The ZEIC Team
Bringing together diverse backgrounds and unique perspectives, the ZEIC team is united by a shared passion for reducing carbon emissions and fostering a healthier, more sustainable future for British Columbia.
If you're interested in joining the ZEIC team please get in touch with us. For general applications send a cover letter and resume to jobs@zeic.ca. Future positions will be posted on this page.
Senior Leadership
Melina Scholefield
Executive Director
Melina Scholefield, P. Eng., MAL
Executive Director
Melina is a professional engineer with over two decades of public and private sector experience. She has a long-standing dedication to sustainability, innovation, leadership development and collaboration across sectors and disciplines. In the private sector, Melina worked as a green building project consultant and a Built Green certified residential builder with a special interest in passive house methods. In the public sector, Melina has held leadership roles with the City of Vancouver related to sustainability, climate mitigation and adaptation, green building policy, green Infrastructure planning and implementation and transportation planning. Most recently, Melina and her team led Vancouver's ambitious and multi-award-winning Rain City Strategy, a transformative, cross-departmental urban rainwater management initiative.
In 2020, Melina was named Water Steward of the Year by the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association for her leadership and impact in the Canadian Water industry. In 2021, Melina received the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in Environmental Sustainability.
Melina has a graduate certificate in Values-based Leadership from Royal Roads University and an MA in Leadership specializing in Executive Leadership and change management.
Namendra Anand
Director, Business Strategy and Impact Investing
Namendra Anand, MBA, MEL, ESG, PMP, CEM, CMVP, PMVA, LEED GA
Director of Business Strategy and Impact Investing
Namendra Anand is a highly accomplished and versatile climate and clean energy transition professional with global experience. Holding an MBA, MEL (Clean Energy Engineering), ESG Specialist, PMP, CEM, CMVP, and LEED GA certifications, Namendra has demonstrated expertise in leading and developing climate investment portfolios and implementing sustainable business strategies. His extensive experience spans various roles, including Impact Director for Climate & Nature at The Northpine Foundation, where he successfully deployed investment and grants to achieve climate impact, and Energy Solutions Development Specialist at Johnson Controls, contributing to decarbonization opportunities on a national scale.
Namendra's background includes leadership as a Regional Energy Coordinator for Ogemawahj Tribal Council, overseeing energy projects for six First Nations, and as an Engineering Manager at NTPC Limited in India, leading utility power projects. His proficiency extends to Corporate and non-profit organizational leadership, Sustainable and innovative finance, Stakeholder engagement, lived experience of climate and clean energy transition.
He is passionate to coach climate entrepreneurs and engages as an Expert Advisor for Innovate Calgary and Executive-In-Residence for Foresight Canada. Beyond his professional achievements, Namendra actively engages in volunteer and community work, serving on boards and committees such as Child and Nature Alliance of Canada, Environment Funders Canada and Sustainable Finance Forum.
Keane Gruending
Director, Communications
Keane Gruendin, MSc
Director of Communications
Keane Gruending is a communications and public affairs leader with fifteen years of experience — in government, non-profits, and social enterprise – building better, more sustainable cities and accelerating climate action.
As part of TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s integrated transportation authority, Keane led communications or public affairs for regional and climate action initiatives. These include: Transport 2050, the Climate Action Strategy/Plan, Access for Everyone, low- and zero-emission fleets, Transit-Friendly Employer, regional vehicle climate policy, Open Call for Innovation, major bike projects, and many other initiatives. This work has earned two national public affairs awards.
Prior to TransLink, Keane managed communications and programs for the SFU Centre for Dialogue’s climate solutions stream, including launching Renewable Cities and Moving in a Livable Region, in advance of the 2015 transit plebiscite. He also led communications for a variety of other local to international projects.
With a strategic mindset, Keane applies his management, creativity, writing, and storytelling skills to support a better world. He leads ZEIC’s communications team, helping to make an impact regionally.
Keane holds an M.Sc. from the University of East Anglia and a B.Comm. from the Edwards School of Business.
