The creation of Windfall was inspired by a vision of healthy communities, where economic, social, and environmental needs achieve balance through social innovation, community partnership, and community action.

Brent Kopperson, Founder and Executive Director, Windfall Ecology Centre

Brent's full bio

Kyle Mennie is the Director of Operations at Windfall Ecology Centre, whose passion for promoting environmentally sustainable communities has led to his blossoming career. He holds an HBA in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of Waterloo, with a Minor in Biology and Diploma of Excellence in GIS. With a diverse background in Protected Areas Conservation, Outdoor Education, Geographic Information Systems, and Environmental Consulting, Kyle plays a multifaced role at Windfall, designing and delivering innovative climate change solutions for energy efficiency and stormwater management.

Erin Shapero is an award-winning sustainability leader, policy advisor, educator, and strategic partnership builder with more than two decades of experience advancing environmental protection, clean energy, climate action, and sustainable communities across Canada. She has worked across municipal, provincial, federal, and international spheres, bringing together environmental, economic, and community priorities to advance practical solutions.

As a three-term member of Markham City Council, Erin helped advance the city’s sustainability and innovation agenda, including the development of one of Ontario’s first Integrated Community Sustainability Plans and the establishment of Ontario’s first Municipal Office of Energy Efficiency. She has also held leadership roles with Environmental Defence Canada, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and ICLEI Canada, and served as an advisor to the Ontario Greenbelt Council. At Windfall, Erin leads strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives focused on climate resilience, energy transition, sustainable communities, and environmental innovation.

Jodi has a successful career in Finance, spanning over three decades both in for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Although she initially had her sights on Art and Art History, Jodi switched to Accounting, which has availed her with a rewarding and impressive portfolio of experience from working in different capacities in Finance. After years in the for-profit space, she changed focus to not-for-profit, leading to her journey at Windfall Centre, which started over ten years ago. As Financial Administrator at Windfall Centre, Jodi has successfully navigated many of our projects, including executing daily financial duties, performing required reporting and managing our general office requirements. She is very passionate about her family, nature and environmental protection.

Lolade is an astute Marketing Communications professional with extensive experience spanning Strategic Advisory, Marketing Strategy, Public Relations, Corporate Communications, Change Management, Web Publishing, and Digital Marketing. As Manager, Communications, she leads the development and execution of Windfall Centre’s organization-wide and program-specific communications and marketing strategies, overseeing brand positioning, content, media relations, and digital engagement. Lolade holds a B.Sc. in Mass Communication from Covenant University, Nigeria, and an MBA (Management) from the University of St Mark and St John, England.

She is also a Certified Change Management Professional. Her communications career began over a decade ago in Nigeria, where she held cross-functional roles as a Public Relations Executive and Content Developer at Mediacraft Associates Limited, later rising to Senior Editor, Communication & Content Strategist. A creative at heart, Lolade continually hones her craft and volunteers as Director of Communications for social impact organisations. Outside work, she enjoys family time and arts and crafts.

Yasmine Hawz holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies, with a specialization in Environmental Management, Policy, Resources, and Conservation, as well as a Certificate in Sustainable Energy from York University. In 2023, she earned a Master’s degree in Climate Change from the University of Waterloo. Yasmine has extensive experience in environmental policy analysis, research, and stakeholder engagement.

She has addressed a variety of environmental issues, including economic and policy research, most notably serving as a Junior Policy Analyst with Environment and Climate Change Canada in the International Affairs Branch. Yasmine is deeply committed to driving positive change by fostering environmental action that mitigates the adverse impacts of climate change, both locally and globally. She is particularly passionate about promoting climate action at the community level to advance sustainability, build resilience, and support environmental justice. Outside of work, Yasmine enjoys spending time in nature with her friends and family.

Eric, an environmental development enthusiast, holds a BA(Hons) in Environmental and Urban Sustainability from Ryerson University. He recently launched his career in the Environmental sustainability sphere as 'Home Energy Program Coordinator' at Windfall Centre. Although seemingly new to the professional side of things, Eric possesses substantial practical knowledge of the field, which he applies to his job. Passionate about 'all things' climate change solutions and environmental sustainability, Eric anticipates a fulfilling career alongside his current focus of bringing energy efficiency to his community. He is also very keen on animal conservation and plans to take on the challenge as a pet project while progressively building his career here at Windfall Centre.

