Biographies
-
- Chief Executive Officer — John MacKenzie
- Chief Financial and Operating Officer — Michael Tolensky
- Director, Restoration and Infrastructure — Anil Wijesooriya
- Director, Parks and Culture — Richard Ubbens
- Director, Education and Training — Darryl Gray
- Director, Development and Engineering Services – Sameer Dhalla
- Director, Policy Planning – Laurie Nelson
- Chief Human Resources Officer — Natalie Blake
John MacKenzie
Chief Executive Officer
Office Phone: 416-667-6290
John.MacKenzie@trca.caChief of Staff: Michelle Sirizzotti
Michelle.Sirizzotti@trca.ca | 416-661-6600 ext. 5600Executive Coordinator: Leena Eappen
Leena.Eappen@trca.ca | 416-661-6600 ext. 5254
John MacKenzie is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and a Director on the Board of the Toronto and Region Conservation Foundation (TRCF). John is a proven leader at building and fostering relationships and partnerships with all levels of government, agencies and community organizations. John is responsible for executing on TRCA and TRCF priorities by working with the province, federal government, municipalities, businesses, stakeholders and the public to ensure successful development and delivery of TRCA programs. John has advanced work to transform TRCA into a modern, sophisticated organization by leading the development and implementation of a five-year update to TRCA’s Strategic Plan. John represents TRCA on several intergovernmental and inter-agency committees to advance TRCA’s mandate including the Port Lands Executive Steering Committee, Toronto Emergency Management Program Committee, and the Greenbelt Golden Horseshoe CA Collaborative.
John holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Planning from the University of Toronto and an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and Urban and Environmental Studies from Brock University. John is a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute, Canadian Institute of Planners, and the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators.
Michael Tolensky
Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Office Phone: 416-661-6600 ext. 5965
Michael.Tolensky@trca.caAdministrative Assistant: Lisa Peng
Lisa.Peng@trca.ca | 416-661-6600 ext. 5970
Michael Tolensky is the Chief Financial and Operating Officer at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Michael leads the Corporate Services division, with the primary mandate of providing timely and seamless support for fundamental business operations. The division takes proactive leadership to address standard operating procedures, opportunities for organizational improvements and results that are both financially and strategically sustainable.
Michael is a graduate of the Schulich School of Business at York University and a Chartered Professional Accountant. Michael earned his certificate in Not-for-Profit and Charity Finance Leadership from CPA Ontario as well as CPA Canada’s Public Sector Certificate Program. Michael also acts as a financial advisor to Toronto and Region Conservation Foundation (formerly The Living City Foundation).
Anil Wijesooriya
Director, Restoration and Infrastructure
Office Phone: 416-661-6600 ext. 5500
anil.wijesooriya@trca.caAdministrative Coordinator: Tammy Bartley
Tammy.Bartley@trca.ca | 416-661-6600 ext. 5579
Anil Wijesooriya is the Director, Restoration and Infrastructure at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Anil leads a multi-disciplinary team focused on building climate resilient infrastructure and restoring natural habitats, which help realize the vision of The Living City.
The team has expertise in construction project delivery, erosion risk management, restoration, and enabling professional services that include soils, archaeology, design and surveying. TRCA is uniquely positioned to provide high quality and cost effective end-to-end capital works, in addition to longer-term partnership programs that mitigate risk and improve ecological health throughout our jurisdiction. Anil’s focus with the team and our partners is to ensure that both our physical and natural infrastructure is better prepared for climate-change impacts.
Anil holds a Master’s of Urban & Regional Planning and an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from Queen’s University. Anil is a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and Canadian Institute of Planners and also sits on the Patient Safety and Quality Committee of the Board at Sinai Health System.
