Shannon Betts, Manager of Policy and Enforcement, Solid Waste Resources, HRM

With a commitment to excellence in public service, Shannon has spent the last 20 years developing and implementing waste reduction policy, education, and programs in Halifax.

As Manager of Policy & Enforcement with Halifax Solid Waste, Shannon is responsible for measures that include C&D diversion, ICI compliance, illegal dumping and litter. She is currently leading a comprehensive Strategy Review to align HRM’s waste reduction goals with those of the HalifACT Climate Action plan.

Shannon is a graduate of Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, holding a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology. In addition to active roles with the Waste Resource Association of Nova Scotia, the NS Municipal-Provincial Priorities Working Group, and Divert NS’s Litter Advisory Committee, she has represented Halifax on food loss and packaging working groups with the National Zero Waste Council.

Marcos Badra, Program Manager, Circle Economy, City of Richmond

Marcos Alejandro Badra is the Program Manager, Circular Economy for the City of Richmond. Marcos' ​​passions include sustainability, circular economy, economic growth, and social development. With over 15 years of experience working in a circular economy, he has experience with material flow, life cycle assessment, zero waste programs, environmental risk assessment, environmental management systems, human development, and community engagement. He has worked in and with numerous industries (chemistry, pharmaceuticals, automotive, energy, food and beverage, pulp and paper, and mining) and policymakers in Latin America and Europe. In addition to circular economy and sustainability, he is experienced in partnership building, stakeholder engagement, and human development. Marcos holds a BSc in Environmental Management, an MSc in Project Design, Management and Administration, and an MSc in International Cooperation for Project Management. He is a prospective MSc graduate in Sustainability Development Management from Blas Pascal University.

Ashlee Cooper, (Formerly) Manager of Food Equity and Community Resilience, City of Guelph

From 2019 - 2024, Ashlee Cooper worked on Guelph-Wellington’s circular economy initiative, Our Food Future. As the Manager, Food Equity and Community Resilience, she oversaw data collection and reporting as well as an array of circular food economy programs aimed at increasing food access and making circular economy theory and practice palatable to the general public. She worked closely with community food advocates to start the Food System Resiliency Table, a regional food policy council and also guided the development of the Charter for Food Justice.

Prior to this role, Ashlee worked in the nonprofit sector where she developed and delivered a broad spectrum of programs to address complex local food issues. Ashlee is a participatory design and community engagement specialist, bringing over 15 years of commitment to community food and regenerative agriculture. Ashlee believes that the circular economy is a powerful tool for social justice, an antidote to climate catastrophe and provides needed opportunities to bring diverse groups of people together.