The Eco Market 2019 Sustainability Panel Presentation
The Eco Market 2019 panel discussion on sustainability featuring Dr. Rene Van Acker, Truzaar Dordi, Dr. Stacey Danckert, and Dr. Brian Doucet, moderated by Jen Novakovich. Note, we had some audio issues with Jen's mic, sorry about that!
Speaker Biographies:
Rene Van Acker is Professor and Dean of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) at the University of Guelph. Prior to his appointment as Dean, Rene was Associate Dean External of OAC (2009-16) and previously chair of the department of Plant Agriculture (2006-09). Prior to his appointments at Guelph, Rene was a professor at the University of Manitoba (1996-2006). Rene is a co-founder of the Food Institute at the University of Guelph (now the Arrell Food Institute) and has played a key roles in fundraising for OAC since 2009. Rene's research interests include weed management and agronomy. He has published over 130 peer-reviewed works to-date and over 300 other non-peer reviewed contributions. His research on coexistence and genetically modified crops has led to work in Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany, Australia, and the US. Rene grew up on a farm in southern Ontario. He holds BSc and MSc degrees from the University of Guelph and a PhD from the University of Reading (UK).
Truzaar is a doctoral candidate in Sustainability Management at the School of Environment, Enterprise, and Development, at the University of Waterloo, working under the supervision of Dr. Olaf Weber. His research utilizes advances in computational modelling to investigate the intersection between climate risk and financial resiliency. His research draws from the fields of climate finance, stranded asset risk, and energy policy. Recently, Truzaar is interested in the systematic risk of rapid decarbonization on asset pricing and portfolio allocation. Truzaar holds a Masters in Sustainability Management from the University of Waterloo where his research examined the burgeoning fossil-fuel divestment movement. Since, Truzaar has worked on sustainable capacity building for small and medium enterprise in the Waterloo region, stakeholder simulations of infrastructure projects like Canadian pipelines, the design of a national climate finance strategy, and on flood risk management. He has sat on the executive committees of Sustainable Youth Canada, Sierra Youth, Fossil Free UW, and the Canadian Society for Ecological Economics and is the director for Waterloo Sustainable Development Group’s (WSDG) Impact Investing Division. Truzaar is the recipient of the 2018 Energy Council of Canada Energy Policy Research Fellowship, awarded for his work on financial stability.
Stacey Danckert is the co-Director of WREN (Waterloo Region Environment Network), past Green Party candidate, and passionate community volunteer. As Co-director of WREN, a local nonprofit, she is working to amplify the success of local sustainability-oriented organizations through collective action and collaboration. She is the Policy Advisor and Finance critic for the Green Party of Ontario. Stacey believes that advocacy and political participation are both essential to creating the cultural shift that we need for a better future. Stacey holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Waterloo. She is an eco-warrior, who is continually pushing herself to learn more ways to help create a better future for her 2 sons. Follow her ponderings in her montly column in the Community Edition and on Twitter @StaceyDanckert
Brian Doucet is the Canada Research Chair in Urban Change and Social Inclusion in the School of Planning at the University of Waterloo. Originally from Toronto, he lived and worked in the Netherlands between 2004 and 2017, teaching urban geography at Utrecht University and Erasmus University College. His research critically examines processes of gentrification and neighbourhood change, with a focus on how people experience these changes within their own communities. His new research agenda is particularly focused on the relationship between transportation and neighbourhood change, specifically the impact of transit and cycling.
About the moderator:
Jen Novakovich is a passionate science communicator, environmentalist, and cosmetic chemist. She has two bachelors of science honors degrees from the University of Guelph; one in Zoology, and the other in Nutrition and Nutraceutical Sciences. Jen completed her graduate studies in Cosmetic Chemistry and today has a deep passion for sustainable development and science-based cosmetics. She currently helps brands to develop product lines, travels internationally to speak about sustainability in cosmetics, and offers advanced training on cosmetic science and 'green' formulating to brand founders and formulators. Jen is the founder here at The Eco Market as well as her cosmetic science education platform, The Eco Well.