Alan Young

Since 1990, Alan has worked as a facilitator and strategist for a wide range of conservation groups, Indigenous organizations, communities, progressive companies, and governments across Canada and internationally. His primary focus has been on designing and helping to implement social and environmental sustainability and leadership strategies. His work has included projects throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, and Nordic nations. Alan has expertise in cross-sector collaboration design and facilitation, non-profit organizational resilience, ethical practices certification programs in the forestry and mining sectors, large-scale conservation strategy development, as well as various legislative reform processes in the extractive sectors. Central to his current focus is accelerating circular economy transitions for the minerals sector to supply the materials needed for the transition to a green energy future.

Alan has served on a variety of non-profit organization boards, serving as Chairperson of the International Institute for Sustainable Development from 2014 to 2020, past Chair of the Forest Stewardship Council of Canada, current Chair of the Centre for Science in Public Participation and is a founding Board member of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance. He served as a member of the Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel on Circular Economy in Canada and the Canadian Network of Aquatic Ecosystem Services.

Alan Young served on IISD's Board of Directors for 10 years, six of which were as Board Chair. Alan concluded his time on the IISD board in 2023.