Responsible for Building Decarbonization Alliance partnership and engagement strategy development and delivery, cultivating and maintaining relationships with partners, supporters and identified stakeholder groups.

John Purkis is a sustainability expert, facilitator and systems change specialist with 20 years of experience working with municipal government and business. His work ranges from: • Strategic sustainability planning – design, deliver and produce corporate sustainability plans for municipal and business clients. • Community and neighbourhood sustainability planning – design, facilitate and produce• Social labs - Design and deliver long term social change labs in collaboration with multiple partners. • Facilitation and training - customised sustainability courses for business, municipal and academic institutions. • Engagement – design and deliver holistic staff and community engagement programs. • Integrated management system and sustainability reporting – training and use of ecoPortal to help organizations create, manage, measure and report on their sustainability strategies. • Research, reports and tools – conduct research and prepare reports and tools to help advance sustainability.

The Natural Step is a global not-for-profit organization with a simple mission: to promote real change toward a sustainable world. We are dedicated to connecting leaders and change agents with the inspiration and education they need to make real change for the long-term benefit of our environment, economy and society. Since 1989, we have worked with thousands of corporations, municipalities, academic institutions and not-for-profit organizations who have proven that moving strategically toward sustainability leads to innovation, new opportunities, reduced costs, and dramatically reduced ecological and social impacts.

Managed FCM Capacity Building Program staff, budget and programs including; the Sustainable Communities Conference, FCM- Sustainable Community Awards, Partners for Climate Protection Program (PCP), and six new campaign areas (water, waste, energy, planning, transportation, and brownfields).

I was responsible for managing a multimillion-dollar portfolio of infrastructure and planning projects from across the country and overseeing staff activities.• Managed staff activities and preparing briefing material and memos for senior staff and Green Fund Council.• Interacted with municipal leaders and staff from across Canada to determine their priorities and enhance their understanding of sustainability.• Wrote, analysed and edited technical reports on municipal projects for senior staff and Green Fund Council, which included information on the environmental (air, water and soil quality), economic, and social benefits.• Analysed the full scope of potential environmental benefits from Green Fund projects including greenhouse gas emissions.

• Co-created the Municipal Building Retrofit Program • Researched sustainable community planning approaches and coordinated the development of FCM’s Sustainable Community Demonstration Program. • Provided technical advice on planning projects and approaches, including air quality plans, to municipal governments. • Facilitated networking and sharing of best practices among communities and various stakeholders. • Specialized in sustainable community planning (design charrettes, multi stakeholder groups, community engagement) and building retrofits. Other areas of responsibility included brownfields, energy efficiency; renewable energy, waste water, potable water, solid waste management.• Worked with various partners such as Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Natural Resources Canada, and Environment Canada, to enhance the services offered by the Green Municipal Fund to clients.

1. Prepared an environmental management plan for the Alfred Bog, the largest remaining wetland in Southern Ontario.• Identified, synthesized and developed options to achieve conservation goals.• Conducted general ecological and historical research including reviewing Municipal, Provincial and Federal policy and legislation regarding the protection of wetlands.• Worked with various Provincial and Municipal governments, the Nature Conservancy Canada, the North American Wetland Conservation Council, the Alfred Bog Committee and local peat extractors to create the Alfred Bog Management Plan.2. Established The Not-For-Profit “Five County Trail Association” (FCTA).• Coordinated a series of public meetings to determine the interest and potential levels of volunteer support for creating a network of recreational trails and greenways in Eastern Ontario.• Organized and chaired FCTA meetings.• Prepared and filed letters of incorporation including the preparation of bylaws.• Managed the FCTA budget.• Carried out public relations, marketing and promotion functions.• Coordinated fundraising and production of the FCTA recreational trail map.