Tyler Hamilton is Senior Director of Climate at MaRS and guides all climate-related activities for ventures, corporate partners and investors, including the flagship Mission from MaRS program. He is also on the board of the Ontario Clean Technology Industry Association (OCTIA) and a member of the XPRIZE Brain Trust. Previous to joining MaRS, Tyler spent two decades as a journalist and wrote extensively about Canada’s clean technology sector and global cleantech trends. Most recently he was editor-in-chief of business and sustainability magazine Corporate Knights. He also spent 13 years at the Toronto Star, where he reported on Canada’s energy sector and wrote a popular weekly column on clean energy technologies and trends. In 2011, Tyler authored Mad Like Tesla, a book that examines the various barriers to clean energy innovation and surveys the landscape of some potentially world-changing clean technologies. A recipient of the Cleantech Group’s “Pioneer” award for his early writings on the sector, Tyler was also recognized in 2016 on Canada’s “Clean50” list for his thought leadership on clean energy and climate issues.

Ria leads Mission from MaRS: Better Buildings and Public Procurement and supports a number of other Mission from MaRS projects and communications. She has spent several years working on environmental and policy issues in the built environment, and is driven by the need to create a more sustainable future. Ria earned an M.Sc. in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Ottawa in 2023, and previously graduated with high distinction from the University of Toronto with a B.A. in Architecture.

Niyat is the Senior Associate, Cleantech and Climate at MaRS Discovery District where she works on engagement opportunities for ventures and investors, and leads Mission from MaRS programming dedicated to accelerating the commercialization and adoption of Canadian carbon removal solutions. She holds a B.A. with Honours in Environmental Studies and Cognitive Science.

Katherine Festeryga holds nearly a decade of experience in both the public and private sectors, helping to shape policy and advocate for policy priorities in Canada. Katherine recently launched agricultural technology startup, Edie Farming, building Ontario’s first commercial rooftop greenhouses at scale which won the City of Toronto’s Women4Climate award in 2024. Previously, Katherine was on the policy and communications team at Sidewalk Labs - a landmark Google company that applied forward-thinking urban design and cutting edge technology to the world’s biggest challenges. Prior to Sidewalk Labs, Katherine led legislative and strategic policy communications for NAFTA negotiations and Buy American tariffs for the Province of Ontario at the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth. Katherine holds her Master’s of Public Policy, specializing in climate impacts on food supply at Northwestern University and is a University of Western Ontario graduate with a BA in History and double major in Political Science, as well, she currently sits on the board of North York Harvest Food Bank.

Sophie is the Associate, Climate Programs at MaRS, where she supports programming to advance a more sustainable, competitive and resilient agri-food system in Canada. Prior to joining MaRS, she was a venture capital analyst at BDC, supporting founders scaling low-carbon solutions. She previously consulted on agri-food carbon insetting programs at FoodBridge, designed corporate ESG strategies at SLR Consulting, and supported the development of The Carbon Guild at Viresco Solutions, a digital platform designed to improve producer access to verified carbon markets. Sophie holds a BComm from Queen’s University, where she focused on sustainable finance and systems change.

Olivia is the Climate Programs Coordinator at MaRS where she helps advance the Mission from MaRS: Better Buildings program working with ventures to scale decarbonization solutions in Canada’s building sector. Prior to joining MaRS, Olivia worked with cleantech innovators at Intelligent City, coordinated sustainability engagement programs in partnership with the City of Vancouver, and led a business consultant team on sustainability strategies for Racing to Zero. Olivia holds a Masters of Business Management from the University of British Columbia as well as a BA in Human Geography where she focused on sustainability, urban planning and global affairs.

Ana is the Senior Manager, Climate and Cities at MaRS, where she leads the implementation of CAANZero, a pilot program seeking to unlock finance and increase capacity for small and medium municipalities advancing climate solutions. Prior to her role, she led an Innovation Fund across six countries through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Partnership for Municipal Innovation in Local Economic Development. Ana also worked closely with local-level actors through the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program, supporting over 340 local governments in their efforts to act on climate across Canada. In 2017, Ana co-founded Youth Climate Lab, where she oversaw the operations, programs, and co-led the vision and strategy of the organization. She is the Vice-Chair of the Tamarack Institute’s Board of Directors, and served as an advisor to Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy. Ana holds an MSc Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment as a Linbury Trust Scholar from the University of Oxford.

With twenty years of experience in data analytics, evaluation, research, design, development, and innovation, Sue is an expert in the end to end innovation process. While at MaRS, Sue has been the lead designer and project manager on complex projects and programs in the areas of social and municipal procurement innovation, systemic design, experiential futures, and social innovation. She is currently leading the design, strategy, and product development of an innovation ecosystem impact accelerator, and supporting the public procurement – net zero mission. Sue is also the Co-Founder and Director of Operations for Creative Reuse Toronto.

Mick Malowany is the Senior Manager, Climate with MaRS’s Corporate Innovation team. He focuses on facilitating discourse and fostering relationships between large corporate partners and the Canadian cleantech innovation ecosystem. The overarching purpose of his work is to accelerate adoption of cleantech solutions and advance the transition to a sustainable economy. Towards this purpose, Mick brings capabilities in scenario analysis, adaptive pathways, interdisciplinary collaboration, systems thinking, and institutional dynamics, as well as subject matter expertise in green infrastructure and urban sustainability. Prior to joining MaRS, Mick spent three years leading innovation strategy and human-centred design research projects with Deloitte’s D.Studio and Doblin consulting practices; and five years leading large technical implementations with IBM and Loblaw Digital. Mick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Harvard University and an MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development from the University of Cambridge.

