

Dr. Maureen Reed is a Distinguished Professor and UNESCO Co-Chair in Biocultural Diversity, Sustainability, Reconciliation and Renewal at the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS). Her research focuses on environmental governance, climate adaptation, Indigenous knowledge systems, and gender equity in sustainability contexts. She holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Waterloo and has authored over 100 publications, including the co-edited volume UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: Supporting Biocultural Diversity, Sustainability and Society.

Dr. Reed’s academic credentials include a Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (University of Waterloo), Master of Arts (University of Toronto), and Bachelor of Science (University of Victoria). She is a recipient of prestigious awards such as the University of Saskatchewan Distinguished Professorship and the Canadian Association of Geographers’ Scholarly Distinction Award.

Her research interests span governance for environmental sustainability, biocultural diversity, and reconciliation. She leads the PROGRESS Lab, which emphasizes transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability challenges, collaborating with Indigenous communities, NGOs, and governments. Key projects include the TRANSECTS initiative, fostering global North-South partnerships, and the DERT project, integrating Indigenous knowledge with ecological restoration.

Dr. Reed has supervised numerous graduate students, including Gilbert Adum (Vanier Scholar) and Michaela Sidloski, whose work addresses climate resilience and Indigenous-led conservation. She co-developed frameworks like the Three-Stone Hearth approach and the Co-WE framework, advancing equity-centered conservation strategies. Her advocacy extends to policy, emphasizing inclusive climate adaptation and gender-responsive environmental governance.

Dr. Reed’s contributions have been recognized through media features in The StarPhoenix and The Conversation, and she actively engages in international networks like UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme. Her lab’s work bridges academia, communities, and industry, fostering transformative solutions to complex sustainability challenges.