Visionary Keynote: William McDonough, Architect & Founding Principal, William McDonough + Partners
William McDonough is a globally recognized leader in sustainable design and development. He co-authored Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things (2002), widely recognized as a seminal text of both the sustainability and the Circular Economy design movements.
McDonough is an architect with William McDonough + Partners, a firm known for having designed many notable landmark buildings of the sustainable architecture movement, including Ford’s River Rouge plant in Dearborn, Michigan; Herman Miller’s GreenHouse factory in Holland, Michigan; Nike’s European headquarters in Hilversum, The Netherlands; and YouTube’s headquarters in Silicon Valley, California.
He also advises leaders on ESG, sustainability, Circular Economy, and design of products and facilities through McDonough Innovation. He has worked with CEOs from companies such as Ford Motor Company, Gap, Google, Herman Miller, Hero MotoCorp, Proctor & Gamble, Starbucks, Unilever and Walmart.
Through McDonough’s third firm, MBDC, he created the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Products Program. Cradle to Cradle Certified™ is an independent, science-based, third-party, multi-attribute product standard recognized by the world’s leading retailers, including Amazon, Home Depot, Walgreens and Walmart.
Time magazine recognized him as a “Hero for the Planet,” noting: “His utopianism is grounded in a unified philosophy that—in demonstrable and practical ways—is changing the design of the world,” and in 2019 Fortune magazine named him #24 of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.
Opening Remarks: Paul Shorthouse, Managing Director, Circular Economy Leadership Canada
Paul is one of Canada’s leading experts in the emerging circular economy, providing solutions and engaging leaders who are working at the intersection of business innovation, public policy, economic development, and sustainability. For over a decade, this work has placed him at the forefront of the important transition that is underway towards a greener, more prosperous, low-carbon economy.
In February 2021, Paul took on the role of Managing Director of Circular Economy Leadership Canada (CELC), a network of leaders from all industries and sectors who are fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Canada. In this role he is the driving force behind CELC’s Circular Economy Solution Series and the network’s efforts to amplify leading-edge work already underway in this space, while fostering innovation and synergies among business leaders, policymakers, academics, and other stakeholders to drive meaningful systems change.
Opening Remarks: Dwayne Torrey, Director of Construction and Infrastructure Standards, CSA Group
Dwayne Torrey is the Director of Construction and Infrastructure Standards at CSA Group, a global organization dedicated to safety, social good and sustainability. The mission of CSA Group’s Standard Development organization is to enhance the lives of Canadians through the advancement of standards in the public and private sectors.
In his role, Dwayne is responsible for developing the strategic path for Canada’s built environment standards through continuousassessment of emerging construction trends and critical issues. He provides oversight to over 250 codes and standards focused on safety and reliability of structures, construction materials, products, systems, sustainable construction practices, and mechanical safety equipment. Over 65% of CSA Group’s construction and infrastructure standards are referenced in regulation.
Dwayne has over 25 years of experience in construction and engineering. Prior to his 17 years at CSA Group, he specialized in structural rehabilitation and site supervision of building construction. He received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Ryerson University and is a Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario.
Panel Discussion: Matt Keliher, General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, City of Toronto
Matt is the General Manager of the City of Toronto’s Solid Waste Management Services Division. In his capacity, he is responsible for all of the Solid Waste Management Programs and services for Canada’s largest city, serving a population of over 2.9 million people. This includes leading a dedicated and diverse team of professionals to safely and efficiently manage approximately 1 million tonnes of waste each year. Matt is currently focused on developing the Division’s renewable energy portfolio, advancing the third anaerobic digestion facility, transitioning the City to Extended Producer Responsibility, securing long term waste disposal capacity, and implementing technology to enhance vehicle safety. Matt is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Professional in Human Resources, in addition he has a Master in Business Administration degree as well as a Master in Community and Economic Development degree. Currently Matt sits as a member of the Board of Directors for the Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA).
Panel Discussion: Mary Van Buren, President, Canadian Construction Association
Mary Van Buren is the president of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA). Mary is a proven leader with an exceptional track record in advancing member interests by introducing innovative world-class member services, promoting the value of the profession and advocating adoption of technology and standards to improve professionalism. She excels at creating and communicating a compelling vision combined with focusing on developing and empowering people to generate positive outcomes for members.
In addition to her broad business experience and financial acumen, Mary holds an MBA in international business from McGill and a B.Com from the University of Ottawa, is bilingual and is a Certified Association Executive.
Panel Discussion: Jonathan Westeinde, CEO, Windmill Developments
Jonathan is founder and CEO of the Windmill Development Group, a firm recognized as one of Canada’s most innovative eco-social real estate firms. Windmill and its wholly owned advisory subsidiary, Urban Equation, have been lead developer or strategic advisor on Canada’s most recognized and highest performing large scale sustainable real estate developments, including lead developer responsible for the initiation of the first LEED Platinum community in Canada (Docksidegreen, Victoria) and the first One Planet Living Community in Canada (Zibi, Ottawa). Under Jonathan’s leadership the team has been directly engaged in over $5B in high performing socially responsible real estate outcomes. Jonathan is specifically interested in creating alternative financing vehicles to create ‘planet fit’ real estate assets and is a recognized leader in Canada for finding innovative solutions for non-conventional lifecycle financing including innovative partnerships to create zero carbon district energy systems and energy services contracts to introduce geothermal and green loans. Jonathan’s most recent focus has been originating and co-managing The One Planet Living Real Estate Fund, a new real estate impact fund which is driving a $1B pipeline of new One Planet Living communities in Canada.
Jonathan sits on a number of profit and non-profit boards and was recognized as one of Canada’s top Clean 16 in 2021 for contribution to clean capitalism in Canada and received the National Green Building Leader award from the CaGBC in 2018.
Jonathan holds an MBA from Trinity College, Ireland and a BA Economics from the University of Western Ontario.
Panel Discussion: Nick Xenos, Executive Director, Centre for Greening Government, Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada
Nick Xenos is the Executive Director of the Centre for Greening Government within the Treasury Board Secretariat of the Government of Canada. The Centre is working with federal departments and agencies towards zero-carbon, sustainable and climate-resilient government operations. Previous to this position Nick has worked on climate change impacts and adaptation, Arctic science, space policy and infrastructure policy. Nick has a Master’s in Business Administration from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Ottawa.
Panel Discussion: (Moderator) Vince Catalli, Architect & Circular Built Environment Specialist / Advisor
Vince has been focused on the Circular Built Environment since 1995. With his architecture background he has been in practice for 30 years exploring Deconstruction via the first studied North American pilot project in 1995 to later research Design for Disassembly and Adaptability of Buildings in 1996 – both of these completed for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. He developed 3 different levels of Deconstruction Specification (first ever) for the National Master Specification in 1998 and has been retained by many organizations across Canada to integrate these new approaches including the Mountain Equipment Coop (Ottawa and Winnipeg stores); the Canadian War Museum, Canadian Tire, Alberta Environment, Department of National Defence, Canada Lands to name a few.
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