Sarah Lusina
Director, Grants, Programs and Engagement
Sarah Lusina, MSc (she/her)
Director, Programs, Grants & Engagement
With 15+ years of experience in the health, community services, and academic sectors, Sarah brings expertise in public engagement, program design & implementation, impact evaluation, non-profit governance, policy development, and health promotion to her role with ZEIC. Resonating with ZEIC’s ambitious mission and inclusive and innovative approach to pursing it, Sarah made the sector leap knowing that she could apply her skills and expertise to advancing climate action. A highlight in Sarah’s career was being part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary leadership team that enabled the scale-up of a health promotion initiative that garnered millions of dollars of investment, benefited thousands of equity-deserving residents, and built sustained capacity within organizations to foster enduring benefits for communities. She is known for her rationale optimism, her transformative leadership style, and her unwavering commitment to create inclusive spaces.
Sarah holds health science degrees from Western University and the University of British Columbia as well as a Certificate in Dialogue & Engagement from SFU. Her most valued learning and unlearning experiences have been while immersed in community-led and collaborative projects that build on strengths and tear down siloed ways of knowing. She is the first-generation descendant of Irish, Polish, and Hungarian settlers and she treads lightly as an uninvited guest on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish People. Come sun, snow, or sleet, Sarah can be found exploring in the mountains, sometimes enticing her kids to join with promise of gummy bears or desperately trying to keep up with them as they develop their own passion for moving in and being with nature.
Roberto Pecora
Director, Building Decarbonization
Roberto Pecora, P.Eng., CEM, LEED AP, SMT
Director of Building Decarbonization
Roberto's journey through the building industry extends back over two decades and includes stops in Ottawa and Montreal before settling in Vancouver. In addition to his mechanical engineering degree, he has extensive experience in both new developments and renovations of existing buildings.
Roberto has successfully taken on project management roles for subcontractors, a general contractor and a national property management firm. In the eight years before joining ZEBx, he worked in the building science group of a national consulting engineering firm, specializing in building assessments, capital planning, asset management, energy studies and building performance analysis. Roberto is a member of the Energy Step Code Council, some of its subcommittees and numerous other advisory groups, working groups, committees and task forces related to building decarbonization in BC.
Through his various roles, he has become very well acquainted with the real estate, property management, consulting and construction industries. Most importantly, Roberto has a deep-rooted belief that the building industry has both a responsibility and a major contribution to make to address the climate crisis.
Staff
April Allard
Program and Executive Assistant
April Allard
Program and Executive Assistant
April brings over a decade of comprehensive administrative support experience for C-suite executives and board members to her role at ZEIC. Her professional background includes compliance, quality assurance, reporting, and process improvement within Vancouver’s Not-for-Profit and tech start up sectors. Her technical proficiency spans various software and systems, empowering her to enhance efficiency through technology. As a longtime business liaison and Scientific Research & Experimental Development program consultant, she recognizes the transformative potential of collaboration and innovation in advancing economically viable climate action solutions.
She is committed to leveraging her skills and advancing ZEIC’s mission by driving positive environmental and social change through effective practices and partnerships.
Stephan Baeuml
Technical Manager, BC Retrofit Accelerator
Stephan Baeuml, Dipl.Wirt.-Ing, CPHC, CRE
Technical Manager, BC Retrofit Accelerator
Passionate about creating sustainable and resilient communities, Stephan brings a unique blend of engineering expertise and project management skills to ZEIC and the BCRA team. Stephan has been pivotal in developing Retrofit Accelerator program tools and implementing the concierge program.
Stephan grew up in Germany where he trained as a mechanical and industrial engineer. His professional journey began in the design-build construction space for the arts sector, where he excelled from hands-on project implementation to senior management, initiating and executing innovative projects. Driven by a growing concern about climate change and its impacts on his young family, he redirected his engineering skills to retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency and sustainability. As a Passive House Consultant, he is a strong advocate on reducing waste first.
Before joining ZEIC, Stephan worked with BCNPHA, providing energy audits and retrofit coaching in the affordable housing sector in BC. There, he also led a multi-million-dollar retrofit pilot program for the City of Vancouver and BC Hydro, aiming for deep emission reductions and enhanced building resiliency.
He loves the outdoors and enjoys spending time with his family exploring the beauty of BC and beyond. Stephan is excited to contribute his skills and passion to ZEIC and the BCRA team, working towards a healthy future for the planet and coming generations.
