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Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin

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.

Jorge Daniel Taillant

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.

Danielle Holly

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.

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Gregg Brill

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).

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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

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

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)

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.”

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Arturo Rech

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

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.

Facebook @CERIEC | LinkedIn @RRECQ | LinkedIn @CERIEC

Jennie Romer

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.

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).

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Paolo Solano

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.

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)

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.

LinkedIn @RodolfoLACY

Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin

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.

Antonia Andúgar Miñarro

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

Elizabeth Campos Sánchez

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

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

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

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.

Jorge Daniel Taillant

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.

Britt Basel

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” 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" 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” 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.

José Luis Samaniego Leyva

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.