Leigh Pearson is a long-standing leader within the retail community with over 28 years of experience in Sustainability, Facilities Management, Strategic sourcing and Indirect Procurement. Her career combines retail leadership, environmental program development, and industry service. Leigh is currently the Managing Director for the Canadian Tire Portfolio at BGIS. She was named to Canada’s Clean50 list in 2014, 2016 and 2025, becoming the only retail representative honored three times, and has held prominent Industry (Connex) board and charitable non-profit board positions.  Her impact includes enterprise-wide environmental programs, renewable energy integration, decarbonization strategies, community engagement and the creation and implementation of sustainable solutions for Canadians

Andrew Philopoulos is the Managing Director for Atlantic Canada at Circular Materials. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the environmental sector, with a particular focus on solid waste management.

Most recently, Andrew has overseen the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging and paper products in Nova Scotia and has played a key role in the transition to EPR in New Brunswick. Prior to joining Circular Materials, he served as Director of Solid Waste Resources for Halifax Regional Municipality for five years. Before that, he spent 12 years with Conestoga-Rovers & Associates as an Environmental Engineer, supporting a wide range of environmental and waste management projects.

Throughout his career, Andrew has worked on projects across Canada and has lived and worked in Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. He is proud to be part of the recycling transformation in Atlantic Canada and the progress achieved to date in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Kathleen McLaughlin is executive vice president and chief sustainability officer for Walmart Inc. She is responsible for programs that help Walmart create opportunity through jobs and sourcing, enhance sustainability of retail and retail supply chains and strengthen community resilience.

Through business initiatives and philanthropy, her teams work with Walmart associates, suppliers, nonprofit organizations and others to make significant and lasting improvements to economic, social and environmental systems. For example, Walmart has engaged more than 5,900 suppliers through Project Gigaton™ – an initiative created in 2017 to avoid or reduce one billion metric tons (a gigaton) of greenhouse gases from product value chains by 2030 – achieved in 2024, six years early.

Kathleen serves as chair of the Walmart Foundation Board of Directors. For more than 10 years, she was president of the Walmart Foundation and has helped advance corporate philanthropy, building strategic philanthropic programs that complement business initiatives to achieve greater impact while facilitating local giving and community engagement through Walmart’s tech-powered Spark Good platform.

Kathleen serves on the boards of the World Wildlife Fund and World Resources Institute and as an advisor to The Nature Conservancy’s Impact and Financial Markets team. She previously served on the board of the Council on Foundations.

In 2026, Kathleen was selected by the NRF Foundation for their List of People Shaping Retail’s Future. She was also ranked #1 by Sustainability Magazine among their 2026 Top 250 Women in Sustainability. In 2023, Kathleen was named to Time Magazine’s inaugural “TIME100 Climate List,” recognizing the most influential climate leaders in business. In 2018, she was recognized as one of “The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders” by Fortune – a title given to leaders around the world for their work to transform the world and inspire others to do the same.

Kathleen is a frequent speaker about the role of business in society at forums hosted by the New York Times, Fortune, the Wall Street Journal and the World Economic Forum.

She held various positions in the International Marketing Department for Kérastase, L’Oréal Professionnel, with assignments in India and Europe. In 2010, and became Director of Sustainable Development at the end of 2016, revolutionizing L’Oréal Brazil’s approach to sustainability and human rights.

Her award-winning initiatives (Guia Exame 2017/2018/2019, WEP Gold Award 2021) have set L’Oréal Brazil as an example in climate change, biodiversity and women’s empowerment. In 2022, it was recognized by GLOBO for its inclusive programs with indigenous communities.

At L’Oréal Canada, Maya reinforces the positive impact in sustainable development and human rights for “L’Oréal For the Future”, with eco-design and decarbonization programs such as 100% renewable energy on all sites as well as the promotion of circular economy and inclusive partnerships with indigenous populations.

