CAGBC Board

As Global Head of Sustainable Investing with BentallGreenOak, Ailey leads the firm’s global ESG platform. She is responsible for developing and implementing the firm’s ESG strategy in close coordination with senior leadership and portfolio management teams to drive performance and integrate risk mitigation and value creation into investment decision-making and management. Ailey also played a key role in establishing BentallGreenOak’s net zero commitment, strategy, and execution plan.

Ailey has 10+ years of experience in ESG practice and holds a Master’s of Environment & Sustainability from Western University, Bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo in Environment & Business, LEED Green Associate designation, and was recognized as one of Canada’s Clean50 sustainability leaders in 2020.

Jason Manikel is a long-time green-building practitioner, and is currently an Energy and Decarbonization Consultant at Purpose Building. Jason has held leadership positions at each of his last three firms and has experience with a full range of business-management topics, including strategy, planning, management, accounting and human resources. A people person, Jason thrives on building open, trusting relationships.

Jason is a graduate of the mechanical engineering program at Queen’s University and is licensed to practice engineering in British Columbia, Ontario and Québec. After ten years designing new, high-performance green buildings, the second half of his career has been focused on the operational improvement of existing ones. For more than ten years, Jason has been a member (and past chair) of the CAGBC’s Energy & Engineering Technical Advisory Group, helping CAGBC rule on technical issues related to LEED and the ZCB program. He is also a Certified Building Commissioning Professional.

A registered architect and mechanical engineer, Martin brings over two decades of experience and leadership to DIALOG’s urban design, mixed-use development, higher education, and transportation projects. He is passionate about developing sustainable design solutions that are socially, economically, and environmentally responsible, with a portfolio of work that has been recognized with awards for planning, architecture, and innovation.

Martin is currently leading the design of 2150 Keith Drive, a 10-storey mass timber office building employing an innovative braced frame structural system and the UVic Engineering Precinct Expansion, a new $63M civil engineering laboratory complex.

Prior to joining DIALOG, Martin led the design and construction of UBC’s Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS), a LEED® Platinum certified and Living Building. He has taught at the UBC School of Architecture and Faculty of Engineering, served as chair of the UBC Advisory Urban Design Panel, and is currently serving on the UBC Land Use Committee and the Board of Habitat for Humanity (Greater Vancouver). He has also served as chair on the City of Vancouver Urban Design Panel.

An advocate for ESG, Nisha Agrawal is QuadReal’s Director, Sustainability, joining the company in 2017.  Her expertise includes promoting green building certifications across the Canadian portfolio and supporting development of environmental, social and governance practices at QuadReal properties internationally. 

Nisha brings more than 10 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, beginning her career in Finance at Bentall Kennedy.  From there, she moved into Sustainability and for over five years has been developing programs to effectively streamline and integrate sustainability initiatives with operations. 

Nisha holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia and is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC.  Nisha is inspired by the progress companies have made to improve tenant health and well-being, reduce resource depletion, and innovate to create solutions in building operations.

As the inaugural Research Chair, Sustainability at Mohawk College, Tony provides leading-edge research that will contribute to a low-carbon economy. He engages with students using a multi-disciplinary approach to find real-world solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges.

A professional engineer with 38 years of experience in engineering, facilities management, and capital development, Tony has considerable institutional experience, particularly with McMaster University and Mohawk College. In his leadership capacity at Mohawk College, he was responsible for the planning, design, construction, and operation of Canada’s largest institutional, zero-carbon building – The Joyce Centre for Partnership and Innovation. This award-winning facility became the first to achieve dual certification under the CAGBC’s Zero Carbon Building program.

Tony has a doctorate degree in Civil Engineering with a focus on green buildings and policy and is a former adjunct faculty member at McMaster.

Kit is responsible for developing and executing KingSett’s Sustainability Strategy and managing the climate risks and opportunities across its existing assets, developments, lending, and internal operations. Kit leads the development of KingSett’s market-leading decarbonization strategy across its portfolio and is also responsible for its internal and external ESG reporting, third-party standards alignment, and sustainable investment and lending programs. Kit has successfully secured over $45 million in government financing to execute decarbonization projects, with a further $50 million in the pipeline, with the Canadian Infrastructure Bank. Kit has successfully converted KingSett’s Core Fund line of credit into a Sustainable Linked Loan, meeting key performance criteria annually to maintain the preferred rate offering. Prior to joining KingSett, Kit was the Senior Manager of Sustainability at Triovest Realty Advisors. While at Triovest, Kit rolled out new technologies to improve asset and portfolio ESG performance, achieved Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) Global Sector Leader standing, and helped develop and implement its Innovation Strategy. Kit’s experience covers nearly a decade and a half of business, strategy and sustainability experience across a variety of industry sectors and asset classes. Kit holds an Honours Bachelors degree in Environmental Science from Dalhousie University and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Emma Schindler is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the construction materials industry. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto and an Executive MBA from Ivey Business School, enhancing her strategic insight and leadership capabilities. Currently serving as the Vice President of Sales & Marketing at CRH Canada since July 2021, Emma brings a wealth of expertise to the sector.

Throughout her career, Emma has excelled in various roles, demonstrating her proficiency in sales, marketing, and strategic planning. Prior to her current position, she held key roles in sales management, where she successfully drove revenue growth and expanded market presence. Her career journey also includes roles in customer service and logistics, where she developed a strong foundation in understanding customer needs and optimizing operational processes. Her multifaceted experience has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the industry and a track record of delivering results.

In addition to Emma’s contribution to CRH Canada, she is currently participating on the board of the Canadian Concrete Precast Pipe Association and supporting the Canadian Cement Association with industry lobbying efforts. Additionally, she is a member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Net Zero Council, contributing her expertise to sustainability initiatives within the industry.

Emma’s leadership acumen and commitment to environmental stewardship position her as a valuable asset in promoting sustainability initiatives. Her passion for innovation and fostering collaborative partnerships underscores her ability to make a meaningful impact in advancing industry practices.