The Empire Club of Canada
Hybrid
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
What are the practical and executable solutions needed to simultaneously grow the economy and address the realities of climate change? This question is at the very core of the work of the Green Ribbon Panel – a collection of environmental and economic leaders from across Canada that have come together to mobilize business and civic leaders to participate in climate and economic policy discussions and provide a forum for sharing ideas, lessons and best practices.
In 2022, the Green Ribbon Panel released More Clean Power: How Ontario can build a clean economy that works. Since the release of this report, and its accompanying recommendations, the policy landscape in Ontario and across Canada has shifted fundamentally. Join James Scongack (Chair of the Green Ribbon Panel) about advancements being made in Ontario and across Canada to implement panel recommendations from 2022 as well as new and innovative policy recommendations that underscore key priorities for the Green Ribbon Panel in 2024.
Serving as the official launch event for the Green Ribbon Panel’s latest report Preserving Progress & Maintaining Momentum, this event will provide attendees with a first-hand account of the panel’s latest policy recommendations. Join us on May 7th, 2024, to learn more!
James Scongack is the Executive Vice President, Operational Services & Chief Development Officer at Bruce Power. In this role James is responsible for a wide-range of operational and capital project services at the World’s largest operating nuclear facility and Canada’s largest private-sector electricity infrastructure project. He also has responsibility for nuclear regulatory affairs, external affairs, environment, sustainability, asset dispatch, medical isotopes and business development.
During his 20-years of service at Bruce Power, he’s served in a number of diverse leadership roles at the company including the Vice-President of the Bruce B Generating Station where he was responsible for the safe, reliable operations and project integration at the facility consisting of four large-scale CANDU nuclear reactors. He’s also served as the company’s Vice-President of Environment & Corporate Affairs and in leadership roles reporting to the President & CEO dating back to 2005.
James has provided leadership in a number of large-scale commercial transactions and labour agreements including the 2015 agreement with the Province of Ontario extending the life of the facility to 2064 through a multi-Billion investment program.
James serves as Chair of the Independent Electricity System Operator Strategic Advisory Committee, Chair of the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council and Chair of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO). He’s previously served as a Director on LifeLabs, Canada’s largest community laboratory services provider and the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.
James has been recognized by the Globe and Mail Report on Business 2022 Best Executive Awards and awarded the Platinum Jubilee Award in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th Anniversary on the Throne for his work on COVID-19 Provincial vaccination efforts. He’s also a recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 by Caldwell/Bloomberg.
James has an Executive MBA from London’s Ivey Business School and a Chartered Director through McMaster’s DeGroote Business School. James holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Guelph College of Management and Economics in Leadership and a BA (Hons) and has completed Master’s-level Project Management certification through York University’s Schulich Business School. He is also a graduate of the US-based Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Senior Plant Management Program and Bruce Power’s Enhanced Operational Training Program.
Jessica Linthorne is the Interim Chief Executive Officer at the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII), leading a talented team dedicated to driving change for the nuclear industry, advancing clean energy policy and economic development, and enhancing STEM education and trades training. Jessica has worked at NII since 2021, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining NII, she worked in municipal government with a focus on facilitating appropriate growth.
Jessica’s background in economic development and communications combined with a collaborative and data-driven approach to problem solving gives her the ability to build and implement effective strategies. Her work has been recognized nationally and internationally through multiple awards, including as a top economic development professional in Ontario in 2021.
A determined problem-solver, Andrew Dowie is driven to deliver tangible results for Windsor and Tecumseh.
Andrew was elected as Member of Provincial Parliament for Windsor—Tecumseh on June 2, 2022, and serves with the Progressive Conservative government caucus. He was appointed as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on March 28, 2024, and was previously the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Prior to his election, he was the Senior Engineer and Drainage Superintendent for the City of Windsor and was elected to represent the residents of Ward 1 on Tecumseh Town Council in the 2014 and 2018 elections. He also spent 12 years serving with the Essex County Library Board and 8 years serving with the Town of Tecumseh’s Committee of Adjustment.
In 2018, Andrew was named to the Order of Honour of Professional Engineers Ontario and as a Fellow of Engineers Canada. He was also named in 2018 among the 40 Leaders Under 40 by Leadership Windsor-Essex, and in 2022 was awarded the Bar to the Medal of Merit from Scouts Canada in recognition of his continuing service as Group Commissioner for the 35th Tecumseh Scout Group.
Andrew’s passion for life includes spending time with his wife Mary, and their adventures include healthy doses of canoe tripping, hiking, and kayaking throughout Ontario from Hillman Marsh to Quetico and at many points between.
