Three Brock University leaders have received national recognition for their work in advancing decarbonization and sustainability initiatives on campus.

Vice-President of Administration and Services Scott Johnstone, Associate Vice-President of Facilities Management Mary Quintana and Director of Utilities and Services Drew Cullen have received the 2027 Canada’s Clean50 Award in the Building category.

Brock University and the team also accepted the Clean50 GHG Reductions Champion Award, which recognizes demonstrated leadership in greenhouse gas reductions.

Overall, the group was applauded for raising the sustainability bar through their work, which dates back almost a decade.

From rebuilding the campus cogeneration plant to a District Energy System electrification project, these initiatives cut campus emissions by 67 per cent while preventing $5 million in future carbon costs and safeguarding $1.7 billion in campus assets. Beyond innovative infrastructure projects, the blackPAC energy dashboard has transformed Brock into a living laboratory for energy literacy.

The University is now also delivering the SPARK (sustainability, performance, adaptation, renewal and knowledge) clean infrastructure program. The three-year initiative will see campus greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 83 per cent by 2028, surpassing the University’s initial target of a 75 per cent reduction by 2030 (compared to a 2013 baseline). The initiative will also cut energy usage by 60 per cent.

Johnstone was chosen for the honour based on his executive vision and institutional leadership behind SPARK, aligning decarbonization with infrastructure renewal, securing support and funding, and establishing the partnerships and governance needed to advance the ambitious Brock campus transformation.

Helping turn Brock’s decarbonization vision into an executable strategy, Quintana was recognized for shaping solutions, aligning resources and partners, and helping to secure the funding and institutional support needed to deliver lasting change.

With energy and decarbonization as a core priority, Cullen was honoured for driving successful projects, bringing together the technical expertise and internal and external partners needed to turn Brock’s sustainability vision into action.

“The Clean50 honourees come from such a broad array of backgrounds, such that only a few individuals are able to be recognized within any given category.  To receive a Clean50 award is truly indicative of nation-wide and personal leadership in the Building category,” says CEO of Delta Management Group Gavin Pitchford.

The leading environment, social and governance, sustainability and clean technology search firm Delta Management Group founded and remains the steward of the Canada’s Clean50 awards. Created in 2011, the annual awards identify, recognize and connect 50 sustainability leaders from every sector to facilitate understanding, collaboration and innovation in the fight to keep climate change impacts below 1.5 degrees C. Ancillary awards also recognize 20 Emerging Leaders and the 30 Top Sustainability Projects of the year as well as five Lifetime Achievement designations. In all, the Clean50 awards have now recognized more than 1,250 individuals and 300 projects.