We are pleased to announce our speakers for the 2024 Conference. They are listed in the order in which they will appear at the conference.
1:00 p.m. Moderated Discussion: How did we get here?
Speakers:
Vanessa Fiori (uOttawa Environmental Science graduate)
Rolly Montpellier (Below2˚C)
Moderator: Adrian Harewood, Carleton University Journalism Professor
Adrian Harewood is an Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at Carleton University. He’s the former host of CBC Ottawa’s drive home radio show All in A Day and was the anchor of CBC Ottawa News at Six from 2009-2022. In 2020 he won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local Anchor. Adrian has been the guest host of national programs on radio and television including The Current, As It Happens, Sounds Like Canada and The House, Counterspin, Hot Type and Power & Politics. He was also the host of programs on BRAVO and PBS including Literati, The Actors, The Directors, Playwrights & Screenwriters. Adrian is on the board of Journalists for Human Rights and the Writers’ Union of Canada. He has a BA in Political Theory and History from McGill University and a MA in History from Carleton University.
2:00 p.m. Keynote Address: Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty
Speaker: Tzeporah Berman, Chair, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
8.30 a.m. Indigenous welcome: Elder Verna MacGregor
9:00 a.m. Panel: Lessons from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
Speakers:
Cara Pike, Climate Access
Tariq Rauf, UN Institute for Training and Research;
Sylvie Lemieux is the former Co-Chair of Canadian Network for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (CNANW). Sylvie is a retired Lieutenant-Colonel Army Engineer and a retired executive from the Public Service of Canada. She has served across Canada and has participated in a UN humanitarian mission in Pakistan as a teacher for mine awareness to support Afghans’ repatriation. Upon her retirement, she completed a Masters in Globalization and International Development at the University of Ottawa and a Doctorate in Conflict Studies at Saint-Paul University. Her thesis was centered on the process of global treaties through the lens of the Ottawa Treaty.
Sylvie has represented the Green Party of Canada in 2008 and 2011 as the candidate for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell.
She enjoyed participating in World Social Forums (Tunisia 2013, Sarajevo–Peace in 2014 and Montreal in 2016) and other civic public spheres (Canadian People Forum in 2014 and COP21 in 2015).
While she remains a strong environmentalist, her activism efforts are now focused on peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons. She is still an active member of CNANW, a board member of G78, CPRA, and IPB, and a member of Pugwash.
10:45 a.m. Litigation to Fight Climate Change
Speakers:
Reid Gomme, Ecojustice
Reid Gomme (J.D., University of Ottawa, 2022; B.A. in Political Science and French Language, University of Alberta, 2017). Reid is a staff lawyer in the Ecojustice Ottawa office. Reid started working at Ecojustice as a student in 2020 just after the launch of the Mathur case, and has been part of the legal team on Mathur since then at both the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Appeal. Beyond his work holding governments to account on climate change, Reid’s work has also involved litigation to protect endangered species and ecosystems from harm, and representing an Indigenous community challenging Quebec’s mining regime for inadequate consultation.
Alex Neufeldt, Youth Litigator
Moderator: Susan Tanner
Susan Tanner, Vice-President of G78 and Chair of the CCEWG, will moderate the discussion. While previously holding positions in both the Federal and Ontario governments Susan has maintained an active role in community organisations as both a board and staff member. Susan was founder of Halton Hills Community Legal Services (1978) and founding chairperson of LEAF (Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund) (1985). She represented Friends of the Earth at the 1992 UNCED in Rio and in 1995, Friends of the Earth Canada accepted a UNEP award for work on the Montreal Protocol done under her leadership. While serving as executive Director (2007-10) Canadian Environmental Network, Susan was honoured as a United Nations Association of Canada “Championne” for her work on human rights and environment. Her federal government positions included: Senior Advisor to the Deputy Minister, Justice Canada, on Gender and Diversity; Senior Manager, Federal participation, Expo 86; Forum Lead, Disaster Management, World Urban Forum, Habitat Jam; Counsellor, Association of Executives (APEX). Her provincial positions included: Member, Ontario Environmental Assessment Board; Vice Chair, Social Assessment Review Board; Mediator, Ontario Grievance Settlement Board, Clinic Education Officer, Ontario Legal Aid Plan. Susan holds a Masters of Environmental Studies and a Masters of Law, is a member of the Ontario Bar, has consulted in the private sector on sustainability and taught as a sessional lecturer at Carleton University.
