About

Debra Alves was the Managing Director / CEO of the CBC Pension Plan for over 10 years.  As the Chief Executive Officer, she was responsible for the day-to-day leadership, management and administration of the CBC Pension Plan which included the investment management of over $7 billion of assets and the provision of pension administration services to 19,000 members.  Prior to this position, Debra held senior posts at the Treasury and Pension Fund offices of the CBC Pension Fund, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Farm Credit Corporation.  Her career in portfolio management spans investment in bonds, private equity, infrastructure and the oversight of external investment managers.  Now retired, Debra sits on various local Boards and Committees.

Debra holds a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science and Economics) from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Tampa.  She is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder and has the Institute of Corporate Directors, ICD.D designation.

Annie spent most of her career as a policy advisor in the federal government, including in the office of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Environment Canada and Health Canada. Annie then switched to the not-for-profit sector, working at Smart Prosperity at the University of Ottawa and Équiterre as Director of government relations in Ottawa. Annie holds a degree in economics from McGill University, a MES (ecological economics) from York University and a post-graduate diploma in environmental epidemiology from McMaster University. She currently works to advance Canadian philanthropy’s contribution to an equitable transition to a net zero carbon economy.

Tracey was President & CEO of Bridgehead Coffee, a company she founded, from 2000 to its sale in 2020. During 2020 she served as the Bridgehead’s Chief Culture Officer, and activated Fogo Clay Studio on Fogo Island, NL. Tracey holds an MBA, and is an Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) Fellow.

Tracey is Past-Chair of Impact Hub Ottawa, following five years as founding Chair. She is a Director of the Ottawa Community Foundation, and chairs its Impact Investment Committee. She also serves as a Director of Ottawa Riverkeeper and Ecotrust Canada.

She enjoys travel, outdoor pursuits, reading, writing, and cooking and spends her time between Fogo, Ottawa and Toronto.

Joan Haysom has more than 25 years of experience in high tech and energy engineering. She is passionate about building a sustainable low-carbon future, and leads a team providing clients with advisory, feasibility and design services for renewable energy and carbon reduction projects.  Joan currently focuses on low carbon heating systems, solar, energy storage, energy modeling, and integration into buildings and infrastructure. She is a dedicated speaker and capacity builder, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa, and won the WIRE 2016 Canadian Women of Distinction in Solar for contributions to the renewables industry.

Chris Henderson is a Canadian eco-entrepreneur, community leader and environmental innovator.  For the past 35 years, he has led and been at the forefront of ground-breaking Canadian enterprises and local/national business, social and ecological initiatives which have global impact and resonance.  Chris is a trusted and insightful commentator on economic, environment and energy issues that respect the Planet, and generate enduring outcomes for corporations, communities and Canada.  Chris prime current role in advising and equipping Indigenous peoples and communities to develop and own clean energy projects to catalyze social development, economic opportunity and to combat Climate Change. His first book Aboriginal Power was published in 2013.

Chris is the President of Lumos Energy, Executive Director of the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise, Founder of The Delphi Group and Board Chair of the Globe Series.

Lauren was born and raised on the land of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Attawandaron, and Wendat peoples, in what is commonly known as London, Ontario. A graduate of Environmental Studies and Political Science at Mount Allison University in Mi’kma’ki (New Brunswick) Lauren first became involved in climate justice organizing through campus fossil fuel divestment campaigning, organizing Powershift youth convergences, and as delegate to COP 21 and 22 with the Canadian Youth Delegation. Lauren has been working with CAN-Rac since 2019 to bring a Green New Deal to Canada. She continues her grassroots organizing by volunteering with other climate organizations such as Climate Justice Ottawa. 

Rawlson King is Ottawa’s first black City Councillor who represents Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward. He was initially elected in a historic by-election held April 2019 and was re-elected in October 2022.

During the 2018-2022 Council Term, Rawlson was appointed Council Liaison for Anti-Racism and Ethnocultural Relations Initiatives and was responsible for the creation of the City’s anti-racism office and strategy.  During that term, he was Chair of the Built Heritage Sub-Committee and was also appointed to the Standing Committee on Environmental Protection, Water and Waste Management and to the Information Technology Sub-Committee.  He also served on the boards of the Ottawa Police Service, Crime Prevention Ottawa, Ottawa Community Housing Corporation, Ottawa Public Library, Ottawa Community Lands Development Corporation and the Quartier Vanier BIA.

Before his election to public office, he was an entrepreneur and communication professional with over 20 years of private sector experience in high-technology market research.

Read more about Councillor King.

Brian Toller is President of Tolcor Investments Ltd., a private investment firm. During his career, he has been an entrepreneur and investor in publishing, renewable energy, commercial real estate, venture capital and mental health training. Brian is a member of the Investment Committee and the Impact Investment Committee at the Ottawa Community Foundation (OCF). He was on the Board of OCF for ten years, three as Board Chair, where he led the foundation’s move into Responsible Investing and Impact Investing. He is a board member at Community Foundations of Canada and is also Chair of Impact Hub Ottawa, a collaborative co-working space that incubates social purpose businesses.

Rodney is a values-based real estate developer, investor and asset-manager. Over the past 15 years, Rodney has had senior executive roles on some of the most ambitious real estate development projects in the country, including 10 LEED Platinum buildings. Rodney led the master planning of Zibi, a zero carbon community, Canada’s only endorsed One Planet Community, and a winner of a host of national and international awards. When not working on creating more environmentally and socially sustainable real estate projects, Rodney can be found sailing, whitewater paddling or cross-country skiing.

Andrea Flowers is the Section Manager of Climate Change & Resiliency Team at the City of Ottawa.  Ms. Flowers is responsible for developing and coordinating strategic policies, programs and plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resiliency to climate change in Ottawa.  As the City’s centre of expertise for climate change and resiliency, the Team also provides technical expertise on corporate projects and supports community initiatives. She has more than 15 years of experience in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.