Our People

Mykensie is a Research Associate with the Smart Prosperity Institute. Previous experiences include being a policy analyst for the Government of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Environment and the Director of Research and Policy Development for the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.

Mykensie holds a Master of Public Administration from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Queen’s University. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, volunteering, hiking, and cycling in the summer.

Throughout her career, Maureen Kolla has built a comprehensive understanding of Alberta’s electricity system with deep experience in consortium building, emerging technology development, and sustainable business strategy.

Maureen joined the Energy Futures Lab in April 2023 as Project Lead for its Alberta’s Electricity Future initiative. The initiative centres on convening a cross-sectoral coalition of industry leaders and change-makers to address systemic challenges to reorienting and reorganizing the province’s unique electricity system to meet the needs of the net-zero economy of the future.

She brings to her role a diverse skill set with expertise in research, strategic planning, project and business development, technology evaluation, fostering collaborative relationships, and effective communications. Maureen has worked as both a funder and a business leader. She managed over $5 million in grant funding for projects related to geothermal energy, energy storage, smart grid, and clean technologies. She also led market entry strategies, business strategies, and carbon related ventures for various clients. In 2017, she founded the Alberta Smart Grid Consortium bringing together Alberta Distribution Facility Owners, the Alberta Minister of Energy and Alberta Innovates to collaboratively assess the impacts and opportunities presented by new grid technologies and their ability to meet the evolving needs of electricity consumers.

Maureen holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta, a Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Quote:
“I believe we have a moral and economic imperative to ensure that Alberta’s electricity system supports our ambitions for a net-zero future. And to do that, we need broad alignment behind the value of this goal. With a challenge of this scope and scale, we will only succeed if we work together.”

With over a decade of administrative and operational expertise, Kelly brings a unique blend of adaptability, intuition, and organizational excellence to her role as Executive Assistant at CANZA. Throughout her career, she has supported executives across diverse industries, excelling at prioritizing competing demands and fostering seamless collaboration. Her experience spans office administration, operations management, and executive support, where she has consistently driven efficiency and elevated team performance. Her approach is anchored in understanding the nuances of leadership, anticipating needs and delivering tailored solutions that enable her team to focus on achieving strategic objectives. Kelly is deeply passionate about cultivating environments where collaboration and innovation thrive. She believes that by working together to implement forward-thinking, practical solutions, we can transform the agri-food system into a model of sustainability and resilience. Guided by a shared commitment to progress, Kelly is dedicated to helping CANZA advance initiatives that pave the way for a more equitable, purpose-driven, and sustainable future.

Pong is a Principal of Travesia Partners and a Senior Associate with The Natural Step Canada. Pong supports businesses, communities and other organizations with integrated sustainability planning and education and delivers hundreds of workshops and presentations on the theme of sustainability, change, organizational learning and strategy.

Pong has worked with a wide range of organizations including engagements with award-winning clients such as Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Design, ISL Engineering and Land Services, the Landmark Group of Builders, and the City of Williams Lake. Other past and current clients include PCL Construction, Edmonton Airports, Endeavour Silver, Halifax International Airport Authority, Compass Canada, B.C. Hydro, Hatch Engineering, the City of Edmonton, Morguard Investments, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Halifax Regional Municipality, B.C Housing, City of Calgary, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Town of Canmore, Lilydale, the Nickel Institute, Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, amongst many others.

Most recently, Pong was Program Director of the M.SC. in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability program at the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden. The program is based in the concepts of The Natural Step Framework and develops leadership skills and product innovation. In addition to this role, Pong also led a successful year-long educational engagement for change agents in the European chemical industry. Pong currently teaches on sustainability inspired organizational change and leadership at the BC. Institute of Technology.

Pong completed his Masters of Science in Environmental Management and Policy at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics at Lund University in Sweden and his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta.

Pong is fluent in English and Spanish. Outside the office, Pong enjoys running, reading and spending time with his family and son Liam!

Ecosystem-based watershed management, climate change alleviation, ecological-friendly agriculture practices, natural-based solutions to improve urban environment and resilience, sustainable urban water management. 

