Executive Director - Judy Lipp
Phone: 416-977-5093 Ext: 234
E-mail: jlipp(at)trec.on.ca

Judy has more than nine years of research and consulting experience in sustainable energy issues, spanning four continents. She recently completed her PhD at Dalhousie University where she examined the role of public policy in promoting renewable electricity, drawing lessons from other jurisdictions for the Canadian context. She has served as a consultant on both energy demand and supply-side issues. Her work experiences range from developing energy efficiency policy in the UK over assessments and applications of renewable energy in South Asia and Africa to developing and tracking green power policies in Europe. Since returning to Canada in 2003 she has helped prepare several energy-related studies at the national, regional and provincial levels, including work on community-based renewable energy development. For instance, she completed a study for the Nova Scotia Department of Energy assessing the policy needs for enabling community energy in the province, co-authored GPI Atlantic’s Energy Accounts for the Nova Scotia Genuine Progress Index and prepared A Vision and Strategy for Green Power in Atlantic Canada for Pollution Probe. Judy has produced more than 20 publications and presented her work orally to both academic and professional audiences on various occasions. In her free time she initiated, managed and led the construction of a co-operatively built straw-bale, off-grid cottage in rural Nova Scotia which is available to its members on a time-share basis. 

Our Power - Peter Litster
Phone: 416-977-5093 Ext: 235
E-mail: plitster(at)trec.on.ca

Peter recently completed the Master of Environmental Studies program at York University where his research with Mark Winfield and Jose Etcheverry focused on barriers to decentralized, renewable electricity generation in Ontario. Trade journal Cogeneration and Onsite Power Producer Magazine published his paper on barriers to combined heat and power production in Ontario in their July/August 2008 issue. In the fall of 2008 Peter took on the role of co-project manager for the development of a student-led 100+ kW solar PV project at York’s Keele Campus. Peter started working with Ken Traynor on TREC’s Our Power initiative in January 2009, helping to refine the process for developing community-based solar projects. He’s excited about the possibilities for addressing climate change, while creating jobs outside the city and decentralizing ownership of power generation that this sector presents.  Peter loves being outside, tossing discs, climbing rocks, pounding trees and getting involved. 

Our Power - Ken Traynor
Phone: 416 977 5093 Ext: 237
E-mail: ken(at)ourpower.com

Ken worked for years as a policy analyst with the Canadian Environmental Law Association before starting up the Community Solar Program for TREC. He is a member of the Canadian Solar Industry Association (CANSIA), and chairs the Toronto Solar Roundtable. Ken was the volunteer coordinator of the West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy (WISE) project that mobilized the installation of 87 solar systems in 2007/08, and has worked supporting the development of similar projects in Mississauga, Thornhill, Halton Region, Waterloo and Guelph.  He has had a long engagement with solar energy from the wheat fields of Saskatchewan, to solar ovens and hot water systems in southern Africa, to the design and building of a solar powered, energy efficient, off-grid house in Ontario. In December 2008, Ken received a Solar Leader of the Year Award from CANSIA.  Ken’s presence dramatically increases the average age of the staff in the TREC office.

Kids' World of Energy Coordinator - Linda Varekamp
Phone: 416 977-5093 Ext: 247
E-mail: linda(at)trec.on.ca

Linda coordinates TREC's Kids' World of Energy Education Program, including the annual Kids' World of Energy Festival for grade five students. She also provides support for the Green Collar Careers initiative and organizes renewable energy tours of the turbine and other installations around the city. She has a B.A. in Environmental Policy & Practice from the University of Toronto, and prior to TREC, Linda organized conferences and events on environmental issues and has written for a number of publications that build environmental awareness, including the eco-lifestyle website greenissexy.org. Linda is an all-season cyclist and a passionate DIYer - she makes crafts out of recycled items, keeps a very productive vegetable garden and likes to collect unwanted items from the street and dream of giving them a new life.

Green Collar Coops Coordinator - Michelle Browne
Phone: 416 977-5093 Ext: 236
E-mail: Michelle(at)trec.on.ca

Michelle coordinates the Green Collar Career program and is enthusiastic about bridging the gap between secondary school students and the wide range of exciting opportunities available in the growing green collar sector. Michelle has a BSc. from Trent University and a B. Ed. From Queen's. Her career has led her from teaching environmental education in four of Ontario's field centres to teaching science in four countries (Colombia, Mexico, England and Costa Rica). When not actively inspiring young minds to environmental action, she can be found in her canoe. She is an avid canoe tripper and has covered most of Algonquin Park.

Office Manager - Mary Warner
Phone: 416-977-5093 Ext: 244
E-mail: mary(at)trec.on.ca

In the role of Office Manager, Mary supports the entire TREC team and is responsible for a wide variety of duties includiing accounting, HR, IT, Member Relations (Windshare), website updating and funding research. With a variety of interests, Mary took a mix of International Development, Sociology and Geography courses including Geography of Energy and Resource Management at university and graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a double Honours B.A. in Global Studies and Sociology and a minor in Geography. She then went on to attain a post-graduate degree in International Project Management from Humber College. Mary enjoys being outdoors biking, skiing, sailing or snowboarding. She and her husband love the view of the city skyline from their west end apartment and are trying to grow a vegetable garden on their north-facing balcony.