We work with building owners and developers, construction professionals and general contractors to create regenerative communities and buildings that give back to the environment and promote human health and well-being. With our diverse technical expertise, we help our clients with environmental design, select and attain building certifications that meet their environmental objectives, as well as facilitate strategic visioning and planning for new projects. Our experienced team of accredited specialists has successfully guided hundreds of building projects to achieve certification under LEED, BuiltGreen, WELL, fitwel, TRUE, Living Building Challenge and other certification frameworks. We also conduct life cycle analysis and emissions calculations to support our clients’ carbon reduction goals. Our proven track record ensures our work is on time and on budget while maximizing project sustainability goals.
At Light House, we create built environments that reuse and reduce building materials, eliminate waste and greenhouse gas emissions, generate energy, support occupant health and wellness and restore nature.
We are also leaders in accelerating our world to a circular built environment. We conduct advanced research on circular innovation in building policy and practice. Our seasoned team works directly with all levels of government and building industry stakeholders providing policy advice, market assessments, stakeholder facilitation and customized education programs to integrate circular thinking into the life of buildings and the communities in which they exist.
Our Team
Our team of experts has the passion and dedication to help you reach your sustainability goals.
Joanne Sawatzky LEED® AP BD+C (2002), Built Green HD Verifier, CPHC
Managing Director, Regenerative Built EnvironmentJoanne leads the Light House regenerative team, providing regenerative visioning and technical expertise on Light House projects. She draws from her 20+ years of experience in the green building industry, finding ways to elevate built environments to nurture both human and ecological health. With a background in architecture, building science and energy-efficient buildings, Joanne is especially familiar with the construction of building systems, materials and assemblies. Although she enjoys getting into the details, Joanne identifies success when teams work together to unlock big underlying sustainability goals. Joanne holds a Bachelor of Technology, Architectural Science, Building Science (Ryerson University, 1999) and a Master of Science in Energy Efficient Building (Oxford Brookes UK, 2002).
Gil Yaron, LLM, LLB, BA.Sc
Managing Director, Strategic InitiativesGil brings a strategic and wholistic lens to designing innovative solutions to challenges facing clients related to sustainable building policy and practice. His work spans more than 30 years in green building, waste management, extended producer responsibility, product development, communications and governance; assisting government and industry clients in maximizing project outcomes, whether educational, financial or environmental. Gil holds a Bachelor of Laws (1996) and Master of Laws (2000).
Shijie Wang BSc, MEng, LEED® AP BD+C, CEM®, WELL™ AP
Project ManagerShijie Wang has worked in the sustainability industry for over eight years, gaining experience in green building rating systems, health and wellness, embodied carbon, and energy efficiency. A seasoned project manager, Shijie is passionate about advancing regenerative design and circular economy. Shijie holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics (Jilin University, 2007) and a Master’s degree in Building Engineering (Concordia University, 2019).
Dr. Adrian Lopera-Valle, PhD
Circular Innovation LeadAdrian is a mission-driven engineer with a decade of expertise in implementing innovative sustainable materials and manufacturing solutions. He has dedicated his career to the ideation and development of products and systems that fit circular and sustainability models. Adrian holds a Bachelor's (National University of Colombia, 2012) and a Master's (University of Alberta, 2015) in mechanical engineering and a Doctorate in materials engineering (U of A, 2019).
Caroline Chan, B.Eng
Project CoordinatorCaroline works on building certification projects, liaising closely with clients, designers and contractors to achieve their building sustainability goals around human and ecological health. Caroline has a rich background in building systems design, structural engineering design and construction project management with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics, in Civil Engineering (McGill, 2013).
Marissa Nahanee
Community Engagement ManagerMíkw'achi7m (Marissa) Nahanee is a member of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) & Nisg̱a’a Nations. She brings a diverse background as an accomplished indigenous artist and language and cultural coordinator. Marissa has served as Cultural Coordinator for the Squamish Nation and Client Relations Manager for Indigenous Community for Leadership and Community. She has more than 20 years experience in public speaking, conducting workshops, traditional native dance, and providing traditional West Coast land acknowledgements at conferences and ceremonies. Marissa also worked with the Four Host First Nations Secretariat (FHFN) during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on projects, including the Indigenous Youth Gathering in which 300 youth performed in the Olympic Opening Ceremonies.
Jane Zhu
ControllerJane is not a traditional accountant. She has been a CPA, CGA since 2003 with more than 25 years of experience in accounting, management, technology and communication skills. Jane holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Shanghai University) and is happy to work with Light House to contribute to global sustainability.
