The JPAC Public Forum will kick off the two-day event. Titled “Building Sustainable Economies: Circular Models and Nature-based Solutions for a Resilient North America,” the forum will provide participants with the opportunity to engage in an open dialogue and share their experiences on how these approaches are being applied across the region, and how their integration can accelerate the transition to more sustainable and equitable economic systems. Insights gathered will help the CEC identify critical and emerging environmental priorities at the local and regional levels.
JPAC Public Forum:
Building Sustainable Economies: Circular Models and Nature-based Solutions for a Resilient North America
Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST)
8:30 am-8:40 am
Salón Independencia A
8:40 am-8:50 am
Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin
JPAC Chair
JPAC Chair
Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin is a seasoned executive with over 15 years of proven leadership in the natural resources and energy sectors. As the Chief Executive Officer of Nukik Corporation, she is advancing significant infrastructure development in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, spearheading the adoption of large-scale renewable energy and broadband connectivity. Her strategic oversight of the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link in particular — a multi-billion-dollar initiative— is positioned to unlock immense value for both the region and Canada. Thanks to this expertise in financial modelling, project approval, and large-scale infrastructure execution, the company is driving impactful change in the Canadian Arctic.
Previously, as President and CEO of WaterPower Canada, Anne-Raphaëlle led the national association representing Canada’s largest electricity sector. She significantly expanded revenue, successfully launched the first national industry conference and trade show, and grew the membership base, enhancing the organization's visibility and influence across the sector.
Anne-Raphaëlle’s background also includes a role as Environmental and Social Impacts Management Specialist at Hatch Ltd., where she worked on energy and mining projects. She excels in navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments, securing strategic partnerships, and driving consensus across regional, provincial, and federal levels. Recognized as a thought leader, Anne-Raphaëlle is frequently quoted in national media and serves on several boards of directors.
In 2019, Anne-Raphaëlle became a Governor in Council Appointee to the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation's Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC), where she promotes sustainable development and ecosystem protection across Canada, the US, and Mexico. She was reappointed in 2022 for a four-year term by the federal government.
Anne-Raphaëlle holds a degree in Business Administration from the Université de Nantes (France), Civil Law and Common Law degrees from the University of Ottawa, and a Master’s in Environmental and Natural Resources Management from Dalhousie University. She also earned an Executive Certificate in Corporate Sustainability from the Yale School of Management in 2021. Fluent in French, English, and Spanish, she is certified in Project Planning and Controls.
8:50 am-9:00 am
Jorge Daniel Taillant
CEC Executive Director
CEC Executive Director
Jorge Daniel Taillant serves as the CEC’s Executive Director since August of 2022.
He is a life-long global advocate for human rights and environmental protection. His career spans several decades, working with international development agencies, as an advisor to governments, leading innovative civil society organizations and networks, and with disadvantaged communities to tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
He has spear-headed incisive global initiatives to link human rights and environmental advocacy, pushing for more effective public policies, stronger legislation and greater corporate accountability and respect for human rights and environmental sustainability.
During the past decade, he has turned his focus to tackling the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, advocating for immediate actions to aggressively phase out the most intense climate pollutants, such as methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone (O3), while promoting inclusive, equitable and resilient adaptation for the most climate-vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
9:00 am-9:20 am
This keynote will set the stage by exploring how the integration of Circular Economy and Nature-based Solutions can transform North America into a more sustainable and resilient region. It will address the economic and environmental challenges currently facing the three countries and how these two approaches can work together to create regenerative systems, reduce environmental pressure and unlock new sustainable economic opportunities. The keynote will also highlight the importance of public-private partnerships in scaling these solutions.
Danielle Holly
Executive Lead for North America, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, US
Executive Lead for North America, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, US
Danielle is the North America Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, where she is focused on building the momentum for circular economy in the US and Canada and leading the North America team. Prior to joining the Foundation, Danielle’s work for more than a decade involved the intersection of business and environmental impact, through her leadership roles in the Business and Society Program of the Aspen Institute and at Common Impact, a nonprofit that pioneered corporate pro bono service.