Raphael Lopoukhine is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Circular Construction Canada. With expertise in climate and circular economy policy, design research, and communications, he has led high-impact initiatives across sectors, including writing circular economy reports, advising on environmental policies, and delivering digital solutions for sustainability projects. His ability to translate complex challenges into actionable strategies drives organizational change and fosters stakeholder collaboration. Raphael’s career spans media, government, non-profits, and the private sector, with impactful work in Canada and internationally.

A graduate from the University of Lethbridge with a degree in Neuroscience, Stacy joins the EFL team with a deep passion for science, innovation, and research. Growing up in Alberta, the energy sector has always played a role in Stacy’s life and is the reason she is eager to be a part of Alberta’s net zero future.

A natural communicator with a keen eye for detail, Stacy brings her administrative skills, enthusiasm, and experience within the nonprofit sector to support the executive team in building innovative solutions that address complex challenges.

Farm Enablement Lead

Matt holds a BComm, M.Sc. in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability and is a Doctor of Business Administration candidate (expected graduation 2024) at University of Calgary. He works in the field of corporate strategy, innovation, and organizational development and has extensive experience coordinating multi-stakeholder and multi-interest groups that are working on some of the most difficult questions of our time (e.g. transitioning Alberta’s energy system, accelerating a circular economy, accelerating the adoption of regenerative agriculture, galvanizing climate leadership and more).

Matt is a sessional instructor at Mount Royal University and University of Calgary on courses pertaining to sustainable development.

Neil originally joined The Natural Step Canada in 2011 and since then has been helping out through various roles related to online communications and IT systems. After graduating from the University of Guelph in 2007 with a business commerce degree, he starting learning the ways of the web. He now has over ten years of experience helping non-profits mainly with their websites, social media channels, newsletters and IT systems.

Aside from nature and sustainability, Neil is passionate about running, sports, music, books, and as a new father he’s soaking in the joys of Dad life.

Ashley is a strategic communications professional with over 15 years of marketing and public relations experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

A graduate of Simon Fraser University’s School for the Contemporary Arts with a concentration in theatre, Ashley’s background is steeped in the art of gathering, storytelling, and meaning making, which she draws on to inform the creation of integrated communications campaigns. Her work is centred around the belief that all great communication arises from the intersection of empathy and inclusivity.

Having gained experience across many industries, including tourism, economic development, technology and the arts, she developed a passion for using her skills in writing, creative direction and community management to translate complex ideas and processes into inclusive and inspiring language and narratives. She is delighted to use those skills now to help drive greater awareness of the timely and important work being done by the Energy Futures Lab.

When she’s not working you’ll most often find her digging in the dirt at the community garden, or out exploring the wonders of nature with her dog, Goose.

Meg earned her PhD at University of British Columbia studying the tension we experience between dogmatic instruction for climate conscious choices and our embodied, lived experience in everyday life. Outside of academia, Meg continues to practice and facilitate collaborative approaches to motivate collective action in many fields including the Arts, social-serving non profits, industrial lands, cooperative housing, and economic development.

Meg has over a decade of experience supporting transformation in business for greater economic, environmental, and social sustainability. She is a skilled facilitator, systems thinker, change manager, and team leader. Meg is also an amateur textile artist, an adventurous vegetarian cook, and a lover of spontaneous dance parties.

Keren directs and stewards the Energy Futures Policy Collaborative – a multi-leader partnership diving into the intersection of systems change, policy and investment. Keren’s career and specialties have focused on pioneering new ways to solve messy challenges through the use of disciplines such as systemic design, foresight, and design facilitation. She is Co-founder of the Alberta CoLab – the first public sector social innovation lab to launch at a provincial level – and alumni of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40.

Ailsa is a natural storyteller and communicator whose work has focused on connecting people and industry with forward-thinking solutions within the environmental and energy sectors.

Ailsa’s interest in the intersection of energy and environment was sparked while doing communications and marketing for an environmental consulting firm specializing in remediation. She went on to hold marketing and communications leadership roles at a national, environmental non-profit organization. She brings her experience and enthusiasm for written and visual communications, problem-solving, strategy and planning, and community engagement into her role within the Energy Futures Lab.

