Merran Smith is Executive Board Chair and founder of New Economy Canada, bringing decades of award-winning leadership uniting industry, government, and civil society partners to solve society’s most pressing social and ecological challenges. She is broadly recognized as a fearless advocate and national thought leader in advancing Canada’s clean, zero-carbon economy.

Since establishing Clean Energy Canada in 2010, Merran has been at the forefront of public policy discourse and solution building for Canada to win in the global energy transition. Earlier, her leadership in the landmark Great Bear Rainforest agreement led to the protection of BC’s coastal rainforest ecosystems and set a new standard for collaboration between Indigenous and Crown governments, and across sectors.

Merran is an active board member of BC Hydro, a leading Canadian renewable electricity utility serving over five million British Columbians, and has served on national and provincial energy and climate councils to advise governments on the energy transition. She has also served as co-chair of BC’s Climate Solutions Council which informed the province’s first comprehensive climate plan, CleanBC, and co-chair of Natural Resources Canada’s Generation Energy Council. She represents Canada on the C3E International Ambassador Corps and is a Fellow at Simon Fraser University.

Merran’s leadership has been formally recognized through Vancouver Magazine’s Power 50, SFU’s President’s Social Media Newsmaker Award, Clean Energy BC’s Lifetime Achievement award, Vancouver Board of Trade’s Wendy McDonald Community Catalyst award, and the Clean 16 award for leadership in clean capitalism.

Ian Bruce is President of New Economy Canada and an energy and clean economy leader with more than 25 years of experience. His career has spanned the traditional energy sector, advising governments on climate, energy and transportation policy, and supporting cleantech startups. Throughout, he has built partnerships, shaped policy and mobilized investment to advance a cleaner, more competitive economy.  
 
That experience has given Ian a unique perspective that spans Canada’s economy: from understanding how projects work on the ground, to bringing governments, industry and other stakeholders together around policy and investment. In senior leadership and C-suite roles, he has helped advance work on clean electricity, industrial methane regulation, transportation and market-based policy, contributing to more than $8 billion in provincial infrastructure investment and over $20 billion in federal clean economy investment. 

More recently, Ian has worked with clean technology and energy companies and investors on capital strategy and investment partnerships. His work sits at the intersection of policy, business and finance, with a focus on helping promising technologies and businesses move from opportunity to scale. 

Ian holds a degree in geological engineering from the University of New Brunswick and is completing a Professional MBA at UBC Sauder School of Business. 

Nancy Wright serves as Vice President of Operations and Business Engagement for New Economy Canada. In this role, she leads organizational operations and deepens engagement with industry partners to help accelerate Canada’s shift to a clean economy. Nancy has spent more than 25 years working at the nexus of business and sustainability, previously holding senior roles as COO with Competent Boards and GLOBE Series. She is known for her ability to translate vision into impact — aligning people, systems, and partnerships to deliver results that matter.

In addition to her executive roles, Nancy serves as Vice-Chair of the Pembina Institute board of directors, contributing to the governance oversight of one of Canada’s leading energy think tanks.

Nancy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, a Certified Human Resources Professional designation (CHRP), the Global Competent Boards Sustainability & ESG Designation (GCB.D), and Climate and Nature Designation (CCB.D). She is widely recognized for her ability to bring clarity, consistency, and collaboration to complex organizations and multi-sector partnerships.

Rebecca brings over 15 years of experience in corporate and science communications, storytelling, public engagement and program marketing to the role of director of communications at New Economy Canada.

In her most recent role as senior manager of communications at WWF-Canada, Rebecca was responsible for a team of communications specialists that developed and launched high-profile reports, fundraising appeals and advocacy campaigns. She played a pivotal role in the development of Regenerate Canada, the public-facing campaign of the organizations’ strategic plan, which resulted an award-winning brand campaign, record-setting donations and even an immersive exhibit.

