Leadership series - Fall 2024

Alex Phillips, (BES '03, MES'13)

Director, North American Government Relations and Public Policy, CIBC

Alex Phillips is a seasoned professional in corporate affairs, government relations, and sustainability, with two decades of diverse experience, including senior political roles. She is purpose-driven, excelling in government relations through tailored advocacy and effective management of regulatory and reputational risks. Her expertise lies in energy and environmental policy, where she focuses on policy development, interpretation and influence. A proven leader, Alex has a strong track record of mentoring and managing high-performing teams. She is a consensus builder who fosters collaboration and maintains lasting, productive relationships. She holds two degrees from the University of Waterloo: a Bachelor of Environment and Resource Studies with a minor in Women’s Studies, as well as a Master of Environment and Business.

Bianca Rocha, (BES ‘15, MCC ‘22)

Purpose Integration Specialist - Climate at Libro Credit Union

Bianca Rocha is relatively new to the cooperative sector, having joined Libro in November 2022. Her role at Libro is focused on understanding Libro’s areas of impact and to develop a climate change strategy for the credit union. She has her Bachelor of Environmental Studied in Environment & Business and her Masters of Climate Change from the University of Waterloo. She is passionate about a just climate transition, what that looks like practically and the role that the financial sector can play in the fight against climate change. Prior to embarking into the cooperative system, she worked as an environmental planner for the provincial government. In her free time you can find her enjoying nature reading or creating something.
 

Dale Van Looyen (she/her)

(BES (Hons.) MAES, MSEd., PMP, Prosci-CM, CSAM, CHAMP, ISO 19770-1 Practitioner)

Program and Project Executive, and Managing Partner, Professional Services

Dale is a passionate People, Program, and Project leader dedicated to assisting organizations to mobilize their teams and employ appropriate cultural change measures and technology tools enabling them to deliver outstanding business solutions creating long term value. She has focused on advancing the visibility and value of IT Management Systems as a key part of successful business ecosystems and advising executives on alignment of strategic programs with key business outcomes using the Business Value Optimization Process. She has 25+ years of experience in various industries including environmental services, education, financial services, healthcare, transportation, mining and technology. Over the last 15 years, she has engaged with other executives supporting the development and delivery of key business and information and technology projects including global hardware, software delivery, outsourcing, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Dale is currently the Managing Partner of Professional Services at Anton Growth Management Corp. which she co-founded in 2005, and is a member of the Standard Councils of Canada which collaborates with global ITAM lifecycle experts to forge supportive guidelines and standards for the IT management industry Globally.

Holly Gardner, (PHD' 2016)

Co-Founder, SoCitty & VP Operations, NuPort Robotics

Dr Holly Gardner is a renowned leader in the innovation ecosystem, entrepreneurship and government administration. She has built significant capacity to advance start-ups across various sectors such as autonomous vehicle technology, clean teach, and health tech, leveraging emerging technologies like blockchain, quantum computing, 5G and AI. Currently, she divides her time between her roles as a researcher in the Cybersecurity Research Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, VP of Operations at NuPort Robotics, and as CEO and co-founder of Scoitty.ai. She holds a PHD in Social and Ecological Sustainability from University of Waterloo, a Masters of Sustainability from Queen’s University, and lastly an Honors BSc. in Environmental Science from Trent University. Holly’s research is focused on climate change adaption and resilience, and leveraging advanced technology for large-scale development in remote areas. More recently her research has shown how technological innovation can address real-world issues related to climate, health equity and cybersecurity. She has also advocated for food, water, educational, employment security, and land rights for marginalized groups in Canada and globally. 
 

Joel Doherty, (BES’98)

Manager of Conservation Lands, GRCA

Joel Doherty Recently joined the Grand River Conservation Authority, to serve as the Manager of Conservation Lands, responsible for leading the division that manages nearly 50,000 acres held by the GRCA, and sits on the GRCA management committee.  Joel has over 20 years of experience as a real estate developer, consultant, investor and community builder. In his most recent role at HIP Developments as VP, Real Estate & Development, Joel was responsible for managing the development approval process, overseeing and collaborating on the creation of over 4 million square feet of residential, industrial, and retail space. Over his career, he has been involved with real estate dispositions totaling over $500 Million and valuations exceeding $1 Billion. Proficient in guiding projects from acquisition to strategic disposition, Joel is known for his dedication to public relations and community building. Outside of work, he has served as a board member for the Grand River Conservation Foundation, coached, managed and served as an advisor with Cambridge Youth Soccer, has been involved with various charitable organizations and mentors young professionals, reflecting his commitment to both urban and natural landscapes in shaping a positive future.  

Matt Scoular, (BES '2003, MES '2009)

Power & Energy Transition Lead - Eastern Canada & Environmental Planner, SLR Consulting

Matt is a registered professional planner with twenty years of environmental consulting experience. He is a proud University of Waterloo alumnus of the Honours B.E.S. in Environment and Resource Studies (2003) and M.E.S. in Planning (2009) in the Faculty of Environment. In his current role as Power and Energy Transition Lead for Eastern Canada at SLR Consulting, Matt leads and supports strategic planning, environmental, and regulatory advisory services for clients on wind and solar power generation and battery and advanced-compressed air energy storage projects in Canada and the Caribbean. Matt is excited at the opportunity to be back on campus, become more active as an alumni, and meet the next generation of environmental leaders!
 

Mitch Voss, (BES' 2016)

Director, Client Services, Workiva

Mitch Voss is a Climate Tech professional with a robust educational background and extensive experience in environmental and sustainability sectors. He holds a CORe (Credential of Readiness) from Harvard Business School, an MASc in Environmental Applied Science and Management from Ryerson University, and a BES in Environment, Resources, and Sustainability (ERS) with a Minor in Legal Studies from the University of Waterloo. Through the co-op program, Mitch was exposed to roles in environmental monitoring, health, safety, and enforcement at manufacturing plants like Toyota and Linamar, as well as municipalities. Later he gained experience in the consulting world at firms like KPMG as he transitioning into the world of sustainable finance and financial technology. Currently, as Director of Client Services at Workiva, Mitchell excels in roles that blend his passions for sustainability and software, driving decarbonization and making a significant impact on his clients' success

Paula Hohner, (BES' 1996)

Team Lead - Assessment & Permitting, Stantec

Paula is a registered Professional Planner, Senior Associate, and Senior Team Leader for Assessment & Permitting at Stantec consulting Ltd. A graduate from the Environmental and Resource Studies program with a minor in Business Administration from Laurier, Paula also completed her Masters in the Science of Planning at the University of Toronto, after gaining work experience in the environmental field focusing on wetland evaluation, environmental planning and environmental due diligence. She is involved in projects with public and private sectors clients across Ontario primarily related to environmental assessments for transportation, water and wastewater infrastructure. Paula has worked in the consulting industry for most of her career, working across Ontario to deliver multidisciplinary projects. Paula works with engineering teams to deliver preliminary design, design-build, design-bid-build, and detailed design assignments, preparing environmental documentation and contract specifications. Paula is also responsible for EA processes, consultation programs, environmental impacts identification, mitigation strategies and environmental permitting.