Michelle Cuomo is a Junior Researcher at the Firelight Group supporting the Indigenous Planning team. She is a third generation Canadian with Italian heritage and is a settler grateful to be living on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.

Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in Environment and Resource Studies with a minor in Geography from the University of Waterloo and a masters of Community and Regional Planning, specializing in Indigenous Community Planning from the University of British Columbia. She is currently pursuing her registered professional planning (RPP) designation and is a Candidate Member with the Planning Institute of British Columbia.

In previous roles Michelle has contributed to a range of planning-based initiatives including developing and updating comprehensive community plans, advancing affordable housing projects, flood mitigation planning and land use planning. Michelle’s previous experience has been with Indigenous, federal and municipal governments in interdisciplinary roles including plan implementation and community consultation.

In her free time, you can find Michelle outdoors hiking and camping with her dog Porter, or inside working on her most recent quilting project.