Board of Directors
The RSI management board consists of highly successful and dedicated leaders, entrepreneurs and experts who actively embed sustainability and innovation to advance the ability of business and society to thrive in new realities.
Their experience and expertise make them one of the most formidable cross-sector and intergenerational brain trusts in the country. The power of their combined networks in Canada and around the globe enables them to engage key decision-makers and market leaders to collaboratively discover and deploy solutions to system-level challenges impacting our world.
A knowledgeable and trusted resource, the RSI management board is capable of affecting dramatic and positive changes in the way sustainability is defined and deployed today and in years to come.
Alexander (Alec) Hay, PhD CEng PEng FICE CRM RSES
Founder and Principal of Southern Harbour Ltd, and adjunct professor at the University of Toronto.
Alec is a globally recognized leader in infrastructure risk, resilience and security planning. He is the founding principal of Southern Harbour Ltd, an independent risk advisory firm based in Toronto, and an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, where he teaches and researches infrastructure and community systems risk and post-disaster/conflict rehabilitation. He works with governments, international organizations, and multinationals to help decision-makers understand the risks they face in a rapidly changing world, as well as through-life equity protection and intelligent risk transfer. He has advanced risk-based assessment in insurance and has developed international guidance on commercial property resilience for the Building Owners and Managers Association.
Previously, he was the DIALOG Resilience & Security lead, before which he served 25 years as a British Royal Engineers officer delivering infrastructure and fortifications globally. He has a keen interest in developing young professional engineers as both a mentor and peer reviewer and on the Capacity Building Panel of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He serves on the certification board of Green Advantage, equipping construction trades with sustainable building skills, and more recently on the expert panel for the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) sustainable public-private partnership guidance document. He is a sought-after speaker and author.
Alec was an RSI Director from 2014 to 2019, returning to the board in 2024.
Alec is a globally recognized leader in infrastructure risk, resilience and security planning. He is the founding principal of Southern Harbour Ltd, an independent risk advisory firm based in Toronto, and an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, where he teaches and researches infrastructure and community systems risk and post-disaster/conflict rehabilitation. He works with governments, international organizations, and multinationals to help decision-makers understand the risks they face in a rapidly changing world, as well as through-life equity protection and intelligent risk transfer. He has advanced risk-based assessment in insurance and has developed international guidance on commercial property resilience for the Building Owners and Managers Association.
Previously, he was the DIALOG Resilience & Security lead, before which he served 25 years as a British Royal Engineers officer delivering infrastructure and fortifications globally. He has a keen interest in developing young professional engineers as both a mentor and peer reviewer and on the Capacity Building Panel of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He serves on the certification board of Green Advantage, equipping construction trades with sustainable building skills, and more recently on the expert panel for the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) sustainable public-private partnership guidance document. He is a sought-after speaker and author.
Alec was an RSI Director from 2014 to 2019, returning to the board in 2024.
Olivier is a connector and leader in Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization in Canada. As Executive Director of Enerva, a pan-Canadian program design and implementation firm working with governments and utilities to deliver outcome-based solutions, he and his team are at the confluence of efforts to ensure market transformation toward a low-carbon economy while driving energy conservation and cost-reduction initiatives. Olivier has also had a significant impact in developing capacity-building & workforce development programs, as well as expanding the visibility and perceived risk profile of deep energy retrofit financing programs for buildings.
His belief in the importance of reducing emissions from the built environment, which accounts for nearly 40% of emissions in Canada is at the centre of his work, which involves engaging both the public and private sectors to ensure Canada has the programs required to support its energy transition, needs, and decarbonization goals. As carbon reduction is all about collaboration and scale, Olivier is focused on implementation and cooperation across stakeholder groups.
Over his 15-year career, he has worked with organisations like the Canadian Institute for Energy Training, SOFIAC, UNEP and Canadian Standards Association on workforce development, retrofit financing, multilateral environmental agreements and the proliferation of the use of sustainability-related standards and codes by industry. During his time with the Canadian Institute for Energy Training (CIET), Olivier began to narrow his focus to energy efficiency, which is widely accepted to be one of the fastest, easiest, and most direct paths to decarbonization and climate change mitigation. In addition to this, Olivier has served as a facilitator and presenter on topics related to the overarching themes of energy efficiency engagement and building decarbonization strategies.