9:20 am-10:50 am
Nature-based Solutions are “actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems in ways that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, to provide both human well-being and biodiversity benefits” (IUCN, 2016). Nature-based Solutions offer a powerful, systems-level response to today’s environmental and socio-economic challenges. By leveraging the regenerative capacity of ecosystems, Nature-based Solutions can restore degraded landscapes, enhance biodiversity, improve water security, and capture carbon—all while driving inclusive economic growth. This panel will spotlight innovative Nature-based Solutions initiatives, showcasing how they deliver both environmental impact and livelihood benefits. Panelists will explore the enabling role of policy, finance, community engagement, partnerships and private sector innovation in scaling these solutions across North America.
Felicia Marcus
JPAC Member
JPAC Member
Felicia Marcus is the William C. Landreth Visiting Fellow at Stanford University’s Water in the West Program, an attorney, consultant, and member of the Water Policy Group. She most recently served as Chair of the California State Water Resources Control Board, implementing laws regarding drinking water, water quality, and state’s water rights, hearing regional board water quality appeals, settling disputes, and providing financial assistance to communities to upgrade water infrastructure.
Before her appointment to the Water Board, Marcus served in positions in government, the nonprofit and private sector. In government, she served as the Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Southwest Region. Preceding her work at the EPA, Marcus served as the President of the Board of Public Works for the City of Los Angeles.
In the non-profit world, she was the Western Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, and prior to that the Executive Vice-president and Chief Operating Officer of the Trust for Public Land. Marcus also has an extensive background as a private sector and public interest lawyer.
In 2020 she was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies from Harvard College, and Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law and studied at Hong Kong University on a Rotary Fellowship.
Gregg Brill
Associate Director, Accounting for Nature Program, The Pacific Institute
Associate Director, Accounting for Nature Program, The Pacific Institute
Gregg is an Associate Director for the Accounting for Nature Program at The Pacific Institute, where he leads work on nature-based solutions (NbS) and biodiversity. His work focuses on developing and scaling public- and private-sector investment in NbS. This work includes developing and implementing a standardized method, guide, and tool to demonstrate multiple water, carbon, biodiversity, and socio-economic benefits associated with NbS for watersheds worldwide. Gregg is also the Technical Lead for the United Nations Global Compact CEO Water Mandate. His technical expertise spans water resilience, net positive water impact, science-based targets, basin monitoring, corporate water stewardship, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH).
James Rattling Leaf, Sr.
Wahpe Sla Sla, Tribal Advisor for the Environmental Science Innovation and Inclusion Lab and the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, University of Colorado Boulder
Wahpe Sla Sla, Tribal Advisor for the Environmental Science Innovation and Inclusion Lab and the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, University of Colorado Boulder
James Rattling Leaf, Sr., a member of South Dakota's Rosebud Sioux tribe, serves as Tribal Advisor for the Environmental Science Innovation and Inclusion Lab (ESIIL) and the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (NC CASC) at the University of Colorado Boulder. James has held numerous leadership and advisory roles, including: Visiting Collaborator, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; Director, Geo-Spatial Applications Center, Sinte Gleska University; Board Member, Education Committee, American Geophysical Union (AGU); Fellow, International Indigenous Resource Management Institute, Denver; Cultural Advisory Board Member, Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab; Board of Directors, National Science Foundation South Dakota Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR); Member, NASA Space Grant Consortium, EPSCoR Technical Advisory Committee; and Cultural Advisor, NOAA National Integrated Drought Information Systems (NIDIS). He is currently Chair of the Ecological Society of America (ESA) Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Section. James received his B.A. in Lakota Studies from Sinte Gleska University (Rosebud Reservation, Mission, South Dakota).
