Dr. Adrina C. Bardekjian MFC, PhD

Dr. Adrina C. Bardekjian is a seasoned urban forestry researcher, educator, and writer with nearly two decades of experience in the field. She holds a Master of Forest Conservation from the University of Toronto and earned her PhD from York University, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Bardekjian’s academic work explores the social dimensions of arboriculture and urban forestry, focusing on topics such as identity, labour dynamics, and women’s leadership and equity within the field. She has contributed to numerous publications, including serving as an editor for the influential book Urban Forests, Trees and Greenspace: A Political Ecology Perspective. To broaden her outreach, she has also created engaging short films, such as Women Branching Out, to share her research with wider audiences. As co-creator of the discussion series Where Women Choose to Walk: Paths to Improving Cities and Nature, Dr. Bardekjian fosters dialogue on gender and environmental issues. In addition to her research and outreach, she is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Forestry & Conservation, Daniels Faculty, University of Toronto. Recognized for her contributions, Dr. Bardekjian has received several prestigious awards, including the Society of Municipal Arborists Award of Achievement and the International Society of Arboriculture’s Honourary Membership Award. Currently, she leads the Research and Engagement department at Tree Canada, driving strategic initiatives and collaborations like the Canadian Urban Forest Network and the National Urban Forest Conference.