Ian Gordon retired as the Senior Vice President of Loblaw Brands Limited where he led the development and innovation behind some of Canada’s largest consumer brands; President’s Choice, no name and Life Brand. With the growing issue of plastic waste in the environment, Ian now assists in developing Loblaw’s plastic reduction strategy, He brings a broad and unique perspective to the plastics challenge following senior sales and marketing roles at CPG companies, Unilever and International Multifoods, and as President of ACLC Advertising. He is a board member of Recycle BC, The Canada Plastics Pact, a former member of the Strategic Advisory Board – University of Guelph Food From Thought research program, and a graduate of Queen’s University

Harsh Taneja is a Sales Leader at 7Gen, Canada’s leading fleet electrification company. He works with commercial and enterprise fleet operators to make the switch to electric work operationally and financially – from cargo vans and medium-duty trucks for last-mile delivery to Class 8 tractors – structuring leases and deployment plans grounded in the business case. He brings more than a decade of B2B sales experience, including five years at TELUS Business, to the electrification conversation. Based in the Greater Toronto Area, Harsh partners with retailers, logistics providers, and vehicle manufacturers to take fleets from first pilot to full scale. At 7Gen, one contract covers vehicles, charging, software, and carbon credits, and Harsh’s job is turning that simplicity into results for operators.”

Abla joined Environment and Climate Change Canada in September 2026 as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection Branch. Prior to ECCC, Abla served as Director of Operations, Social Development Policy, Operations Secretariat at Privy Council Office for over three years. In this role, she helped advance key Government of Canada priorities across health, immigration, justice, public safety, and housing portfolios. She played a central role in shaping and supporting the agendas of several Cabinet Committees, most recently the Quality of Life and Build Canada Committees, and provided strategic advice to the Prime Minister, the Clerk of the Privy Council, and Ministers. Her work included leading major initiatives such as Canada’s Border Plan, annual Immigration Levels Plans, and the establishment of Build Canada Homes.

Abla has also held senior leadership roles at Natural Resources Canada, including Director General of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Director of Operations in the Major Projects Management Office. In these roles she led work on national energy efficiency policies, programs, and regulations, including the Greener Homes Grant program and initiatives to reduce emissions and advance energy-efficient buildings. She also worked closely with partners across government, including Environment and Climate Change Canada, to support the review of major resource development projects, balancing environmental stewardship with economic growth.

Paul Nowak, the Executive Director of GreenBlue, brings 30+ years of experience to the table through a variety of roles across the supply chain including, vice president of sustainability at Quad, general manager of manufacturing, senior director of client experience, and vice president of enterprise solutions for brands. Nowak’s passion for sustainability and embodiment of GreenBlue’s mission are demonstrated through his career accomplishments, including the creation of the first Quad Sustainable Packaging Public Report, the Annual Client Sustainability Symposium, and the development of the Quad Community Education Program. During his career, Nowak has highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in the industry by serving as a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leader, founding the first Quad Business Resource Group for LGBTQIA+ teammates.

Matt Lebrun is the Director of the Plastics Regulatory Affairs Division at Environment and Climate Change Canada. There he leads a passionate team responsible for regulating single use plastics, the Federal Plastics Registry, and other initiatives aimed at managing plastic pollution and waste. In his 20 years with the federal public service, Matt has worked on a variety of files in the health and environmental domains including Canada’s inspection regimes for health products, emergency importation regulations during the global COVID pandemic, and the regulation of products under Canada’s Chemical’s Management Plan

Kush Obhrai is the General Manager at Ivy Charging Network, one of Ontario’s largest public charging networks. At Ivy, he builds partnerships with new site-hosts, manages new charging programs and oversees network operations. Kush has previous experience managing EV product launches, dealer readiness and charging partnerships for automotive OEMs. Ivy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro One, is working to increase the availability of EV charging in Ontario.

