| Executive Director - Judy Lipp Phone: 416-977-5093 Ext: 2340
E-mail: jlipp (at) trec.on.ca
Judy has been with TREC since 2008 and previously spent 10 years researching and consulting on sustainable energy issues, spanning four continents. She 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. 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. 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. In her spare time she practices capoeira, rides her bike and dabbles in rewards and challenges of urban agriculture on her 4 x 4 meter city plot. Tomatoes anyone? |
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Education Director- Kirsten Vanstone Phone: 416-977-5093 Ext: 2470
E-mail: kirsten (at) trec.on.ca Kirsten brings over 20 years experience in informal education to this position. She oversees TREC Education’s school and community outreach, including the Kids’ World of Energy, Green Collar Careers, Renewable Energy Tours, OurPower and community events. Kirsten has a BSc in Astronomy and Physics from the University of Toronto, and a Masters of Science Communication from Central Queensland University. She has worked at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco and at the Ontario Science Centre. Her interest in renewable energy stems from a high school study of biomass energy. Kirsten enjoys applying physics to environmental problems and communicating how simple things can lead to big changes. When Kirsten isn’t exploring the night sky, she can be found helping with her family’s backyard vegetable garden, planning trips and trying to keep up with her kids. |
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Development Coordinator - Wesley Normington Phone: 416-977-5093 Ext: 2460
E-mail: wesley (at) trec.on.ca Wesley Normington is the Development Coordinator for TREC Renewable Energy Cooperative. Wesley is responsible for fundraising, sponsorships and partnership development to help broaden the reach of TREC. Since returning from teaching English in Japan in 2005, Wesley has worked as a project and fundraising manager for various NGOs in Canada. This included nearly three years with a disaster relief organization, deploying to over 10 countries including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China and Mexico. The birth of his daughter in 2010 ignited a passion to help significantly increase the usage of clean, renewable energy. Wesley has an Honours Degree in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario and a Level 3 proficiency in Japanese which he takes advantage of bi-annually at sushi restaurants. He enjoys reinforcing numerous Canadian stereotypes such as camping, playing hockey, snowboarding and making butter tarts. |
| Office Manager - Mary Warner Phone: 416-977-5093 Ext: 2440
E-mail: mary (at) trec.on.ca As Office Manager, Mary supports the entire TREC team and is responsible for a wide variety of duties including accounting, office and HR administration, and IT management. Mary 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 a post-graduate degree in International Project Management from Humber College where she discovered her interest in non-profit financial management. Mary is committed to bicycle commuting (March to November at least), enjoys sailing and snowboarding, and loves to watch football, and go to indie music concerts with her husband.
Executive Assistant- Melissa Barbosa Phone: 416-977-5093 Ext: 2250
E-mail: melissa (at) trec.on.ca
In her role as Executive Assistant, Melissa supports the Executive Director, boards and staff at TREC in: administration and management of day to day activities, communication coordinating, information sharing and events, and research and reporting throughout the organization. Her interest in environmentally sustainable practices & development is a testament to a diverse upbringing, throughout Portugal and Canada. Melissa graduated from the Environmental Management Technology program at Sir Sandford Fleming College before achieving an Honours B.Sc at the University of Guelph. Melissa’s career in environmental administration has been focused on natural resource management and renewable energy project development in government, private, and now, co-operative sectors. In her free time, Melissa enjoys any type of travel, and she considers herself somewhat of a beach connoisseur. Locally, she enjoys taking part in the Toronto live music scene and is an avid concert go-er. In her down time she can be seen scouting the internet for the best ticket deals.
Education and Office Assistant- Kelly Park Phone: 416-977-5093 Ext: 2240
E-mail: kelly (at) trec.on.ca As the Education and Office Assistant, Kelly is primarily dedicated to TREC Education, while ensuring the office never runs out of pens. She oversees logistics for outreach events, volunteer recruitment and coordination, administrative tasks and creating a miscellany of design projects. Her own passion for environmental awareness and education blend together in this role. Graduating from Loyalist College with a Photojournalism Diploma, she devoted several years of freelance work as a Photo Editor for news organizations, such as the National Post, Post Media News and the News Photographers of Canada. In this time she also took on administrative roles for Summer Institute Camps, York Region School Board. After returning to Canada from three months backpacking in New Zealand, she devoted her search to finding work in the non-profit sector. TREC Education is where she feels she is able to blend a multitude of passions. Outside of the office she can usually be found throwing a Frisbee in Toronto’s parks, or up north at her cottage. |
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| Communications and Outreach - Bryan Carney E-mail: bryan (at) trec.on.ca Bryan assists with all things communications, web and IT related at TREC. He holds a Baccalaureate focusing on Communication and Media Studies from University of Waterloo and certifications in Digital Design and IT. Bryan is a champion of the cooperative movement, with experience living in and managing housing cooperatives. He is also a proponent of open-source software, and a proud supporter and participant of the independent music scene in Toronto. |
| TREC Services Coordinator- James Law Phone: 416-977-5093 Ext: 2350
E-mail: james (at) trec.on.ca
James focuses his energy on TREC Services to help build community power projects and co-ops across Ontario. Through offering a variety of tools, training and templates, TREC Services helps foster more sustainable energy systems
Previously, James worked on the Oak Ridges Moraine landscape in developing models for community-based land use monitoring and communications for an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. He has also worked on the Board of the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group promoting social and environmental change within the local community. James has a strong belief that community-based models are essential in maintaining democratic decision-making and empowering individuals. His work has shown him the ability that passionate people have to come together and effect the change they want to see. James has a BScH from Queen’s University in Biology and is finishing his MES from the University of Waterloo. |
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Member Relations Coordinator- Julie Leach E-mail: julie (at) trec.on.ca As the Member Relations Coordinator for TREC SholarShare, Julie develops marketing and communications for the sale of SolarShare Community Bonds. She is passionate about the community power model and enjoys helping Ontarians participate in the democratization of energy. Before joining the TREC team, Julie spent six years working in education and business across Toronto and Montreal, Seoul, Korea, and most recently, Stung Treng, Cambodia, where she lived in a solar-powered field office on the Mekong river with the Cambodian Rural Development Team, setting up community based sustainable development projects. Since graduating from Concordia University in 2005 with a BA in Creative Writing and English Literature, she continues to enjoy writing and reading fiction. In her spare time, she loves growing food on her Parkdale balcony and biking with her 7 year old shepherd in tow.
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