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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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