Advisory Board

Green Living Enterprises advisory board

We have assembled an Advisory Board comprised of influential environmental leaders and organizations.

Michael de Pencier Chairman, Key Publishers and Past Chairman of World Wildlife Fund

Laurie Simmonds President and CEO, Green Living Enterprises

Mike Russill Past President of World Wildlife Fund Canada

Christopher Hilkene Executive Director, Clean Water Foundation, Member, National Roundtable on the Environment and Economy

Dr. Rick Smith Executive Director, Environmental Defence

Lynn Gran Vice-President Philanthropy and Marketing, Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)

Michael Curry Managing Partner, Investeco Capital

Maia Becker Vice President, Forest Stewardship Council and Director, Green Building Council

Paul Bubelis Executive Director, Sustainability Network

Geoff Cape Founding Executive Director, Evergreen

Jim Harris Principal, Strategic Advantage

Michael de Pencier Chairman, Key Publishers and Past Chairman of World Wildlife Fund

Michael has led the evolution of Key Publishers from a media company to a green-enterprise facilitator and investment firm. He is the immediate past Chairman of World Wildlife Fund Canada and International, Women’s College Hospital, and is a former trustee of the Royal Botanical Gardens and former Chair of the Ontario College of Art and Design. He has been honoured with the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada, and, with his family, has planted 40,000 trees at their property near Rosemont, Ontario.

Laurie Simmonds President and CEO, Green Living Enterprises

Laurie has extensive publishing experience, having previously worked on Toronto Life, Fashion, Essential Toronto and Canadian Art, among others. She was responsible for rebranding Green Living magazine and the rapid growth of Green Living Enterprises, which led to an online presence, the successful launch of the Green Living Show, corporate consulting, marketing and custom publishing, all focused on the green economy sector.

Mike Russill Past President of World Wildlife Fund Canada

Before joining WWF in 2004, Mike was the Chairman of AADCO Automotive Inc., Canada’s leading environmentally focused automotive recycler and the only company of its kind to receive Environment Canada’s EcoLogo.

Christopher Hilkene Executive Director, Clean Water Foundation,

and Member, National Roundtable on the Environment and Economy

Chris has been a contributor to Canadian freshwater policies for more than a decade, and his strengths include policy and program development. He is also a part–time faculty member at York University’s Faculty of Environmental Studies, where he teaches water policy.

Dr. Rick Smith Executive Director, Environmental Defence

Rick has been Executive Director of Environmental Defence since June 2003. He has authored numerous articles in both the scientific and popular press, and is often quoted by the media on environmental issues. Prior to this, he was Canadian Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. He received his PhD in zoology from the University of Guelph for his study of unique and endangered seals in Northern Quebec.

Lynn Gran Vice-President Philanthropy and Marketing, Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)

Lynn has been with NCC since 2000, during a period of incredible growth in revenues and supporters. She oversees the national fundraising and marketing programs for NCC and led the successful $200-million Campaign for Conservation. She has worked for and volunteered as a fundraiser in the charitable sector for close to 20 years.

Michael Curry Managing Partner, Investeco Capital

Michael has vast experience in researching companies throughout the environmental economy for potential investment. He sits on the board at Organic Meadow and Rowe Farm Meats. Previously, he was co-owner/ operator of a successful building-materials distribution company and spent seven years in the reforestation industry.

Maia Becker Vice President, Forest Stewardship Council and Director, Green Building Council

Maia is Manager of Communications and Client Services at FSC. She has worked internationally and locally in the areas of certification, marketing, economic development and education. Her work focuses on raising awareness and understanding of sustainability issues related to paper and wood procurement, and in facilitating market supply and demand for certified products.

Paul Bubelis Executive Director, Sustainability Network

Prior to his work at the Sustainability Network, Paul served as Executive Director of the Ontario Environment Network and spent five years at Environment Canada, managing the community-funding programs of the Ontario region. He has also consulted with grant-makers, government and NGOs. Paul sits on the boards of the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Fund & Network, the Shell Environmental Fund (Ontario Panel) and Earth Day Canada.

Geoff Cape Founding Executive Director, Evergreen

Geoff has grown Evergreen to become a national organization with over 75 staff and offices in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. Last year, he was a selected delegate for Toronto’s Creative Cities International Study Group and inducted into the Ashoka International Fellowship in Washington, D.C. He is the founding Chair of the Sustainability Network and a member of the Toronto City Summit Alliance. He’s also a former winner of Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40” and a regular speaker on urban environmental issues.

Jim Harris Principal, Strategic Advantage

Jim Harris is one of North America’s foremost management consultants, authors and thinkers on change and leadership. Jim is also the former leader of the Green Party of Canada. Under his leadership from February 2003 to September 2006, the party increased voter support, membership, potential voter pool and budget to a point where in 2006, 35 percent of all Canadian voters were considering voting Green and 20 percent say they are likely to vote Green.