1:00 p.m. Keynote: Advocacy at International Conferences
Keynote Speaker: Catherine Abreu, Executive Director, Destination Zero
2: 00 p.m. Panel: Civil Society Circle (Where do we go from here?)
Speakers:
Robb Barnes, CAPE
Robb is the Climate Program Director at the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE). Robb was previously the executive director of Ecology Ottawa as well as Capacity Building Institute. Robb is a climate advocate with 16 years of involvement in climate and environmental issues. Robb’s work has focused on engagement organizing, climate-friendly cities, and data-driven communications.
Angela Keller-Herzog, CAFES Ottawa
Angela is the Executive Director of Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES), an Ottawa-based local environmental organization and municipal climate watchdog.
She has over 20 years experience working in international development including at Transparency International and the Canadian federal government. She has represented Canada overseas and at United Nations conferences.
She is active in the community as an environmental and social justice advocate and active citizen observer of municipal affairs, serving as a director on the boards of the Glebe Community Association, and formerly the Ottawa Renewable Energy Coop and Co-Energy Ontario Coop. She is a co-founder of Ottawa Centre Refugee Action.
Angela believes in local action, taking responsibility and getting things done to create the world we want to live in. Human rights and taking climate action are two of Angela’s priorities. She has received multiple awards recognizing her progressive community leadership.
Angela is a trained economist (Master of Arts, Economics, Carleton University).
Akaash Maharaj, Director of Policy, Nature Canada
Akaash works to strengthen the policies of Canada’s federal, provincial, and Indigenous governments, to protect and conserve wildlife and habitats across our country. He has a special commitment to the implementation of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
Outside of Nature Canada, he is Ambassador-at-Large for the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption. He represents the international alliance of democratically‑elected legislators in its work combatting corruption, strengthening good government, and upholding the rule of law.
The United Nations selected him to speak for the world’s legislators in the General Assembly Chamber, on prosecuting crimes against humanity and bringing klleptocrats to justice.
A noted contributor to international debate, his articles have appeared in newspapers in every populated continent. Akaash was a broadcast essayist with TV Ontario’s The Agenda, and Maclean’s magazine named him as one of Canada’s 50 “most well-known and respected personalities”.
Earlier in his career, Akaash was a national athlete and a triple gold medallist for Canada at the International Championships of Equestrian Skill-at-Arms. He subsequently led the overall Canadian Equestrian Team and federation as CEO, to the team’s most successful Olympics and Paralympics of all time. He remains a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Akaash earned his MA from Oxford University in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and was the first overseas student elected President of the student government in the history of the 900‑year‑old University. He completed further studies at the Sorbonne Université and the United Nations University. He is a Governor and Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a Senior Fellow of the Munk School of Global Affairs, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
An active volunteer, Akaash has taught adult literacy, has served as a director on a range of international development and local community boards, and has been particularly involved with UNICEF’s efforts on childhood and maternal welfare. He is fluent in English and French.
Julia Levin, Environmental Defence
Julia Levin is an Associate Director with the national climate team at Environmental Defence Canada, a leading environmental advocacy organistion. In her current role, she works to advance ambitious climate and energy policy. She has worked with multiple organisations in the environmental sector, including Greenpeace Canada and Oceana Canada. She holds a BSc from McGill University and a MEd from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Julia has been campaigning on environmental and climate justice issues for over a decade.
Lisa Gue, David Suzuki Foundation
Moderator: Richard Harmston, Former Chair, Group of 78