Liette Vasseur
Deputy Chair for the Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM) and Co-Lead of the CEM Climate Change and Biodiversity Policy and Practice Thematic Group, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and UNESCO Chair on Community Sustainability, Brock University
Deputy Chair for the Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM) and Co-Lead of the CEM Climate Change and Biodiversity Policy and Practice Thematic Group, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and UNESCO Chair on Community Sustainability, Brock University
Dr. Vasseur is a full professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Brock University, where she is also a member of the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, and a Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute fellow. Since 2014, she has held at Brock the UNESCO Chair on Community Sustainability: From Local to Global. Vasseur’s research program works at the nexus of several disciplines, allowing her to develop transdisciplinary research that links issues such as conservation, sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation and resilience, community-based ecosystem management, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem governance. Her research is in Canada, China, Ecuador, and Africa (including Benin and Morocco). At the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), she is the deputy chair of the Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), and co-lead of the CEM Climate Change and Biodiversity Policy and Practice Thematic Group, chair of the North American region. She is also on the IUCN Academy Advisory Committee and chaired the Knowledge Management Strategic Plan committee.
Luis Alain Zúñiga Hernández
President and Founding Partner of Ecopil MX and member of the Mexican Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Ashoka Mexico and the Mexican Alliance for Biodiversity and Business (AMEBIN)
President and Founding Partner of Ecopil MX and member of the Mexican Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Ashoka Mexico and the Mexican Alliance for Biodiversity and Business (AMEBIN)
A creator of content about nature, photography, art, and travel, Luis Zúñiga is president and a founding partner of Ecopil MX, a Mexican innovation agency specializing in ecosystem management, nature-based solutions, and promotion of environmental leadership. He sits on the Mexican committee of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is also a member of the Mexican Alliance for Biodiversity (Amebin). He has held consultancy, professorial, public speaking, educational coordination, and project management positions. He is a biologist with a degree from the Iztacala Faculty of Graduate Studies of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). His favorite sentence is: “In essence, we are all agents of change.”
10:50 am-11:00 am
11:00 am-12:45 pm
The Circular Economy uses “a systematic approach to maintain a circular flow of resources by recovering or adding to their value, while contributing to sustainable development” (ISO, 2024). This panel will explore how Circular Economy principles are being implemented across sectors, and the role that business, policy and technology play in scaling these solutions. Panelists will highlight key enablers, share real-world examples, and discuss how cross-sector collaboration is driving the transition to a more sustainable and resilient economy in North America.
Robert Varney
JPAC Member
JPAC Member
Considered one of the nation’s most experienced and respected environmental leaders, Robert Varney is a former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) New England Regional Administrator, who currently is President of Normandeau Associates, a science-based environmental firm with eighteen offices in 12 states. He was the longest-serving regional administrator and top environmental official in New England and is credited with instituting many innovative approaches and policy initiatives that have served as national models. Prior to EPA, Mr. Varney was one of the nation’s longest-serving state environmental commissioners, appointed by three Governors of both political parties.
Bob is nationally recognized for his efforts on global climate change; energy efficiency and renewables; homeland security and preparedness; clean air, clean water and safe drinking water; superfund and brownfields cleanup and redevelopment; environmental justice and healthy communities; restoration of rivers, lakes and coastal areas; strong and consistent enforcement and compliance assistance; strengthening partnerships; and improved agency management and performance.
Mr. Varney has chaired the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), State/EPA Superfund Policy Forum, Federal Ozone Transport Commission (OTC), Governmental Advisory Committee to the US Representative to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission and New England Governors Conference Environment Committee. He also was a member of EPA’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council and currently serves on the NH Board of Trustees for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the CEC Joint Public Advisory Committee (US, Mexico, Canada). Bob is the recipient of numerous environmental awards such as the EPA Lifetime Achievement Award, NE Water Works Association’s John H. Chafee Award, Environmental Business Council of NE’s Paul Keough Award and the ECOS Founder’s Award.
Arturo Rech
President and Chief Executive Officer, MexHub for Circular Economy and Sustainability
President and Chief Executive Officer, MexHub for Circular Economy and Sustainability
From Monterrey in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Arturo Rech is President and CEO of MexHub de Economía Circular y Sustentabilidad, a civil society organization with a mission to promote the circular economy and sustainability. He chairs the Salvemos el Agua NL foundation and collaborates with the Department of Responsible Companies and the Sustainable Energy Research Group of the School of Engineering and Science at the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey.