As CEO, Allen is responsible for leading Circular Materials through the development of Ontario’s new blue box recycling system while expanding the organization’s operations into other provinces, starting with New Brunswick. His mission is to support producers with a robust not-for-profit service offering that advances the circular economy, delivers national harmonization of extended producer responsibility (EPR) services and harnesses competitive procurement to provide the best value for producers.
Prior to joining Circular Materials, Allen served as the President and CEO of Return-It, British Columbia’s very successful used beverage container management program in Canada. In this role, Allen oversaw the modernization of Return-It’s collection network, which consists of more than 170 collection sites, including Return-It depots, Express Plus and Express & GO stations. Return-It has routinely exceeded a 75% recovery rate for used beverage containers in British Columbia, and its network has supported the collection of new materials, including waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Allen also served as the Managing Director for Recycle BC, the first 100% EPR program for paper and packaging in North America where industry assumed full financial and managerial responsibility for the residential recycling system.
Allen currently serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Washington State Recycling Development Centre.

 Jessica brings more than a decade of experience applying psychology and behavioural science to understanding what shapes people’s choices, motivations, and behaviours. Her background gives her a practical lens on how attitudes, values, and real-world experiences influence decision-making.

At Environics Research Group, Jessica conducts online social intelligence research, examining how consumers engage with brands, products, and emerging issues in digital spaces. Her work focuses on identifying the motivations, perceptions, and broader social context behind consumer conversations and translating those patterns into meaningful insights.

Her research experience has also explored consumer adoption of new technologies and behaviours, including perceptions of electric vehicles, the role of firsthand experience in changing attitudes, and the practical barriers that can shape adoption. She brings a behavioural perspective to understanding the gap between what consumers value, what they intend to do, and the choices they ultimately make

Michelle Saunders is Vice President of Sustainability at Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada.  Representing Canada’s food, beverage, consumer goods and health product manufacturers, she oversees all policy and advocacy efforts related to environmental sustainability, including Extended Producer Responsibility, plastics, packaging and climate.

As Colgate-Palmolive’s Chief Sustainability Offi cer Ann is a member of Colgate’s Sr. Leadership team and leads Colgate’s Global Sustainability strategy and key initiatives, integrating a strong technical foundation across our enterprise Sustainability & Social Impact Strategy Core Ambition pillars – Driving Social Impact, Helping Millions of Homes and Preserving our Environment. Ann holds a BA degree in Applied Science, a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, and a Master’s of Engineering degree in Manufacturing Systems. Most recently Ann has completed a Certifi cate in Business Sustainability Management from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. She currently serves as the Chair of the Board of the UNGC Network USA and is newly appointed to the GHG-Protocol Steering committee.

Clint brings over 35 years of deep domain experience in the environmental and sustainability sectors, having worked with multi-national energy companies to entrepreneurs in emerging industries and most recently, owned and led a successful management advisory firm. Over his career, Clint has provided project development for over 100 sites, including leading successful capital drives up to $200 million in investment per location for clean water, biomass, biofuel, solar, geothermal and value-added agricultural projects. He executed and delivered the full range of project and company development functions for these projects. Clint is the Chief Commercial Officer for Nexus which includes site selection/new market development; waste plastic sourcing for all plants and licensees; and all revenue generation (off-take contracts, service contracts, licensing, IP portfolio).    Clint also serves on many advanced recycling industry development committees, including being on the Executive Board of Directors for the Plastics Industry Association. Clint earned a degree in environmental studies from the University of Alabama. 

With more than 28 years of leadership experience across multiple industries, he has built a strong track record in business development, marketing, commercial strategy, communications, and organizational transformation. Known for his collaborative and results-oriented leadership style, François is passionate about strengthening corporate reputation, fostering meaningful stakeholder engagement, and advancing sustainability initiatives that support long-term business success. He is also a respected mentor and speaker who regularly shares insights on leadership, career development, and organizational change.

Lindsay holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a concentration in Sustainability from Concordia University in Montreal. Prior to joining Evnia in 2024, she worked at McKesson Canada and now serves as an Analyst and Technical Advisor. In her role, Lindsay specializes in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), helping organizations navigate complex reporting requirements and assess the implications of evolving regulatory frameworks across Canada and the United States. Her expertise enables customers to better understand emerging compliance obligations and develop strategies to adapt to a rapidly changing regulatory landscape.