His belief in the importance of reducing emissions from the built environment, which accounts for nearly 40% of emissions in Canada is at the centre of his work, which involves engaging both the public and private sectors to ensure Canada has the programs required to support its energy transition, needs, and decarbonization goals. As carbon reduction is all about collaboration and scale, Olivier is focused on implementation and cooperation across stakeholder groups.
Over his 15-year career, he has worked with organisations like the Canadian Institute for Energy Training, SOFIAC, UNEP and Canadian Standards Association on workforce development, retrofit financing, multilateral environmental agreements and the proliferation of the use of sustainability-related standards and codes by industry. During his time with the Canadian Institute for Energy Training (CIET), Olivier began to narrow his focus to energy efficiency, which is widely accepted to be one of the fastest, easiest, and most direct paths to decarbonization and climate change mitigation. In addition to this, Olivier has served as a facilitator and presenter on topics related to the overarching themes of energy efficiency engagement and building decarbonization strategies.
Gary is a seasoned Senior Strategy and Business Development Leader with two decades of experience dedicated to leveraging analytics and performance insights to address complex business challenges and foster growth and prosperity in a diversity of sectors and eco-systems.
This includes sustainability-focused initiatives from concept through to orchestrating cohesive teams and driving projects to successful outcomes. His expertise is underpinned by strong analytical capabilities, meticulous attention to detail, and a unique vision for both short-term and long-term strategic planning and sustainable value creation.
Currently, Gary serves as the Manager of Customer Operations at Quantum Lifecycle, Canada’s leading IT asset disposition and e-waste recycling service provider. In this role, he spearheads the development and execution of business growth strategies in emerging market segments while leading a dynamic sales team. His focus on performance management has led to the implementation of a novel sales process that enhances team training and aligns operational activities with organizational goals, ensuring exceptional client satisfaction and continuous improvement.
His academic credentials include a Doctorate in Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from Schulich School of Business at York University with specializations in Marketing and Finance.
He believes that sustainable innovation and collaborative strategy are vital for creating a resilient future. And is committed to driving positive change within organizations and communities.
This includes sustainability-focused initiatives from concept through to orchestrating cohesive teams and driving projects to successful outcomes. His expertise is underpinned by strong analytical capabilities, meticulous attention to detail, and a unique vision for both short-term and long-term strategic planning and sustainable value creation.
Currently, Gary serves as the Manager of Customer Operations at Quantum Lifecycle, Canada’s leading IT asset disposition and e-waste recycling service provider. In this role, he spearheads the development and execution of business growth strategies in emerging market segments while leading a dynamic sales team. His focus on performance management has led to the implementation of a novel sales process that enhances team training and aligns operational activities with organizational goals, ensuring exceptional client satisfaction and continuous improvement.
His academic credentials include a Doctorate in Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from Schulich School of Business at York University with specializations in Marketing and Finance.
He believes that sustainable innovation and collaborative strategy are vital for creating a resilient future. And is committed to driving positive change within organizations and communities.
Jayden Kuzdak is an infrastructure engineer specializing in resilience planning, sustainable development, and risk-based infrastructure assessment. He currently works at Southern Harbour Ltd., where he leads and supports projects focused on infrastructure risk management, environmental sustainability, and climate adaptation. His expertise spans post-conflict infrastructure assessment, climate-adaptive design, and strategic planning for resilient infrastructure systems.
Jayden holds an MSc in Sustainability Management and a BSc (Honours) in Environmental Science from the University of Toronto. He is a candidate for professional accreditation with the Institution of Civil Engineers as a Chartered Infrastructure Engineer and Chartered Environmentalist. His work at Rethink Sustainability Initiatives brings a systems-based perspective to advancing sustainability-driven strategies, ensuring infrastructure serves both present and future generations through innovation, governance, and cross-sector collaboration.
Jayden holds an MSc in Sustainability Management and a BSc (Honours) in Environmental Science from the University of Toronto. He is a candidate for professional accreditation with the Institution of Civil Engineers as a Chartered Infrastructure Engineer and Chartered Environmentalist. His work at Rethink Sustainability Initiatives brings a systems-based perspective to advancing sustainability-driven strategies, ensuring infrastructure serves both present and future generations through innovation, governance, and cross-sector collaboration.
