About CIELAP: Staff
Matt Binstock, Policy Researcher
Maureen Carter-Whitney, Research Director
Maureen Carter-Whitney is an environmental lawyer with a background in legal research and environmental public policy analysis, and a strong interest in sustainable land use planning and in public engagement in environmental decision-making. Prior to joining CIELAP in September 2005, Maureen worked as a legal analyst with the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. She also teaches courses in environmental law. Maureen has a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia and Master of Laws in administrative law from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. She has recently become the updating author of Environmental Approvals in Canada, published by LexisNexis Butterworths.
Thomas Esakin, Executive Director
Prior to being appointed at CIELAP Tom worked as a Profesor Asignatura at the Universidad del Caribe, the public university in Cancun, México, where he was cross-appointed to the university’s Sustainable Tourism Department and English Departments. During his career Tom has also been the Executive Director and Director of Development for JUMP Math; Inaugural Executive Director for the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust - the administrative arm for the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; and a senior aide and policy advisor on Parliament Hill. Tom is keenly interested in sustainable development, where his specialties are Leading for Sustainability, Sustainability Strategies (Local Agenda 21s / LA21s), and Educating for Sustainability. He recently designed the curriculum for George Brown College's first course in Sustainability that he will teach during the Fall 2009. Tom completed an MA in Sustainable Development from Staffordshire University, UK.
Susan Holtz, Senior Policy Analyst
Susan Holtz joined CIELAP in 2004 and works on sustainable development research and emergent issues, such as pharmaceuticals contamination of water. She is a policy consultant on issues related to sustainable development, water and energy. She also works on related issues as a mediator, facilitator, and editor. Ms Holtz was the founding Vice Chair of both the Canadian and Nova Scotia Round Tables on the Environment and the Economy. Ms Holtz was also instrumental in setting up the Canadian Environmental Network (CEN). She has served on many advisory bodies and boards, including the Auditor General of Canada's Panel of Senior Advisors and the Commissioner of Environment and Sustainable Development's External Advisory Panel.
Praan Misir, Youth Engagement Programme Co-ordinator
A recent addition to CIELAP, Praan is responsible for coordinating CIELAP’s youth programme, and he is responsible for CIELAP’s foray into the social media world. Praan has had extensive experience with community engagement at the university level, having been significantly involved with orientation planning and other student leadership activities during his time at university. He holds a Bachelors degree in Ecology and Environmental Chemistry from the University of Toronto.
Anne Mitchell, Senior Advisor, Sustainability
Anne is currently clerk of the Canadian Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Anne has served on various boards, committees, advisory bodies and multi-stakeholder processes, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Quaker Institute for the Future and the Biotechnology Reference Group of the Canadian Council of Churches. Anne was Executive Director of CIELAP from 1992 – 2009. She has led other non profit organizations, with a focus on community development and dismantling apartheid, at the international and national levels. She has a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, Ottawa, and is a recognized leader and change agent.
Dr. Satya P. Mohapatra, Senior Research Scientist
Satya has been a Research Consultant with CIELAP since January 2003, and holds a Doctoral degree in Environmental Chemistry. He has extensive experience in environmental policy and applied environmental research, and has been able to successfully combine his scientific expertise with national and global environmental policy perspectives. Satya has worked on many environmental projects in Canada, India and the Netherlands and has published several research papers in international scientific journals. Satya has also presented papers at conferences in North America, Asia and Europe. He was a member of the Environment Canada Consultation Committee on Risk Management Instruments for Mercury-Containing Products.
Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega, Regional Director, Western Canada and Lead Researcher, Climate Change and Water
Kate Skipton, National and International Relationships Co-ordinator
Dr. Romila Verma, Research Associate, Watershed Management and Climate Change
Carolyn Webb, Programmes Manager
Carolyn is responsible for communications, and programme coordination at CIELAP. She is also responsible for recruiting and supervising CIELAP's volunteers. Carolyn contributes her spare time to the Institute for Community-Based Peacebuilding, an organization that she helped co-found in 2004. She completed her Masters in Adult Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, and has a Bachelors degree in Environmental Sciences and Statistics from the University of Guelph.