From early in his career, he has held high-ranking positions in the state and federal governments, most recently as Director of Civic Participation for the Ministry of Government (Secretaría de Gobernación) of Mexico. Prior to that, he advised the Environment Commission of the Chamber of Deputies (XVII Legislature) and the Senate of the Republic (LXI Legislature). In addition, he worked as coordinator of strategic projects for the Nuevo León State Institute of Youth (Instituto Estatal de la Juventud de Nuevo León).
In the business and institutional spheres, he has served as director of sustainable projects for the Young Americas Business Trust, an international non-profit organization that collaborates with the Organization of American States (OAS); executive director of Consultoría de Servicios Multidisciplinarios, an organization specializing in ecological solutions; chair of the New Technologies for Sustainable Water Use Commission of the National Processing Industry Association (Cámara Nacional de la Industria de la Transformación—Canacintra), which he represents at the Processing Industry Association of Nuevo León (Caintra NL).
Rech participates actively in international forums, seminars, workshops, and conferences on sustainability and the circular economy, his areas of specialization. He has earned recognition from the Sustainability Laboratory in New York and from the Institute for Research on Sustainability and the Circular Economy of the University of Washington.
Daniel Normandin
Director, Center for Intersectoral Studies and Research on the Circular Economy (CERIEC); Director, Quebec Research Network on Circular Economy (RRECQ); Member, Cercle d’excellence, Université du Québec
Director, Center for Intersectoral Studies and Research on the Circular Economy (CERIEC); Director, Quebec Research Network on Circular Economy (RRECQ); Member, Cercle d’excellence, Université du Québec
Daniel Normandin is a biologist and an administrator by training who works as a consultant, educator, and high-profile speaker on circular economy. He has helped create and manage several academic research units on this topic during his career: the Institute for Environment, Sustainable Development, and Circular Economy (EDDEC) on the Université de Montréal campus; the Center for Intersectoral Studies and Research on Circular Economy (Centre d'études et de Recherches Intersectorielles en Économie Circulaire, CERIEC) at the École de technologie supérieure, which he directs; and the Research Network on Circular Economy of Quebec (Réseau de recherche en économie circulaire du Québec, RRECQ). Daniel also sits on the Expert Panel on Circular Economy in Canada of the Council of Canadian Academies.
Jennie Romer
Director of Policy, North America, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Director of Policy, North America, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Jennie is the Director of Policy, North America, at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, where she is responsible for accelerating the Foundation’s mission and overall North America strategy by influencing and informing policy decisions that help accelerate the transition to a circular economy in the United States and Canada.
As a lawyer with deep expertise in waste reduction and single-use plastics policy, Jennie previously served as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pollution Prevention at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and as a legal associate at the Surfrider Foundation, where she led the Plastic Pollution Initiative. She is the author of Can I Recycle This, founder of PlasticBagLaws.org, and is regularly interviewed on sustainability topics.
Martín Rincón
Director of Corporate Operations and Sustainability, Bio Pappel, S.A. de C.V.
Director of Corporate Operations and Sustainability, Bio Pappel, S.A. de C.V.
Martín Rincón Arredondo is Director of Corporate Operations and Sustainability for the company, Bio Pappel, and a member of its board of directors. He is an active promoter of sustainable development in Mexico, working with organizations such as the National Pulp and Paper Industry Association, the Confederation of Industrial Associations (Concamin), and Global Compact Network Mexico. Under his leadership, Bio Pappel has formed alliances with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Conservation International, and the Science-based Targets Initiative, promoted by the Global Compact, the World Wildlife Fund, and CDP.
He was previously the general manager of the Pipsamex Group and finance director of the McKinley Paper Company in the United States. He holds a master’s degree in senior management from the Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresa (IPADE).