Ailsa holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Calgary and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Marketing Strategy from Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management.

Mac Radburn graduated from Carleton University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. He also holds an MSc in Politics and Communication from the London School of Economics. He brings a passion for communications, environmental policy, and clean innovation to Smart Prosperity Institute.

Contact: mac@smartprosperity.ca

Emily grew up with a passion for food and through her experience working in food service has championed environmental sustainability in the industry. Emily has ample food industry experience ranging from local SME restaurants to luxury properties.

Emily has held a 2-year presidency of an environmental outreach program, completed a fellowship on circular economy with the Ellen McArthur Foundation and is a Board Member for Circular Innovation Council. She has published multiple papers in food service sustainability exploring the impact of COVID-19 on sustainability initiatives, food waste in long-term care homes, the effectiveness of certification programs, and single-use plastic reduction and has done dozens of media interviews on the federal plastics ban. Emily has taught University courses in food service management and food science as Food Education Manager at the University of Guelph.

Emily is a Kostuch Media Top 30 Under 30 Recipient, an OMAFRA HQP Scholar, a D.F. Forster Medal Nominee and a Governor General’s Gold Medal Nominee. She has a Bachelor of Commerce in Hotel and Food Administration and a Master of Science in Tourism and Hospitality. 

David Runnalls is a Senior Fellow and Steering Committee member at Smart Prosperity Institute, and a Visiting Professor at uOttawa.

He also serves as Distinguished Fellow with IISD. He is a member of the Board of the Institute of Advanced Studies of the United Nations University. He is a member of the Advisory Council for Export Development Canada; a member of the Council for Sustainable Development Technology Canada; and a member of the Ivey Business School Leadership Council. He also serves on the Inquiry Team for Tomorrow’s Global Company, the SAM/SPG Leadership award, the International Sustainability Innovation Council of Switzerland (ISIS), and the Shell Report External Review Committee.

He has served as Co-Chair of the China Council Task Force on WTO and Environment. Runnalls was the Leopold Fellow at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a member of the federal External Advisory Committee on Smart Regulation (EACSR). He served as Chair of the Adjudication Panel for the ALCAN Prize for Sustainability.

Runnalls has served as Senior Advisor to the President of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa, Canada, and to the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. He was Director of the Environment and Sustainable Development Programme at the Institute for Research on Public Policy in Ottawa. He worked with Barbara Ward to found the International Institute for Environment and Development and directed both its London and Washington offices.

Runnalls was the Canadian Board member of IUCN-the World Conservation Union for six years and the Chair of the Committee for the World Conservation Congress in 1996. He served as a member of the Boards of the World Environment Center (New York), IIED (London) and Pollution Probe (Toronto).

An occasional writer and broadcaster, he has served as environment columnist for the CBC radio program, As it Happens and for CTV’s Canada am. He was a member of the Discovery Channel’s regular environment panel and political columnist for the Earth Times, the paper of record for the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992.

In 2020, David was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, in recognition of his lifelong leadership in advancing sustainable development in Canada and globally.

Rebecca is an environmental professional dedicated to supporting community-driven initiatives. With a background in program and grant management, alongside hands-on farming experience, she is deeply committed to restorative land stewardship and social responsibility. Rebecca is passionate about driving meaningful climate action through resource development, financial incentives, capacity building, and education.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental & Agricultural Sciences from McGill University.

Jessie is a passionate, purpose-driven senior strategic communications executive with deep expertise in sustainable finance, ESG, and climate communications.

As an SVP at Argyle/Believeco: Partners, Jessie led a talented team of corporate communications and public affairs professionals serving clients across multiple sectors and industries (finance, tech, real estate and the built environment). She established the firm’s Sustainable Value portfolio, supporting businesses, NGOs, governments, and academic experts in their work to bring climate and sustainable economy solutions to bear.

Prior to her time at Arygle, Jessie was the founding Communications Director and brand architect for Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission, helped launch the Smart Prosperity Leaders Initiative, and was the Head of Strategic Communications for WWF-Canada.

Jessie lives in Toronto with her two teen-aged sons, partner, and gigantic dog (Cooper). Her happy place is the muddy trail along Grenadier Pond.