Kala is a Sector Specialist with the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). Her role involves working with Canada’s national standardization network, researchers, engineers, and others to develop and implement standardization solutions (standards, guidance and technical documents) that boost infrastructure resilience and create stronger communities for Canadians. She primarily works on initiatives that support the adaptation of buildings and community infrastructure in northern Canada to the warming climate and more frequent extreme weather events. A prime focus of this work has been supporting the development of standards that consider changing permafrost conditions. The Northern Infrastructure Standardization Initiative (NISI) aims to address the unique circumstances found in Canada’s North through the effective use of standards. Prior to joining SCC, Kala worked as a Research Associate with the Conference Board of Canada focusing on northern and Indigenous policy issues. As part of this role, she supported northern community-based climate risk and hazard assessments to help local decision-making in the face of climate change. Kala received a Master of Economics and Development at McGill University (Montreal, Quebec).