BUILDING DECARBONIZATION ALLIANCE - Key Persons
Aurélie has held technical and expert advisor roles on numerous projects related to energy transition and decarbonization in the built environment, with governments, utilities and businesses. Before joining the Building Decarbonization Alliance, Aurélie was a Senior Consultant at Econoler. She also worked for energy and services providers focusing on demand side management and on the development of commercial strategies and service offerings related to energy efficiency. She holds a Bachelor of Science in agro-environmental engineering from ISA Lille, as well as a master's degree in urban environmental management from Wageningen University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the STEERING COMMITTEE
- Managing Consultant at Dunsky Energy
Brendan McEwen is a Managing Consultant at Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors. He is an energy transition leader with more than 15 years of experience helping utility, government and private sector clients decarbonize the transportation and building sectors. He led the development of some of North America's most innovative urban climate policies. While working in local government, he proved instrumental in the development of British Columbia's groundbreaking BC Energy Step Code and led development of North America's first 100% "EV Ready" requirements; more recently, he supported the early development of the Zero Carbon Step Code. He lives in Vancouver, B.C.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the LEADERSHIP Team
Bryan brings more than three decades of leadership and consulting experience with governments, utilities, and businesses to find technical, program, and policy solutions to reduce emissions and improve the energy efficiency of the built environment. Prior to joining The Transition Accelerator, Bryan played leadership and expert advisor roles with a number of Canada's leading energy and environmental consulting firms, including ICF International, Posterity Group, and Econoler. He was Senior Manager of Operations at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and helped successfully launch the Green Municipal Fund. His early career was built on a foundation of technical and engineering roles including Director of Technical Services at Del Management Solutions and Energy Engineer at Siemens Building Technologies. Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ottawa, and is a Professional Engineer licensed in the province of Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Member of the STEERING COMMITTEE
- Executive Director of Efficiency Canada
Corey is the executive director of Efficiency Canada, a national research and advocacy organization focused on energy efficiency policies. He has more than two decades of experience leading social change organizations focused on engaging people to take action on critical environmental and social issues. Corey was previously the COO and Partner of global consulting firm Realized Worth, a company focused on the design and implementation of corporate volunteering and giving programs. Corey also spent 10 years helping to lead Summerhill, a national firm focused on engaging the public on energy efficiency behaviours. While there, he worked with utilities, government agencies and the private sector to drive significant energy savings across Canada.
Job Titles:
- Member of the LEADERSHIP Team
- Research Chair
- Transition Pathway Principal, the Transition Accelerator
James Meadowcroft holds a Canada Research Chair in Governance for Sustainable Development at Carleton University, where he is a professor in both the Department of Political Science and the School of Public Policy and Administration. James has written widely on environmental politics and policy, democratic participation and deliberative democracy, national sustainable development strategies, and socio-technical transitions. His recent work focuses on energy and the transition to a low carbon society, and includes publications on carbon capture and storage (CCS), smart grids, the development of Ontario's electricity system, the politics of socio-technical transitions, and negative carbon emissions. James has supervised PhD students working on a variety of environment and energy-related topics including North American air pollution, the politics of biofuels, decarbonization pathways, and energy futures.
Job Titles:
- Director of Partnerships and Engagement
John is a sustainability expert, strategic planner, designer, and systems change specialist with more than 25 years of experience. He works with all orders of government, businesses, and other organizations to co-create and then implement bold visions for a better future. In recent years, John has helped organizations design and establish transition labs that in turn seek to address complex issues such as climate change, housing, natural capital, and chemicals of concern. His past clients and partners include the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Chartered Professional Accountants Canada, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, The Natural Step Canada, and Evergreen.
Job Titles:
- Member of the STEERING COMMITTEE
- Director of Climate Action at Toronto Hydro
Julia McNally is the Director of Climate Action at Toronto Hydro. In this role, she leads a team focused on helping Toronto Hydro's customers to decarbonize. Julia practiced administrative law for 14 years prior to joining the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) in January 2006, where she held the role of Director of Market Transformation. With the merger of the OPA and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) in 2015, Julia became the Director of Strategic Engagement & Innovation in Corporate Relations, and then led the Internal Audit division where she provided regular assessments of controls through assurance, as well as consulting services to management and the Board of Directors. Julia's last role at the IESO was Director of Planning Projects & Sustainability, in this role she led the Pathways to Decarbonization project, looking at how to make Ontario's electricity grid zero-emissions.
Job Titles:
- Member of the STEERING COMMITTEE
- Halifax Regional Municipality 's Community Energy Manager
Kevin Boutilier is Halifax Regional Municipality's Community Energy Manager. After receiving a Bachelor of Engineering degree in 2013, Kevin began working in the renewable energy industry, gaining knowledge of solar energy system design, feasibility, installation and operation. In his current position, Kevin is responsible for the successful delivery of the Solar City program, a new Retrofit Pilot program and the Municipal Electric Vehicle Strategy. He is also supporting the implementation of HalifACT, the municipality's climate action plan that aims to reduce community-wide emissions by 75% below 2016 levels and achieve net-zero by 2050.
