Our Team
Since 1998, Beringia Community Planning has completed over 100 projects with Indigenous and First Nation communities, groups and related agencies across the country. Beringia’s work involves collaboration between a diverse and experienced team of employees and colleagues.
Jeff Cook MCIP, RPP
Principal
Jeff Cook is the Principal of Beringia Community Planning Inc. Supporting over 150 Indigenous communities and organizations since 1991, Jeff is a planning facilitator, community engagement specialist, educator, trainer and analyst with a diverse range of community development and planning experience (comprehensive, sector and project planning). Jeff has engaged in over 100 community development and planning projects.
Paula Hay MCIP
Senior Planner
Beringia welcomed Paula Hay to the team in June 2017. Paula worked in South Africa on projects related to disaster risk reduction, public health education, and the application of Indigenous knowledge for climate change adaptation. Before joining Beringia, Paula was a Planner with the First Nations Health Authority where she supported organizational planning and transformation. Paula’s areas of interest include community-based planning processes, participatory and applied research, and innovative facilitation and engagement techniques.
Christine Spinder
Intermediate Planner
Christine joined Beringia in 2024, and brings 30+ years of facilitation and community planning with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. Her background ranges from facilitating Land Relationship Plans with sovereign First Nations across Northern Canada, to co-founding the Restoring Collective who coach Indigenous healing Circles. An Ashoka Social Innovator, Christine's areas of interest include creative community engagement, holistic & systemic inclusion, and integrating non-violence and equity-building modalities for sustainability and joy.
Åsa Berggren
Planner
Åsa joined the Beringia team in 2024. After completing a master’s degree in architecture and urban design in her native Sweden, Åsa spent 10 years in London, UK working on and leading planning, research and design projects, focusing on how people interact with and experience spaces and cities. She has a background in community engagement, having had the opportunity to work with diverse community and accessibility groups in the UK, France, and North America. She brings interest and experience in urban design, placemaking, wayfinding and experience strategy.
Douglas Amundaray MA
Operations Manager
Douglas joined Beringia in 2024, bringing experience in project management, business operations, and both qualitative and quantitative market research. Originally from Venezuela, Douglas moved to Canada in 2012 to pursue postgraduate studies, completing a double master's degree in Global Communications at Simon Fraser University. Before joining Beringia and following a short stint in China as an academic researcher, Douglas worked for various local and global market research firms, where he had the opportunity to lead not only operations but also strategic planning, data analysis, reporting, and facilitation for a wide range of organizations and industries.
Eryn Kim MCRP
Planner
Eryn is driven by inclusive and participatory approaches to planning--namely, trauma-informed and culturally safe practices for historically oppressed and marginalized populations. She brings experience in masterplanning, land use planning and zoning, pubilc engagement, policy analysis, and research in various cities, governments, and firms. Prior to planning, Eryn supported equitable community development programs in local nonprofits to international initiatives in West and Southern Africa. Eryn holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Stefanny Gómez Villa
Office Administrator
Stefanny joined Beringia in 2024, bringing experience in supporting doctoral-level programs and enhancing quality assurance in higher education. With a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Education, Stefanny combines technical expertise with a deep commitment to academic standards. Her background includes contributions to national accreditation processes in Colombia, as well as international initiatives, where she developed automated self-evaluation tools and facilitated data-driven program improvements.
Danielle Maraj
Graphic Designer
Danielle has been a graphic designer since 2014. Graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design and British Columbia Institute of Technology in Communication Design. Over the years she has worked with a wide variety of clients and companies, such as local non-profits and charities, small business owners as well as large corporations across North America, both as a freelancer and in-house designer. She has experience in digital and print design, illustration, and marketing. Her creativity and passion for meaningful design comes through in all her work.