Parastu holds a Doctoral degree in Political Ecology from Carleton University. Her life and career have been driven by a strong passion to make a better world with ecologically sound and socially just societies. She is a manager of Effective Measures at the Social Planning Council of Ottawa. Previously, she worked as a researcher, strategic partnership coordinator, and program officer for the non-profit sector and international non-governmental organizations at the national level and for the United Nations Environment Program, United Nations Development Program, and international treaties. Parastu has 20+ years of experience in helping organizations to achieve their goals and improve their outcomes, designing and planning evaluation frameworks, building strategic partnerships, conducting research, and coordinating multi-sector and multi-stakeholder programs. She has worked and lived in Asia, Europe, and Canada. This exposure has provided her with a unique ability to work with diverse groups in cross-cultural contexts and political settings with ease and insight.