The Trottier Team

Ralph Torrie is known for combining visionary thinking with rigorous analysis and has made original and important contributions in the field of sustainable development. He was the assistant coordinator of the Energy Research Group of the United Nations University and the International Development Research Centre, and went on to establish and run his own consulting firm. He pioneered the methods and conventions that are now used throughout the world in local greenhouse gas quantification and analysis. He is the co-inventor of environmental planning software that has been translated into several languages for use in more than 300 municipalities, companies and institutions on five continents. He has a lifelong interest in sustainable energy futures and produced the first low-carbon scenario analysis for Canada. He assembled and led the team that carried out the strategic policy analysis for greenhouse gas emission reduction for numerous public sector clients, including the States of California, Hawaii, Wisconsin, and Illinois, the governments of Canada and Ontario, the Western Climate Initiative, as well as a number of local governments including the County of San Bernardino and the City of Toronto. He is a recipient of the Canadian Environment Silver Award for his work on climate change response strategies.

Originally trained as a journalist, Mitchell Beer traces his background in energy technology and policy to late 1977, when he began a 3½ year assignment as a reporter, Parliamentary correspondent, and eventually assistant editor at Canadian Renewable Energy News, a monthly international trade journal. Beer is currently President of The Conference Publishers, an Ottawa-based firm that has documented and packaged the content from more than 3,000 conferences in 18 countries--including dozens dealing with key aspects of energy and climate policy. Over the years, he has developed strong specialties and a network of resources in social media, communications strategy, effective conference and consultation design, and emerging methods of combining the strengths of live and virtual meetings. Within the global meetings and events industry, Beer has been a strong advocate for sustainable practices and supply chains, serving on the international board of the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC), and as Chair of the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Foundation.

Tyler Bryant is the lead researcher of the Trottier Energy Futures Project and an Energy Policy Analyst at the David Suzuki Foundation. His work focuses on the transition to a low-carbon energy system, particularly climate change mitigation policy, energy system analysis and modelling, technology assessments, and energy markets. As DSF’s lead on energy-related environmental issues in Canada, he has developed GIS tools to evaluate the impact of renewable energy deployment, assessed the outcomes from oil and gas investments such as liquefied natural gas, and developed protocols and partnerships for the deployment of emission-saving technologies. Bryant studied public policy at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, then worked as a lead analyst on carbon pricing and policies at Natural Resources Canada’s Energy Policy Branch, implementing policy frameworks to deploy integrated community energy systems at NRCan’s Office of Energy Efficiency. He led the federal government’s evaluation and implementation of local improvement charges as an incentive for home energy retrofits, reported on the economic and emissions impacts of the $700-million ecoEnergy Home Retrofit Program, and developed energy futures projects to support a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Canada's energy system and oil and gas sector.

Shannon Moore is a public engagement specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. She has experience building environmental leadership among educators, scientists, businesses, First Nations, government officials, and active citizens. Her focus is on fostering citizen engagement, developing effective models of dialogue, and building collaborative and participatory solutions to complex issues. She previously worked as an administrator in the exploration, construction, and extraction phases of multiple oil and gas developments, and as a wild land fire technician with the British Columbia Ministry of Forests for six years. Moore has led online and face-to-face environmental campaigns, committees, and green programs, including a Car-Free initiative in Vancouver that attracted more than 125,000 attendees annually. She is currently completing a Master of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication at Royal Roads University, and holds a Bachelors degree in Sociology from the University of Calgary.

Blake Anderson is an entrepreneur, writer, and environmental policy professional living in Toronto. He served as Queen’s University’s first sustainability coordinator, and more recently as research associate with the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance and the Institute for New Economics. He holds a Masters degree in Political Ecology from the University of Victoria, has published articles in Ecological Economics, The Tyee, and The Mark, and currently runs his own consulting firm.

Ryan Kadowaki is Senior Coordinator for the Science and Policy program at the David Suzuki Foundation. He is a graduate of the University of Victoria and is working on his Master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University. His thesis research focuses on organizational effectiveness assessment in the environmental non-profit sector. Kadowaki also sits on the Board of Directors of The Climate Reality Project Canada, raising awareness about the urgency of the climate crisis and motivating Canadians to participate in solutions.