Turning passion into
long-lasting changes
We’re a group of Canada’s most impact-focused students and young professionals — using our energy to open doors for the next generation of sustainability leaders.
Our Mission
Re_imagine schools
Developing action and capacity-building toolkits for student leaders across the country to influence change within their schools.
Re_purpose careers
Building career development tools for students and young professionals who want to contribute to a more sustainable and just society.
Re_model companies
Empowering young employees to create internal change while advocating for public policy changes that advance a more regenerative economy.
Our Vision
We believe that the ideal society is a regenerative one. Regeneration to us means putting human and ecological well-being at the centre of every decision. It means restoring relationships, both within nature and within society, while helping all communities to thrive.
A regenerative economy is one that is circular and restorative, rather than linear and extractive. A regenerative economy works to protect and steward the global commons, rather than undermining it. A regenerative economy is one that exists safely within all planetary boundaries, while meeting the minimum social foundations necessary for human beings to flourish.
A regenerative economy recognizes that markets are a powerful tool when embedded within broader social and natural systems, and that there are limits to what markets can achieve. Regeneration entails reinvesting in public solutions to public problems, with a commitment to democratic systems that are accountable, transparent, and serve the public good. Regeneration means reinvesting in communities by building community wealth and fostering economic democracy.
The regenerative economy must be:
- Distributive, by creating prosperity for all, not simply a small minority;
- Pluralist, by recognizing that there is no single solution;
- Just, by empowering all perspectives and voices, particularly non-Western voices;
- Relational, by acknowledging that everything is connected, that we are more than the sum of our parts.
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Our History
After three years of existence under the name “Canadian Business Youth Council for Sustainable Development,” we changed our name to Re_Generation to become more inclusive to any youth (and not just business youth), and to play both on the idea that the future of sustainability is “regenerative”, and that we are the new generation of leaders.
Our successful ‘Our Future, Our Business’ Manifesto campaign received the support of 65 youth organizations, 130 high-level executives, and 100 civil society organizations recognizing the need for reform in business education on sustainability. We are Canada’s largest youth-run organization dedicated to advancing regenerative and sustainable business practices by amplifying youth perspectives and providing youth (18-30 years old) with skills-building and career resources.
We are a team of ten paid staff members and 20 steering committee volunteers focused on compelling private sector actors to adopt more ambitious, purpose-driven goals and empowering youth to demand greater action from their schools and employers. Our team comprises students and young professionals from diverse personal, educational, and professional backgrounds.
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Our Inspiration
Re_Generation takes inspiration from a long list of pioneering thinkers and organizations united in their calls for a regenerative economy. We pay homage to Paul Hawken’s text Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation, which defines regeneration as “putting life at the center of every action and decision.” We are deeply influenced by the Capital Institute’s eight principles of a regenerative economy, which define regeneration as “applying the behaviours of natural systems (i.e. nature’s ability to self-organize, renew, and regenerate) to socioeconomic systems.” Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics framework outlines the basic ingredients of a regenerative economy, invoking respect for planetary boundaries and minimum social safeguards.
We are deeply indebted to the work of ecological economists such as Juan Martinez-Alier and Jason Hickel, political economists such as Karl Polanyi, Mariana Mazzucato, and Robert Reich, systems thinkers such as Fritjof Capra and Donella Meadows, and other trailblazers from heterodox traditions emphasizing the need to move away from extractive neoliberal capitalism. We are indebted to the environmental justice movement and post-extractive activists who have taught us that sustainability and social justice must go hand in hand. We are influenced by the Democracy Collaborative, the Next System Project, the New Economy Coalition, the Institute for New Economic Thinking, the Schumacher Centre, and all others working towards a fairer, more democratic economic system. Above all, we are inspired by the voices of Robin Wall Kimmerer, Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Vine Deloria, and other Indigenous thinkers and activists working to share the traditional teachings of Indigenous peoples who have been living regeneratively for millennia.
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Our reach and network
420
Youth organizations reached
10,500
Students
reached
90
Universities &
colleges reached
350
Civil society organizations reached
5,600
Corporate sustainability professionals reached
Event and media features
Our team
Education: BCom’21 at McGill University (Major in Managing for Sustainability & Minor in Social Entrepreneurship)
Passionate about: Cross-sectoral projects and the role of the private sector in tackling the most pressing social and environmental issues
Previous areas of work: Sustainable finance, sustainability consulting, impact measurement, and youth advocacy
Past & current youth leadership experience: President of the Desautels Sustainability Network at McGill University, Fund Manager at Montreal Social Value Fund
Maxime Lakat
Co-Executive Directors
Education: HBA Business Administration, Honors Specialization International Relations from Western University
Passionate about: Political economy, environmental justice, economic anthropology, critical theory, systems thinking and complexity
Previous areas of work: Academia, non-profit, and clean technology
Past & current youth leadership experience: Co-Founder of the Climate Crisis Coalition at UWO, Co-President of the Ivey Social Impact Club
Gareth Gransaull
Co-Executive Directors
Education: BA’21 at The University of Western Ontario (Honours Specialization in Film Studies and a Minor in Media, Information, and Technoculture)
Passionate about: Intersectional work, helping marginalized communities, degrowth, food waste, youth led initiatives
Previous areas of work: Marketing & communications, non-profits, green infrastructure, strategy, advocacy
Past & current youth leadership experience: Founder, Volunteering Green; Program Manager, Big Little Books; President, Western Undergraduate Film Society; Climate Leader, Youth Challenge International; Community Liaison
Rushil Malik
Director of Communications and Impact Measurement
Education: BCom’19 at McGill University (Major in Economics & Concentration in Strategic Management)
Passionate about: Circular economies, sustainable procurement and supply chain management, sport as a vehicle for good, food systems, partnership development
Previous areas of work: Partnership strategy consulting, sport philanthropy
Past & current youth leadership experience: Vice President of Varsity Affairs on the McGill Varsity Council
Jacob Dwinnell
Co-Director of Career Development
Education: HBA’21 at Ivey Business School, Western University (Honours Business Administration with Sustainability Certificate )
Passionate about: Cross-sectoral collaboration and partnership, systems thinking, food systems, communications, music
Previous areas of work: Start-ups, sales & marketing, strategy, research, communications, hospitality
Past & current youth leadership experience: Senior Associate, Network for Business Sustainability; Fellow, Ivey Sustainability Certificate; Delegate, Club of Rome Youth Summit; External Relations Coordinator, Student Energy
Abby Litchfield
Curriculum Change Coordinator
Education: BBA’23 at Simon Fraser University, Sustainable Business Joint Major
Passionate about: Sustainable Community Development, Systems Thinking, Storytelling, Mental Health.