Job Titles:
- Member of the STEERING COMMITTEE
Mariko is a green buildings professional who manages B2E, Canada's first building electrification coalition-a program of the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre. She works closely with the coalition's members to achieve B2E's mission to reduce British Columbia's building-sector climate impacts and reliance on fossil fuels through electrification. As a Certified Energy Manager, Mariko has over a decade of experience planning and implementing energy-efficiency and decarbonization projects. Since taking the helm of B2E, she has developed a keen understanding of the real-life challenges and solutions associated with commercial and residential building electrification.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Operations, the Transition Accelerator
- Senior Leader
Mark has been a senior leader in financial reporting, risk management, treasury, and information technology for more than 20 years. He earned a business degree from the University of British Columbia and a CA/CPA from the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. He believes in designing and implementing solutions that provide businesses with operational efficiencies and accurate, relevant, and timely data to facilitate decision-making, reporting, and long-term strategic planning. He excels at distilling complex concepts into straightforward talking points and big picture thinking. Prior to his current role, Mark worked in senior finance in environmental response, offshore banking, alternative investments, and in professional consulting.
Job Titles:
- Member of the STEERING COMMITTEE
- Vice President of Government
Martin is Vice President of Government and Stakeholder Relations for the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), an industry association. He is responsible for the government relations and industry advocacy work. Prior to his current role, Martin was Project Director for the Social Investment Organisation (SIO), Research Director for the Independent Power Producers Society of Ontario (IPPSO) and a Research Associate and Sessional Lecturer at the University of Toronto. Martin holds a Masters of Arts Degree in Urban Geography and Planning from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen's University in Kingston.
Matt prides himself on translating research findings into actionable solutions to support the clean energy transition. He brings more than a decade of experience working to decarbonize the built environment via positions in-and engagements with-governments, utilities, and industry. Before joining the Building Decarbonization Alliance, Matt held consulting roles at Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors and Deloitte, and worked in industry and non-profit organizations focusing on green building design and legal analysis. He holds degrees in mechanical engineering and psychology from the University of Waterloo, and a law degree from Dalhousie University. He also earned an MBA from Saint Mary's University. Matt also co-authored The Case for Building Electrification in Canada, our foundational position paper.
Job Titles:
- Member of the LEADERSHIP Team
- Vice President, the Transition Accelerator
Moe Kabbara is an experienced energy and climate professional with close to a decade of experience working at the intersection of technology, policy, and markets. Moe brings expertise in the areas of transportation electrification, renewable energy, energy storage, and energy efficiency. He is a sought-after voice on zero-emission vehicle supply chain issues, and has spearheaded the establishment of Accelerate, Canada's zero-emission vehicle supply chain alliance. Prior to joining the Accelerator, Moe was a Managing Consultant at Dunsky Energy + Climate. He was also a Senior Investment Officer at the Department of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada.
Job Titles:
- Director of Analytics and Insights
Natasha holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Memorial University of Newfoundland and is a registered Professional Engineer. She started her career as an electrical design engineer, working with BC Hydro and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. In 2019, she joined Mysa Smart Thermostats, a cleantech start-up based in St. John's. There, she helped utilities across North America integrate smart technologies into their grids. In 2021, Natasha temporarily relocated to France to pursue her Master's degree in Global Energy Transition and Governance; her thesis focused on how Canada can unlock demand-side potential through residential demand response. She serves on the board of both the Smart Grid Innovation Network Board and the Newfoundland and Labrador Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Advisory Council.
Job Titles:
- Strategic Engagement Lead, the Transition Accelerator
Paisley Sim is the Strategic Engagement Lead at The Transition Accelerator. Previously in her role as Canada Grid Lead, she supported the growth of the Transition Accelerator's electrification work through strategic partnerships. Prior to that work, she was Research Associate at the Institute for Research on Public Policy, focused on federalism and intergovernmental relations. Her prior experience includes working for former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley as a special advisor to Alberta's Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, and in the arts world. She holds a conservatory diploma, bachelor of fine arts, project management professional certification, and earned a master in public policy from McGill University. She lives in Montreal.
Job Titles:
- Acting Director of Communications and Knowledge Mobilization, the Transition Accelerator
- Writer, Editor
Peter Hemminger is a writer, editor, cultural advocate, and communications professional with more than 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector. His varied career has included work as a journalist, copywriter, researcher, film festival programmer, and nearly a decade as the Executive Director of Calgary's Quickdraw Animation Society. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Arts in Communication, both from the University of Calgary, and in his spare time he hosts a weekly radio program on campus and community station CJSW 90.9FM.
Job Titles:
- Member of the STEERING COMMITTEE
Tom works with BC Hydro's Market Transformation team, focusing on the implementation of key elements of the province's Building Electrification Roadmap. Through strategic partnerships, he collaborates closely with all levels of government, industry associations, non-governmental organizations, and other critical building electrification stakeholders. Within BC Hydro he works with colleagues across multiple disciplines and departments on projects aimed at accelerating the uptake of electrification-related technologies and practices. Prior to joining BC Hydro, Tom worked with the Province of British Columbia's Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, and completed a PhD on decision-making and processes to support large-scale socio-technical change.
Job Titles:
- Member of the STEERING COMMITTEE
- Managing Director of Climate Finance With Vancity Community Investment
Trish Nixon is the Managing Director of Climate Finance with Vancity Community Investment. She is a strategic, innovative, and results-driven leader with more than a decade of experience in impact investing, climate finance, and entrepreneurship. She has developed investment products, teams, and companies, and led a clean-energy investment platform from pre-seed to acquisition and integration. Trish is a speaker and passionate communicator who builds strong relationships and effectively collaborates with diverse stakeholders. She is an award-winning entrepreneur and team builder who drives growth and impact.