BOARD OF ADVISORS, USA
Mary Ellen Mika, MA BSc
Advisory Board
Mary Ellen Mika is Director of Sustainability at Steelcase Inc., the worldwide leader in the office furniture industry with its top ISS ESG corporate rating. She leads a global team of over twenty-five people working in six countries, regularly gives presentations, reports progress to the Steelcase Board of Directors, and is responsible for the company’s sustainability programs and its environmental strategy for ESG. Mary Ellen's team is responsible for the development of the company’s annual Impact Report, energy and renewable energy procurement, the company’s carbon strategy including setting science-based targets for greenhouse gas reduction, and managing compliance with environmental regulatory requirements for products, facilities, and manufacturing operations including tracking and reporting waste, water, and energy usage. They also implement the company’s ISO 14001 environmental management system, address environmental due diligence for potential acquisitions, pursue product certifications for sustainability and indoor air quality, monitor risks related to historical site remediation projects as well as climate change impacts.
Mary Ellen is a LEED-accredited professional and recently served on the Materials and Resources Technical Advisory Group for U.S. Green Building Council. She serves on the Board for Michigan Energy Options, also for the C.R. Evenson Foundation, on the Grand Rapids Energy Advisory Council appointed by Mayor Bliss and on the Michigan Environmental Rules Review Committee appointed by Governor Whitmer.
Mary Ellen has a B.S. in Biochemistry, an M.A. in Counseling Psychology, and over twenty-five years of experience in environmental consulting and industry.
John Kinch, PhD
Advisory Board
Dr. John Kinch was previously approached by President Biden's Administration to be an energy efficiency advisor.
John directs the strategic and daily operations of Michigan Energy Options (MEO), a clean energy nonprofit emphasising innovative and collaborative projects between the public and private sectors. Under Dr. Kinch, MEO's community-based work has expanded across the state and its revenue stream has diversified. MEO has built a community solar park on a capped landfill — one of a few owned and operated by a nonprofit in the country.
John is a U.S. Department of Energy SunShot advisor and a National Community Solar Partner, a municipal-certified solar expert by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, local clean energy consultant for the Council of Michigan Foundations, and has been a renewable energy consultant for The Nature Conservancy. Kinch was active in the Clean Energy for Biden Michigan Campaign, writing for the website and canvassing the vote.
Dr. Kinch was previously Communications Manager at The Nature Conservancy whilst writing the charity's national magazine, annual reports, funding bids and other major publications. He has authored numerous journalistic and professional articles and a book. Dr. Kinch has held adjunct professorial roles at Big Ten Universities. He presents often to professional, academic and general audiences.
Dr. Kinch was previously an adjunct Professor and Communications Manager at Michigan State University in the English Department. Established in the mid-1800s, Michigan State University was the first Land Grant College in the USA. It is a Big10 Conference University respected for a range of disciplines.
Dr. John A Kinch is Grand Valley State University College of Business’s inaugural Executive-in-Residence. This role entails lecturing and mentoring students.
Dr. Kinch has travelled the world and written freelance in auspicious newspapers, including the New York Times. In his free time, Dr. Kinch is a keen birder (or twitcher as we say in Britain).
Kinch lives in a home surrounded by woodlands along the coast of Lake Michigan, on the west coast of Michigan.
Julie Taylor
Advisory Board
Julie Taylor hails from Jackson, Michigan. Her interest in the work of restoration projects and carbon credits arises from having worked at The Nature Conservancy, in the Science and Stewardship Team, alongside the founder of Highland Carbon. She shares a passion for wild landscapes in North America, which is particularly relevant given that Highland Carbon is now brokering units from the USA and Canada. She is a lifelong, avid birder and gardener, recycler and protector of all wildlife on her six acres in Jackson, MI and in the 40 acre neighborhood in which she lives. She is a member of the Ann Arbor Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby and a volunteer/supporter of the Dahlem Environmental Education Center located in Jackson County, Michigan.
Julie has substantial senior executive experience. Her latest role, before retirement, included twenty-two years with Consumers Energy, in the field of strategic talent acquisition and HR management. Consumers Energy is a leader in conventional and renewable energy supply, including the installation and management of wind farms, solar, electric and hydro generation. Julie worked closely with the executive senior leadership to usher in renewables and assisted in personnel matters related to the closing of three coal fired plants on the shores of the Great Lakes. Prior to that, Julie worked in Human Resource roles with PS Food Marts and Michigan Millers Mutual Insurance.
Julie holds a Master of Arts degree from Central Michigan University in Human Resources Administration and a Bachelor of Communication Arts & Sciences degree from Michigan State University.
Dr Katie Lacommare
Advisory Board
Dr. LaCommare is an Assistant Professor of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University where she oversees the teaching of numerous subjects in environmental biology and wildlife conservation – including a course on global change.
As an environmental biologist, she has developed and managed a wide range of conservation and research projects which required building collaborations across disparate networks. Whether it was working in Belize managing an Earthwatch project or working for The Nature Conservancy, she has had to build bridges with and between landowners, fishermen, business owners, government officials, students, academics and concerned citizens. As an educator, she deeply believes in experiential and engaged learning. As a teacher, she fosters student engagement and experiential learning by teaching with student activities that encourage the application and synthesis of concepts. One theme that connects both her career in higher education and as a natural resource professional is her passion for translating complex information and communicating it in an intuitive and easily understandable manner.
Previous to her position at Michigan State University, she was a Teaching Professor of Biology at University of Michigan, Dearborn where she was also the Chair of the Earth and Environment Discipline.