George Patrick Richard Benson
Senior Manager, Economic Development and Market Transformation
George Patrick Richard Benson
Senior Manager, Economic Development and Market Transformation
George P.R. Benson is a globally recognized leader on economic development, cities, and climate action. He has worked across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors and currently leads the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC)’s economic development team. George’s team supports businesses, especially small ones, in finding profitable ways to join or expand the zero-carbon economy. Outside of ZEIC, George has previously been involved with the Canadian and American urban planning associations, work with the World Economic Forum, and as a ministerial advisor on BC’s Climate Solutions Council.
Jack Christy
Energy Advisor, BC Retrofit Accelerator
More details to follow soon
Stephanie Dalo
Program Manager, Carbon Leadership Forum BC
Stephanie Dalo, P.Eng, BASc, MEL URSY, ADJPROF
Program Manager, Carbon Leadership Forum BC
Stephanie is a licensed Professional Engineer in British Columbia with over a decade of experience working in the engineering & design industry. She has worked with project owners to define their sustainability strategy and coordinated and facilitated communication between design teams to keep projects on track towards meeting the sustainability goals.
Joining us from her previous role as Sustainability Specialist at an integrated design firm, she brings along her experience in conducting Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments and guiding design teams towards implementing low-carbon design solutions that can reduce building GHG emissions and create positive impact.
Stephanie is an advocate for implementing circular economy strategies in the design and construction of the built environment as a means for reducing embodied carbon and C&D waste and achieving social equity.
Natalie Douglas
Program Manager, Zero Emissions Building Exchange
Natalie Douglas, BASc, MScPl
Program Manager, Zero Emissions Building Exchange
Natalie brings to ZEBx an unwavering dedication to take ambitious climate action and foster inclusive, creative, and interdisciplinary collaboration. As an urban planner with experience working in both small towns and big cities in BC and Ontario, Natalie leverages her multidisciplinary expertise to help advance sustainable construction practices in a holistic and pragmatic manner. Before taking on this role, Natalie worked for the City of Nelson where she helped elevate the topic of embodied carbon emissions, build industry capacity, and update policy to advance building decarbonization in the Kootenays.
As the Program Manager of the Zero Emissions Building Exchange, Natalie acts as the first point of contact for those interested in learning more about ZEIC's Building Decarbonization team. She leads the coordination of capacity building initiatives across ZEIC’s building decarbonization team and thus, helps ensure synergies between specialist areas are identified and elevated. With extensive engagement, facilitation, and presentation experience, Natalie is often called upon to host discussions, nurture connections with the various players crucial to successfully accelerating building decarbonization in BC (e.g., help foster communities of practice), and present on the various initiatives of ZEIC’s Building Decarbonization Team.
Anna Henderson
Communications Coordinator
Anna Henderson, BA, HCert
Communications Coordinator
Anna brings over eight years of expertise in communications and digital media across diverse industries. Holding a BA(Hons) in Digital Media and English, she has successfully crafted compelling brand stories, including developing an online newsroom for a multinational building materials company that focused on climate change and innovative building methods. In the legal sector, Anna enhanced internal and external communications for The Bar of Ireland, the representative body of barristers. Transitioning to the legal sector, Anna focused on both internal and external communications at The Bar of Ireland, the representative body of barristers in Ireland.
As the Communications Coordinator at ZEIC, Anna supports a wide variety of program areas and initiatives. With a strong background in communications and program management, [Name] excels in producing newsletters, managing the BC Green Building Calendar, and promoting events across various channels. They have a proven track record in designing graphics, developing social media strategies, and engaging with a diverse range of building professionals to enhance ZEIC’s reputation as a trusted industry resource.
