I am writing you today along with Board Chair Peter Ladner to announce a new important milestone for The Natural Step Canada. And we wanted to let you know first.

For the past fourteen years I have committed to developing The Natural Step programs across Canada - the last five years in the role of Executive Director. We’ve come along way from a small group of volunteers with a commitment to accelerate the transition to a sustainable society to an organization that has developed a host of programs and partnerships working on some of the most important issues facing our country.

With the full support of the TNS Board I have decided to step down from the executive role to concentrate 100 percent of my time to the Energy Futures Lab in Alberta and to support the development of new Sustainability Transition Labs. As these initiatives build momentum, I am increasingly called to apply myself directly to help them realize their full potential impact. I will do so from a new role as Chief Innovation Officer at TNS, based in Edmonton, Alberta. I am pleased and honoured to continue to work with the Energy Future Lab Fellows and other partners as the Director of the Energy Futures Lab.

Peter and our Board of Directors committed to find the best new leader to take the organization to the next level at this exciting time. And they did this beyond our best hopes. David Hughes will be joining The Natural Step Canada as our new President & CEO, beginning June 15, 2016. David is a highly regarded strategic leader and has led organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Pathways to Education to unprecedented growth and impact.

Having served as a member of The Natural Step Canada’s Board of Directors for almost four years, David is very familiar with the organization’s work. We are thrilled that David has decided to commit his many talents to our team and networks as the leader for the organization. We have attached further information on David’s background and leadership.

We would like also to take this moment to introduce you to our new Senior Director of Operations, Joanne Sevigny, formerly the Chief Operating Officer of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation. Joanne joined The Natural Step Canada in April and has been a fantastic addition to our team.

Both Peter and I welcome any questions you might have regarding this leadership transition. Please don't hesitate to reach out to either of us.

We look forward to sharing more information in our upcoming newsletter later this month.

Our very best.

Chad and Peter

Chad Park, Executive Director
Peter Ladner, Chair, Board of Directors

For more information, please see our news release.