The Academy for Sustainable Innovation Canada is a registered charity that was founded in 2018 with the recognition that the transition to a sustainable future isn’t just about technology solutions, but also the people behind it. We realized meaningful climate action requires a shift in leadership mindsets, capacities, and practices. This pointed us toward our role in encouraging people to think differently about how we show up as leaders.
Our Transition Leadership programs were created to transform how individuals and organizations perceive and practice leadership in response to climate challenges. Our offerings empower people with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to lead change.
We work in relationship with others, honoring each others’ humanity in the work. We maintain open communication and aim to build trust as our foundation. We prioritize connection and know that the process and product of our work is better for it.
We work cooperatively, responsibly using our power. We uplift each others’ strengths and step in where others request support. We seek to complement others rather than compete, knowing that our impact is greater when we work together.
We allow for fluidity in our plans and goals, adjusting to changing contexts and circumstances. We create space to allow change to happen so we can transition through it. We recognize that there are things that are rigid, and those that are malleable.
We believe that learning is lifelong, and embed this belief into our programs and approaches. We don’t assume that an age, role, or career stage exempts us from continued learning. We value diverse perspectives and ways of knowing, leading with curiosity and appreciation.
We value the roles of imagination and storytelling in the work of climate action and are oriented towards positive futures-thinking. We acknowledge that creativity and playfulness can enhance our work, allowing us to dream up solutions and opportunities that better serve our communities.
The Academy for Sustainable Innovation is supported by a community of funders, partners, clients, and collaborators who help us empower Canada’s current and future leaders.
The ASI team is made up of passionate leaders who work to bring ASI’s vision and mission forward. The ASI Board of Directors promotes good governance, strategic direction, and oversight for our organization.
As a marketing and communications professional with extensive non-profit experience, Aryn is passionate about collaborating with purpose-driven organizations and has a knack for building strong personal connections. Aryn prides herself on being able to adapt communications to a variety of audiences and is a fan of colourful spreadsheets, a lover of all things chocolate and a strong advocate for a functional (and pocketful) fanny pack.
Aryn comes to ASI with experience amplifying brand awareness for organizations rooted in sustainability. This includes working as the Marketing and Membership Manager for Decentralised Energy Canada to support the transition to a sustainable, resilient and affordable energy future. Aryn also worked as Project Manager for Critical Path Group to support entrepreneur development through venture capital conferences in the technology commercialization sector.
Aryn holds a Bachelor of Communication, Journalism from Mount Royal University and volunteers her time as Vice President for the Kamloops Bike Riders Association. Outside of work, you’ll find her mountain biking with friends or babysitting many doodle dogs.
Bo is an urban, environmental, and energy planner by training, and former executive director of a youth-led sustainability not-for-profit organization. The son of Nigerian immigrants, he has spent time living in the UK, Canada, Hungary, and Denmark – which has all contributed to giving him a deep sense of appreciation and belonging to the world as a whole.
Through his experience working with sustainability advocates and professionals, Bo has seen and felt the risks of burnout, anxiety, fear, and eco-grief facing so many. As a long-time mindfulness and meditation practitioner, his passion is to help people hold the reality of the scale of the challenges we face through mindful awareness, while also using collaboration, creativity, storytelling, and dialogue to help teams navigate challenging topics and goals.
Bo is also the Founder and Principal at Good Being Co. He created Good Being to help empower individuals and organizations to turn the disruptive nature of the moment into an opportunity for new, regenerative ways of being. In addition to his professional work, Bo enjoys playing music, reading, and writing, and finding as many opportunities to be playful in life as possible.
Ed Whittingham is a passionate, results-oriented environmental professional. His background in climate change, energy policy and corporate sustainability has been developed through 20 years of working collaboratively with companies, governments, universities and non-governmental organizations in Canada and internationally. He is the former executive director of the Pembina Institute, Canada’s widely respected energy/environment NGO.
A seasoned sustainability leader and Clean50 honouree, Nadine led corporate sustainability strategy, partnership development and employee engagement initiatives for sustainable business pioneer, Interface Inc. for over ten years. Currently completing her Ph.D. in sustainability education and organizational change, she’s Faculty for the Graduate Certificate program in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto.
Nadine is a LEED accredited professional who has served on the Boards of the National Zero Waste Council, US Green Building Council Education Advisory Committee and Canadian Business for Social Responsibility.
Shagufta is a thoughtful and creative storyteller who is deeply committed to helping systems, organizations, and people shift into new ways of being through strategic advising, research, and education. Informed by a deep equity and anti-oppression analysis, she has more than ten years experience in Vancouver, Toronto and Johannesburg doing social change work. Shagufta’s previous roles include being a Strategic Senior Advisor of Organizational Initiatives at BC Housing, and since 2019, she has run her own consulting company focused on research, facilitation and designing meaningful learning experiences.