Joanne Simpson is a Program Support and Engagement Coordinator at Windfall Ecology Centre with a long standing commitment to environmental sustainability and community conservation. Her passion for recycling, upcycling, energy conservation, and supporting local businesses has shaped both her personal values and professional approach to creating more sustainable communities.

Before returning to Windfall, Joanne worked in the Interior Design and Land Development industries, where she championed practical, energy efficient, and environmentally responsible solutions in residential and commercial projects. She previously spent seven years with Windfall Centre, contributing to the EcoEnergy Program and serving as Festival Coordinator, where she helped engage communities in sustainability initiatives. Joanne is excited to be back at Windfall, continuing to support homeowners and communities in building a more sustainable future.

Natalie Tong is an EWRB Outreach and Support Coordinator at Windfall Ecology Centre supporting outreach and engagement initiatives that advance energy efficiency and climate action. She has a background in environmental planning, sustainability, community engagement, and policy research. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Environmental Studies in Planning from the University of Waterloo. Her master’s research explored the effectiveness of municipal policies in addressing urban heat challenges in the City of Toronto, combining policy research, program evaluation, and community engagement.

Before joining Windfall, Natalie worked with government and non-profit organizations across the environment, sustainability, and Indigenous sectors, where she focused on research, stakeholder engagement, and policy analysis. She is passionate about sustainable, equitable, and inclusive community development and brings a thoughtful, research-informed approach to understanding environmental challenges and identifying practical solutions. Outside of work, Natalie enjoys journaling, travelling, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Kasper is a Registered Energy Advisor (REA) at Windfall Ecology Centre, holding additional qualifications for multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) and serving as a Quality Assurance Specialist (QAS). He delivers EnerGuide services across the Greater Toronto Area, supporting clients through home retrofit projects with clear, unbiased, building-science–based guidance and support navigating available incentive programs.

His role also includes community outreach, education, and ensuring the quality and consistency of EnerGuide services provided by the organization. Before joining Windfall Centre, Kasper worked in the home renovation and retrofit industry, where he developed a strong interest in building science and education. He has continued to earn excellent reviews from satisfied clients and is known for providing practical, value-driven advice. Outside of work, Kasper enjoys DIY home renovations, tinkering and repairs, gaming of all kinds, and gardening with his wife as they work toward creating a rain garden and functional outdoor space.

Bart holds a BMath (Hons) degree in Actuarial Science(Finance Option) and Statistics from the University of Waterloo and an MSc in Statistics from the University of Toronto. Before joining Windfall Centre as Data Science Associate, Bart participated in numerous financial research projects, supporting the projects with his statistical, programming, and analytical skills and expertise. Bart is passionate about data science and sustainability and enjoys providing suitable and effective climate change solutions through proper data analysis on societal and environmental data. He thrives on helping communities by offering data science support in community projects. In addition, he is interested in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is eager to connect the AI-based business applications to Windfall Centre’s daily operations.

Chris Lew is an Application Developer at Windfall Ecology Centre, where he applies his software development expertise to support innovative environmental initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Mathematics in Computational Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, where he built a strong foundation in systems design, programming, and analytical problem-solving. With experience across backend, full-stack, and DevOps development, Chris currently specializes in building and maintaining solutions using the Microsoft Power Platform. He is passionate about developing tools that streamline complex workflows and help advance Windfall’s mission of environmental sustainability. Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time with friends and family and exploring the world, often through Google Maps.

DJ is the Energy program Coordinator at Windfall Centre. He holds a B.Tech degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and PG certifications in Energy and Sustainability Management. Dj is well on his way to bagging a Master's degree in Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo. Before joining us, he worked on energy conservation projects for Toronto Community Housing and the Toronto Zoo and worked extensively as an Energy Auditor for the Save On Energy programs. Despite his educational background in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, DJ is very enthusiastic about environmental development and sustainability actions. He thrives on finding lasting solutions to a cleaner economy through sustainability initiatives and effective engagement strategies with his curious and innovative mind.