Kevin Rich Email & Phone Number

Barrie, On, Ca

Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Established relationships with government and stakeholders for brand-building, issue awareness and influencing provincial/territorial policies. Supported 4 place-based programs and Indigenous-led conservation cross-cutting program to advance strategic priorities.  Created and oversaw implementation of government relations strategies to achieve key objectives for teams in British Columbia and Manitoba. - Helped secure new funding from BC government for natural climate solutions and Indigenous-led conservation, influenced stronger policies for old growth forests and improved forest management. Advocated for parity in government funding for conservation programming in Northern Manitoba. Built key partnerships with producer-led organizations and Prairie province governments, to build support for enhanced regenerative agriculture programming. - Socialized options with government, to bolster policies for enhanced sustainability of prairie agri- food sector. - Partnered with Manitoba Association of Watersheds, helping to land long-term funding from Agriculture and Agrifood Canada / Living Labs. Created provincial/territorial section of NU’s first government relations framework; clarified long- term goals and strategies, to drive the necessary changes in government policies and investments to achieve NU’s long term goals. - Co-created internal ‘toolkit’ for staff, clarifying roles and responsibilities, including an annual monitoring, evaluation, and learning component; and guidance on working in right relations with Indigenous communities.

Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Led government relations program for Ontario. Liaised with key stakeholders to build support for stronger policies. Managed submissions on government consultations. Served on Ontario leadership team.• Authored 2020 report (Leveraging Wetlands to Reduce Flood Risk) that garnered significant media uptake, providing additional evidence for return on investment (ROI) of wetland conservation.• Oversaw engagement that garnered perspectives from Lake Erie basin Indigenous communities regarding wetland conservation; established new relationships and identified wetland management priorities and site-specific conservation opportunities (2018).• Collaborated on building multisector support (industry, NGO, conservation authority), strengthening wetland policy; ultimately, helped convince Ontario government to create first ever province-wide wetland strategy (2017).• Led / contributed to multiple research and engagement projects for wetland conservation; project findings triggered single largest transfer payment to DUC in Ontario from Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (2017).

Barrie

Responsible for developing and communicating DUC’s position and recommendations on relevant government policy and legislative consultations/proposals. Consulted with industry, NGO and other stakeholders to find common ground on key issues. • Authored DUC’s Comprehensive Wetland Policy Discussion Paper (2014) for consideration by Ontario government and stakeholders – including mitigation sequence concept to help balance conservation and economic priorities• Led major initiatives to influence provincial policy including: creation of the Great Lakes Protection Act as a founding member of the NGO alliance advocating for this legislation; and reviews of the 2005 Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) and Growth Plan which resulted in new policy that protected thousands of acres of wetlands from development and other impacts• Built and sustained new partnerships and relationships in the NGO community and industry to leverage a broader base of support for DUC’s policy goals• Supervised 1-2 program staff and mentored new staff for re-launch of Municipal Extension program

Designed and led extension program to assess and strengthen wetland-related land use policies in targeted municipalities eg. input to official plan reviews and related background studies. Responsible for contract management (eg. planning consultants), fundraising and program administration.• Developed DUC’s first-ever municipal extension program to encourage strong land use policies for wetland conservation in priority areas through engagement and influence of over 60 municipalities, resulting in 644,000 acres of wetland identified as protected or afforded protection through policy changes • Co-authored 2012 report on wetland protection in Ontario’s Greenbelt (Protecting Greenbelt Wetlands – How effective is policy?)- which informed subsequent provincial policy reviews eg. 2015 coordinated land use policy review by Ontario government

Planned and delivered a range of conservation and extension programs for landowners and projects in Grey, Bruce, Dufferin, and Simcoe counties. Supervised program staff and restoration contractors.• Developed and delivered Healthy Wetlands for the Upper Grand project based on local partnerships (Grand River Conservation Authority, Dufferin County, stewardship councils) and multi-year Trillium Foundation funding resulting in restoration of 42 wetlands (totaling 372 acres), securement of additional 472 acres of habitat, and $208,000 in new program funding- Assessed the ecological health and condition of water control structures of wetland conservation projects across southern Ontario - and recommended management prescriptions

Master Of Applied Science, Environmental Engineering

Honours B. Sc, Zoology/Physiology