PROFILE
AIRLEA RASUL
Founder & Executive Director
Board Chair
ABOUT
Airlea Rasul is a Toronto-based environmental and community development leader and the Founder, Executive Director, and Board Chair of Terra Elysium Foundation, a not-for-profit advancing environmental education, arts-based programming, and youth-led community initiatives across Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environment and Urban Sustainability from Toronto Metropolitan University, with additional certifications in environmental management, Indigenous studies, urban climate, and conservation. Her work is grounded in a multidisciplinary approach that connects environmental systems, cultural expression, and community-based research.
Airlea currently works within the Ontario Public Service at the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, where she contributes to program and service delivery, with a focus on operational improvement, policy alignment, and public impact. Her professional background includes roles with Coast Funds, Parks Canada, and the City of Toronto, where she has supported conservation finance initiatives, Indigenous-led environmental stewardship, and community-focused programming. At Coast Funds, she contributed to the disbursement and oversight of over $5 million in funding supporting environmental and community-based projects. In her current role within the Ontario Public Service, she supports program and service delivery tied to funding pipelines representing hundreds of millions in public investment.
Airlea has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 by Starfish Canada and continues to contribute to initiatives that centre equity, accessibility, and youth engagement.
Through Terra Elysium, Airlea has led and delivered initiatives in collaboration with the City of Toronto, including Terra Pulse: The Greenheart Collective, an arts-based environmental program in Jane and Finch, and What You Don’t See: KGO, a community storytelling film project highlighting lived experiences in Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park. Her work emphasizes participatory programming, mentorship, and the integration of visual arts, storytelling, and environmental education to support community-driven change.
Born and raised in Toronto, Airlea is deeply committed to strengthening local communities through inclusive programming, sustainable development, and civic engagement. Her long-term vision focuses on advancing equitable systems, building resilient neighbourhoods, and contributing to the future of Toronto through leadership in the public and community sectors.
Get in touch
Airlea collaborates with organizations, institutions, and partners committed to advancing environmental sustainability, arts and culture, and community development. She is especially interested in initiatives that drive equitable investment, strengthen neighbourhoods, and create meaningful opportunities for youth.
TERRA ELYSIUM 