Staff Bios
Adam Scott, Director
Adam is a climate change expert with extensive domestic and international experience in policy, energy and finance, as well as campaign design and execution. He has a lifelong commitment to supporting the transition to a zero carbon economy in Canada. At Shift, he works with wide-ranging stakeholders to bring international climate leadership into Canada’s financial sector. Previously, Adam was Senior Advisor to Oil Change International and manager of Environmental Defence Canada’s Climate & Energy program. Adam has advised governments, communicated through national and international media, and published numerous reports focused on various aspects of the energy transition. Adam and his family live in Toronto.
Britt Runeckles, BC Pensions Campaigner
Britt is a passionate advocate for climate action and a strong believer in the power of pension funds to play a leading role in the transition to a zero-carbon economy. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, they have experience organizing and campaigning on university divestment and reinvestment campaigns. Based in Vancouver, Britt is responsible for tracking the investments of Western Canada pension funds and building a network of pension beneficiaries who wish to be informed about the risks that climate change poses to their retirement fund. Britt is committed to working with pension funds across Canada to help them deliver retirement security in a zero-carbon future and use their vast resources to invest in climate solutions. They are excited to work with Shift to help beneficiaries make their voices heard and to ensure that their pensions are invested in a way that protects the planet for future generations.
Cheryl Randall, Digital Campaign Specialist
Cheryl has wide-ranging digital-first campaigns experience as a climate advocate and a legal background in pensions. At Shift, she is focused on using digital campaigns to enable sustainable finance to address the climate crisis. An Oxford University law graduate, Cheryl worked as a pensions lawyer in London, before spending five years working as an Expedition Leader in the polar regions and seeing the impact of climate change first hand. Inspired to action, after moving to Canada she used engagement organizing tactics as Climate Change Campaign Organizer at Ecology Ottawa, and most recently worked at the nexus of climate and economic justice as Digital Campaigns Manager at Leadnow. Originally from the UK, Cheryl now lives and works on the traditional unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people, in what is today known as Ottawa.
Kevin Philipupillai, Program Manager (Research Lead)
Kevin comes to Shift after 12 years as a journalist, most recently covering Canadian federal politics and the energy transition as a member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. As a Master's student at Carleton University, he specialised in collaborative investigations and in tracking the movements of institutional investors. Born in Singapore and now based in Ottawa, Kevin is ready to play a more active role addressing the climate crisis and legacies of environmental racism. He looks forward to bringing you Shift's Climate Pension Quarterly and leading the development of the 2024 Canadian Pension Climate Report Card. Go Raptors.
Laura McGrath, Senior Manager
Laura has extensive experience building and supporting networks to work for meaningful change. At Shift, she works with networks of pension beneficiaries who want to understand and communicate to their pension funds the financial risks that climate change poses. Previously, Laura was Network Engagement Manager at Green Economy Canada, creating supporting infrastructure for community organizations helping businesses set climate targets. She has expertise in coaching, facilitation, and training design and delivery. Laura and her family live in Toronto.
Patrick DeRochie, Senior Manager
Patrick has wide-ranging experience in policy, research, government relations, digital engagement, campaigning, organizing and stakeholder relations with environmental and labour organizations. At Shift, he is focused on tracking and analyzing the fossil fuel and climate-related investments of Canadian pension funds and building a network of pension beneficiaries to invest their retirement savings in a zero-carbon future. Previously, Patrick was Climate and Energy Program Manager with Environmental Defence Canada and Political Organizer with SEIU Healthcare, one of Canada’s largest healthcare labour unions. Patrick has been deeply involved in developing federal and provincial climate and energy policy and regulations and acts as a regular commentator in national media. He splits his time between Toronto and the Saugeen Peninsula.