12:45 pm-1:00 pm
Paolo Solano
Director, Legal Affairs and Submissions on Enforcement Matters Unit
Director, Legal Affairs and Submissions on Enforcement Matters Unit
The Director of Legal Affairs and Submissions on Enforcement Matters (SEM) at the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Paolo Solano is a lawyer trained in Mexico with over 15 years of experience in the field of international environmental law. His responsibilities at the CEC pertain to the implementation of the SEM process under NAFTA/USMCA-CUSMA and also include advising on operational and legal matters of the CEC more generally.
Paolo obtained his law degree from the Faculty of Law at the National University of Mexico (UNAM), a master’s degree on environmental governance from University of Essex (awarded with honors); a diploma on US law from the Georgetown Law Center, and graduate studies on Business Management and Canadian Law at the University of Montreal.
Paolo has also been a visiting law professor in the United States and Mexico and has published academic articles and a book chapter. Since 2008 he has published the annual report for the Yearbook of International Environmental Law and, as of 2015, also reports on the development of environmental law in Mexico.
1:00 pm-2:00 pm
2:00 pm-2:20 pm
2:20 pm-4:00 pm
This dialogue will explore the practical steps necessary to transition to regenerative and sustainable economies, emphasizing the importance of inclusive, cross-sectoral cooperation, and the transformative power of public-private partnerships in driving systemic change. Opening with a summary of the discussions that took place in the previous sessions, this segment will offer a space for an interactive discussion on how to move from vision to action: identify strategies to overcome systemic barriers, scale effective solutions and deliver lasting benefits for communities across the continent.
Rodolfo Lacy Tamayo
Advisor, Sustainability Office of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and Environment and Sustainability Leadership Program (LEAD-México) of the Colegio de México (Colmex)
Advisor, Sustainability Office of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and Environment and Sustainability Leadership Program (LEAD-México) of the Colegio de México (Colmex)
Rodolfo Lacy Tamayo is an academic and an independent international consultant in environmental science and engineering who advises the Sustainability Office (Coordinación de Sustentabilidad) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the Environment and Sustainability Leadership Program (LEAD-México) of the College of Mexico (Colmex). He recently served as a special envoy for scientific affairs to the United Nations; he has also held the position of Director of Environment with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), as well as Director for Climate Action and Environment for Latin America with the same organization. In Mexico, he served as Deputy Minister for Environmental Planning and Policy with the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), acting in that capacity as lead negotiator in the run-up to the Paris Accord.
Lacy Tamayo holds a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a doctorate from the Universidad Autónoma de México (UAM). He studied and worked for ten years with the 1995 Nobel laureate in chemistry, Dr. Mario Molina, at the Centro Mario Molina for Strategic Studies on Energy and Environment. From 2008 to 2012, he was a member of the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). He coordinated and coauthored Mexico’s first State of the Environment Report and is the author of a wide range of publications on environmental planning and air quality.
4:00 pm-4:15 pm
This dialogue will explore the practical steps necessary to transition to regenerative and sustainable economies, emphasizing the importance of inclusive, cross-sectoral cooperation, and the transformative power of public-private partnerships in driving systemic change. Opening with a summary of the discussions that took place in the previous sessions, this segment will offer a space for an interactive discussion on how to move from vision to action: identify strategies to overcome systemic barriers, scale effective solutions and deliver lasting benefits for communities across the continent.
Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin
JPAC Chair
JPAC Chair
Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin is a seasoned executive with over 15 years of proven leadership in the natural resources and energy sectors. As the Chief Executive Officer of Nukik Corporation, she is advancing significant infrastructure development in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, spearheading the adoption of large-scale renewable energy and broadband connectivity. Her strategic oversight of the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link in particular — a multi-billion-dollar initiative— is positioned to unlock immense value for both the region and Canada. Thanks to this expertise in financial modelling, project approval, and large-scale infrastructure execution, the company is driving impactful change in the Canadian Arctic.
