Below find information about the team members who make up the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation.
Kathryn Bakos, Managing Director, Finance and Resilience
As Managing Director, Finance and Resilience, Kathryn’s work is driving novel insights at the intersection of climate change and finance. Kathryn’s work includes pioneering research to quantify the impact of flooding on Canada’s residential real estate sector and mortgage markets and developing innovative frameworks to mitigate risk and embed climate preparedness into decision-making for investors. Kathryn’s work has had national and international influence, informing all levels of government, regulators, supervisors, investors, financial institutions, communities, and homeowners on how to adapt more effectively to a changing climate. Kathryn’s international efforts focus on regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America.
Kathryn holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto and Master of Environment and Business degree from the University of Waterloo. Kathryn also holds the Canadian Securities Course certification. In her previous role with an affiliate of Raymond James Financial, Kathryn integrated Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) factors into investment portfolios, led business analysis, and developed advisory and client platforms across Canada and the United States.
Kathryn is a Ted Talk speaker, and a recipient of Clean50’s Emerging Leader 2023 award. She also serves on various committees and councils, such as the Canadian General Standards Board, CAN 9700-700 Technical Committee Managing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Criteria, ISO 331 Biodiversity Mirror Committee, Ontario Biodiversity Council, Canadian Association of Farm Advisors, and others.
Recognized as a subject matter expert on climate adaptation, Kathryn is frequently sought after by the media for her insights: Globe and Mail, Financial Post, iPolitics, TVO: The Agenda with Steve Paikin, CTV News, Global News, and more.
Email: kbakos@uwaterloo.ca
Phone: 519-572-1463
Dr. Anabela Bonada, Manager and Research Associate
Dr. Bonada leads research that integrates science, project management, risk assessment and policy to understand and adapt to a changing climate. Dr. Bonada engages with scientists, government officials, and community stakeholders to implement practical solutions that address climate challenges, with a focus on wildfire, extreme heat, flooding and erosion, and nature-based solutions.
Dr. Bonada brings extensive experience and education to the field of climate science. She holds a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Guelph, where her research focused on the effect that climate change has on tree growth, which gave her insights on the repercussions of extreme events, such as drought and wildfire, on forest ecosystems. Furthermore, Dr. Bonada earned her B.Sc. in Environmental Science from the University of Waterloo and holds a Diploma in Ecosystem Management from Fleming College. Dr. Bonada sits on the National Research Council of Canada (NRC)’s Resilient Residential Retrofit Advisory Committee. Additionally, Dr. Bonada is the Vice Chair on the Board of Directors, of the Canadian Association of Professionals in Climate Change (CAPCC).
Recognized as a subject matter expert on climate adaptation measures, Dr. Bonada is frequently sought after by the media for her insights: CTV News, CBC, The Globe and Mail, and more.
Email: abonada@uwaterloo.ca
Phone: 519-574-3631
Joanna Eyquem, Managing Director, Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
Joanna is Managing Director of Climate-Resilient Infrastructure, and is also responsible for the Intact Centre’s activities in Quebec. Joanna is bilingual (English and French) and her focus areas include: (1) mobilizing flood-resilience for homes, new and existing communities, and commercial real estate; (2) promoting retention of natural infrastructure to mitigate flood risk, (3) promoting programs to limit wildfire risk; (4) developing programs to limit risk of extreme heat; and (5) incorporating climate risk into institutional investing, credit rating assessments and securities disclosure.
Joanna has 20 years of professional experience in environmental consultancy in Canada and the UK, combining technical expertise in climate adaptation, natural hazard management, hydrogeomorphology and freshwater habitat rehabilitation. Prior to joining the Intact Centre, she was Climate Change Practice Lead at AECOM and previously held roles at Parish Geomorphic Ltd (now Matrix Solutions), Royal Haskoning DHV and Jacobs Engineering. Joanna holds an MSc in Environmental Technology (Water Option) from Imperial College London and a BSc in Geography (Earth Sciences) from the University of Exeter, UK. Joanna is a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.), Chartered Water and Environmental Manager (CWEM) and Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv.) She has been based in Montreal since 2009 and represents the Intact Centre on the InterSectoriel Flood Network of Quebec (RIISQ).
Email: joanna.eyquem@uwaterloo.ca
Phone: 514-268-0873
Dr. Blair Feltmate, Head
Dr. Feltmate is the Head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo. Previous positions he has held include Vice President, Sustainable Development, Bank of Montreal; Director, Sustainable Development, Ontario Power Generation; Partner, Sustainable Investment Group/YMG Capital Management. He has written textbooks on Sustainable Banking and Aquatic Ecology.
Dr. Feltmate is on the Advisory Table, National Adaptation Strategy, Canada. He is Sustainable Finance Council member, Global Risk Institute, and he is a member of Climate Proof Canada (Insurance Bureau of Canada). Dr. Feltmate is Expert Member, International ISO Strategic Advisory Group, ESG, and he is on the Science, Innovation and Policy Board of Canada’s Forest Trust. He is on the Climate Advisory Board, Minister of Environment (Ontario). Blair was Chair, Federal Government of Canada Expert Panel on Climate Adaptation.
Dr. Feltmate was a NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow (University of Waterloo). He holds a Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Ecology (University of Toronto), Master’s in Sustainable Development (Wilfrid Laurier University), Master’s in Zoology (University of Toronto), and Hon. Bachelor’s Biology (University of Toronto). He is generally interviewed by the media 100 times per year on climate change/ESG related issues.
Email: bfeltmate@uwaterloo.ca
Phone: 226-339-3506
Caroline Metz, Managing Director, Economics and Resilience
Caroline is the Managing Director of Economics and Resiliency. Caroline focuses on determining how adaptation to limit physical climate risk translates into economic impact and jobs creation in Canada, with economic impact considered for home, community, Canada’s FireSmart protection, extreme heat protection, and natural infrastructure.
Caroline has over 20 years of project leadership experience working with organizations in the public and private sectors in Canada and the US, in healthcare and environment arenas, to solve complex business problems and implement systemic change. She has held management consulting roles at Ramboll (formerly ENVIRON), PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Deloitte, and prior to joining the Intact Centre she led strategic planning and implementation of innovative healthcare programs at Sinai Health and Cancer Care Ontario. Caroline holds an MSc in Earth Sciences (hydrogeology) from the University of Waterloo, and an BSE in Civil Engineering from Princeton University. Caroline is also a candidate for the Master of Environment and Business program at the University of Waterloo. She is a Project Management Professional (PMP).
Email: caroline.metz@uwaterloo.ca
Stella Rossiter, Communications and Administrative Coordinator
Stella is a 4th year Environment, Resources and Sustainability co-op undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo. Her previous co-op positions were with the Faculty of Environment as an Alumni Relations Associate and with EDGE as the Digital Content Coordinator. She also runs an eco-friendly jewellery business in her free time.
Email: env-iccp@uwaterloo.ca
Senior Research Associates
Marina Moudrak, Senior Research Associate
Marina supports Intact Centre staff in technical research capacity on a range of projects, including flood-resilient community design, natural infrastructure valuation analysis, as well as city and provincial flood preparedness assessments. Marina co-authored Climate Change and the Preparedness of Canadian Provinces and Yukon to Limit Potential Flood Damage report published by the Intact Centre in 2016. Marina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Riga Technical University (Latvia).
Email: mmoudrak@uwaterloo.ca
Phone: 646-755-9686