Suzanne von der Porten is an independent, consultant who works for Indigenous nations and Indigenous organizations, and who has expertise in water governance, Indigenous governance, marine policy, and environmental governance scholarship. Suzanne holds a Ph.D. in Environment and Resource Studies from the University of Waterloo, and a B.Sc. and an MBA from the University of Victoria. Her postdoctoral research at Simon Fraser University, Canada, focused on the changing roles of Indigenous coastal nations, governments, and industry in relation to marine conservation. She is a Research Associate with the Nereus Program at the University of British Columbia and is Action Canada Fellowship Program Alumnus (2010/2011). Both her consulting and research work toward improving the state of environmental decision-making and the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples. von der Porten was a forest fire fighter in northern British Columbia for three summers, and worked later as a fire information officer for the BC Ministry of Forests during the peak fire seasons. In 2010, Suzanne cycled across Canada with five other women to promote clean transportation. She lives in lək̓ʷəŋən unceded traditional territory.