Joshua Goodman is the Head of Corporate Sustainability at Sobeys. A leading national grocer, Sobeys sees sustainability as a critical element of its ambition to be the best retailer in Canada. In his role, Joshua is responsible for developing, implementing and overseeing sustainable business strategies and initiatives across the company’s approximately 1,600 stores in all 10 provinces. With nearly 20 years of experience, Joshua has held sustainability roles with several leading Canadian companies across multiple sectors, including retail, financial services, consumer product goods and real estate. Prior to that, he worked in the US and Europe focusing on national security policy. Joshua holds an LL.M. specializing in international economic regulatory systems from the University of Kent.

SC Johnson is a global maker of household, personal care, baby care and professional products with sales in almost every country in the world. SC Johnson Brands include Glade®, OFF!®, Pledge®, Mr Muscle®, Duck®, Baygon® and Raid®, Ziploc®, Scrubbing Bubbles®, Windex®, Autan®, Shout®, Mrs. Meyers® Clean Day, Babyganics®, method® and Ecover®, Sun Bum®, and many others. 

With a background in science and business, Fisk is a passionate advocate for practical paths forward on sustainability issues that include reducing plastic waste, green energy, carbon reduction, green chemistry and ingredient transparency He has been a strong advocate for greater plastic regulation, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), to improve recycling infrastructure, which he advocated for during a U.S. Senate hearing on EPR policies for consumer packaging in March 2024. Fisk is also a strong advocate for an ambitious global treaty to end plastic pollution, that’s being negotiated now among more than 170 countries. 

Beyond sustainability, SC Johnson has spent over 60 years advancing insect science to fight mosquito borne diseases such as malaria, Zika and dengue. Over the past decade, the company has developed and tested spatial repellents as a new public health intervention in vulnerable communities. With studies confirming the effectiveness of its Mosquito Shield™ and Guardian™ repellents in these settings, SC Johnson is now supporting the final research for a WHO policy recommendation – making it one of the first new malaria prevention tools in 25 years. 

Fisk holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Physics, a Master of Engineering, a Master of Science in Physics, a Master of Business Administration, and a doctorate in Physics, all from Cornell University. He served on the Cornell University Board of Trustees from 1993 to 2001 and is now a Trustee Emeritus and Presidential Counselor. He has also served on the University of Chicago’s Physical Sciences Division Council since 1996. 

In addition to more than 35 years of global business experience, Fisk has over 30 years of experience as managing director of a private technology-oriented venture capital business.  

Fisk has served in various Board of Directors, including The Consumer Goods Forum, Conservation International and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Fisk has been privileged to serve on two federal advisory committees — as a member of the U.S. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology from 2019 to 2021 and as a member of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations from 2002 to 2010 and again from 2011 to 2015.  

Fisk and SC Johnson have received numerous awards for environmental and social leadership, including the Presidential Green Chemistry Award, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lifetime Atmospheric Achievement Award, multiple EPA Green Power Leadership Awards, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy’s Force for Good Award, the World Environment Center’s Gold Medal Award for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development, the International Leadership Award from the U.S. Council for International Business, the 2023 Leadership for a Better World Award from the United Nations Foundation in recognition of his work to create a more sustainable world, and two honorary doctorates, among many others.  

Fisk is a devoted father who enjoys spending a great deal of time with his daughter. He’s an accomplished pilot with more than 2,000 hours of glider, seaplane, instrument, multi-engine, and C550-type ratings. He is also an avid scuba diver and enjoys many outdoor sports. 

Tess Rouse brings over 17 years of experience in government policy, regulatory development, and senior leadership across local, regional, and provincial government in British Columbia.

Her experience includes senior leadership roles with the Province of BC, specializing in environmental policy, extended producer responsibility (EPR), waste management, and circular economy initiatives.

Now with Clearyst°, Tess leverages her regulatory expertise to help producers understand their EPR requirements and works alongside Clearyst° teams to ensure they meet their reporting obligations across Canada.

Hadley Archer has held senior positions in conservation, fundraising and business. He joined Nature United in 2014 as the first Executive Director of our Canadian affiliate, Nature United. Prior to this role, Hadley was with World Wildlife Fund for 10 years, working for their global forest program and in Canada as vice president of strategic partnerships and fundraising. Hadley also served with Procter & Gamble for six years as Brand Manager and Group Finance Manager in the Paper Products Division. 