Richard Ubbens
Director, Parks and Culture
Office Phone: 416-661-6600 ext. 5672
Richard.Ubbens@trca.caAdministrative Coordinator: Amanda Lazarevski
Amanda.Lazarevski@trca.ca | 416-661-6600 ext. 6425
Richard Ubbens is the Director of Parks and Culture at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Richard provides leadership to a dedicated team of professionals who operate and manage the Conservation Parks, camp grounds, Black Creek Pioneer Village and Bathurst Glen Golf Course. Management, protection and sustainability of wonderful parks, trails and activities for the purposes of excellent recreational and learning opportunities for area residents and tourists to the region are some of the primary focus areas of the Parks and Culture division. The team is integral in purposing green space for community enjoyment and integrating recreational activity with nature and learning – from pre-settlement days to present day. Recognizing the incredible value that nature and learning bring to societal well being and health, Richard guides his team to care for and respect the resources we manage and the communities who visit and use them.
Richard holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Toronto and is a Registered Professional Forester (R.P.F.) with the Ontario Professional Foresters Association.
Darryl Gray
Director, Education and Training
Office Phone: 416-661-6600 ext. 5881
Darryl.Gray@trca.caAdministrative Coordinator: Sabrina Pariselli
Sabrina.Pariselli@trca.ca | 416-661-6600 ext. 5924
Darryl Gray is the Director of Education and Training at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Darryl provides leadership to a diverse team that supports TRCA’s vision for The Living City and focuses on improving access to learning opportunities for all throughout our jurisdiction. These initiatives include school programs, educational outreach, stewardship, youth employment and mentorship, professional training for new Canadians and industry practitioners, sustainable technology performance evaluation and TRCA’s accessibility program.
Chief among Darryl’s goals is to strengthen TRCA’s role as a leader in education and training through the redevelopment of TRCA education facilities and programs in community learning with an emphasis on building partnerships to improve health, learning and economic outcomes through an environmental and sustainability lens in the communities we serve.
Darryl holds a Bachelor of Arts from McMaster University and is presently completing a Diploma in Municipal Administration.
Sameer Dhalla
Director, Development and Engineering Services
Office Phone: 416-661-6600 ext. 5350
Sameer.Dhalla@trca.caAdministrative Coordinator: Lisa Facini
Lisa.Facini@trca.on.ca | 416-661-6600 ext. 5566
Sameer Dhalla is the Director of Development and Engineering Services at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Sameer provides leadership to an integrated team of engineers, planners and scientists who utilize watershed management and municipal planning to protect our communities from natural hazards (flooding and erosion), safeguard our water resources and create complete communities that integrate nature and the built environment.
Sameer leads TRCA’s flood management and mitigation program and is responsible for land use planning and permitting pursuant to TRCA’s regulation and policies. Sameer holds a Bachelor of Science in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Guelph and is a licensed professional engineer with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).
Laurie Nelson
Director, Policy Planning
Office Phone: 416-661-6600 ext. 5281
Laurie.Nelson@trca.caAdministrative Assistant: Cindy Barr
Cindy.Barr@trca.ca | 416-661-6600 ext. 5569
Laurie Nelson is the Director of Policy Planning at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Laurie provides leadership to a diverse team to ensure that TRCA’s policy development, input and review functions are informed by the latest watershed research, and by the strategic objectives of managing water resources, natural heritage systems and natural hazards, creating complete communities, and facilitating a region-wide approach to sustainability to support TRCA’s Living City vision. Laurie serves on provincial, municipal and Conservation Ontario committees related to policy and conservation authority related initiatives, growth management and specialized planning studies.
Laurie holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Geography from Trent University. She is a Registered Professional Planner and a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.
Natalie Blake
Chief Human Resources Officer
Office Phone: 416-661-6600 ext. 5374
Natalie.Blake@trca.caHR Coordinator: Gurpreet Makar
Gurpreet.Makar@trca.ca | 416-661-6600 ext. 5701
Natalie Blake is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Natalie provides strategic advice, guidance and leadership in all HR areas, including the formulation, implementation and administration of strategic human resources initiatives.
Natalie holds a degree in Psychology from York University and a certificate in Human Resources Management, Change Management and Advanced Dispute Resolution. Natalie is a Certified Prosci Change Management Expert.
Natalie is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association and holds a CHRL designation.