Sebastian Chavez is a Manager in the Corporate Innovation team at MaRS Discovery District, focusing on Climate. In his role, Sebastian advises corporate partners from across the Americas, Asia and Europe on innovation-driven decarbonization and climate strategy to accelerate the adoption of Canadian climate technology, particularly in industrial sectors such as cement, steel, and mining. He helps a wide range of companies navigate decarbonization pathways and emerging climate technology, and facilitates connections across ecosystem stakeholders to help them achieve their climate innovation ambitions. In collaboration with the Climate team, Sebastian also leads the Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Buyers Education Program under the MaRS Carbon Management Mission, and the Corporate Adopter Accelerator under the MaRS Food & Agriculture Mission.

Prior to MaRS, Sebastian held roles in Product Management and Data Strategy at RBC's Data & Analytics function. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (HBA) from the Ivey School of Business at Western University.

Dalia is the Associate, Corporate Innovation at MaRS Discovery District, where she works with corporate partners and sustainability ecosystem stakeholders to increase the adoption of cleantech for a more economically, environmentally and socially resilient Canada. She is currently focused on advancing agtech and foodtech systems. Having spent several years working in not-for-profit organizations prior to joining MaRS, Dalia has extensive experience collaborating with the private and public sectors, as well as with planning and leading project programming to support Canadian businesses and institutions in meeting international trade and public relations objectives. Dalia holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, where she majored in Environment and Business.

Yashree is an Associate, on the Corporate Innovation team at MaRS Discovery District where she works on the Better Buildings: Hospitality and Recreation Business Adopter Cohort program that supports owners and operators of lodging and recreational buildings in adopting and scaling cleantech solutions. Prior to MaRS, she worked at GLOBE Series as a Sustainable Programs Coordinator helping build events that connect and inspire leaders and innovators to accelerate the transition to a clean economy. She holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and a Masters of Global Affairs from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto.

Ian Spence is a Senior Manager in Business Development at MaRS. His work ignites meaningful relationships between Canada’s brightest climate tech ventures and the greater, national, and international corporate ecosystem. He is passionate about unlocking the potential of Canadian innovation around the world. His approach to adoption collides industry narratives and re-focuses the power of technology to build better societies and businesses, wherever they may be. Prior to joining MaRS, Ian had a multidisciplinary background with organizations in energy, advanced AR/VR, IT, and consumer technology. Ian has 15 years of experience in sales and marketing and holds a BA Double Honours in Biology and Geography, Wilfrid Laurier University.

Christine currently leads government affairs for the MaRS Discovery District and is responsible for managing government relationships and driving public policy initiatives. Christine brings extensive experience managing complex public policy issues across the charitable, government and corporate sectors and is recognized for developing public policy responses to pressing environmental and social issues including food waste reduction, product and packaging stewardship, and food insecurity. Christine served as Director, Strategic Business Initiatives with Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organization. Her work there led to the release of The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste, a ground-breaking report that identified the scope and scale of food waste in Canada. Christine was also Senior Director of Public Affairs with Walmart Canada, where she led government affairs and sustainability and community involvement activities. Her accomplishments in that role include identifying strategies to reduce food waste across the company’s supply chain. Christine’s record of public service includes serving as a founding director of the Board of Canadian Stewardship Services and recently served as a Director on the Resource Productivity Recovery Authority.

Grace Lee Reynolds is CEO of MaRS, leading the organization through its next phase of growth and impact. With nearly 30 years of experience in the public, private and philanthropic sectors, Grace is passionate about fostering economic potential and social impact through innovations and placemaking. Grace has been a key leader at MaRS for more than a decade, previously serving as CFO of MaRS Discovery District and president of MaRS Discovery Enterprises. She played a pivotal role in transforming MaRS into a globally recognized innovation hub, helping develop and scale the 1.5-million-square-foot MaRS Centre, driving its social purpose business model and advancing early-stage investment funds and innovation programming. Most recently, as head of development and programming, she oversaw the strategies and activities essential to MaRS’ mission reach, growth and financial sustainability. Since 2010, MaRS-supported ventures have collectively raised $19 billion in capital, generated $11.5 billion in net revenues and contributed $29.6 billion to the GDP. MaRS ventures currently employ 33,000 individuals across a range of sectors — a testament to their innovation, resilience and impact. Beyond MaRS, Grace served as CEO of Toronto Artscape, a social enterprise operating unique spaces and programs for creatives across Toronto. Prior to that, she spent 15 years in finance leadership roles at major Canadian academic hospitals, including SickKids Foundation and University Health Network, where she worked across clinical operations, corporate services and fundraising. She began her career in the entrepreneurship services group at Ernst & Young. Her diverse interests span the intersection of science, technology, arts and inclusive innovation, reflecting her belief that Canada needs robust infrastructure to drive economic well-being for future generations. Grace’s extensive background includes expertise in strategy, finance, fund and partnership development, commercial operations, and people leadership in both scaling enterprises and large complex organizations.

Michelle is the Senior Associate, Philanthropy at MaRS, supporting the growth of MaRS Climate programs, including Mission from MaRS. Originally from Guyana, Michelle brings a systems-based understanding of the need for socially and environmentally responsible innovation and business practices and is driven to creating a sustainable and equitable economy. Michelle has several years of experience working within the non-profit sector and holds a Masters in Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo.