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CAN'T FIND SOMETHING? |
James TanseyCEO, Offsetters Clean Technology Inc.Age: 38 As a conference delegate at Globe 2004, James Tansey was surprised that there was no option to purchase offsets when buying a travel ticket. This led him and fellow University of British Columbia professor Hadi Dowlatabadi to start Offsetters Clean Technology Inc., a 20-employee Vancouver-based business that since 2007 has helped hundreds of companies and thousands of individuals understand, measure, reduce and offset their carbon emissions. Tansey has grown Offsetters into a Canadian leader in offset production and sales, with revenues projected to increase fivefold to $2.5 million in 2009 from 2008. And as official carbon-offset supplier to the Winter Olympic Games, the company is beginning to move onto the international stage. For the Olympics, Tansey has pioneered a unique partnership involving several B.C. clean-technology companies, including Nexterra Systems Corp., Ballard Power Systems Inc. and Sempa Power Systems Ltd., who will be showcasing B.C. technology to the world – as well as preventing the emissions of up to 300,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases. Offsetters works with clients to audit their greenhouse-gas emissions and to develop reduction strategies. What can’t be reduced is offset by putting a value on the amount of carbon produced within a company and then investing that amount of money into clean-technology projects outside the company. As executive director of the Centre for Sustainability and Social Innovation at UBC and associate professor at the university’s Sauder School of Business, Tansey has written extensively on the role of public consultation in the governance of industrial societies, industrial ecology, scenario methods and climate change. Offsetters’ clients range from a realtor and a yoga studio to hotels and a couple of airlines. “From a marketing perspective, clients like Harbour Air end up getting a position of leadership among consumers,” he said. “They’re able to attract more business because they’re a leader on climate issues. “The bottom line is most Canadians think that climate change is a real issue. They want to see people doing something about it.” • Birthplace: London, England Where do you live now: Vancouver Highest level of education: PhD in environmental sciences from the University of East Anglia Car or chosen mode of transport: VW Jetta (diesel) and a Dahon folding bike Currently reading: The Cormac McCarthy Blood Meridian series Last CD bought or music downloaded: Fink – Biscuits for Breakfast Favourite movie: Apocalypse Now Favourite local restaurant: Bearfoot Bistro Person you would most like to meet (living or deceased): Charles Darwin Profession you would most like to try: Singer Mentor: Prof. Tim O’Riordan Most memorable career milestone or event: Launching a carbon-neutral Winter Olympics program Toughest business or professional decision: Any time I have to miss an evening or weekend with my kids due to work What’s left to do: Grow the company to a position of North American leadership; master time management This article from Business in Vancouver December 29, 2009-January 4, 2010; issue 1053 Business in Vancouver (www.biv.com) has been publishing in-depth local business news, analysis and commentary since 1989. The newspaper also produces a weekly ranked list of the biggest companies and players in a wide range of B.C. industries and commercial sectors, monthly features and industry-focused sections that arm its subscribers with a complete package of local business intelligence each week. |
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