Sam is the founder of Retooling the U.S. Housing Industry and author of “Housing 2.0: Home Is Where Life Happens.” He is widely known for his accomplishments as national director of ENERGY STAR Certified Home and Zero Energy Ready Home for the U.S. EPA and DOE, respectively. During his 20-plus years as a licensed architect, he specialized in energy efficient design, completing over 100 high-performance residential projects. Sam’s contributions to sustainable housing were recognized by the prestigious Hanley Award in 2012 and EEBA Legend Award in 2019.

Chris Magwood is obsessed with helping reverse climate change by making carbon-storing buildings that are also healthy, beautiful, efficient and inspiring and assisting others to do the same.

In 2022, Chris joined the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Embodied Carbon initiative within RMI’s Carbon-Free Buildings team.

In 2019, he co-founded Builders for Climate Action and has been leading the development of the BEAM carbon estimator tool for low-rise construction. He is working closely with many levels of government to develop embodied carbon benchmarks and regulatory programs, and helping developers and builders figure out how to reverse climate change with their buildings.

From 2011-2022, Chris was a director and teacher at The Endeavour Centre, a not-for-profit sustainable building school

Chris has authored seven books on sustainable building and is co-editor of the Sustainable Building Essentials series from New Society Publishers. His new book, Building Beyond Zero: New Ideas for Carbon-Smart Architecture, is co-authored with Bruce King and published by Island Press.

In 1998 he co-founded Camel’s Back Construction, a design-build firm focused on straw bale construction and renewable energy.

Chris has completed an MA at Trent University. His thesis, Opportunities for Carbon Removal and Storage in Building Materials was published in the fall of 2019.

Chris is an active speaker and workshop instructor in Canada and internationally.

We are excited to welcome keynote speaker Roger Ballentine, President of Green Strategies Inc., where he provides management consulting services to corporate and financial sector clients on sustainability strategy; decarbonization; investment and transaction evaluation; clean energy procurement strategies; and the integration of energy and environmental policy considerations into business strategy.

Previously, Roger has served as a senior member of the White House staff, advising on Environmental Initiatives, he has been an Adjunct Professor of Law teaching energy and climate law, and has filled various board roles focusing on sustainability and renewable energy.

Over the years, Roger has helped some of the world’s leading companies and institutions increase competitiveness and manage market and regulatory risk through cutting edge energy and sustainability strategies. Using his expertise and deep relationships, Roger has helped clients develop better business strategies, make better investment decisions, negotiate new business partnerships, build critical alliances with stakeholders, and develop and implement clean energy and other sustainability measures that achieve corporate buy-in and yield bottom-line value.