The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) is guided by a dedicated network of leaders, staff, board members, and advisors from across the United States and Canada. Together, they provide the vision, governance, and expertise needed to advance sustainable development, economic competitiveness, and environmental stewardship across the Great Lakes region.
Our people bring diverse perspectives from government, business, academia, and civil society, ensuring thoughtful leadership, strong oversight, and lasting regional impact.
Solving for sustainability in the Great Lakes region is both a profound challenge and a generational opportunity. CGLR’s leadership and staff play a critical role in helping the organization learn from the past, respond to today’s realities, and prepare for the future—working toward the shared goal of creating the world’s first sustainable region.
Vance Badawey brings a lifelong commitment to the Great Lakes region and a distinguished record of leadership across public service and private enterprise. Having served as mayor, councillor, and Member of Parliament, he has cultivated deep expertise in Great Lakes governance, cross-border collaboration, and binational policy.
Known for uniting diverse interests around common goals, Badawey is a dynamic champion for the region and an ideal leader to advance CGLR’s long-term vision. A proud member of the Métis Nation, he resides with his family in Port Colborne, Ontario.
Lora Shrake joined CGLR in 2021 and oversees organizational operations while ensuring alignment across programs and strategic priorities. Her work supports CGLR’s mission to foster a sustainable, resilient, and prosperous Great Lakes region.
With over 20 years of experience spanning the nonprofit and private sectors in North America and the Middle East, Lora brings a deep expertise in operations, program management, strategy, and engagement. Her career reflects a longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable systems change.
As Program Officer for Circular Economy, Ally Walker leads several flagship initiatives under CGLR’s Circular Great Lakes platform, including the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup, Boat Wrap Recycling Program, Dart Stormwater Grant, Return to Retail Takeback Program, and legislative outreach efforts.
Since joining CGLR in 2022, Ally has combined her background in sustainability policy, recycling systems, and stakeholder engagement to advance cross-sector solutions that support a more circular regional economy.
Jasmine Ault brings more than nine years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, and nonprofit engagement. She works closely with executives, partners, and donors to tell compelling stories that elevate CGLR’s mission and regional impact.
With a people-first approach and a strong strategic mindset, Jasmine leads brand, content, and campaign development across multiple channels—strengthening visibility, engagement, and trust in the Council of the Great Lakes Region.
CGLR’s Board of Directors is composed of volunteer professionals from across the United States and Canada. Representing diverse sectors and perspectives, the Board provides independent oversight, sound governance, and strategic leadership to support organizational excellence and regional impact.
CGLR’s Sustainability Fellows provide world-class expertise and research leadership to support evidence-based decision-making across the Great Lakes region.
Dr. Hoornweg is an Associate Professor of Energy Systems Engineering at Ontario Tech University and a globally recognized expert in sustainable cities, climate change, and urban systems. He spent nearly 20 years at the World Bank, including serving as Lead Advisor for Sustainable Cities and Climate Change, and later as Chief Safety and Risk Officer for the Province of Ontario.
He has worked with more than 400 governments worldwide and continues to research energy and material flows in cities.
Michael Sanio is the Founder and Executive Director of the Atlas Initiative for Climate Resilient Infrastructure. Over the past two decades, he has led global policy, program, and convening efforts across engineering and infrastructure sectors.
He currently serves as Chair of the Pan American Federation of Engineering Organizations (UPADI) Sustainability Committee, representing national engineering societies across the Americas and beyond.
Charitable contributions to the CGLR Foundation in the US and the CGLR Canada Foundation are crucial for helping us integrate environmental considerations into our regional public policy decisions, business strategies, and investment choices.
Supporting CGLR and joining our programs and outreach efforts will help bring sector leaders and stakeholders together to grow the region’s US-Canada economic partnership, transition to a sustainable future, and strengthen our competitiveness in today’s fast pace global marketplace.