Before this, Rebecca led consumer-focused programs at both Summerhill Group and Pollution Probe, which included managing the delivery of vehicle recycling programs Retire Your Ride and Car Heaven in Ontario, as well as early market research into identifying and addressing barriers to electric vehicles.

Joleen Cameron is an accomplished leader in stakeholder engagement, corporate partnerships, and contributing to sustainable economic development. As the Director of Partners & Engagement at New Economy Canada, she is responsible for fostering collaboration among business, labour, and Indigenous leaders to advance Canada’s transition to a clean economy. In this role, Joleen develops strategic initiatives to enhance partner engagement, identifies opportunities for policy alignment, and builds partnerships that drive meaningful impact across key industries.

With over 20 years of experience in project management, stakeholder relations, and corporate responsibility, Joleen has a proven track record of developing and executing high-impact programs. Before joining New Economy Canada, she served as the Senior Manager for Indigenous and Northern Communities, Immigration, and Sustainability at The Conference Board of Canada. In that capacity, she led national councils, managed multi-stakeholder initiatives, and curated program plans that informed decision-making across public and private sectors.

Joleen’s expertise is grounded in extensive professional development, including coursework in project management, strategic leadership, corporate social responsibility, and Indigenous governance. Her commitment to continuous learning has equipped her with the skills to navigate complex policy environments, drive stakeholder engagement, and deliver results in fast-paced, evolving industries.

Passionate about Canada’s clean economy and the role of inclusive partnerships in shaping a sustainable future, Joleen is dedicated to bridging the gap between industry leaders, policymakers, and communities to create lasting economic and environmental impact.

In her most recent role, Nadin served as the Senior Lead to the Executive & Board at the Pembina Institute, supporting the advancement of a prosperous clean energy future for Canada through credible policy solutions that support communities, the economy, and a safe climate.

Prior to this position, she worked as a Jr. Consultant for the Syrian sub-regional response facility (SRF) at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), contributing to the development of resilience-based development and adaptive solutions in regions affected by the Syrian crisis. Preceding her work at the SRF, Nadin was also a team member at UNDP for Climate Change, Energy, and Disaster Risk Reduction. Here, she conducted in-depth analyses of waste-to-energy solution projects in 18 countries in the Arab region and designed a case study showcasing best practices in utilizing sustainable energy for resilient recovery from protracted crises.

Originally from Jordan, Nadin holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland and is currently based in Vancouver.

With over a decade of experience in marketing and brand strategy, Cat is a skilled and adaptable professional specializing in project management, digital marketing, and creative solutions. As the Digital Specialist for New Economy Canada, she plays a crucial role in enhancing the organization’s online presence and engagement by developing and executing strategies that align with the overall communications goals.

Her most recent role was as Brand and Marketing Specialist at WWF-Canada, where Cat played a pivotal role in the development and launch of the organization’s new digital engagement platform and its re:grow program, driving environmental action across Canada. She led marketing initiatives across multiple projects, working closely with cross-functional teams to develop and implement effective marketing strategies and meet campaign objectives.

Previously, Cat has contributed to a wide range of industries, including publishing, entertainment, and theatre. Some highlights include managing field marketing campaigns and publicity for top film clients such as Searchlight and Lionsgate at Allied Global Marketing, and leading the digital marketing strategy for Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, driving over $1.7 million in estimated revenue through innovative online campaigns.

Cat’s commitment to creating positive social impact, coupled with her experience across various sectors, allows her to create compelling strategies that drive both engagement and results.

Noah has dedicated his career and is passionate about contributing to a just and smooth transition to a cleaner world.

His previous position was as an Energy Data Manager in Paris with the International Energy Agency (IEA). Noah was responsible for the development of national energy balances for countries across the globe. Energy data was collected, validated, analyzed and published for use in key IEA products and reports such as the World Energy Outlook. Noah was also involved in outreach with energy administrations to improve data quality and energy literacy internationally.

Noah holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo. The co-op program at Waterloo provided important experience in a variety of roles and organizations including at Natural Resources Canada and Indigenous Clean Energy.