Natalya Garrod is based in Collingwood, Ontario. She is of settler heritage with roots in Ukraine, Poland, Italy, and England. She is a daughter, sister, and auntie to many nieces and nephews. In her work, her goal is to improve relationships between Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous companies, agencies, bodies, and governments. She is passionate about the protection of water (quality and quantity) and helping nations to assert sovereignty and nationhood, creating organizational change within non-Indigenous organizations to create space for Indigenous communities to thrive and collaborate. 

She has an Advanced Planning Certificate in Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) with Vancouver Island University. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph in Environmental Governance and a Master's degree in Rural Planning and Development. Her MSc thesis research, entitled Local Water Collaboration to Enhance Community Source Water Protection at Chippewas of the Thames First Nations, Ontario examined water governance and collaborative models between First Nations and local governing bodies. She gained experience working immersively with four different First Nations in Southwestern Ontario over the course of 8 years. 

She has worked as a CEO and Interim COO for Caldwell First Nation and prior to that worked as a Strategic Advisor to the Chief and Council of Caldwell First Nation. Natalya has managed the Planning and Ecology Team for the Three Fires Group, a First Nations-owned economic development corporation that aimed to build generational wealth for First Nations clients. Natalya conducted 3 years of qualitative research with a First Nation for a First Nation. She is a Registered Professional Planner with the Canadian Institute of Planners and Ontario Professional Planners Institute.