Smart Harmonization: Balancing Consistency with Operational Reality 

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.

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.

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