Nadim Kara Email & Phone Number

Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada

Supporting the development and adoption of innovation in the natural resources sector, and within Natural Resources Canada. Accomplishments to date:(1) Secured renewed funding for the Clean Tech Data Strategy in Budget 2024(2) Secured renewed funding for the Program of Applied Research on Climate Action and the Environment, from NRCan's Departmental Reserve (FY 2024-25)(3) Lead pen for the Government Response to a climate tech report released by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (February 2024)(4) Co-developed a memo for Finance Canada on options for scoping the Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit (Summer 2023)(5) Lead pen for the development of a pan-Canadian roadmap for developing a battery innovation and industrial ecosystem in Canada, in collaboration with Clean Energy Canada's Battery Task Force and the Accelerate-ZEV network (Spring 2023)

Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada

Supporting the federal government's efforts to support (a) the development and adoption of clean technologies in Canada's natural resource industries and (b) the creation of a domestic industrial and innovation ecosystem for advanced batteries.

Toronto, Canada Area

I served on the Board of Directors for a privately held mineral exploration company, Exiro Minerals. I was brought on due to my strengths in the areas of strategy, government relations and sustainability.

Toronto, Canada Area

Stratos-STS is a sustainability-focused management consulting firm that helps organizations to identify and achieve better environmental, economic and social outcomes. I focused on policy and strategy work related to the good governance of natural resources as well as industrial strategy. Key clients included Crown and Indigenous governments (e.g. Natural Resources Canada, Province of Manitoba, Qikiqtani Inuit Association) as well as companies (e.g. Lundin, Vale Base Metals, Sherritt, Hudbay). Key projects about which I'm most proud include:- A concept paper exploring the relationship between how mineral resources are managed and reconciliation (for CIRNAC)- A research project exploring how companies can advance reconciliation around early stage mineral exploration projects (for a global mining company operating in Canada)- A thought leadership project (for Stratos) on how companies and Indigenous governments can successfully implement impact-benefit agreements, and the subsequent establishment of Canada's first community of practice for Indigenous relations practitioners with mining companies- Supporting the development of national industrial strategies related to Canada's cleantech sector, as well as value chains related to critical minerals and advanced batteries- Supporting the Government of Manitoba to undertake a review of its land-tenure regulations with an eye towards enhancing the rate of discoveries while advancing Indigenous reconciliation and northern development- Helping a financing company develop and test market interest in a new product that would simultaneously facilitate capital raising and support reclamation of exploration/mining properties- Working with an Indigenous economic development organization in Ontario to explore the implications of automation for Indigenous economic participation in mineral exploration and mining- Supporting Stratos to update its corporate website (completed in 2021) and to become a learning organization

Toronto, Canada Area

PDAC undertakes advocacy and programming to ensure the Canadian mineral exploration industry (at home and abroad) is both competitive and responsible. Accomplishments about which I am most proud include:(1) Developing an integrated strategy still in use over a decade later, aligning PDAC activities with broader sectoral priorities (2) Produced groundbreaking reports on Canada's mineral exploration innovation ecosystem (with Deloitte) and Canada's infrastructure deficit (with other mineral industry associations and Richard Schodde)(3) Worked with the Canadian Mineral Industry Federation to identify pan-Canadian challenges with the ways in which the Crown was implementing its Duty to Consult, and to offer potential solutions (led by PDAC Manager of Indigenous Affairs, Leslie Williams)(4) Drove the adoption of regulatory innovations, by the Canadian Securities Commission, to facilitate capital-raising by venture companies on Canadian stock exchanges (led by PDAC Director of Capital Markets, Samad Uddin and the PDAC Securities Committee)(5) Established the Association's first climate change task force, under the leadership of Andrew Cheatle, to develop tools and resources for member companies to reduce their carbon footprint and to guide Association advocacy(6) Developed new tools and resources for member companies to explore responsibly, including how to engage with local communities around the world (led by Lesley Williams)(7) Launched the annual "State of Mineral Finance" reports, tracking Canada's status as the top destination to both raise funds for mineral exploration, and to spend those fundsIn my role as Senior Director I represented the PDAC, and gave keynote presentations, speeches and interviews at hundreds of meetings, conferences and events both in Canada and around the world.I also regularly supported the Association's work to host international delegations eager to learn about the Canadian experience (e.g. Chile, Egypt, South Africa).

Ottawa, Canada Area

2011-2012Lead analyst for the Minerals & Metals Sector. Represented MMS in interdepartmental meetings to identify opportunities to manage mineral resources responsibly across the territories (from land-use planning to closure). Developed, with Sweden, the idea for what is now the Arctic Business Council, linked to the Arctic Council. Piloted, with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, a multi-stakeholder approach to responsible resource development in Nunavut (Mineral Resource Development Blueprints). Supported the production of the 2013 Mining Sector Performance Report for Energy and Mines Ministers.2007-2010Provided strategic policy advice for senior officials in the Minerals and Metals Sector, working collaboratively with subject matter experts on issues ranging from mining innovation, impact assessments, recycling, energy materials, labour market analysis, social license and public confidence in the regulatory process. Helped initiate and produce the first Mining Sector Performance Report, in partnership with provinces and territories. Provided secretariat support for the Intergovernmental Working Group on Minerals and Metals, producing deliverables for annual meetings of Mines Ministers.2006-2007Did a gap analysis of federal innovation supports for clean fuels, supporting the creation of a large-scale demonstration fund. Analyzed various federal funding models to support a decision to host the fund at Sustainable Development Technology Canada. Lead analyst supporting negotiations with SDTC to establish the $500M Next-Gen Biofuels Fund.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

