Sustainable Procurement Fellowship

As the AVP Procurement and Third-Party Risk Management for Definity Financial Corporation, Michael Bowers is responsible for sourcing, procurement, third party oversight (TPO), and supplier control assessment for Canada’s most long-standing and innovative property and casualty insurance brands and companies, including Economical Insurance, Sonnet Insurance, Family Insurance Solutions, and Petline Insurance.

Mayuri Chauhan serves as the Director of Supply chain and Strategic sourcing and is an integral part of the Senior Leadership Team at Agrifoods International Cooperative, headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia. With a strong educational background, Mayuri holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Furthermore, she has obtained her Supply chain designation CSCMP, showcasing her commitment to the field and her expertise in Supply chain and Strategic sourcing.

With over 26 years of experience in supply chain management, I bring extensive expertise in ConsumerPackaged Goods (CPG) manufacturing, including the food industry with a focus on Dairy , Bakery and Aerosol products. My career in diverse field is marked by a proven ability to build and lead high-performing supply chain teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment that drives innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

I excel in developing and implementing comprehensive supply chain strategies that align with organizational goals. My skills span a broad range of supply chain processes, including customer service, forecasting, inventory management, production planning, procurement, distribution, warehousing, and co-packer management. My technical proficiency includes working with various software systems such as Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Navision, Lotus Notes, QuickBooks, SAP, Macola software, Crystal Reports, AutoCAD, Visual Basics, Oracle, and Power BI. Notably, I played a key role as a core team member and Subject Matter Expert in the successful implementation of Microsoft Dynamics NAV. With a strong track record of analytical problem-solving and decision-making, I am adept at leading and motivating cross-functional teams. My exceptional communication and negotiation skills have been instrumental in driving results and achieving objectives.

Outside of work, I have a passion for traveling, exploring diverse cuisines, watching movies and learning about different foods, ingredients, their benefits, and I enjoy applying this knowledge to my cooking. Additionally, I practice Oxygen yoga, which supports my well-being and enhances my overall productivity and creativity. These interests fuel my curiosity and creativity, which I bring into both my professional and personal life.

Craig Duvall is the Operations Manager for Profoundry, supporting a wide range of business activities across the group of companies. With over 10 years of operations experience, Craig has been engaged in sustainable procurement and internal ESG efforts, including B Corp certification. Prior to joining Delphi, Craig worked in the field of aviation operations and studied at Carleton University

Giulia is an ESG Strategy Consultant in EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) team. She supports organizations to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into their operations, aligning them with evolving sustainability standards in both public and private sectors. By collaborating with clients, she embeds sustainability into core business strategies, helping organizations drive long-term value, enhance resilience, and meet stakeholder expectations. Giulia is particularly passionate about advancing sustainable procurement practices, recognizing the critical role supply chains play in achieving ESG goals and targets. With a focus on delivering measurable impact, Giulia empowers organizations to turn sustainability challenges into strategic opportunities, enabling them to build a more sustainable, competitive, and future-ready business.

Wura is the Sustainability Manager at Gore Mutual, where she collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities and implement impactful sustainability initiatives. In her current role, she leads the development of the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, monitors key environmental and climate-related metrics, and plays a pivotal role in executing Gore’s comprehensive sustainability action plan. With a decade of experience across environmental engineering, energy services, and project management, Wura is dedicated to advancing sustainable practices throughout the organization and strengthening ESG strategies to deliver meaningful results.

Jen has over 20 years’ experience leading sustainability programs at a global scale. As the Senior Manager, Climate and Sustainability Operations at RBC, Jen is responsible for the oversight of sustainability programs, the operational climate data disclosure process, Scope 3 operational emissions strategy, supplier climate risk and operational climate risk and resiliency. She specializes in risk and compliance and their integration into business processes. Jen has won numerous sustainability awards. Before joining RBC, she led sustainability, environment, health and safety programs across a variety of sectors including tech, construction, industrial and chemical

Rachel Mitchell is a Senior Manager of Programs with Clean Foundation. Rachel oversees community-based climate programming including the Community Climate Capacity Program, supporting communities in Nova Scotia to accelerate their adaptation and mitigation efforts. With a background in regional and municipal climate planning, Rachel has experience working with local governments on climate change resilience, energy efficiency, policy development, and asset management. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from StFX University and a Master’s in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, in addition to being a Certified Asset Management Professional.

Brooke is the Sustainability Manager at Trudell Medical Limited. This work includes overseeing the creation of action plans aligned with the Shaping a Sustainable Tomorrow ESG strategy by each of the operating companies within the Trudell Medical Group. In addition, Brooke works to promote the organization’s sustainability philosophy to internal and external audiences, continuously weaving sustainability into each of the corporation’s core values. Furthermore, Brooke is establishing and maintaining a corporate emissions database to gain a better understanding of the corporate carbon footprint. With a Bachelor of Biology and Environmental Science from McMaster University and a Masters of Environment and Sustainability from the University of Western Ontario, Brooke has always had a passion for sustainability. Through a blend of personal interest, academic experience and a career path in the environment and sustainability sector, she has been able to gain knowledge on various facets of the field and continues to learn and grow constantly. Brooke is really excited about the future of sustainability within the Trudell Medical Group as they continue to innovate and integrate sustainability into the business.