Graeme is the National Director, Building Operations at First Capital REIT. He is a Professional Engineer and commercial real estate leader with 15 years of experience in operations management, technical team leadership, strategic decarbonization planning, and engineering design for high-performance facilities. Throughout his career, he has developed a well-rounded experience in various roles, including consultant, general contractor, and owner, working on diverse development projects and operational assets.
In his current role as National Director, Building Operations at First Capital REIT, Graeme leads a team responsible for delivering exceptional facility performance, customer satisfaction, and business results for a national portfolio of retail properties. His expertise in project management and mechanical design engineering allows him to oversee multi-million dollar capital projects from concept to close-out.
With a strong focus on sustainability, Graeme is experienced in identifying and implementing decarbonization strategies. He possesses a solid understanding of energy retrofit strategies and has a track record of driving building energy performance.
In his current role as National Director, Building Operations at First Capital REIT, Graeme leads a team responsible for delivering exceptional facility performance, customer satisfaction, and business results for a national portfolio of retail properties. His expertise in project management and mechanical design engineering allows him to oversee multi-million dollar capital projects from concept to close-out.
With a strong focus on sustainability, Graeme is experienced in identifying and implementing decarbonization strategies. He possesses a solid understanding of energy retrofit strategies and has a track record of driving building energy performance.
Yasmin is a recognized Futurist, Strategic Advisor, Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach and Mentor for leaders, boards, business, academic and government organizations – including CleanTech and Social Entrepreneurs - in North America and broad. She heads up CTR Inc., a Future Shaping focused Strategic
Advisory, Innovation and Communications group. As an Executive In Residence at Foresight Canada she guides CleanTech startups on accelerated market readiness strategies and investor pitches. And she is a sought-after speaker and moderator on how to harness the power of collaboration and foresight to thrive in a world of converging disruptions.
Previously: she was a principal and solution accelerator at E&Y/CGEY; a senior marketing and business transformation leader for IBM and Nortel; contributed to the development and launch of President’s Choice Financial. Throughout her career, Yasmin has also supported several charities as a board director/advisor — e.g., March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity, King Bay Kids and Seeds of Hope — focused on improving the life and wellbeing of people experiencing poverty, work and health challenges, and homelessness.
In 2011 she conceived and founded RSI as a ‘Think and Do’ hub, to connect leaders to rethink and shape a better future for organizations and society. In 2021-2022, she led RSI’s Community Climate Change in SJT project with a world-class team of futurists, scientists, engineers, digital communicators, infrastructure experts, developers, economists and educators - funded in part by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
A skilled facilitator, she’s led over 400 collaborative action-biased strategy and solution design initiatives, focused on building market leadership, sustainability, resiliency and future readiness. She is also the recipient of numerous awards for strategic foresight, innovation and leadership, including Global Trailblazer Leadership Award by Sir Martin Sorrell, MIT Social Architecture Award for Windward Cooperative Housing, and Inter-Gen Mentorship Awards.
Previously: she was a principal and solution accelerator at E&Y/CGEY; a senior marketing and business transformation leader for IBM and Nortel; contributed to the development and launch of President’s Choice Financial. Throughout her career, Yasmin has also supported several charities as a board director/advisor — e.g., March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity, King Bay Kids and Seeds of Hope — focused on improving the life and wellbeing of people experiencing poverty, work and health challenges, and homelessness.
In 2011 she conceived and founded RSI as a ‘Think and Do’ hub, to connect leaders to rethink and shape a better future for organizations and society. In 2021-2022, she led RSI’s Community Climate Change in SJT project with a world-class team of futurists, scientists, engineers, digital communicators, infrastructure experts, developers, economists and educators - funded in part by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
A skilled facilitator, she’s led over 400 collaborative action-biased strategy and solution design initiatives, focused on building market leadership, sustainability, resiliency and future readiness. She is also the recipient of numerous awards for strategic foresight, innovation and leadership, including Global Trailblazer Leadership Award by Sir Martin Sorrell, MIT Social Architecture Award for Windward Cooperative Housing, and Inter-Gen Mentorship Awards.
