SustainableCommunitiesTeam

Laura Chapman is the President of Isuma Consulting Inc. The company's mission is to develop strategies for effective governance, policies and programs through its five business lines - knowledge transfer, community engagement, planning and development, communications and marketing, and organizational change. Laura has thirty years of experience in policy and research in the Government of Canada, much of it as a senior official. As Executive Director, Policy Research Initiative (PRI) at the Privy Coucil Office, she created and led a unique organization to strenghthen Canada's policy research capacity. Under her leadership, the PRI examined emerging issues related to Sustainable Development, North American Linkages, and Social Cohesion and created a network of almost 10,000 people in Canada and internationally. Laura also conceived and published both a series of books on emerging policy trends edited by outstanding academics, and Canada's first policy research journal which included issues on, Sustainable Development, Social Capital, the New Economy, and North American Integration. She also created Canada's first policy research awards, involving leading Canadian journalists, researchers and community representatives.

Laura Chapman is the President of Isuma Consulting Inc. The company's mission is to develop strategies for effective governance, policies and programs through its five business lines - knowledge transfer, community engagement, planning and development, communications and marketing, and organizational change. Laura has thirty years of experience in policy and research in the Government of Canada, much of it as a senior official. As Executive Director, Policy Research Initiative (PRI) at the Privy Coucil Office, she created and led a unique organization to strenghthen Canada's policy research capacity. Under her leadership, the PRI examined emerging issues related to Sustainable Development, North American Linkages, and Social Cohesion and created a network of almost 10,000 people in Canada and internationally. Laura also conceived and published both a series of books on emerging policy trends edited by outstanding academics, and Canada's first policy research journal which included issues on, Sustainable Development, Social Capital, the New Economy, and North American Integration. She also created Canada's first policy research awards, involving leading Canadian journalists, researchers and community representatives.

Christopher Henderson is Chief Executive Officer of The Delphi Group, Canada's leading strategic
consulting firm in the environment and clean energy sectors.

Prior to this, Chris worked as an administrator and executive in the health care field, most recently as chief operating officer with the Royal Ottawa Hospital. Chris lives life to the fullest with his wife Andrea and sons Isaac and Noah: enjoying Ottawa’s vibrant cultural community; skiing and canoeing around the Nation’s Capital; playing soccer and hockey at every opportunity. Chris is Chair of The Ottawa Partnership (TOP), Immediate Past-Chair of the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI), Immediate Past-Chair of the Canadian Environment Industry Association, Senior Advisor to the GLOBE Foundation of Canada, Advisor to Canada's Commissioner for the Environment and Sustainable Development, and sits on the Boards of several private companies.

Christopher Henderson is Chief Executive Officer of The Delphi Group, Canada's leading strategic
consulting firm in the environment and clean energy sectors.

Prior to this, Chris worked as an administrator and executive in the health care field, most recently as chief operating officer with the Royal Ottawa Hospital. Chris lives life to the fullest with his wife Andrea and sons Isaac and Noah: enjoying Ottawa’s vibrant cultural community; skiing and canoeing around the Nation’s Capital; playing soccer and hockey at every opportunity. Chris is Chair of The Ottawa Partnership (TOP), Immediate Past-Chair of the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI), Immediate Past-Chair of the Canadian Environment Industry Association, Senior Advisor to the GLOBE Foundation of Canada, Advisor to Canada's Commissioner for the Environment and Sustainable Development, and sits on the Boards of several private companies.

Stephen Huddart is the Program Director of the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation in Montreal. The Foundation's granting derives from a mandate to fund national initiatives that engage people in building resilient communities – and among others includes programs in environmental and arts-infused education, technical assistance for community economic development, university-based community service learning and community leadership. Prior to joining the Foundation, he worked as an educator and program developer specializing inhuman/animal issues – including a food certification and labeling program,animal-assisted therapy, and humane education in schools. His private sector experience includes co-founding the Alma Street Café - a community-based natural foods restaurant and jazz venue in Vancouver, and running a triple-bottom-line music and publishing company in association with children's folksinger Raffi. He is married with three children, two cats and a dog, and has a Masters degree in management from McGill University.

