Item - 2019.CA8.8

Appointees' biographies:

Ronald Chopowick

Dr. Ronald Chopowick was an Administrator/Professor at Seneca College for 35 years, and at York University for more than 40 years. He was educated at the University of Toronto, where he obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees in Forestry and a Ph.D. in Plant Biochemistry and Ecology. Ronald is actively involved in his community, and has served on many boards, including the Ontario Trillium Foundation's Toronto Grant Review Team, the Toronto Public Library Board, and, most recently, the TRCA Board.

Jennifer Drake

Dr. Jennifer Drake is an expert in low impact development, stormwater management and wet weather policy. She completed her PhD at the University of Guelph in 2013 and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto.

Heidi Karst

Over the past 16+ years, Heidi Karst, PhD, has worked across public, private and non-profit sectors in fields ranging from environmental conservation to historical preservation and human rights education to social policy. She has developed and implemented sustainable projects and policies, managed innovative programs, and fostered resilient communities and regional networks in Canada and internationally. She currently works for the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Maria Kelleher

Maria Kelleher has a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Toronto. She founded Kelleher Environmental, an environmental consulting company in 2002. Maria specializes in waste management, energy efficiency and climate change issues.  With over 30 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, Maria has worked on a wide range of waste policy, strategy and stewardship as well as energy conservation and climate change projects.

Basudeb Mukherjee

Basudeb Mukherjee was born in Calcutta, India. He has attended post-secondary institutions in the US and Canada and has a BA (Hons.) and an M.Sc. in eHealth from McMaster University. He has worked in the IT industry for over two decades in various roles. Currently, he owns and operates a training institute in Scarborough, providing post-secondary skills training and teaches at Centennial College.

Connie Tang

Connie works in research communications in a bilingual research centre committed to driving change in Ontario’s employment and training sector. She specializes in knowledge translation and comes from an education and research background. Connie completed her Master of Science at the University of Toronto, and has worked to demonstrate how research-based activities can inform and support relevant stakeholder communities. She is an active advocate for evidence-informed practices.

Estair Van Wagner

Estair Van Wagner is an Assistant Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School where she teaches and researches in the areas of property, planning, natural resources, and environmental law. She is co-director of the Environmental Justice and Sustainability Clinic. Professor Van Wagner lives in Toronto with her partner and two young boys who also love nature and spending time outdoors.

The Civic Appointments Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council appoint the following candidates to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office ending July 16, 2023, and until successors are appointed:

Ronald Chopowick

Jennifer Drake

Heidi Karst

Maria Kelleher

Basudeb Mukherjee

Connie Tang

Estair Van Wagner

2. City Council direct that Confidential Attachments 1, 2 and 3 to the report (June 24, 2019) from the City Clerk remain confidential in their entirety as they relate to personal matters about identifiable individuals being considered for appointment to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

Candidates' biographies:

Ronald Chopowick

Dr. Ronald Chopowick was an Administrator/Professor at Seneca College for 35 years, and at York University for more than 40 years. He was educated at the University of Toronto, where he obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees in Forestry and a Ph.D. in Plant Biochemistry and Ecology. Ronald is actively involved in his community, and has served on many boards, including the Ontario Trillium Foundation's Toronto Grant Review Team, the Toronto Public Library Board, and, most recently, the TRCA Board.

Jennifer Drake

Dr. Jennifer Drake is an expert in low impact development, stormwater management and wet weather policy. She completed her PhD at the University of Guelph in 2013 and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto.

Heidi Karst

Over the past 16+ years, Heidi Karst, PhD, has worked across public, private and non-profit sectors in fields ranging from environmental conservation to historical preservation and human rights education to social policy. She has developed and implemented sustainable projects and policies, managed innovative programs, and fostered resilient communities and regional networks in Canada and internationally. She currently works for the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Maria Kelleher

Maria Kelleher has a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Toronto. She founded Kelleher Environmental, an environmental consulting company in 2002. Maria specializes in waste management, energy efficiency and climate change issues.  With over 30 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, Maria has worked on a wide range of waste policy, strategy and stewardship as well as energy conservation and climate change projects.

Basudeb Mukherjee

Basudeb Mukherjee was born in Calcutta, India. He has attended post-secondary institutions in the US and Canada and has a BA (Hons.) and an M.Sc. in eHealth from McMaster University. He has worked in the IT industry for over two decades in various roles. Currently, he owns and operates a training institute in Scarborough, providing post-secondary skills training and teaches at Centennial College.

Connie Tang

Connie works in research communications in a bilingual research centre committed to driving change in Ontario’s employment and training sector. She specializes in knowledge translation and comes from an education and research background. Connie completed her Master of Science at the University of Toronto, and has worked to demonstrate how research-based activities can inform and support relevant stakeholder communities. She is an active advocate for evidence-informed practices.

Estair Van Wagner

Estair Van Wagner is an Assistant Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School where she teaches and researches in the areas of property, planning, natural resources, and environmental law. She is co-director of the Environmental Justice and Sustainability Clinic. Professor Van Wagner lives in Toronto with her partner and two young boys who also love nature and spending time outdoors.

The Civic Appointments Committee will conduct interviews and recommend seven public members to City Council for appointment to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).