Irene is the Director of Client Services at Mantle Developments, a climate consultancy with deep technical expertise in embodied carbon and a commitment to pragmatic innovation. She leads projects and client engagement with those working in the built environment to deliver positive climate impact and successful business outcomes.
Irene is a cleantech and climate professional with skills in program design and management, strategy, partnerships, and facilitation. She is experienced in leading diverse multi-stakeholder initiatives to address complex problems and drive action.
Prior to Mantle Developments, she spent nearly ten years supporting cleantech innovators across start-ups, corporate and government organizations to address barriers to innovation adoption to accelerate and scale their climate impact. Most recently, she oversaw MaRS Discovery District’s climate corporate partnerships, focused on identifying and implementing innovative solutions to achieve net-zero goals. She also managed their flagship climate program, Mission from MaRS – an ambitious technology adoption program that supported 10 of Canada’s highest potential carbon-reducing solutions.
Irene is a cleantech and climate professional with skills in program design and management, strategy, partnerships, and facilitation. She is experienced in leading diverse multi-stakeholder initiatives to address complex problems and drive action.
Prior to Mantle Developments, she spent nearly ten years supporting cleantech innovators across start-ups, corporate and government organizations to address barriers to innovation adoption to accelerate and scale their climate impact. Most recently, she oversaw MaRS Discovery District’s climate corporate partnerships, focused on identifying and implementing innovative solutions to achieve net-zero goals. She also managed their flagship climate program, Mission from MaRS – an ambitious technology adoption program that supported 10 of Canada’s highest potential carbon-reducing solutions.
Tony has over 30 years of advertising and communications experience. He has
created campaigns for a wide range of consumer brands, including Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Sun Life, Dell and Toshiba. He has also worked on pro-bono efforts for Greenpeace, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and Doctors for Protection from Guns, to name just a few.
For the past 15 years he has worked in the healthcare space as a Creative Director at both DDB and now, at Dentsu Health, on national, US and global brands. His work has been awarded at Cannes, Communication Arts, Graphis, Archive, New York Festivals, Marketing and the London International Advertising Awards, where he took home a Gold statue for Best Copywriting.
He has also been a judge at Cannes, and many other award shows. He is the former Chair of the Centennial College advertising committee, where he helped advise on the program curriculum. Tony is also a graduate of the University of Toronto, and has a management designation from IMD in Switzerland.
For the past 15 years he has worked in the healthcare space as a Creative Director at both DDB and now, at Dentsu Health, on national, US and global brands. His work has been awarded at Cannes, Communication Arts, Graphis, Archive, New York Festivals, Marketing and the London International Advertising Awards, where he took home a Gold statue for Best Copywriting.
He has also been a judge at Cannes, and many other award shows. He is the former Chair of the Centennial College advertising committee, where he helped advise on the program curriculum. Tony is also a graduate of the University of Toronto, and has a management designation from IMD in Switzerland.
Julian is the North American Lead for Climate and Decarbonization, where he oversees a team of sustainability consultants, engineers, and analysts. His 10+ years of project management experience in the energy and sustainability field, include managing national portfolios of over 1000 buildings, and delivering millions of dollars of energy savings. He has a deep understanding of a variety of energy systems from his diverse work on large-scale, complex projects in commercial real estate, retail, pharmaceuticals, and heavy manufacturing. Data-focused and creative, he identifies energy and sustainability solutions that help guide organizational strategy.
Julian is currently focused on helping organizations set targets and deliver on their decarbonization goals aligned with their overall ESG ambitions. He combines a knowledge of technology, regulation, carbon, and business strategy to advise global companies on decarbonization pathways. Constantly adopting a collaborative client approach, he works to align solutions with societal, customer, and investor expectations. Julian is also fostering a team culture that upholds JLL's values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Julian is currently focused on helping organizations set targets and deliver on their decarbonization goals aligned with their overall ESG ambitions. He combines a knowledge of technology, regulation, carbon, and business strategy to advise global companies on decarbonization pathways. Constantly adopting a collaborative client approach, he works to align solutions with societal, customer, and investor expectations. Julian is also fostering a team culture that upholds JLL's values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Chris is the Founder and Principal of TSG Consulting, Regional Manager (Ontario) at Aviva Risk Management Solutions (ARMS) and a part-time professor at Seneca Polytechnic College (Newnham Campus) in the Fire Protection Engineering Technology program. Chris has been in the insurance risk control industry since 1999. Now working with his third large global commercial insurance carriers, Chris has occupied positions from Junior and Senior Risk Control Engineer, Portfolio Executive, Manager and Interim Head of Zurich Resilience Solutions (ZRS Canada) while representing the ZRS department within the Zurich Canada C-Suite team.
