Mark Fisher became the President and CEO of the CGLR in 2014, which today comprises CGLR Canada (trade association), CGLR Canada Foundation (public charity), CGLR USA (trade association) and the CGLR Foundation (public charity).

Prior to joining CGLR, he served as a foreign policy advisor in the Privy Council Office, the federal department that supports the Prime Minister of Canada and the federal Cabinet, where he focused on advancing Canada’s interests in North America and with APEC and its member countries.

With a career spanning multiple sectors over the last 20+ years, Mark has extensive experience advising government, corporate, academic, and NGO decision-makers on a range of complex socio-economic and environmental matters, as well as the collaborations and the policy solutions and business strategies required to address them.

In addition to CGLR, Mark is a member of the International Joint Commission’s Great Lakes Water Quality Board. Recently, he was also a publicly elected school board trustee for 13 years with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and a director on the board of Easter Seals Ontario.

Mark is a recipient of the Royal Canadian Legion Cadet Medal of Excellence.

Lora Shrake is the Senior Program Director, Business and Sustainability for the Council of the Great Lakes Region. With over 20 years of experience, Lora has dedicated her career to the environment and sustainability issues. Her management and leadership spans across non-profit operations, environmental program management, stakeholder engagement, strategy, and research.

Prior to joining CGLR, Lora led a national green building council in the United Arab Emirates where she oversaw all aspects of the organization’s cross-functional development, including its impact and reach.

Jennifer has served in various Development Director and Executive Director positions and has raised more than $30 million from government grants, private foundations, and corporate sponsorships. To enhance CGLR’s innovative, strategic, and impactful work, Jennifer will research, identify, and develop funding requests to support the Council’s objectives. 

She brings a steady, caring, and strategic approach to fundraising and program development, with a focus on advancing the organization’s mission. Her work experience includes more than three decades of designing and implementing environmental and fundraising programs to advance and achieve sustainability goals.

Abby Hansen is the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the Council of the Great Lakes Region. Abby is a graduate of Central Michigan University where she studied Communications and Broadcasting and Cinematic Arts. She’s spent the last five years enhancing brand recognition, engagement, and outreach for organizations throughout the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.

She brings to CGLR a rich background in digital media, videography, and graphic design services throughout a variety of industries including resort/entertainment, mental health, and IT.

Ally Walker is the Program Officer, Circular Economy for the Council of the Great Lakes Region. She holds a Master’s of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and has a background in sustainability policy research and project coordination. Most recently, Ally has worked on projects in Southwest PA to improve the regional recycling system and reduce single use plastics.

She brings to CGLR a passion for creating lasting positive change through informed policy making, stakeholder engagement, and relationship building.

Dan is Associate Professor in Energy Systems Engineering at Ontario Tech University. For almost 20 years Dan was with the World Bank, including as Lead Advisor overseeing Sustainable Cities and Climate Change programs. Dan was the Chief Safety and Risk Officer for the Province of Ontario 2012-2020. Dan began his career in waste management working with City of Guelph and Region of Peel in Ontario and Government of Bermuda. He has worked with more than 400 governments on sustainability issues.

Dan is a Fellow with Canada’s Transition Accelerator and the Global Cities Institute at University of Toronto, a Board Member of the Georgian Bay Biosphere, past board member with Clean Air Partnership, and served as Chair of the Region of Durham’s Roundtable on Climate Change. Dan researches energy and material flows of cities and urban systems.

Michael is the Founder and Executive Director for the Atlas Initiative for Climate Resilient Infrastructure. For the past two decades he has been at the forefront organizing various policies, programs and events for engineering societies globally, including close relationships with the 120 members of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, representing 30 million engineers.

Currently he is Chair of the Pan American Federation of Engineering Organizations – UPADI Sustainability Committee with 20 national member societies from Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, South American, the Caribbean and Spain.