Cliff Hacking is the founding president and CEO of the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA), the most comprehensive end-of-life electronic stewardship program in North America. EPRA, under Cliff’s leadership, has recycled over 1.4 Million tonnes of e-waste since the organization’s inception. Through EPRA’s Recycle My Electronics programs, EPRA has helped Canadians divert e-waste from landfills and illegal export with over 3,500 collection sites across Canada.

In prior roles, Cliff increased revenue and profitability at such industry-leading companies as Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, and Canadian Tire. He holds an MBA from Western University and has an ICD designation from the Rotman School of Business.

Cliff is an expert in driving lower costs and increased economies of scale on a national level. Under his tenure, EPRA has introduced new programs in Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, while expanding efforts in British Columbia and evolving within new legislative requirements in Ontario. Cliff also brought efficiency and consistency to EPRA’s 8,200 stewards.

Cliff is the host of A Welcome Diversion, EPRA’s podcast that covers sustainability and recycling. Cliff has elevated public awareness of EPRA as a leader in the environmental and technology sectors reaching today’s on-demand audience. The podcast series is available on Apple, Spotify and wherever you listen to podcasts.

Christa Rust is Executive Director of Recycle Manitoba, the public-facing brand of Multi Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM), the producer responsibility organization that oversees Manitoba’s residential recycling program. She brings two decades of experience spanning regulatory affairs with Mikisew Cree First Nation, sustainability policy and research at the International Institute for Sustainable Development, beverage container recycling with the Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association (CBCRA), and support for Manitoba’s green economy through Manitoba Green Advantage. Drawing on this experience, Christa builds partnerships with producers, governments, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and service providers to strengthen recycling systems and advance Manitoba’s transition to full extended producer responsibility. She holds a master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Manitoba.

Annika specializes in understanding how people’s values, attitudes, and experiences shape behaviour and decision-making. She helps organizations uncover the human context behind complex issues, translating research insights into strategies that are relevant, actionable, and grounded in real-world perspectives. Working across both the private and public sectors, Annika has led and supported research projects that explore consumer attitudes toward sustainability and evolving expectations for retailers, consumer brands, governments, and non-profit organizations. Her work focuses on helping clients understand diverse audiences, identify emerging trends, and build stronger, more meaningful connections with their customers and stakeholders. Drawing on her background in business and marketing, Annika brings a practical perspective to values-based research, helping organizations navigate changing consumer expectations and understand how broader social and cultural shifts influence behaviour. She is passionate about translating complex insights into clear, actionable recommendations that help organizations adapt to rapidly evolving landscapes.

Developed petrochemicals, fertilizers, and hydrogen derivative (e.g., clean ammonia, clean methanol) strategies for players across North America, Europe, and Middle East, including market scans, technology outlooks, competitive positioning, and financials. Created 10-year strategy for global top 3 polyolefins producer with integration of conventional, circular, and low-carbon offerings, including both organic and inorganic options. Diagnosed and developed turnaround strategy for European nitrogen fertilizer producer, with focus on cash preservation, portfolio optimization, and operational changes to ensure liquidity and profitability. Developed petrochemical growth strategy for global oil & gas company, including growth vectors, economics, and build-vs-buy. Supported NA chemical company on methanol and clean methanol portfolio strategy, with focus on derivatives (e.g. acetals, MTBE), clean market outlook, and diversification options. Created US ethylene strategy for European O&G company, with focus on impact to European market. Have conducted 40+ due diligences on chemical companies, on topics ranging from polyacetal resins to butadiene market to electric inverter materials

Jonas joined McKinsey in 2008, working on energy and petrochemicals. 2014 – 2021, Jonas worked at Bernstein Research, a premier equity research firm, covering US Chemicals. During his tenure as an equity analyst, he successfully called the decline of global plastic recycling and how it would cause a global polyethylene shortage, the peak in global methanol prices, and the rise of hydrogen. Prior to McKinsey, Jonas ran a research group at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), focusing on developing low-temperature catalysts for hydrocarbon activation and methanol synthesis. Jonas holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from University of Notre Dame, as well as a Masters of Chemical Engineering from Chalmers Institute of Technology (Sweden). He is the author of 50+ peer-reviewed scientific papers, books, and patents.

Ryan is the Fleet & Sustainability Manager at GoBolt, a North American supply chain and logistics company. He oversees GoBolt’s fleet and electrification strategy, including EV deployment and charging, and leads the company’s decarbonization initiatives and sustainability reporting. Previously, Ryan led sustainability strategy and reporting across North America and Europe at Li-Cycle, a lithium-ion battery recycling company.

Kimi Walker leads a team that manages product safety and compliance, responsible sourcing, and environmental stewardship across the Canadian Tire family of companies.  In addition, she drives circular economy initiatives by sharing internal and external best practices, finding collaborative partners and celebrating our many successes. 

Kimi also actively participates as a Board Member of the Canadian Electrical Stewardship Association, as a Board Member of the Trade Facilitation Organization, and as Treasurer of Nirapon, an organization to drive a culture of worker safety in Bangladesh. 

Kimi joined Canadian Tire Corporation in 1994 as a Financial Analyst and has contributed to a number of different functions within Canadian Tire, including Retail Finance, Retail Strategy, Financial Systems, Business Intelligence, Sourcing, Product Quality and Reverse Flow.  Prior to coming to Canadian Tire, Kimi taught English for two towns in Ehime, Japan and earlier had been a Marketing Services Analyst for Petro-Canada Retail. 

Kimi has an MBA in International Business from McMaster University and a Honours Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. 

Dave Jerman is an Account Executive at PowerON Energy Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation, specializing in commercial fleet electrification and EV charging infrastructure. With expertise from the transportation and heavy-duty trucking industries, Dave brings valuable perspective to the EV sector.

Having worked on emission control systems for HD engines since 2010, he now guides clients through electrification implementation. Dave’s industry knowledge has led to recognition as an expert in several trucking publications and invitations as a guest speaker on numerous podcasts. His dedication, expertise, and collaborative approach help commercial customers implement optimized decarbonization solutions

Susan is a strategic research leader focused on how changing human values are redefining what people expect from brands, institutions, and each other. She helps organizations move beyond surface-level insights to uncover what truly drives behaviour – and turn that understanding into meaningful, future-ready strategies. With over two decades of experience across corporate retail, agency, and consultancy environments, Susan advises corporate and non-profit organizations on brand, product, and marketing strategy across sectors including tourism, culture and entertainment, technology, retail, and consumer goods and services. Her expertise in values-based research connects deep human insight with practical business impact, helping organizations navigate complexity, adapt to societal shifts, and build stronger, more relevant connections. Susan is an experienced speaker and facilitator, with engagements spanning conferences, leadership forums, webinars, and national media. She holds an MBA in Marketing and Strategic Management from the Schulich School of Business.

Michelle Chevalier, has been with UL Solutions (ULS) for over 12 years in a variety of roles and currently serves as a Business Manager, working with clients and their supply chain to understand challenges around regulatory compliance to develop solutions to help mitigate risk and meet business process needs.  Prior to coming to ULS, Michelle managed technology transfer for The Research Foundation at The State University of New York (SUNY) and business development at the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.  Michelle has a BA in Biology from Russell Sage College and a Master’s degree in Public Health from The University at Albany. 

Molly Fremes is the Manager of Diversion & Circularity at Canadian Tire Corporation, where she leads packaging improvements, ICI waste management, tire recycling, and circular partnerships. Prior to Canadian Tire, she supported circularity in Ontario SMEs at the City of Guelph, ran sustainability programs at Evergreen, and served on the board of the Toronto Tool Library and Makerspace.

Todd McCarthy is Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Acting Minster of Infrastructure, and the Member of Provincial Parliament for Durham.

Minister McCarthy is a well-respected and established lawyer across Ontario. He served as a Deputy Judge presiding over Small Claims Court cases at the Durham Region Courthouse, and as a former President of the Durham Region Law Association. During this time, McCarthy taught as an Adjunct Professor at both Queen’s University Faculty of Law and the Durham College Faculty of Justice and Emergency Services. Furthermore, he has proudly served as a Trustee and Vice Chair of the Durham Catholic District School Board and is a founding donor and supporter of the Durham Abilities Centre.

Caitlin Vanderkooy is a solutions-oriented leader in infrastructure planning, construction, and operations, with more than 20 years of experience in sustainability, environmental management, and program delivery. As Director, Environmental Management at Infrastructure Ontario, she leads the integration of sustainability, energy efficiency, and climate resilience into the design, development, and operation of public infrastructure assets. Her expertise includes integrated environmental programs, decarbonization strategies, and climate-resilient infrastructure, with a focus on lifecycle-based decision-making and prudent asset management to maximize long-term environmental, social, and economic value.

Jeff Bezzo heads plastic and packaging sustainability at SC Johnson and is Board Treasurer of Circular Action Alliance. Jeff is known for coaching and developing talent, strategic thinking and partnering cross-functionally in pursuit of business priorities. Jeff has a long track record of leadership roles at SC Johnson.  
Educated at McMaster University in Canada with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Jeff subsequently earned a CPA, CMA also in Canada. Jeff is a dual citizen having split his 31- year FMCG career between the United States and Canada with the last 27 years of his career at SC Johnson.  
Jeff is a daily runner and cyclist, has completed 3 ultra-distance running races to date and is an avid lover of the outdoors. Jeff spends his free time outside his home adjacent to the Kettle Moraine State Forest and Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Wisconsin.

Martin is a plastic engineer technologist who built his first mechanical recycling line for his father’s company 30 years ago in Germany. With over 15 years of experience in post-consumer recycling in Germany and over 18 years of experience in Canada, he is an industry pioneer. 


Under Martin’s guidance, Listowel, Ont.-based EFS-plastics has diverted more than a billion pounds of scrap plastics into usable plastic resins, reducing the dependence of virgin resins from fossil fuels, diverting scrap from going to landfill, and furthering the objective of a circular economy.

Shannon Stewart is Director, National Accounts at WM, where she oversees strategic partnerships with many of Canada’s leading organizations, including national retailers. With more than two decades of experience in the environmental services industry, Shannon brings expertise spanning sustainability consulting, strategic account management and national business leadership.

Working at the intersection of sustainability and business strategy, Shannon helps organizations advance diversion and resource recovery initiatives that support both environmental and business goals. Her experience partnering with complex, multi-location organizations gives her a practical perspective on implementing sustainability programs at scale and turning sustainability goals into action.

Gauravi Saini is a sustainability and EPR professional with a decade of experience spanning corporate climate strategy, producer responsibility and tire recovery. At Reclay, she leads tire recovery operations in Ontario and advises organizations on EPR design and compliance across North America, with a focus on solutions that are commercially viable today and more sustainable for the next generation. Her earlier work includes sustainability roles at Sobeys and HSBC. Now a new mom, she’s increasingly interested in emerging circular systems: from textiles to toys and beyond

Sonia Avolio is a Professional Engineer and Senior Director, Planning and Programs at BGIS, with more than 12 years of experience across engineering, integrated facility management, sustainability and smart buildings. She leads programs focused on energy management, building optimization, decarbonization and climate resilience across large and complex building portfolios. With experience across the technical and operational sides of the built environment, Sonia brings a practical perspective on what it takes to move from sustainability goals to scalable action, balancing operational realities with the need to reduce emissions and improve building performance.

Ehsan Maghsoudi is a Partner and Sustainability AI & Digital Leader at EY Canada. He works with organizations to turn sustainability data into practical business insights, stronger controls and better decisions. With more than 18 years of experience, he advises clients on sustainability technology strategy, AI-enabled reporting, data governance, responsible supply chain technology, and enterprise implementation. Ehsan has extensive experience supporting consumer and retail organizations as they modernize ESG reporting, improve supply chain transparency, address evolving product and packaging requirements, and apply AI to complex sustainability data. His broader experience spans mining and manufacturing. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Polytechnique Montréal.