Shagufta holds a Masters of Science in Social Planning and Policy from the University of Toronto, a Certificate in Social Innovation from Simon Fraser University, and four different somatics certificates from the Strozzi Institute and the Embody Lab. She has also completed coursework in the SFU Social Change and Transformative Learning Certificate. She can be found most regularly writing a weekly Substack newsletter titled A Little Bit of Hope.
Tamara is a strong, creative, and entrepreneurial leader with extensive experience across the sustainability and social innovation spheres. She has 20+ years of adult education experience and has designed and delivered courses, programs, and other custom engagements all around the world. Tamara’s previous roles include Program Director in the Master’s of Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability program at BTH in Sweden, Director of Sustainability Learning Programs at The Natural Step Canada, and Associate Director of Education & Training at RADIUS SFU. She has also run her own successful consulting company for the past 10+ years, focused on facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning.
Tamara holds a BSc in Environmental Planning, and a Masters in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability. She is also a certified Associate Coach with Integral Coaching Canada, and a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methods facilitator.
Taylor is a passionate problem-solver and environmentalist who works to drive systems change toward a more climate-positive, equitable, and socially-just future that is sustainable for people and the planet. She brings over 6 years of experience researching & developing sustainable materials from renewable resources, from both an academic and private start-up lens. With more than 5 sustainability related micro-credentials, Taylor believes in lifelong learning. Taking inspiration from biology in her approach to solving challenges, she demonstrates that nature is our greatest teacher. As a McMaster alumna, holding a B.Eng & Society and M.A.Sc in Chemical Engineering, Taylor brings new perspectives to the way we design and engineer our future, one that works with the planet, and not against it.
Zahra Qureshi works with changemakers and founders to support their passion for a positive impact on people, communities and the planet. A Chartered Professional Accountant committed to doing business with heart, she launched Optinum Professional Corporation with a mission to reduce the overwhelm and stress caused by accounting systems, finance concepts and impact planning tools. As a coach and consultant, Zahra brings 12+ years of experience in the field of finance to help entrepreneurs and changemakers build confidence and strategic clarity for achieving financial sustainability, powerful growth, and positive social change. Optinum’s support includes outsourced services for finance/accounting and social impact management, strategic coaching for building these processes internally, financial analysis for growth-oriented organizations, and securing and managing grant and investor funding. Optinum is proud to serve a client portfolio working on 10 of the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and promote financial literacy for individuals and organizations. In 2020, Zahra also founded Social Venture Circuit with the vision to build a community of social enterprises that could grow and learn together and serves as a Treasurer on the board of directors for Common Approach to Impact Measurement.
Zahra shares her passion and knowledge through workshops and mentorship at 15+ entrepreneurship programs across Canada, covering topics such as accounting basics for new founders, financial empowerment, getting funding, the power of budgeting, and creating an impact blueprint.
Anamika Mukherjee is a recognized decarbonization and energy transition thought leader in Canada. She’s a Partner at BDC Capital’s Industrial Clean Energy Technology Fund, where she enables Canadian entrepreneurs with bold ideas around sustainability to build global companies. Before this, she was the head of technology & innovation at Cenovus Energy and chaired the Net-Zero Planning Committee at the Oil sands Pathways to Net Zero Alliance.
Anamika has a uniquely diverse career background. In 2018-2019, Anamika was seconded to the Canadian Federal Government where she worked as Chief of Staff to the Resources of the Future Economic Strategy Table, where she coordinated governments and resource sectors CEOs across Canada to land on policy recommendations to the federal government to boost Canada’s economic competitiveness. In 2016, Anamika operationalized a Cenovus-Suncor-BC Cleantech CEO Alliance cleantech venture partnership, Evok Innovations, and subsequently became part of the fund’s investment committee.
She’s led the Canadian oil and gas industry in various multi-stakeholder, provincial and federal environmental policy negotiations. She has significant experience in process engineering design, commissioning & start-up activities, and operational troubleshooting from her years at Jacobs Engineering and Suncor Energy. In 2015, Anamika was recognized by the Young Women in Energy Award for climate change innovation. In 2016, she was recognized by the Alberta Oil Magazine for her efforts to enable oil to be a part of a clean energy future. In 2017, she was featured by Natural Resources Canada’s Generation Energy for forging the path to clean energy. In 2018, Anamika received two Deputy Minister’s Awards from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada for her outstanding contribution to the Economic Strategy Tables.
Most recently, in 2022, she was featured by the Canada West Foundation as being a thought leader in decarbonization and energy transition. Anamika has been a keynote speaker and has participated on several panels on technology, energy transition, sustainability, and women in leadership.
Dr. Bala-Miller is a respected senior executive and strategic planner, with over twenty years of experience working on natural resource governance, sustainable finance and human rights.
She began her career with the United Nations Environment Program (Division of Technology, Industry and Economics) in France working to advance sustainable lifestyles among youth. Following that, she spent five years based in the UK advocacting for better corporate sustainability performance across multiple industry sectors. This included highly successful policy advocacy at the OECD, UN Agencies, and the European Commission on behalf of Consumers International – the global voice for 250 consumer rights organisations in 120 countries.