Previous areas of work: Hospitality, Start-Ups, Research and Analysis on Corporate Sustainability and Governance Materials.
Past & current youth leadership experience: Logistics Coordinator at The Legacy Conference, Project Manager at Enactus SFU, FJCF Youth Entrepreneurial Incubator.
Daius Steiner
Curriculum Change Coordinator
Education: Honours Bachelor of Arts, University of Toronto ’22 (Major in Peace, Conflict and Justice Studies, Double Minor in Diaspora and Transnational Studies and English)
Passionate about: Sustainable Cities, Youth Advocacy and Partnership, Circular Economy, Systems Design, Environmental/Social Justice
Previous areas of work: Not-For-Profit Leadership, Social and Sustainable Enterprise
Past & current youth leadership experience: Brown Citizen Circle, David Suzuki Foundation, EDGE at Sheridan College, Halton Newcomer Council, Youth Challenge International.
Ashwini Selvakumaran
Co-Director of Policy Advocacy
Education: Bcom ‘22 at McGill university (General Management: Finance & Sustainability)
Passionate about: sustainable cities, biodiversity and conservation, integrating systems thinking in policies
Previous areas of work: sustainable finance, social businesses, impact investments
Past & current youth leadership experience: Alternatiba Paris, Impact200 Sustainability Challenge.
Agatha Allain
Co-Director of Policy Advocacy
Education: BBA’22 at Wilfrid Laurier University (Concentration in sustainability and a minor in economics)
Passionate about: Sustainable production and consumption, Ecological economics, and entrepreneurship
Previous areas of work: International wealth management, Supply chain management, Consulting for SMEs, and Start-ups
Past & current youth leadership experience: Logistics and coordination director for Scotiabank’s student social committee, and Events executive at startup Laurier, Business development specialist at enactus.
Jeronimo Mejia
Co-Director of Curriculum Change
Education: Master’s International Relations & Public Affairs at Glendon York University (bilingual degree)
Passionate about: Sustainability development & International Relations
Previous areas of work: Co-ordinator policy events at the Economic Club of Canada.
Past & current youth leadership experience: Keynote speaker with MLSE Launched Pad youth events. Executive director at TinyStrides NPO ( A non-profit organization focused on helping youth in the GTA with access to organized sports.
Rossini Sandjong
Co-Director of Career Development
Education: BA ‘24 at McGill University (Political Science and Economics)
Passionate about: Sustainable cities, regenerative food systems, carbon markets and climate-aligned finance
Previous areas of work: Digital Marketing and Content Creation, e-commerce, start-ups
Past & current youth leadership experience: Youth Challenge International, various political campaigns, Director of Events at McGill Policy Association.
Sara Chiarotto O’Briene
Policy Advocacy Coordinator
Education: Honours Business Administration 2021 from Ivey Business School at Western University; Ivey HBA Sustainability Certificate; Ivey Graduate Diploma in Accounting 2021
Passionate about: Accounting Climate Standards, Sustainable Finance & Investing, Circular Economy, Youth Activism
Previous areas of work: Accounting (auditing), Venture Capital, Executive Compensation Consulting, Supercapacitor Tech Start-Up, Wheelchair Upcycling Non-Profit, Financial and Treasury Analyst, Residence Staff
Previous & current leadership experience: Undergraduate Representative on the President’s Advisory Council on Environmental Sustainability (UWO), Climate Crisis Coalition Leader (UWO), President of Growth and Partnerships for Global Spark (UWO chapter), Associate Consultant (London Health Sciences Centre and Ivey FinTech Club Pro-Bono Consulting), Associate Vice President of Finance (Social Science Students’
Anna Heer
Career Development Coordinator
Education: B.Eng, Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montreal & McGill University
Passionate about: Sustainable Transport, Renewable Energy & Electrification, Circular Economy
Previous areas of work: Sustainability in enginnering, Tutoring in high schools and CEGEPs, Engineering project management
Past & current youth leadership experience: President of the Comité Étudiant en Génie des Mines (CEGMines), Ambassador for Polytechnique Montreal, Member of the Polytechnique delegation for the 2022 Canadian Mining Games
Frédéric Cournoyer
Knowledge Sharing Coordinator
Education: Fourth Year Undergraduate International Development Student at the University of Guelph with an Area of Emphasis in Agriculture and Food Security
Passionate about: Sustainability, Conservation, Youth Education
Previous areas of work: Renewable energy not-for-profit
Past & current youth leadership experience: Camp CIT, Participation in capacity building for youth education on renewable energy
Georgia Cooney
Career Development Coordinator
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© 2022 Re_Generation. All rights reserved.
© 2023 Re_Generation. All rights reserved.