Previously, as President and CEO of WaterPower Canada, Anne-Raphaëlle led the national association representing Canada’s largest electricity sector. She significantly expanded revenue, successfully launched the first national industry conference and trade show, and grew the membership base, enhancing the organization's visibility and influence across the sector.
Anne-Raphaëlle’s background also includes a role as Environmental and Social Impacts Management Specialist at Hatch Ltd., where she worked on energy and mining projects. She excels in navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments, securing strategic partnerships, and driving consensus across regional, provincial, and federal levels. Recognized as a thought leader, Anne-Raphaëlle is frequently quoted in national media and serves on several boards of directors.
In 2019, Anne-Raphaëlle became a Governor in Council Appointee to the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation's Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC), where she promotes sustainable development and ecosystem protection across Canada, the US, and Mexico. She was reappointed in 2022 for a four-year term by the federal government.
Anne-Raphaëlle holds a degree in Business Administration from the Université de Nantes (France), Civil Law and Common Law degrees from the University of Ottawa, and a Master’s in Environmental and Natural Resources Management from Dalhousie University. She also earned an Executive Certificate in Corporate Sustainability from the Yale School of Management in 2021. Fluent in French, English, and Spanish, she is certified in Project Planning and Controls.
4:15 pm-5:00 pm
6:30 pm-9:00 pm
Day two will include a Presentation on CEC’s work including efforts on Nature-based Solutions and Circular Economy, and will conclude with the Council Public Session, which presents an opportunity for North Americans to engage with the top environmental officials in the region on the theme for the Council Session. This year, discussions will focus on “Nexus Between Circular Economy and Nature-based Solutions in North America.”
Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST)
9:30 am-11:00 am
Salón Independencia A
This engaging panel discussion will delve into the CEC’s trinational efforts to promote environmental sustainability across North America. The panel will focus particularly on efforts and initiatives related to Nature-based Solutions and Circular Economy. The discussion will highlight the journey from strategic design to practical implementation, showcasing the collaborative work of the CEC and its partners in addressing key environmental challenges.
The panel, comprising members of the CEC Secretariat, will present an overview of North American approaches to collaboration, highlighting successes, challenges, best practices and the reality of day-to-day sustainability management in practice.
Antonia Andúgar Miñarro
Project Lead, Sustainable Living and Economies Unit, CEC
Project Lead, Sustainable Living and Economies Unit, CEC
Antonia Mercedes Andúgar Miñarro is a Project Lead in the Sustainable Living and Economies Unit at the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), based in Montreal, Canada. She leads initiatives focused on circular economy in North America, including projects on recycling paper, plastics, and bioplastics, as well as efforts to prevent and reduce food loss and waste. Her work emphasizes, among other topics, outreach, education, and stakeholder engagement across the food supply chain. Before joining the CEC, Antonia held various roles in international public and government affairs in Europe, including as a senior policy advisor on environment and agriculture in Brussels. In Canada, she served as director of an agricultural and environmental advisory services association in Quebec and has spoken at numerous international conferences on environmental issues.
Catherine Boyd Michaud
Project Lead, Ecosystems Unit, CEC
Project Lead, Ecosystems Unit, CEC
Catherine Boyd Michaud has been a Project Lead at the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) since 2021, where she advances collaborative initiatives on marine and coastal environments across North America. With a background in ecosystem-based management and public policy, she specializes in projects that integrate biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. Catherine currently leads the CEC project “Nature-based Solutions (NBS) to Address Flooding in Coastal Cities,” fostering trinational knowledge exchange and filling knowledge gaps for the uptake of NSB across North America. She brings over a decade of experience working at the intersection of science, policy, and community engagement, with a strong focus on solutions that promote both biodiversity and social well-being. Catherine holds a master’s degree in maritime spatial planning from the Università Iuav di Venezia, a B.Sc in environmental geography from the University of Montreal and a minor in project management from HEC Montreal.
