New Horizons for IISD President and CEO, Scott Vaughan
Scott Vaughan will be leaving the organization to become the new International Chief Advisor of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) in 2019.
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and its Board of Directors announce that Scott Vaughan, our President and CEO, will be leaving the organization to become the new International Chief Advisor of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED). The move is effective end-January 2019.
Over the past five and a half years, Scott has energized IISD, fostering an environment of innovation, collaboration and excellence at the world-class sustainable development think tank. While we are sad to see him go, the Board and staff would like to extend gratitude for his tireless efforts in enabling IISD’s creativity and impact to flourish.
“I speak for the entire Board when I say we are full of great respect and deep appreciation for Scott’s unwavering determination over the last five years. Thanks to his remarkable dedication, IISD stands strong, looking forward to a bright future,” said Alan Young, Chair of IISD’s Board of Directors.
During Scott’s tenure, IISD saved the Experimental Lakes Area, a one-of-a-kind Canadian research facility, from imminent shuttering. IISD now also proudly acts as the Secretariat for the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Metals, Minerals and Sustainable Development, the National Adaptation Plan Global Network—each of which has significantly bolstered IISD’s position to advance the world towards a more sustainable future.
Scott championed the SDG Knowledge Hub, one of the preeminent sources of information for the public on implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Working with staff across the globe, Scott pioneered diverse funding models and cemented the Institute’s dedication to gender equality and women’s empowerment, both internally and in every aspect of our work.
“IISD is one of the world’s leading sustainable development think tanks, and I am so proud that we continue to attract and retain the best and brightest talent. The time is right for a change, given our strategic plan renewal and the rise of a new generation of leaders,” Scott said. “I have truly looked forward to coming into the office every single morning, to be inspired by our smart, gutsy and principled team.”
As Board Chair, Alan will lead the succession planning process.
“We thank Scott sincerely for his visionary leadership, substantive contributions and the very human approach he brought to the presidency,” he said. “We wish and anticipate only the best for him in his new endeavour and look forward to working with him in future.”
You might also be interested in
Midpoint of the UN Tax Convention Negotiations: Where do talks stand?
The negotiations for a new UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation have hit their halfway point. Here's a look at where things stand, what was on the table this round, and what's coming next.
Canadian Exporters Face New Reporting Costs as Carbon Border Taxes Multiply
The European Union’s carbon border tax will add new compliance costs for Canadian businesses that trade certain products, especially steel and aluminum, to the bloc. The increased costs—linked to differing demands for measuring, reporting, and verifying a product’s greenhouse gas emissions across the growing number of countries adopting border carbon adjustment (BCA) mechanisms—“make it tough for any exporter to those markets,” Aaron Cosbey, senior associate at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), told The Energy Mix.
Experimental Lakes gets $2M for major facilities upgrade
A one-of-a-kind research station is studying small lakes to inform freshwater science all over the world is getting a new facility with more space for scientists and students. Located between Dryden and Kenora, the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s Experimental Lakes Area allows scientists and students to run experiments on 58 small lakes in the area.
Province investing $2M to ‘ensure northwestern Ontario remains a global leader in freshwater science and research’
The Government of Ontario is making a targeted investment to “strengthen northern Ontario's leadership in freshwater science, support research and innovation and create new educational and economic opportunities in the region.” On Aug. 13, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) — a regional granting subsidiary of the provincial government — announced that it will be investing $2 million to build a new Centre for Climate and Lake Learning at the International Institute for Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), which is located about halfway between Kenora and Dryden.