Nadine Jarry
Program Coordinator
Nadine Jarry
Program Coordinator
Nadine is a certified Project Management Professional who brings over a decade of experience in non-profit organizations. With a B.Sc. in Environmental Sciences and a Diploma in Environmental Protection Technology, Nadine has pursued projects that make a positive difference towards climate action. She was proud to be part of the Environmental Management & Venue Infrastructure team within the Vancouver 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Organizing Committee, contributing to the mitigation of environmental impacts of hosting the Games. Nadine is also passionate about equity, and prior to joining ZEIC devoted 12 years supporting Canada's "Man In Motion", Rick Hansen, and his vision of an inclusive and accessible world without barriers for people with disabilities. Nadine is thrilled to have joined ZEIC to support our many program areas, operational needs, and special projects that contribute to the acceleration and scaling-up of climate action in Metro Vancouver and beyond.
Kim McClymont
Project Manager, Building Decarbonization
Kim McClymont
Project Manager, Building Decarbonization
Kim brings over a decade of experience in sustainable development through work across Europe and the Caribbean and is now happy to call Vancouver home. She draws on experience supporting international partnerships, leading market growth and effective multi-stakeholder project management . Holding a LEED AP BD+C, in her previous role as Sustainability Advisor for Integral Group, she deepened her working knowledge of building science and high-performance buildings. Her sustainability consulting involved advising and coordinating multiple technical disciplines including engineering, energy modelling, architecture, landscape architecture, construction and building operations.
In her current role Kim leads project management across ZEIC’s building decarbonization programs, including the applied research program, NearZero, designed to financially support industry with construction innovation as well as help inform upcoming policy change. She supports industry in other emergent areas: organizing in-person demonstrations of innovative, high-performance, technologies; fostering a community of practice for industry first movers; and developing proficiency in greenhouse gas accounting to further support informed and impactful program development. She endeavours to make meaningful connections and pursue effective market transformation towards sustainable building development.
Mariko Michasiw
Program Manager, Building to Electrification Coalition
Mariko Michasiw, BCom, CEM
Program Manager, Building to Electrification Coalition (B2E)
Mariko is a Certified Energy Manager with over a decade of experience planning and implementing energy-efficiency and decarbonization projects. She leverages her extensive experience and in-depth understanding of real-life challenges related to commercial and residential building electrification to effectively lead Canada’s first building electrification coalition, B2E. As the Program Manager of B2E, Mariko works closely with coalition members to advance effective building decarbonization through electrification.
Through strategic management and strong industry engagement, she continues to grow and diversify the network while effectively adapting programming to the evolving market conditions. Through the broad coalition, members work together to reduce BC’s building sector climate impacts, move away from the reliance on fossil fuels, and improve resilience to changing climate conditions.
Gordon Patrick Newell
Communications Manager
Gordon Patrick Newell, BA(Hons), MA, PGCert, AAC
Communications Manager
Gordon has more than a decade of experience in executive communications, media relations, public relations and crisis communications. He has a proven track record in a full spectrum of international organizations and diverse industry sectors, including North American start-ups, military and government departments, and with BBC News, ITV News and Guardian Media.
He kicked off his career by reporting live for the BBC from the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and with Guardian Media, Gordon was a key member of a UK first; his team pioneered bringing multimedia news together into a single branded entity by aligning web, TV, radio and print, in what is now common practice. More recently, he has worked with multiple San Francisco based start-ups to IPO, Swiss fintech and with the Vancouver building sector.
Gordon previously lived in the UK and Germany, he is an alumnus of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and former British military officer, is an ICF ACC leadership coach and has an MA in Journalism. Gordon is passionate about green building development and he also has a wider knowledge of sustainable transportation and renewable energy issues.
Kari Pocock
Program Coordinator, Building Decarbonization
Kari Pocock
Program Coordinator, Building Decarbonization
Kari brings nearly 8 years of diverse program coordination experience in environmental protection, sustainability, and building decarbonization with local government and non-profits. She holds a degree in Environmental Geography, and specialized in environmental management throughout the Metro Vancouver region for 6 years before formalizing her work in community and public engagement with a Certificate in Dialogue and Civic Engagement from SFU in 2022. Kari gained fundamental knowledge of building science and equipment efficiency regulations from her recent role with the City of Vancouver's Green Buildings Branch, where she supported the City's progress towards 2030 Climate Emergency Action Plan Targets through existing home retrofits and building decarbonization policy. She is passionate about equitable solutions to decarbonization, collaborative problem solving, and climate action.