Elizabeth Campos Sánchez
Project Lead, Environmental Quality, CEC
Project Lead, Environmental Quality, CEC
Elizabeth Campos Sánchez is a Project Lead at the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, where she coordinates initiatives such as the “Advancing Supply Chain Transparency for Chemicals in Products” project. She holds degrees in biology and natural resource management from UNAM and El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, respectively. Elizabeth brings experience in environmental consulting, education, and geospatial analysis to her work, with a strong focus on community engagement and data democratization.
José Antonio Casis
Lead, Planning and Performance, CEC
Lead, Planning and Performance, CEC
José Antonio Casis, Pepe, is the Lead, Planning and Performance at the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). Since 2021, Pepe has led strategic planning, monitoring and reporting efforts. He has also led key initiatives in environmental education and trilateral action research supporting progress toward shared environmental goals for 2030. He holds a PhD in environmental policy and economics from Cornell University and a master’s in integrated resource management from the University of Edinburgh. With over 20 years of experience, he has developed policy recommendations, managed projects and conducted strategic planning for national and international organizations across Asia, Central America and North America. His work includes collaborating with the Mexican federal government, think tanks, NGOs, research centers, and serving as a consultant for the World Bank, United Nations and other leading organizations.
Julie Amina Jacquemin
Advisor, Outreach, Partnerships and Youth Engagement
Advisor, Outreach, Partnerships and Youth Engagement
Julie Amina Jacquemin is the Lead for Outreach, Partnerships and Youth Engagement at the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). She plays a crucial role in advancing environmental collaboration across North America by fostering inclusive engagement with diverse stakeholders, including youth. Her work supports initiatives that promote sustainability and community-driven action, with a strong emphasis on empowering the next generation of environmental leaders. Previously, Julie worked with several nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), where she led international advocacy programs and managed partnerships with governmental institutions and community-based organizations in Canada, France, Spain, Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She holds a master’s degrees in geopolitics and in international law and human rights. Her experience encompasses public engagement, environmental cooperation and international collaboration, with a keen interest in bioanthropology and inclusive engagement.
LinkedIn: Julie Amina Jacquemin
Violaine Pronovost
Lead, Community Grant Programs, CEC
Lead, Community Grant Programs, CEC
Violaine Pronovost has been leading the Community Grant Programs at the CEC since 2021. In this capacity, she oversees the comprehensive granting process, fostering and maintaining relationships with numerous grant recipients throughout North America, and has the privilege of witnessing the significant impact of their initiatives within their respective communities. After earning a degree in communications, she pursued a master’s in environmental sciences due to her strong interest in environmental issues. With 20 years of experience working for environmental charities, from Montreal to Lima, and managing community grant programs for both public and private organizations, Violaine has extensive expertise in planning and implementing community-led environmental projects.
11:00 am-12:00 pm
12:00 pm-2:30 pm
Council Public Meeting:
Nexus Between Circular Economy and Nature-based Solutions in North America
2:30 pm-2:45 pm
Jorge Daniel Taillant
CEC Executive Director
CEC Executive Director
Jorge Daniel Taillant serves as the CEC’s Executive Director since August of 2022.
He is a life-long global advocate for human rights and environmental protection. His career spans several decades, working with international development agencies, as an advisor to governments, leading innovative civil society organizations and networks, and with disadvantaged communities to tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
He has spear-headed incisive global initiatives to link human rights and environmental advocacy, pushing for more effective public policies, stronger legislation and greater corporate accountability and respect for human rights and environmental sustainability.
During the past decade, he has turned his focus to tackling the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, advocating for immediate actions to aggressively phase out the most intense climate pollutants, such as methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone (O3), while promoting inclusive, equitable and resilient adaptation for the most climate-vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
2:45 pm-3:30 pm
The GELP invites teams of young leaders from North America to support communities and preserve our shared waters, lands and air. The program is aimed at youth who are 18–35 years old and are part of a team such as, but not exclusively, youth-led organizations, youth-led associations, nongovernmental organizations, not-for-profit youth-led businesses and teams of youth innovators and entrepreneurs interested in building their businesses. The selected youth teams will present their innovative solutions to the Council and the public.