Since her return to Canada in 2008, Dr. Bala-Miller has been a champion for mainstreaming responsible investment and sustainable finance in Canada and globally. In this capacity, she spent five years at the Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE) supporting trade union pension trustees to serve as effective advocates for ESG issues such as Wage Equity, Board Diversity, A Just Transition and respect for Core Labour Standards. She also actively contributed to research and convening activities as part of the Responsible Investing Initiative at Carleton University and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and served as an advisory member of the Coalition of Universities for Responsible Investing (CURI).
Next, as Director of Partnerships and Program Development at the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute, Dr. Bala-Miller led on a number of strategic initiatives and program design for technical assistance programs that supported resource-sectors to align with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), and stewarded institutional partnerships with 40+ universities and over 120 government, civil society, and industry organisations. She launched her own consulting practice Palmyra Partners in 2020 which focuses on projects that bridge sustainability and social justice. Dr. Bala-Miller is also currently an advisory committee member at Diversity in Sustainability.
She holds an MA and PhD in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and an MA in Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads University. She joins ASI’s Board in an independent capacity.
Jess Lax is a nature-inspired leadership coach who supports changemakers in doing the inner work that leads to outer change.
She is the Founder of the Ember Circle where she brings together changemakers who want to feel more connected, aligned, and resilient as they build a world where all beings can thrive. She has twenty years of experience as a social impact leader and has spent her career focused on preparing changemakers to lead in a time of complexity.
She trained as an ecologist in her undergraduate education, and completed her MBA as a Skoll Scholar at Oxford University.
Matt is the Director of ESG and Decarbonization for Norda Stelo where he provides technology and investment decision making support to clients from all sectors, guides the engineering of industry and business to net zero as quickly as possible while helping understand their ESG impacts, and informs the development of infrastructure to be resilient against climate impacts while also enabling the energy transition.
Prior to Norda, Matt held several roles including as Vice President New Energy Technologies at Exergy Solutions where led a corporate technology strategy group and advanced low carbon technologies through the combination of agile engineering and additive manufacturing. He was the Director of the Greenhouse Gas Priority Area at COSIA supporting the oil sands industry alliance members in accelerating the pace of greenhouse gas technology innovation and deployment through collaboration. Prior to joining COSIA Matt helped build and lead the consulting arm of the Pembina Institute, a Canadian non-profit environmental organization, working with Canadian businesses of all sizes and sectors to improve their environmental and financial performance by integrating sustainability solutions, innovation, and clean energy technology into their strategies and operations.
Matt is a team member of the Low Carbon Value Added Products theme for the Clean Resource Innovation Network, board member of Foresight, and chair of the board for the Academy for Sustainable Innovation.
Maxime Lakat is the Founder and Executive Director of Re_Generation, Canada’s largest organization dedicated to advancing sustainable business by amplifying youth perspectives and providing youth with skills-building and career resources. Re_Generation aims to re_imagine schools, re_purpose careers, and re_model companies to be aligned with regenerative principles. In 2021, their “Our Future, Our Business” Manifesto campaign became Canada’s largest youth-led movement to change the way business is done and taught. Re_Generation is currently building a wide youth & civil society campaign to support the recently proposed Climate-aligned Finance Act (by Senator Rosa Galvez).
Prior to this role, Maxime was the Co-President of the Desautels Sustainability Network (DSN) at McGill University. DSN helped co-organize the Montreal Youth Summit on Sustainable Business and many other events that reached thousands of students. DSN also worked at the academic level to improve McGill’s business curricula and mainstream sustainability across all programs including by creating the first sustainable finance course.
Maxime graduated from McGill University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Sustainable Business Management & Social Entrepreneurship.
Vanessa Coqueiro is a partner at Deloitte working with clients to optimize their finance function through automation, and helping them navigate technology decisions and implementations. With an engineering background, she started her career at Accenture and spent 10 years delivering large scale transformation projects in telecommunications and automotive industries in Brazil and Australia. After moving to Canada in 2013, Vanessa joined a boutique firm implementing financial applications in the cloud, and bringing operational efficiencies to medium sized companies across industries. With that experience, she moved to Deloitte in 2015 to start a national practice offering advisory services to finance leaders looking to embark on a transformation journey. She also spent a year running the professional services business of a software implementation partner, managing over 30 accounts.
Vanessa has worked with public and private companies globally, including government and nonprofit organizations, in both sales and delivery roles. She has over 21 years of experience providing consulting services around Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Corporate Performance Management (CPM), Payroll, Human Capital Management (HCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Business Intelligence (BI) and Sustainability systems. Diversity & Inclusion is another cornerstone of Vanessa’s career, stemming from being a female engineer working in technology and having lived in four different countries.
Our newsletter is for anyone interested in the role leadership plays to inspire positive change and create value for people, the planet, and business.
ASI is a registered Canadian charity.
Charitable Business Registration Number: 789760675R R0001
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