Throughout his career, Chris has coordinated mid to large commercial accounts for insurance risk requirements and has conducted site specific insurance-based risk assessments for Property Damage, Business Interruption, Natural Hazards, General & Product Liability as well as Product Recall. Since 2010, Chris held the global role of Business Resilience Expert, covering all the Americas and Australia, with expertise in resilience risk analysis, continuity planning, supply chain risk and ERM. In addition, while with ZRS, Chris held the global role of Business Resilience Technical Expert, establishing globally recognised technical standards for the Zurich Resilience Solutions teams in over 40 countries. In 2011, Chris acquired his designation as Associate Member with the Business Continuity Institute (AMBCI). Present in over 120 countries and with more than 9,000 members, the BCI is dedicated to helping business resilience professionals grow, manage and keep their organizations business continuity risk resilience.
In his time with TSG Consulting Chris has joined speaking panels and provided informational presentations for various industry groups such as the BCI (London, UK November 2023 BCI Annual Conference), Conference of Metallurgists COM 2023, Institute of Asset Management (AIM) and Climate Change BCM and EM Conference 2023. Topics ranges from understanding insurance risk to the impact of climate change and geopolitical events on an organization’s resilience and supply chain. Chris has also participated in the RSI 2024 The Futures Action Series as well as providing insurance risk consultancy services to the Canadian Wood Council (mass timber construction industry).
Throughout his career, Chris has coordinated mid to large commercial accounts for insurance risk requirements and has conducted site specific insurance-based risk assessments for Property Damage, Business Interruption, Natural Hazards, General & Product Liability as well as Product Recall. Since 2010, Chris held the global role of Business Resilience Expert, covering all the Americas and Australia, with expertise in resilience risk analysis, continuity planning, supply chain risk and ERM. In addition, while with ZRS, Chris held the global role of Business Resilience Technical Expert, establishing globally recognised technical standards for the Zurich Resilience Solutions teams in over 40 countries. In 2011, Chris acquired his designation as Associate Member with the Business Continuity Institute (AMBCI). Present in over 120 countries and with more than 9,000 members, the BCI is dedicated to helping business resilience professionals grow, manage and keep their organizations business continuity risk resilience.
In his time with TSG Consulting Chris has joined speaking panels and provided informational presentations for various industry groups such as the BCI (London, UK November 2023 BCI Annual Conference), Conference of Metallurgists COM 2023, Institute of Asset Management (AIM) and Climate Change BCM and EM Conference 2023. Topics ranges from understanding insurance risk to the impact of climate change and geopolitical events on an organization’s resilience and supply chain. Chris has also participated in the RSI 2024 The Futures Action Series as well as providing insurance risk consultancy services to the Canadian Wood Council (mass timber construction industry).
Aiden is President of The Six Real Estate Developments Inc. a real estate investment and development company focused on the urban intensification of suburban areas. This includes dense, walkable communities, with access to major transit stations; the embodiment of the “fifteen minute city”. Aiden, along with his tremendous partnerships, have championed many projects aligned with this vision, including projects in Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga and Waterloo Ontario. Aiden is a tremendous believer and supporter of taking these projects further, not only encouraging a more sustainable lifestyle within suburban, soon to be urban, nodes, but encouraging energy efficiency within those buildings and the use of renewable energy sources.
In addition to Aiden’s work in urbanizing the suburbs, he is an angel investor in the clean/proptech space. Aiden invests in companies he can incorporate into his projects to ensure those buildings perform at their peak, all while helping start up technology companies grow into global players and ensure the decarbonization of the built environment.
In addition to Aiden’s work in urbanizing the suburbs, he is an angel investor in the clean/proptech space. Aiden invests in companies he can incorporate into his projects to ensure those buildings perform at their peak, all while helping start up technology companies grow into global players and ensure the decarbonization of the built environment.