Britt Basel
Mentor for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s Generation of Environmental Leaders Program
Mentor for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s Generation of Environmental Leaders Program
As the founder of Ecothropic, Britt bridges critical social science and anthropology with technical expertise in environmental science and natural resource management. With over 20 years of experience advancing climate resilience and resource cooperation across Latin America, the Pacific, and the Middle East, she specializes in Nature-based Solutions, integrated water and land management, and participatory approaches to environmental governance. Since relocating to Mexico in 2011, Britt has built strong cross-border relationships and collaborated with communities and institutions on a range of initiatives. Her work has supported strategic planning, project design, engagement, and local capacity-building. Drawing on her experience, she has mentored emerging leaders through the Harvard Youth Climate Summit, National Geographic, and others. Currently completing a PhD on drought resilience, Britt applies socio-hydrology and political ecology to support community-grounded strategies that address the challenges of linked human-water systems under climate stress. As a mentor for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s Generation of Environmental Leaders Program (GELP), Britt is honored to support the youth that are leading innovative and collaborative environmental solutions, and creating our shared future.
Viva la Ola A.C.: Berenice Elizabeth Lizárraga Lizárraga and Nithzia Yulen Pineda Mendoza
Rescuing Isla Basura: Environmental Restoration and Circular Economy
Rescuing Isla Basura: Environmental Restoration and Circular Economy
“Rescuing Isla Basura: Environmental Restoration and Circular Economy” focuses on preventing marine pollution by recovering, transforming, and repurposing both organic and inorganic waste. The team works in close collaboration with the “Playa Sur Fishermen’s Union,” promoting sustainable infrastructure and a regenerative circular economy to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities.
Let’s Go Compost: Lauren Mackenzie Click and Hanna Layton
Youth-Led Food Waste Solutions: Driving Demand for US Infrastructure and the Green Economy
Youth-Led Food Waste Solutions: Driving Demand for US Infrastructure and the Green Economy
"Youth-Led Food Waste Solutions: Driving Demand for US Infrastructure and the Green Economy" tackles the food waste problem in US public schools by offering a low-cost, student-led composting program. Designed to overcome financial and infrastructure barriers, Let’s Go Compost trains students and staff, integrates composting into school operations, and partners with local facilities. The program fosters environmental education and reduces landfill waste while supporting long-term sustainability without ongoing reliance on external funding.
Spark Source Consulting: Sonia Vinogradova and Joe Workentin
RegEnergy: Solar energy for regenerative farms
RegEnergy: Solar energy for regenerative farms
“RegEnergy: Solar energy for regenerative farms” promotes regenerative agriculture by installing solar panels on small, women-run farms in Canada. The initiative reduces costs, supports food sovereignty and creates green jobs, while showcasing solar energy’s potential through public events and educational materials. RegEnergy helps climate finance flow toward tangible, low-carbon infrastructure that benefits communities—not just profit margins. This work is part of a growing shift in how we define value, investment, and resilience in a warming world.
3:30 pm-4:40 pm
During this session, Council members will participate in a public dialogue on Circular Economy and Nature-based Solutions
José Luis Samaniego Leyva
Undersecretary for Sustainable Development and Circular Economy
Undersecretary for Sustainable Development and Circular Economy
José Luis Samaniego Leyva holds a Ph.D. in natural resources from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a master’s in international political economy from the University of the Americas and a BA in economics from the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM).
Between 2023 and 2024, he was executive director of the World Resources Institute (WRI) for Mexico and Colombia. From 2004 until 2023, he served as director of the Sustainable Development and Human Settlements Department of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), where he led strategies to guide countries in the region on climate change, sustainability, urban development and transport, as well as the production of information on the economic costs of climate change. He participated in the approval of the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (Escazú Agreement).
Between 1994 and 2000, he headed the International Affairs Coordinating Unit of the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries, where he coordinated the Government of Mexico’s position in the negotiations for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.
4:40 pm-4:50 pm
4:50 pm-5:15 pm
5:15 pm-5:30 pm