Dipesh Pattni, is the Sr. Vice President of Strategic Sourcing & Procurement at Green Infrastructure Partners (GIP) Inc, one of Canada’s largest and most diversified infrastructure companies. We offer vertically integrated infrastructure solutions for public and private projects of every size and scale. He leads the enterprise spend of $1B+ from the ground up. Dipesh is known for transforming the function with a 5-year roadmap to enhance the top-line and bottomline while creating a competitive advantage in the industry. The roadmap includes sourcing strategies, procure-to-pay, supplier relationship management, business stakeholder engagement, governance, business intelligence and team upskilling. Dipesh is leading the organization’s sustainable procurement strategy, including bringing transparency in the supply chain. Integration of sustainability as a decisionmaking factor to drive environmental responsibility in the supply chain is a core focus.

Mike (Mehdi) Khajeh Pour is the founder and CEO of Allego Global Group, dedicated to fostering sustainable business practices since 2008. With over 15 years of experience, Mike has successfully built a multinational network of companies across seven countries, including Canada, Germany, China, Turkey, UAE, South Korea, and Iran. His vision centers on promoting zero waste and discharge treatment technologies, as well as eliminating microplastics from the supply chain.

In addition to Allego, Mike established Envirowise, an ecommerce platform that distributes environmentally friendly products and provides expert guidance to ensure clients adopt sustainable solutions tailored to their specific needs and regulatory environments. His commitment to sustainability drives him to collaborate with businesses in their transition to greener alternatives, aiming to make a meaningful impact in the industry.

As a Board Member of both the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau, Mike actively contributes to discussions on corporate responsibility and ethical business practices in the community.

Mike holds a Business Management Certificate from Simon Fraser University, an MBA from Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Germany, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Through his work, he strives to set a benchmark for environmental responsibility and corporate citizenship in Canada and beyond.

As Senior Director, Climate Services, Claire focuses on building partnerships with clients to help them navigate the complexity of a low-carbon transition. Claire has a strong background in climate change and sustainability consulting, working with clients in Canada, the US, the UK and Europe and focusing on GHG inventories, target setting, decarbonization, stakeholder engagement, reporting and disclosures and climate risk. She has worked across industries including Real Estate, Private Equity, Asset Management, Financial Services, Healthcare, Agribusiness, IT and Transportation. Claire has a Master’s in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo and is certified in Sustainability and Climate Risk through GARP.

My name is Ximena, and I’m originally from Mexico City. I’ve been living in Canada for over three years now. Currently, I’m working at Reeve Consulting, where we help clients develop and strengthen their sustainable procurement programs. Before joining Reeve, I gained experience working with multinational supply chain and procurement teams, focusing on demand forecasting, inventory analysis, and building strong supplier relationships in the private sector. I’m passionate about promoting environmentally responsible practices across diverse organizational settings. I also hold a Master’s degree in Sustainable Business and Innovation from EADA Business School in Barcelona. Outside of work, I love traveling, learning about different cultures, and preparing vegetarian dishes. Practicing yoga and running along Vancouver’s beautiful Sea Wall are some of my favorite ways to unwind!

A highly skilled and results-driven professional with a diverse background in project management, procurement, supplier relationship management, and organizational development. With extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, I have a proven track record of delivering strategic programs, driving organizational change, and fostering high-performance teams. I am PMP certified and hold advanced qualifications in leadership, inclusion, change management, and project management. I thrive in roles that require collaboration across departments and with external partners to meet business objectives while aligning with diversity, equity, and sustainability goals.

Liza Tsimbal is the Director of SCM at TransAlta Corporation, where she leads a global supply chain team managing a multi-million-dollar portfolio of projects and day-to-day operations. With nearly 20 years of diverse leadership experience in various areas of supply chain, including Operations Procurement, Category Management, and Capital Projects Procurement, Liza brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Before her current position, Liza spent a decade with Canadian oil and gas industry giants Husky Energy and Cenovus Energy. Liza also led the supply chain team at Endurant Energy, an American infrastructure solutions developer, where she was responsible for supply chain management strategies for solar and battery energy storage projects, governance, and risk management. A proud Calgarian since 2011, Liza holds an MBA from the Haskayne School of Business, a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Oil & Gas in Moscow, a designation in Supply Chain Management (SCMP), and a certification in Project Management (PMP)

Maxime is the practice lead for program management and transformation at BMO Financial Group, he has taken on various procurement sustainability initiatives including sustainable sourcing and carbon pricing for services. Experienced in end-to-end procurement with 10 years experience ranging from AP, Business Transformation, Sourcing and Supplier Relationship Management; his knowledge allows him to see where we can be more sustainable throughout the procurement journey. He brings a passion for a sustainable future, both in business and in life. He has a strong sense of justice for the environment as demonstrated by his vegan lifestyle and target to be zero-waste. This helps drive the change he wants to see within BMO, whether it is eliminating single use plastic or holding suppliers accountable for their carbon emissions.

Candice Wong is a Strategic Souring Specialist with 10 years of experience in sourcing, procurement and supply chain management. At Agrifoods International Cooperative Ltd., she seeks out new ingredients, focusing on cost management, and regulatory needs, while also evaluating supplier performance. Previously at One Degree Organic Foods, she managed global vendor relationships, sourcing ingredients and packaging with an emphasis on traceability and supply chain resilience. Candice has also held roles at Nature’s Path Foods, Lululemon Athletica, and Blurr Designs. Passionate about sustainable sourcing, Candice is committed to driving positive change in both business practices and the environment.

Nicky is a results-oriented professional with extensive experience in vendor management, strategic planning, and contract negotiation. She has a proven track record of building and leading successful teams, fostering strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and driving process improvements. Nicky is passionate about fostering collaboration and making a positive social and environmental impact through sustainable procurement practices and has recently taken on the exciting new opportunity to develop and implement the Sustainable Procurement program at ATB Financial.