Ian is a seasoned executive and strategy consultant with 25+ years of experience in environmental, energy, and climate solutions. Formerly the acting and deputy executive director of the David Suzuki Foundation, he has influenced national and provincial climate policy and advised governments, including serving on B.C.’s Climate Solutions Council and Vancouver’s Greenest City Action Team.

A passionate backcountry skier, Ian transitioned to sustainability in the early 2000s, founding the Alpine Club of Canada’s Melting Mountains Awareness Program to highlight climate change’s impact on winter sports. He lives in Squamish with his family, exploring B.C.'s backcountry.

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Ed Whittingham is a passionate public policy professional working in climate and energy policy, cleantech finance and carbon removal. He has served as the CEO of the Pembina Institute, a director of the Alberta Energy Regulator, and a member of the World Economic Forum's global agenda council. Currently Ed is a Public Policy Forum Fellow, a Stripe Climate Fellow, host of Canada’s most popular climate-themed podcast, Energy vs Climate, and a new podcast series on carbon removal called Scrubbing the Sky. He is also passionate about Canada's wild spaces and has explored its corners through hiking, paddling, skiing, birding and hunting. 

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Have spent the last 30 years working on climate and energy policy in the non-profit sector, the private sector, and most recently politically as the former Chief of Staff to two federal Ministers of Environment and Climate Change. Spent far too much time studying engineering, but managed to get a PhD out of the deal. Live in Canmore, have two kids and get out split-boarding, snowboarding, hiking and rafting as much as possible.

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Montana Burgess (she/they) is the executive director at Neighbours United and has worked internationally, nationally, provincial and locally in the environmental movement for 18 years. Under her leadership, Neighbours United has used deep canvassing, community organizing and strategic communications to win clean energy and nature campaigns. They have also trained organizations in Alberta and the US to use deep canvassing to help conflicted people become clean energy supporters. Her grassroots campaign strategy and small, rural and suburban organizing lenses are what she is bringing to the POW retreat. Montana lives in Rossland, BC on Sinixt land and enjoys skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, canoeing, and hiking for recreation.

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Julia Kilpatrick is the Vice President, External Affairs at the Canadian Climate Institute and has spent most of her career working to advance evidence-based climate and energy policy. She lives in the Alberta rockies and enjoys downhill and cross-country skiing, cycling, yoga and all types of paddling.

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Karen is a nature-lover, outdoor enthusiast, and a climate policy nerd. Following a career in wilderness and forest conservation, she has spent the last decade immersed in climate and energy policy research and advocacy. Karen is thrilled to find an outlet for her passions at The Houssian Foundation as the Director of the foundation's nature and climate program. Karen seeks reprieve from the computer and meeting rooms in the mountains on skis, on the end of a rope rock climbing, cycling the roads, and in the ocean on her surfboard.

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Brady is a long time Whistler local. Father of two, an avid skier, fisher, and traveler. As Chief Strategy Officer, Brady supports Indigenous Tourism Canada and other organizations with policy and strategy, supporting economic advancements to Indigenous community. 

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Resident of Fernie, BC, which is located in Ktunaxa Territory in the Rocky Mountains. Relatively new CEO for the charitable non-profit Community Energy Association - an organization I've been with for about 15 years. We help local governments and Indigenous communities plan and implement climate and energy projects. I grew up nordic skiing and now enjoy taking chairlifts to access excellent skiing! I have a passion for wild spaces and outdoor experiences, and get to support my husband as co-owner of a guiding business on the Athabasca Glacier. 

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Dave is a father, husband and outdoor enthusiast with experience in the business and charitable sectors in Canada. He’s passionate about skiing, environmental stewardship and seeing POW Canada grow to have significant impact on climate policy in Canada.

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Having grown up in the ski industry in Quebec, Anik has always been a passionate skier. Through the ski industry she was able to take on many exciting professional opportunities, most formidably working as the head of the Whistler Blackcomb Brand Marketing department for over a decade. With a BComm in Strategic Management and Sustainable Development, she has always been driven to create purposeful campaigns and movements using the brand voice for good. Joining POW as the Programs & Marketing Director is truly a dream come true with being able to use her skills and experience to advance climate policy. As a mom of 2 young boys, it is important to her to give them a good example of merging purpose with work and play. She resides in Whistler, BC.

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Arianne is an outdoor enthusiast and a people person. She specializes in marketing and communication with her experience in advertising agencies and the outdoor industry. Deeply concerned about the planet and convinced that the climate crisis can be reversed with people working together, she has been a sustainability advocate for years. Her experience working in the outdoor industry allowed her to influence her team and partners to make a difference on a larger scale through meaningful campaigns and initiatives. She decided to become a vector of change by combining her passion for the environment and her knowledge and experience in marketing to the benefit of POW Canada as the Strategic Partnerships Director.

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Nat Knowles is a climate scientist, wilderness conservationist, and outdoor athlete. Her research focuses on mitigating climate change, managing its inevitable impacts, and using outdoor recreation and tourism for sustainable socio-economic development. She completed a Master of Science on these topics at the University of Oxford and is now a PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo. While currently an avid backcountry adventurer, as a former alpine ski racer she won two NCAA National Championships with the University of Denver, and represented Canada at the World Junior Championships and the World University Games.

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Steph grew up finding fulfillment and inspiration from spending time outdoors across BC. As she got older, she realized she could combine passion and purpose to give back to the places she loves. Steph is grateful for this path to continue at POW Canada; supporting grassroots advocacy movements keeps her motivated through the power of community-led action, where everyone can play a valuable role to ignite change and build a better world for all. Outside of work, she’s exploring the beautiful landscapes of Vancouver Island, from oceanside to mountaintop.

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From competing internationally in freestyle snowboarding to working in marketing for small and big outdoor brands, Anne-Fred has always had sustainability in mind. With years of experience under her belt, she is now dedicated to using her skills and expertise for meaningful work. With her deep connection to nature and her unwavering commitment to protecting it, Anne-Fred is always keen for an adventure. Whether it's touring up the mountains of British Columbia, exploring single tracks on her mountain bike, or catching some mellow waves on the Coast.

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