The Natural Assets Initiative (NAI) is an award-winning, Canadian non-profit that is changing the way local governments, watershed stewards, and many others deliver everyday services by improving the quality and resiliency of infrastructure at lower costs and reduced risks.
NAI’s team provides scientific, economic, and civic expertise to guide communities across Canada in identifying, valuing, and accounting for natural assets in their financial planning and asset management programs, and in developing leading-edge, sustainable, and climate-resilient natural infrastructure solutions.
Our Story
Ten years ago, the concept of ‘natural asset management’ (NAM) did not exist. Traditional asset management focused on engineered assets — nature’s benefits were often limited to narrow aesthetic or “green” values, and local governments lacked approaches to measure and manage this extremely valuable asset.
From a single initiative in the Town of Gibsons in 2016 to working with over 100 local governments, professional associations, and provincial and federal jurisdictions today, NAI has led the creation and development of the most widely-accepted approach to natural asset management in Canada.
As communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast experience the impacts of climate related weather events, natural asset management is an increasingly important way to help us protect and manage the ecosystems that deliver the key services on which all of us rely.
Mission
Our mission is to make natural asset management a mainstream practice across Canada, and for local governments and others to adopt methodologies and tools in a standard way across the country.
Vision
Our vision is for a society which recognizes and treats nature as our most valuable asset.
Our Team
Board Members
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Joanna Eyquem
Chair
Short bio
Joanna is Managing Director of Climate-Resilient Infrastructure at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo. Working with nature is at the heart of her career, having worked as a Professional Geoscientist for over 20 years in Canada and the UK, leading work on climate adaptation, flood and erosion management and habitat restoration. Joanna brings practical and international knowledge to help accelerate use of Nature-based Solutions in Canada.
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Chris Chen
Treasurer
Short bio
Chris is Executive Director of Asset Management Ontario (AMONTario), a non-profit community of practice whose mission is to strengthen infrastructure asset management capacity across Ontario’s public sector. He trained as a CPA, earned a Master of Finance (MFin.) degree from the University of Toronto, and has worked in both provincial and municipal governments. Chris‘s work is focused on the integration of ’green‘ and ’grey’ infrastructure asset management to address climate change, community resilience, and sustainability issues.
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Jay Ritchlin
Director
Short bio
Jay is Director-General for Western Canada at the David Suzuki Foundation. He has more than 15 years’ experience working on solutions to environmental challenges including open net-pen aquaculture, offshore oil and gas, marine fisheries, toxins and seafood. He holds a Biology degree from Kenyon College, Ohio.
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Emanuel Machado
Director
Short bio
Emanuel is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town of Gibsons. He worked with communities across Canada to promote renewable energy, net-zero buildings, water strategies, social plans and sustainability frameworks. He has been recognized with numerous awards including the Arbor Vitae Award from the Province of British Columbia and the Professional Award for Innovation in local government.
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Bailey Church
Director
Short bio
Bailey leads the National Public Sector Accounting Advisory service line and the Public Sector ESG and Climate Reporting Centre of Expertise at KPMG. He is also the Leader of KPMG’s Global International Public Sector Accounting Standards working group. Bailey has worked with more than 200 municipalities on the implementation of asset retirement obligations and is advising municipalities across Canada on their roadmaps for ESG and natural assets reporting.
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Mike Kennedy
Director
Short bio
Mike Kennedy is a CPA, CA, and the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Rossland, BC. He holds degrees from Acadia University (BBA) and the University of Saskatchewan (MPAcc); he’s currently pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology and public policy through Glasgow Caledonian University. Mike is passionate about the place where accounting and social impact meet, and has been recognized for his contributions to improve diversity and inclusion in public service. In his spare time, Mike loves cycling, playing music, and is a marginally talented but highly enthusiastic skier.
Team Members
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Roy Brooke
Executive Director
Short bio
Roy has worked in Canada, Europe and Africa in urban sustainability, national politics, international development and humanitarian affairs. He served as Director of Sustainability for the City of Victoria from 2011 to 2013 and between 2003 and 2011 he worked for the United Nations.
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Michelle Molnar
Technical Director
Short bio
Michelle has 15+ years’ experience in Ecological Economics and inter-disciplinary research, focusing on conservation of natural capital using valuation, policy analysis, and public outreach. She has created and managed cross-functional teams, authored natural capital valuation reports, is past President of the Canadian Society for Ecological Economics, and served on the B.C. government’s Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council.
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Amy Taylor
Technical Support
Short bio
Amy Taylor is an environmental economist with extensive project and management experience. Amy is the Chief Operations Officer with Green Analytics that provides technical support to NAI.
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Donna Chiarelli
Director of Programs and Capacity Building
Short bio
With 25 years’ experience helping to build healthy, prosperous, and resilient communities, Donna leads a range of national capacity-building, training, and planning efforts at NAI. This work is helping to create a foundation of resources for professionals and local governments to strengthen the integration of natural asset management into infrastructure management and decision making. Donna is also an associate of the Climate Risk Institute, where she co-delivers training on asset management and climate resiliency. Previously, she acted as a senior advisor and manager of capacity building programming for the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
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Nikita Bhalla
Project Manager
Short bio
Nikita comes from a background in civil structural engineering. She has worked with crown corporations and municipalities locally and internationally in developing numerous asset management plans. Her specializations include development of asset management policy & strategy, level of service and risk analysis, with key focus on green infrastructure and natural assets.