Stephen Huddart is the Program Director of the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation in Montreal. The Foundation's granting derives from a mandate to fund national initiatives that engage people in building resilient communities – and among others includes programs in environmental and arts-infused education, technical assistance for community economic development, university-based community service learning and community leadership. Prior to joining the Foundation, he worked as an educator and program developer specializing inhuman/animal issues – including a food certification and labeling program,animal-assisted therapy, and humane education in schools. His private sector experience includes co-founding the Alma Street Café - a community-based natural foods restaurant and jazz venue in Vancouver, and running a triple-bottom-line music and publishing company in association with children's folksinger Raffi. He is married with three children, two cats and a dog, and has a Masters degree in management from McGill University.

Ela Kinowska was born and raised in Poland Ela immigrated to Canada in 1990. Since her arrival in Canada, she has focused her career on two paths: civil service and photography. As a civil servant she has dedicated her work to the environment and international development, Ela’s assignments included Environment Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada and currently Natural Resources Canada. Ela speaks seven languages and has lived in four countries; she traveled extensively across Europe, Latin America and Africa. As a photographer she has participated in 22 shows in Canada and Europe, her photography has a human focus aiming at documenting the challenges of the present, reflecting on the past and bringing hope for the future; a sample of her images can be viewed at www.elaphoto.com. Ela lives in Ottawa with her husband Ryszard and two children, Sonia and Alexander.

Ela Kinowska was born and raised in Poland Ela immigrated to Canada in 1990. Since her arrival in Canada, she has focused her career on two paths: civil service and photography. As a civil servant she has dedicated her work to the environment and international development, Ela’s assignments included Environment Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada and currently Natural Resources Canada. Ela speaks seven languages and has lived in four countries; she traveled extensively across Europe, Latin America and Africa. As a photographer she has participated in 22 shows in Canada and Europe, her photography has a human focus aiming at documenting the challenges of the present, reflecting on the past and bringing hope for the future; a sample of her images can be viewed at www.elaphoto.com. Ela lives in Ottawa with her husband Ryszard and two children, Sonia and Alexander.

Jim MacNeill, O.C., D.Sc., LL.D. Until recently Chairman of the World Bank’s Independent Inspection Panel in Washington D.C, Dr. MacNeill is a member of the Caspian Development Advisory Panel and Chairman Emeritus of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in Winnipeg. He is a member of several boards including the Woods Hole Research Center, Woods Hole, Mass., and the Wuppertal Institute on Climate and Energy Policy in Germany, and founding member of the Jury for the Volvo Environment Prize. Earlier, he was the Secretary General of the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission), the Director of Environment for OECD, and the Canadian Ambassador and Commissioner General responsible for the UN Conference on Human Settlements. He was a founding member of the Japanese Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and the China Council. He served as a member of the High Level Advisory Group established by the Secretary General of OECD to advise on the future of that organization. He enjoys nearly four decades of experience as a policy advisor to leaders of governments, industry and international organizations in the fields of energy, natural resources, management, environment and sustainable development. He is an author, speaker, international negotiator, member of several boards, and recipient of many honors and distinctions, national and international.

Jim MacNeill, O.C., D.Sc., LL.D. Until recently Chairman of the World Bank’s Independent Inspection Panel in Washington D.C, Dr. MacNeill is a member of the Caspian Development Advisory Panel and Chairman Emeritus of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in Winnipeg. He is a member of several boards including the Woods Hole Research Center, Woods Hole, Mass., and the Wuppertal Institute on Climate and Energy Policy in Germany, and founding member of the Jury for the Volvo Environment Prize. Earlier, he was the Secretary General of the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission), the Director of Environment for OECD, and the Canadian Ambassador and Commissioner General responsible for the UN Conference on Human Settlements. He was a founding member of the Japanese Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and the China Council. He served as a member of the High Level Advisory Group established by the Secretary General of OECD to advise on the future of that organization. He enjoys nearly four decades of experience as a policy advisor to leaders of governments, industry and international organizations in the fields of energy, natural resources, management, environment and sustainable development. He is an author, speaker, international negotiator, member of several boards, and recipient of many honors and distinctions, national and international.