Valerie Sanguinetti
Program Assistant, BC Retrofit Accelerator
Valerie Sanguinetti
Program Assistant, BC Retrofit Accelerator
Valerie got her start in the construction industry over 20 years ago, drafting for a homebuilder in Calgary. She continued drafting & design in various areas of building construction, such as prefab wall shops, tenant improvements, and a millwork shop, then detoured into providing part-time drafting support for the design of water treatment plants, a methane mitigation facility, concrete formwork, and carbon capture technology. She circled back to house design in 2021 when she designed her own Passive House (completed in 2023). That design-build process included extending her education through training with Passive House Canada, Canada Green Building Council, and inspired her to join ZEIC to focus on working in the sustainable building sector.
Outside of work, Valerie enjoys folk music and dance, and a variety of volunteer activities.
Darla Simpson
Senior Manager, BC Retrofit Accelerator
Darla Simpson, BSc,
Senior Program Manager, BC Retrofit Accelerator
Darla wrote in her grade 5 journal that she wanted to be an environmental lawyer. While the details changed, the drive to create a more sustainable world has not. She has spent her entire career working in energy and sustainability, first as a Program Coordinator for Destination Conservation, then growing into the Executive Director role at the host organization: the Elements Society.
For the last 12 years, she has been working with SES Consulting as their Director of Sustainability. Through her work, Darla has led the development of sustainability programs on a broad range of topics for K-12, post-secondary, utility, and government clients. With a blend of change management, behavioural economics, and technical knowledge, she is able to balance the need to address structural barriers to low-carbon retrofits while supporting individuals and communities to adopt sustainable practices.
Through her involvement in the BCorp community, she has also developed a deep understanding of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and works to incorporate a better understanding of these issues and how they show up in the built environment and sustainability community.
Karthik Subramaniam
Strata Coach,BC Retrofit Accelerator
Karthik Subramaniam
Strata Coach, BC Retrofit Accelerator
The Built Environment has fascinated Karthik since childhood. After studying mechanical engineering, he transitioned through various industries before joining a major facilities management firm in the Middle East. In this role, Karthik ensured compliance with service agreements and local building codes, while also implementing operation and maintenance plans aligned with client objectives. Additionally, he focused on reducing operational costs, improving health and safety standards, and supporting sustainability initiatives centered on energy and water conservation. After moving to Canada and earning credentials like LEED AP and WELL AP, Karthik became committed to decarbonizing the built environment and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Karthik supports the BC Retrofit Accelerator team as a Strata Coach, providing guidance to strata councils on energy efficiency and sustainability. His expertise helps these communities navigate retrofitting and decarbonization efforts to reduce their carbon footprint
Peter Sun
Project Manager, Market Transformation
Peter Sun, BArchSc, MEL, PMP
Project Manager, Market Transformation
Driven by the opportunities to make a difference, Peter's background touches on sustainability, real estate, product management, business strategy, and recently, economic development. Leveraging these experiences, he is successful in understanding technical challenges and translating them into actionable business opportunities.
In his previous role as the Green Buildings sector lead at the Vancouver Economic Commission, he was an effective champion of climate action and emissions reduction by supporting the building industry with electrification programs and initiatives. At ZEIC, Peter aims to continue developing initiatives through a systematic and practical approach to highlight economic opportunities, drive industry participation, and inspire further climate ambition in Vancouver and beyond.
Outside of work, you can find Peter being physically active, enjoying new cafes and restaurants, and exploring cities across the world.
Andrew Williamson
Program Manager, Sustainable Workforce Development
Andrew Williamson
Program Manager Sustainable Workforce Coalition
A seasoned producer, business owner and climate change consultant, Andrew works across documentary, TV and environmental advocacy. Currently managing the Sustainable Workforce Coalition, with a variety of partners, to help catalyze an equitable transition for workers in the province to a net zero economy through convening, research, and programming.
Andrew’s most recent feature documentary, The Magnitude of All Things, by Jennifer Abbott (The Corporation) won the Best Canadian Feature Award at Planet in Focus and the Audience Choice Award at DocLands in California. It was called “Perhaps the most visceral call to action for humanity since An Inconvenient Truth”.
Emily Zhang
Strata Coach, BC Retrofit Accelerator