We are a Canada-wide team of industry leaders and practitioners, academic researchers and policy experts, highly-trained convenors, facilitators, and program designers who believe in the power of human ingenuity to solve the complex problems of our generation.
Senior Advisor, Strategic Communications
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.
Senior Fellow, Smart Prosperity Institute and Senior Advisor, CANZA
Barb Swartzentruber is a strategist, catalyst, and connector, working with government and communities to respond to urgent social, economic, and environmental challenges through civic innovation, regenerative practices, and circular economy strategies. She is committed to the power of a shared vision and mission-driven collective action to create regenerative local economies and communities that are inclusive and thriving in harmony with nature.
As a global leader in place-based innovation, system change and community capacity building, she convened and led a collaboration of local governments, business, academic and community leaders to win Canada’s Smart City Challenge. Built on a shared vision and goals, and a distributed leadership and governance model, they co-produced a portfolio of over 60 system change projects for re-imagining a circular, sustainable regional food system. Successfully attracting over $25M in investments, mobilizing national and international collaborations, this work has created new innovation platforms including the Circular Opportunity Innovation Launchpad (COIL), Climate and Circularity Hub, Zero Waste Economic Innovation Lab, and Regenerative Agriculture Program that are testing and deepening regenerative social, economic, environmental practices.
As a system innovator with I&IT expertise, Barb led the federal negotiations, design and implementation of the Ontario Government’s first rural and remote broadband strategy, and the province’s initial open government and open data strategies.
Barb has taught public policy, intergovernmental relations, community development, and system change at several Canadian universities. She was appointed to the Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel on the Circular Economy in Canada in 2020 which co-produced the Turning Point Report. She acts as an expert advisor to the Canadian Circular Cities and Regions initiative supporting local governments across Canada to develop circular economy strategies.
Finance Business Partner
Ashley is a financial professional dedicated to social and environmental responsibility. She brings a diverse background spanning private, non-profit, and intergovernmental organizations focused on innovation, community development, and sustainability. With expertise in financial operations, governance, and stakeholder management, she is driven to create efficient, effective operational environments while supporting organizations in achieving their sustainability goals.
Ashley is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Project Management Professional (PMP). She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia.
Events and Communications Coordinator
Iswariya Tirunagaru is a government and public affairs professional with cross-sector experience spanning the public, private, and non-profit landscapes. Guided by a lifelong passion for Canadian governance, she is dedicated to advancing initiatives that reflect Canada’s values of inclusivity, collaboration, and global leadership. Specializing in strategic communications, government relations, and public affairs, Iswariya brings a thoughtful and solutions-oriented approach to her work — translating complex policy challenges into clear, actionable strategies. She is particularly interested in the intersection of policy, sustainability, and social impact, and strives to build meaningful connections between people, policy, and purpose.
Iswariya holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Double Minor in Human Rights and Immigration from Concordia University. She continues to be inspired by opportunities to drive positive change and strengthen the systems that shape Canada’s future at home and abroad.
Program Director, Sustainable Agriculture, Smart Prosperity Institute
Ryan is a Senior Research Associate working as part of SPI’s Land Use Team. Ryan completed his M.Sc in Environmental Sustainability at the University of Ottawa and studied Human Resource Management and Psychology at Trent University. His main interest is working to improve the sustainability of Canada’s food system and his research is focused on promoting clean growth and innovation in the agriculture sector.
Ryan’s work with SPI has centred around identifying the barriers that prevent farmers from adopting environmentally beneficial management practices and the policies that can be used to motivate practice adoption.
Human Resources Specialist
Research Associate, Smart Prosperity Institute
Caelan Welch is a Research Associate at Smart Prosperity Institute. His current research focuses on the design and implementation of sustainable finance taxonomies. Before joining SPI in 2023, Caelan worked at the Institute for Sustainable Finance at Queen’s University.
Caelan holds a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and Economics from St. John Fisher University in Rochester, NY and is pursuing a Master’s in International Development and Global Studies, with an environmental sustainability specialization, at the University of Ottawa.
Managing Director, Smart Prosperity Institute
Marena has over a decade of experience moving the needle on sustainability policy in Canada. She led the programming of the 2021 World Circular Economy Forum on behalf of the Government of Canada and now leads the creation of new research projects and partnerships at Smart Prosperity Institute.
Leveraging her experience working with all orders of government, including Indigenous, she focuses on bringing about real-world changes that benefit people and planet.
Communications Specialist