As the Advocacy Director, I worked with companies, governments, civil society groups and international organizations to achieve human security and human development outcomes in the diamond supply chain. This included work on the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Conflict Diamonds (KPCS), plus work with a range of other multi-stakeholder processes that complemented the KPCS (e.g. Responsible Jewelry Council, Diamond Development Initiative). For the KPCS, I supported efforts at the global and national level to improve the effectiveness of the KPCS as a global multi-stakeholder chain of custody system. This work included efforts to strengthen the peer review process and develop innovative new models and tools for monitoring compliance, such as the KPCS Civil Society Focal Point in Zimbabawe. I successfully led efforts to improve the relationship between industry and civil society representatives within the KPCS, which led to the World Diamond Council supporting a civil society motion to add human rights language to the KPCS at the 2010 KPCS Plenary in Jerusalem. I also worked to strengthen the governance model of the KPCS (e.g. putting in place a Secretariat, improving the tools and processes used by the Working Group on Monitoring, developing a terms of reference for the KPCS Chair and Vice-Chair). During my time with the KPCS, I also worked with the governments of the United States and Israel to strengthen partnerships with customs agencies and anti money laundering institutions, to improve efforts to prevent and respond to the illicit trade in diamonds. This work led to a series of pilot projects in West Africa to assess how diamonds were leaking out of the formal supply chain and what measures could be undertaken to improve formalization of the diamond trade and prevent smuggling.

I provided position papers for the Director of the Network on a range of issues, including the business community's response to the draft Norms on the Resposibilities of Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises with regards to Human Rights. I also assisted with the preparation of a (successful) SSHRC application for the Network.

Vancouver, Bc

As a social planner at the City of Vancouver, I helped strengthen the social infrastructure supporting healthy children, youth and families in Vancouver. This included work on the implementation of federal initiatives to address homelessness, participating on the Community Service Grants team to disburse municipal funding to community organizations and supporting youth to participate in discussions about the City of Vancouver's bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics. I also supported the successful redesign of the City's Civic Youth Strategy, a multi-dimensional initiative supporting healthy children, youth and families and the participation of children and youth in municipal decision making. Following the redesign, I managed a three-person 'youth outreach team' whose mandate was to (a) build the capacity of young people to become more involved in municipal decision making and (b) support municipal staff to involve young people in decision making. CYS Youth Outreach Team projects included using community asset mapping tools to involve young people in neighbourhood planning (community vision processes), working with the Vancouver Police Department to improve relationships with youth and supporting youth to articulate their vision for the Chinatown revitalization process.I also strengthened the connection between the City of Vancouver and the Youth Driven Youth Action Coalition, a dynamic network of youth-founded and/or youth-run programs and organizations across the City of Vancouver.This work also included the design and delivery of various workshops on civic engagement for young people, and people who worked with young people (e.g. District of West Vancouver, Vancouver School Board, highschool youth councils, parent councils, etc.).

Vancouver, Canada Area

As a community developer at SHRA, I was part of a team of health promotion consultants focused on (a) training young people, and people who work with young people, to create safe, socially inclusive spaces (b) managing community development projects focused on youth participation in decision making (c) participating in city-wide strategic initiatives focused on building healthy communities.TRAINING- Designed & delivered >100 training sessions on facilitation & group process, training for >1,000 peopleCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT- With Environmental Youth Alliance, founded and managed Youth Community Asset Mapping program to support youth involvement in urban planning - Helped design model supporting youth that had been street-involved to participate in federal homelessness granting processes - Found funding for, and managed, a multi-partner initiative looking at innovative social support models for four different youth populations (youth with developmental disabilities, youth who had experienced sexual exploitation, new comer youth from Mainland China, youth with experience of sexual exploitation)- Established YouthNet Vancouver, a model for early diagnosis of youth with mental illness, in partnership with Red Cross, Crisis Centre, CMHA-Vancouver (building on YouthNet Ottawa)MAKING FUNDING DECISIONS- City of Vancouver Community Grants team ($1.3 million)- Health Canada 'Determinants of Health' grants team ($900,000)- BC Ministry of Child and Family Development Youth Suicide Prevention grants team ($200,000)- United Way Lower Mainland Community Innovation Grants Review Team ($1,000,000) FUNDRAISING/GRANT WRITING- $60,000 from Vancouver Agreement (2004) for Drug and Alcohol Prevention Project- $54,000 from BC Ministry for Children and Family Development, United Way, VanCity Credit Union, McConnell Foundation (2002) for implementation of Youth Net Vancouver- $50,000 from National Crime Prevention Centre (2002) for youth social support project

Master Of Arts (M.A.), Political Science

Activities and Societies: Coordinator, Sustainable Purchasing Campaign (Fair Trade, No Sweat)Specialized in political economy theory.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), International Relations And Geography

Activities and Societies: International Relations Student Association (IRSA), Westcoast Youth for Habitat II, UBC Model United Nations.