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Patience Cox
Indigenous Strategic Advisor
Short bio
Patience Cox is a leadership educator with extensive experience working with Indigenous communities, and has expertise in organizational development, change management, and relationship building. Patience is the Founder of Thynk Leadership Inc., and acts as an advisor on NAI’s projects and strategic planning.
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Emily Sharma
Communications & Outreach Advisor
Short bio
Emily is a communications professional who supports environmental conservation initiatives by developing accessible and actionable content. She has experience in public relations and creative writing for tourism and non-profit organizations.
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Liese Coulter
Climate Resilience Associate
Short bio
Liese provides NAI with expert advice with a focus on natural asset management for climate resilience and adaptation. She has held Mitacs postdoctoral fellowships in Science Policy with the Government of B. C. and in Natural Asset Management with Royal Roads University. Liese holds a PhD from Griffith University, a MScCommunication from the Australian National University and is Associate Faculty in the Master of Climate Action Leadership program at Royal Roads University.
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Ellery Lamm
Project and Operations Assistant
Short bio
Ellery has a background in education, playwriting, filmmaking as well as experience in admin support. She is passionate about organization and efficiency, and supports the daily operations and timely completion of projects at NAI.
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Stephan Jacob
Design & Web Maintenance
Short bio
Trained in Berlin and a CGD™ certified designer, Stephan brings polished, strategic design to NAl’s publications – in print and online. Stephan is president of iD2 Communications Inc., a Victoria-based firm specializing in sustainable design solutions.
FAQ
Where does NAI work?
NAI works across Canada — while we are officially headquartered in Victoria, BC, our team is spread across four provinces, and our projects span from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Check out our community-level projects here: community map
Careers
Current Opportunities
NAI is proud to support a fantastic team doing inspiring work. Check back for new opportunities.
Indigenous Relationships Advisor
Project management – Methodology evolution – Advising on non-Indigenous projects – Provide technical expertise – Engagement
$70,000 – $90,000 / year
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, we encourage you to apply early.
Natural Assets Initiative
Board Member(s)
The Natural Assets Initiative (NAI) is seeking one to two dynamic, experienced volunteer board members. NAI has six committed, experienced board members who would like to add additional, diverse perspectives to help the organization with the next stage of its growth and development to ensure it achieves its mission of making natural asset management a mainstream practice across Canada.
Vacancy notice will stay active until roles are filled.
Initiative sur les actifs naturels Membre(s) du Conseil 2024
L’Initiative des actifs naturels (IAN) recherche d’un à deux membres bénévoles, dynamiques et expérimentés, pour son conseil d’administration. Le conseil d’administration de l’IAN compte six membres engagés et expérimentés, et souhaite intégrer des perspectives supplémentaires et diversifiées pour accompagner l’organisation dans la prochaine phase de sa croissance et de son développement, vers la réalisation de sa mission : faire de la gestion des actifs naturels une pratique courante à travers le Canada.
L’avis de vacance restera actif jusqu’à ce que les postes soient comblés.
Testimonials
“Our team was grateful for the support of NAI in walking us through our first natural asset roadmap. It brought together members of the City of Rossland team from across departments and got us focused on some sensible steps going forward, including putting natural assets at the center of our upcoming utilities master plan. Having natural assets be more central in our capital planning is going to put Rossland in a better position when applying for future grants emphasizing climate resilience and nature-based solutions.”
Mike Kennedy, Chief Financial Officer at the City of Rossland, BC
“The community I work for values nature for its beauty and depends on the services it provides. It makes such inherent sense that natural assets are best protected when they are accounted for. The course connected so many professional and personal values for me. If our natural assets are lost, so too could be a community’s way of life. I loved this course!”
Laura Beckett, Municipal Planner at the District of Highlands, BC
Laura completed the Natural Asset Management introductory course developed by NAI and offered through Royal Roads University.
“The Southeast Regional Service Commission (SERC) has just concluded two projects in New Brunswick with NAI, both of which will help us minimize the requirements for new engineered infrastructure. The results are already being used to inform development decisions and planning and by-law changes. We hope to work with NAI again in the near future!”
James Bornemann, SERC
“The City of Grand Forks has experienced two major floods over the last few years. Working with NAI, we developed an understanding of the functions and value of the Kettle Valley Floodplain in reducing flood damage. This contributed directly to the City receiving $49.9 million in funding from the Federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund program. This funding will help protect both residential neighbourhoods and vulnerable areas in the downtown core, and as part of this, to restore riparian areas, recreate wetland areas, and re-establish floodplain in high-risk areas, including through land acquisition and removing dwellings and infrastructure from vulnerable areas”
Graham Watt, City of Grand Forks
“The District of West Vancouver was one of the first NAI pilot projects. NAI’s natural asset management process allowed us to confront the very real risk to local governments when they fail to inventory, value and manage nature as an asset, and start to address it. For example, the initial work led to our recent District-wide efforts to inventory and value ALL our natural assets, which we can now leverage to make smarter decisions across the board.”
Isabel Gordon, Director, Financial Services for the District of West Vancouver, BC