Katie has a PhD from the University of Massachusetts in Environmental Biology, a Master of Science degree in Forestry and Natural Resources from Purdue University and a a BSc In Zoology and Anthropology from the University of Michigan.
David Bassiouni, BA
Advisory Board
Mr. David Solomon Bassiouni is President & Chief Strategy Officer of Bassiouni Group located in Manhattan, New York City, USA. Mr. Bassiouni spent his formative years (8-17) attending Scottish boarding schools including in Pitlochry and Edinburgh, and has a special connection to Scotland.
Mr. David Solomon Bassiouni specialises in Global Business, Sustainability, International Development and Global/Political Affairs. As the President of The Bassiouni Group (TBG), Mr. Bassiouni helps companies/institutions to navigate the global economy and build sustainable, performance-focused solutions for long-term growth and socioeconomic impact.
He has managed international teams/projects across more than 50 countries. As the co-founder and President of CSR Leaders (LinkedIn), Mr. Bassiouni enables CSR/Sustainability practitioners all over the world to connect, share insights and develop best practices. Mr. Bassiouni sets TBG’s strategic and business development plan, manages the day-to-day operations of each division (Consulting, Investment, Trade), and oversees the company’s Global Consultancy Network which consists of over 500+ experts in 150+ countries.
David has worked on projects ranging from advisory services for governments and comprehensive evaluations for UN agencies to Sustainable Trade and Investment initiatives in the Agribusiness, Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Development sectors.
As a C-suite counselor, Mr. Bassiouni has directly advised CEOs, industry leaders and dignitaries on complex, and often sensitive, global events ranging from management/labour issues and corporate transition to financial restructuring and shareholder disputes.
As the Group Manager at Weber Shandwick’s Corporate Issues Group (New York), Mr. Bassiouni counseled numerous Fortune 500 clients on corporate strategies relating to reputation management, corporate positioning, CEO communications, high-profile litigation, financial restructuring, crisis management, labour relations, corporate reorganisations, M&A transactions, hostile takeovers, financial restructuring, regulatory enforcement, product liability and management transitions. His client list ranged from major financial institutions and pharmaceutical firms to hotel chains/tourist destinations, multi-sector manufacturers and energy companies.
Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Mr. Bassiouni was an Associate Director at Gavin Anderson & Company where he provided strategic counsel to the United Nations, supporting the Office of the Secretary General during the launch of the Independent Inquiry Committee and the subsequent introduction of Secretary Annan’s reform program.
Mr. Bassiouni has also worked at Shandwick International (Weber Shandwick Worldwide), Kratz & Jensen (Euro RSCG), The Halo Group and Winstar Communications (IDT Corp.). As the Media Relations Manager at Winstar, he oversaw the company’s media relations and marketing initiatives throughout the United States, Western Europe, Asia and South America.
In addition to the Technology, Energy, Financial, Telecommunications and Consumer sectors, Mr. Bassiouni is also experienced in Government, International Affairs, Healthcare and Higher Education. Educated in Britain and raised in eight different countries across Europe and Africa, Mr. Bassiouni takes a uniquely multicultural approach to his work.
He graduated with honors from McGill University, Canada, and is conversant in basic French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic. Mr. Bassiouni has been featured on CNBC/CNBC Europe and in The Washington Post, and he also spoken on a variety of international development/business issues at numerous venues including The Harvard Club, Columbia University, and City University New York.
Mr. Bassiouni is a member of the Board of Associates at The Ronald McDonald House (New York), and the Associate Director of The Mary N. Bassiouni Foundation, which is dedicated to empowerment and advancement of South Sudanese women and youth. Mr. Bassiouni is also a Special Advisor to Project Education South Sudan, which increases access to primary and secondary education with a special focus on girls.
Chad Papa, PhD
Advisory Board
Dr Chad Papa is the Director of the Forest Carbon and Climate Program at Michigan State University. He oversees a diverse portfolio of research, outreach, and education programs in an effort to promote forests as natural climate solutions and to inform the stewardship of forests through management, planning, and policy in support of greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Of particular relevance, Dr Papa consults project developers on the methodologies of calculating the additionality achieved through carbon projects arising from the avoidance or reduction of timber removal activity.
Dr. Papa holds a Ph.D. in forestry from Michigan State University (MSU) as well as a M.S. in forestry from MSU and a B.S. in environmental science from the University of Florida.
Previously, Chad worked at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida. He has a background in horticulture and loves growing epiphytes at home, specifically orchids and bromeliads. Today, Chad is based in Washington DC, the Capitol of the United States. He lives there with his wife who works for the head office of the US Forestry Service.
Elizabeth Dell
Advisory Board
During 2025, Elizabeth Dell will complete her role as Program Director & Great Lakes Regional Director of Climate Citizen’s Lobby. She has supported existing chapters and helped add new ones in the Great Lakes Region. Elizabeth started as a chapter leader with CCL in 2013 and has been a congressional liaison and state coordinator along the way. Elizabeth has enjoyed troubleshooting challenges faced by volunteers and providing or directing them to tools and resources to help them in their work. She treasures the friendships and connections she’s made with the this motivated and committed group of people.
After graduating with a B.S. in Social Science, with an emphasis in environmental issues, Elizabeth worked for The Nature Conservancy, the leading international NGO in the land conservation arena. She had taken a break from the non-profit world for several years, prior to working for CCL, but jumped back in shortly after her son began elementary school, and she had her “Eureka” moment about what to do about her climate angst.
Elizabeth lives with her husband and son in Traverse City, Michigan in the upper Great Lakes Region of the United States. She enjoys hiking, biking, gardening, and the delicious foods grown in her region.