We are Clean Energy Canada

About Merran Smith

Merran is a fellow at Simon Fraser University and the founder and executive director of Clean Energy Canada, a leading think tank advancing clean energy and climate solutions. For most of her career, she has worked to unite industry, government and civil society organizations to solve pressing social and ecological challenges. Her leadership in the landmark Great Bear Rainforest conservation agreement helped ensure the protection of thousands of kilometres of coastal ecosystem. Merran is a Canadian representative on the International Clean Energy Ambassador Corps, and has recently been appointed co-chair of the B.C. government’s Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council. She has received numerous leadership distinctions, including the 2016 Wendy McDonald ‘Community Catalyst’ award from the Vancouver Board of Trade, the ‘Clean 16’ award in 2014 for leadership in clean capitalism and the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from Clean Energy BC.

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About Sarah Petrevan

A passionate policy advocate and commentator, Sarah works to advance policies that support clean energy and tackle climate change. With more than a decade of public policy experience, Sarah manages our work in clean growth—promoting policies and programs that help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs and a strong economy. Sarah serves as a board member of Blue Green Canada, a steering committee member for the Clean Economy Alliance, and regularly collaborates with industry and business leaders to advocate for policies and programs to leverage Canada’s clean energy opportunity. Before joining Clean Energy Canada, Sarah held several senior positions within the Government of Ontario, and worked for a leading non-profit. She holds a degree in political science with a specialization in public policy. Most recently, Sarah is the recipient of the 2018 Clean 50 Emerging Leader Award, in recognition for her leadership in clean capitalism. She is based in Toronto.

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About Mark Zacharias

With an affinity for public policy and finding solutions that improve both the economy and the environment, Mark joins Clean Energy Canada after a 25-year career with the British Columbia public service where he most recently served as deputy minister of environment and climate change strategy. Mark is responsible for our work in clean energy, including clean fuels, and shepherding the transition towards clean energy to support Canadian families, communities, and industries. Mark holds a PhD in zoology from the University of Guelph and has published extensively, including Marine Policy: An Introduction to Governance and International Law of the Oceans (2014, 2019) and Marine Conservation Ecology (2011). Mark also holds adjunct professor appointments at the Simon Fraser University School of Public Policy, the University of British Columbia Institute for Oceans and Fisheries, and the University of Victoria Department of Geography. He is based in Victoria, B.C.

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About Trevor Melanson

Trevor manages communications at Clean Energy Canada. He also has a decade of experience as a magazine journalist, having worked as an online editor at Canadian Business, as the associate editor of BCBusiness, and more recently as the senior editor of Vancouver magazine, where he often worked on policy-oriented feature stories. He's also the recipient of multiple national journalism awards and previously taught data journalism at Humber College. Trevor has a master’s in journalism from Western University and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of British Columbia.

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About Natasha LaRoche

Natasha provides the team with strategic organizational development and fundraising support. She has nearly 20 years of experience in fundraising, communications, and public engagement, and has helped raise millions of dollars for leading Canadian universities and not-for-profit organizations. As principal of Mindful Communications, she has helped to develop and coordinate new environmental programs at Dalhousie University and the University of Ottawa. Her interest in sustainability began with her master’s degree from the University of Leuven, Belgium, which focused on evolving environmental policies in an international context. Natasha is a 2004 alumna, and current volunteer organizer, of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference.

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About Joanna Kyriazis

Joanna works to develop and advance policy solutions that address climate change while promoting clean growth. Based in Ottawa, she regularly connects with thought leaders, industry stakeholders, and policymakers at the federal level. Before joining Clean Energy Canada, Joanna worked as a management consultant helping businesses identify and manage climate change risks and opportunities. She also practiced as a lawyer advising governments and industry on climate change and energy law. In 2017, she was named one of the Clean50 Emerging Leaders. Joanna has a BSc in natural resources from Cornell University and a JD from the University of Toronto.

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About Stefan Pauer

Stefan ensures that Clean Energy Canada’s research, analysis, policy perspectives, and communications are accurate, credible, and defensible. Before joining Clean Energy Canada, Stefan carried out interdisciplinary research on climate policies in California and Europe at the University of British Columbia. Previously, Stefan worked as a Policy Officer at the European Commission, where he helped develop and implement the European Union’s carbon market. Stefan holds a PhD in law from the University of British Columbia and a master’s in international law from the University of Bern. He is the recipient of numerous research grants, scholarships, and awards from organizations that include the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, Economics and Environmental Policy Research Network, Centre for International Governance Innovation, and University of British Columbia.

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About Carla Balabanowicz

Carla leads digital communications projects at Clean Energy Canada. She has been in the digital media world for almost 15 years, has worked in fictional film, and has spent time as a documentary filmmaker, where she developed her love of storytelling. In more recent years, Carla worked as a social media manager at a leading Ontario non-profit, and was the digital lead at two major electricity sector companies that served the province of Ontario. She is also very passionate about health and truly connecting and supporting others, so she dedicates her time as the content and storytelling director for a small non-profit that works as a human connection movement. Carla attended the University of Waterloo for psychology, holds an advanced diploma in print and broadcast journalism from Mohawk College, and has post-graduate education from the University of Toronto in digital strategy and communications management.

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About Keri McNamara

Keri is Clean Energy Canada’s communications specialist. Before starting at Clean Energy Canada, she worked in the U.K. as a freelance science communicator. Keri has a background in research, which includes a master’s degree in geology and a PhD in physical volcanology from the University of Bristol. Along with researching Ethiopian and Chilean volcanoes, Keri worked as a writer for several research organizations and magazines, often covering issues related to climate science. Her PhD also included a policy internship in Wales’s parliamentary research service where she worked in the environment and transport team.

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About Deb Thomson

Deb develops and manages Clean Energy Canada’s organizational systems and tools and supports the management of the team’s human resources. From Deb’s background in educational and non-profit leadership, program design, and project management, she brings a service-oriented approach to supporting creative problem-solvers, and a commitment to social and environmental justice. Deb holds a master's degree in educational counselling.

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About Lyndsey Easton

Lyndsey provides the team with administrative and communications support. She began her career in government and has 10 years of communications and fundraising experience. Before joining Clean Energy Canada, Lyndsey worked for a wide range of organizations and publications focused on climate change, the energy transition, generational equity, and government transparency. Lyndsey’s passionate about social justice, and volunteers helping non-profits use technology to run campaigns and tell their stories. She holds an honours diploma in journalism from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, and a communications degree from Royal Roads University.

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