Iain M.

National Senior Manager, Public Policy and Business Development - Canada @ Tesla

About

Iain has been developing leading public policy in the fields of environment, climate change and urban planning for over a decade. He is presently part of Tesla’s Canadian leadership team and oversees Tesla’s public policy, government affairs and other external relations activities in the country. In this role Iain works with environmental groups, like-minded companies, associations, municipalities, provinces and the federal government with the objective of reducing air pollution and accelerating the adoption of sustainable energy and electric mobility. Iain is also Tesla's global lead for robotaxi transportation services policy and supports the Asia-Pacific policy team on air emissions and regulatory credit policy (clean fuel, zero emission vehicle, and greenhouse gas). Prior to joining Tesla, Iain served as Director of Policy in the Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Ontario). The main initiatives Iain led included the setting of an ambitious 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target (the first legislated 2030 target in Canada), the establishment of Ontario’s “cap and trade” system to reduce greenhouse gas pollution -- along with its linkage to California and Quebec programs, the Climate Change Mitigation and Low Carbon Economy Act and the Ontario Climate Change Action Plan (2016). In this role Iain also advised the federal government on matters related to carbon markets and “internationally traded mitigation outcomes” during the landmark UNFCCC Paris Conference of the Parties in 2015. In previous roles Iain has advised on the modernization and electrification of rail transit in Ontario. This included “GO Regional Express Rail,” a 10-year program to transition commuter rail in the province from infrequent diesel service to an electric two-way, all day, regional rapid transit service. As a senior planner and team lead at the Canadian Urban Institute, Iain advised towns and cities on matters related to infrastructure planning, economic recovery and environmental sustainability. Iain holds degrees in Economic Geography, Political Science (University of Toronto) and Urban Planning (Ryerson University/TMU). Iain is a past-practicing full member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.

Country

Canada

City

Oakville

Industry

Public Policy

Skill

Autonomous Vehicles, Project Management, Transportation Planning, Public Policy, Urban Planning, Strategic Planning, Economic Development, Environmental Policy, Policy Analysis, Public Relations, Photography, Policy, Report Writing, Strategy, Analysis, Research, Sustainability, Strategic Communications, Data Analysis, Urban Design

Experience

National Senior Manager, Public Policy and Business Development - Canada

Tesla

2020-2 - Present · 6 yrs 8 mos

Canada

Leading Tesla's public policy, government affairs and stakeholder relations work in Canada. Member of Tesla's Canadian leadership team. Global policy lead for Robotaxi.

National Manager for Policy & Government Relations, Canada

Tesla

2017-2 - 2020-2 · 3 yrs 1 mo

Toronto, Canada Area

Leading Tesla's public policy, government affairs and stakeholder relations work in Canada. Member of Tesla's Canadian leadership team.

Director of Policy, Office of the Minister

Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change

2014-9 - 2017-1 · 2 yrs 5 mos

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Principal Advisor for Climate Change and Director of Policy in the Minister's Office. Led policy & design work to implement Ontario's first price on carbon, the first legislated 2030 GHG reduction target in Canada and the establishment of Ontario's climate action plan (2016).

Director of Policy, Minister's Office

Ontario Ministry of Transportation & Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure

2013-3 - 2014-9 · 1 yr 7 mos

Toronto, Canada Area

Led the policy development of Ontario's rail electrification strategy, "Regional Express Rail." Senior advisor to Ministers of Infrastructure and Ministers of Transportation, the Hon. Glen Murray, the Hon. Steven Del Duca, and the Hon. Brad Duguid, and Director of Policy in the Ministers' Offices.

Director of Policy, Minister's Office

Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

2011-11 - 2013-2 · 1 yr 4 mos

Senior advisor to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, the Hon. John Milloy, and Director of Policy in the Minister's Office.

Senior Policy Advisor, Minister's Office

Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation

2010-11 - 2011-11 · 1 yr 1 mo

Toronto, Ontario

Key advisor in the development of Ontario's Regional Innovation Centres program, development of Ontario's Social Innovation Strategy

Senior Planner, Policy & Innovation

Canadian Urban Institute

2009-8 - 2010-10 · 1 yr 3 mos

Managed teams to develop infrastructure and economic development strategies for Canadian municipalities. Led the expansion of the Institute's geographic information systems (GIS) analysis capacity. Brought cutting edge qualitative research techniques to support strong quantitative geographic analysis. Iain also undertook work to develop and communicate leading urban planning policy and was published in the Journal of the Ontario Professional Planner’s Institute multiple times.

Urban Planner

Canadian Urban Institute

2006-9 - 2009-8 · 3 yrs

Responsibilities included research, data collection; analysis, (specializing in qualitative data), policy review, policy development, strategic planning and report writing associated with a series of Institute initiatives.

Research Assistant to George Kapelos, Chair of Architectural Sciences

Ryerson University

2006-6 - 2007-12 · 1 yr 7 mos

Working with Professor George Kapelos (Chair of the Ryerson University Architecture School) I was instrumental in designing and executing the research portion of an independent program evaluation of the City's Clean and Beautiful City Initiative. This role has lead to a published academic paper (above) and a second forthcoming paper is expected.

Lighting Designer & Technical Director (Assistant Technical Director, prior)

Isabel Bader Theatre, Toronto

2001-6 - 2006-2 · 4 yrs 9 mos

Toronto

Client-facing role; ensured client lighting and technical needs were met for live production and film; managed crew teams; ensured health and safety of in house staff and clients alike.