Board of Directors
James Boothroyd
Boothroyd CommunicationsJames Boothroyd (BA, M.Phil, MA) is Senior Policy Advisor for Metro Vancouver’s ground-breaking National Zero Waste Council, and as a consultant for, among others, the directors of a coalition of 14 major national environmental groups, including WWF, Greenpeace and Pembina. Previously, he managed David Suzuki Foundation’s Communications Department and provided strategic communications services to public health and environmental clients, including the World Health Organization, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the German Technical Cooperation, Canadian HIV Trials Network and Ecojustice. James is the author of Project Green Bloc, a three-year project designed by Riley Park, Vancouver residents, which tests research and activities which address hyper-consumption and climate change.
Bryn Davidson
Principal, Lanefab Design/BuildBryn Davidson (B.Sc., M.Arch., LEED® AP) designs and builds custom energy efficient homes and laneway houses, and acts as a freelance consultant for governments and businesses seeking to address peak oil and climate change impacts. Bryn’s notable clients include the Southern California Association of Governments, TransLink and the Rocky Mountain Institute. Bryn was instrumental in building Vancouver’s first laneway house in 2010, and the first net-zero solar powered laneway house in 2012; Lanefab’s designs are now incorporating purple pipe (greywater) systems and designing to Passivhaus standard. Lanefab’s award-winning (Arthur Erickson Memorial Award 2013, Scotiabank EcoLiving Award 2013, REFBC 2013 Land Award) net positive design is in high demand; Bryn spoke at Tedx Renfrew Collinwood in 2014, and Lanefab’s Dumfries St Solar Lane House was featured in the New York Times on January 22, 2015.
John Holland (Board Chair)
President & CEO, PHH ARC Environmental LtdJohn Holland (P.Eng., C.Eng., LEED® AP) joined the Light House board in 2008 and got to know the Light House team well using Light House’s services at Pinchin Wet on a number of occasions, including facilitating sustainability visioning sessions, developing a model for green leases (which promote shared tenant/landlord responsibility for reducing energy consumption), studying the financial impacts of the BOMA Go Green program and creating a green building toolkit for the RCMP. John sees Light House as a “coherent, ethical, and respected advocate for sustainability” and works hard to guide it toward success. John also serves on the UBC Faculty of Applied Science Technical Advisory Committee, and is a Fellow of Engineers Canada. He is the former Chair of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (APEGBC) Environment Committee and has served on the Sustainability Committee.
Brenda Martens, O.B.C., B.Sc., CSBA, TRUE Advisor, LEED FELLOW
Brenda Martens is a leading sustainability advocate and early adopter of green building practices and has worked on some of the most environmentally progressive and largest projects in B.C., such as the Athletes’ Villages. She was one of the reviewers of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Canada guides and founder of the first company in BC dedicated to providing green building consulting. Martens’ contributions have been peer recognized by her election to the board of the Cascadia Green Building Council and chair of the LEED steering committee. She has developed and delivered several courses through BCIT, including a micro-credential on Applied Circular Economy: Zero Waste Buildings. She has been awarded the National Volunteer Leadership Award in 2013 by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) and LEED Fellow in 2012, one of only 10 Canadians and 226 individuals in the world. She was appointed to the Order of British Columbia in 2018.
Freda Pagani, Ph.D
Architect (retired)Freda Pagani (Ph.D) is an icon in sustainability – she is a founding director of Cascadia Green Building Council, is a Cascadia Fellow and was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in sustainability from the CaGBC. She started the UBC Office of Sustainability, which was the first campus sustainability office in the country, by offering it as a zero-cost proposition to administration and funding it with the energy and water-saving measures she implemented at UBC. Freda is a retired architect and teacher and an active multi-media artist.
Alfred V. Waugh
President Formline ArchitectureAlfred Waugh (Architect AIBC, OAA, MRAIC, LEED® AP) is the president of Formline Architecture, an award-winning architecture firm. The studio specializes in working on environmentally responsible and culturally sensitive projects that reflect and reinforce the values and visions of the client, including the UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre in 2017, the North Island College Aboriginal Gathering Place in 2021, and the Saskatoon Public Library (current). Alfred is Status Indian and part of Treaty 8. He was born and raised in Yellowknife, North West Territories, Canada, and was the first Aboriginal person to graduate with honours from UBC School of Architecture in 1993 and become LEED accredited and a registered architect. Prior to his architecture degree, Alfred acquired a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Urban and Regional Analysis at the University of Lethbridge in 1989. Alfred Waugh was selected by Maclean’s (2021) to be on ‘The Power List – 50 Canadians who are breaking ground, leading the debate and shaping how we think and live’.