From studying climate science at Â鶹´«Ă˝ÍřŐľ to helping Canada prepare for extreme weather and a changing environment, BSE alumna Nikki Lulham is working with communities, governments and industries to better prepare for a rapidly changing climate, a field she describes as both urgent and deeply motivating.
“I remember first learning about the science of climate change as a student and it really stuck with me,” she said.
Lulham completed her Bachelor of Science with Honours at Â鶹´«Ă˝Ířվ’s Bieler School of Environment back in 2006, where she focused on health and environmental sciences.
After Â鶹´«Ă˝ÍřŐľ, she pursued a master’s degree in environmental studies specializing in sustainability policy and planning. That program opened key doors, including co‑op placements at Environment Canada and the World Green Building Council.
“At the World Green Building Council, I worked on green building reports and managed an international internship program,” she explains.
She later spent six months in Tanzania working with Sustainable Cities International, supporting local development projects. Returning to Canada, she took on communications and consumer engagement work with a worker co‑op known for its fair‑trade and organic chocolate.
But it was during her time at the International Development Research Centre that she discovered her niche: “That’s when I found my calling in the climate change adaptation field.”
“Climate change adaptation is central,” said Lulham. “It’s about improving the resilience of all aspects of our lives, protecting people and communities, the economy, supply chains, and the natural environment.”
Her current role at NRCan involves managing the a five‑year initiative that supports organizations across Canada. The program’s work spans four streams: mainstreaming adaptation into natural resource sectors like forestry, energy and mining; analyzing the economics of climate impacts and adaptation options; equipping Canada’s workforce with necessary skills; and advancing knowledge on emerging issues in adaptation, such as social equity aspects and better understanding barriers and enablers.
“There’s a lot of work already underway,” she said. NRCan alone “has been supporting work on climate change adaptation for over 20 years.”
Her team’s efforts support regions, sectors, and communities across the country as they plan and implement actions to reduce risks from climate change, like extreme weather, wildfires, flooding, and permafrost thaw.
But equally important, she said, is ongoing collaboration with Indigenous organizations, municipalities, universities, NGOs and the private sector.
It’s about “working towards shared goals, being flexible, welcoming different perspectives and ways of knowing, and early and continued engagement.”
Lulham’s interdisciplinary education at Â鶹´«Ă˝ÍřŐľ continues to shape her career.
Interdisciplinary learning, she said, “is essential for work in the adaptation field. It’s thinking about alternate ways of sharing information, to help inform decision-making,” she said.
The adaptation program that Lulham is working on at NRCan is entering its final phase with the coming year to focus on analyzing and mobilizing findings.
She’s also working on the next series of national assessment reports — including the 2026 Canada’s Changing Climate Report, a special report on extreme events, the Living in a Changing Climate report, and a report assessing the state of adaptation.
Despite the accelerating pace of climate change, Lulham remains optimistic.
“I am inspired by the many people I’ve met who are dedicated and passionate about building resilience to climate change,” she said. “Change does takes time, especially organizational and system-level change… but there is progress being made.”
She notes that climate education has expanded significantly in recent years, and that professionals in fields like engineering and planning are increasingly integrating adaptation into their work. Municipalities and businesses across Canada are also making important strides in adapting to a changing climate.
“Challenges often inspire creativity and innovation,” she said. “There’s incredible work on adaptation already underway within our country and internationally.”