James Gray-Donald
Vice President Sustainability
Bentall Kennedy LP
James is the Vice President, Sustainability at Bentall Kennedy. He helps develop and execute a North American framework for the integration of social and environmental considerations with long term decision making across the organization. This includes topics such as LEED certification, tenant engagement, energy efficiency campaigns, renewable energy, fair labour practices and community engagement. James is one of the conduits of sustainability thought leadership from other sectors such that the existing culture of responsible property investment within Bentall Kennedy continues to innovate and lead.
James brings a global perspective to the area of sustainability. He has worked in the Philippines at the International Rice Research Institute, conducted his masters research on solid waste management in Vietnam, and completed his doctoral research in the inner city of Lima, Peru. He was the Research Coordinator at the Centre for Sustainable Futures (University of Plymouth, U.K.) from 2005-2007 where he provided guidance and project management to 25+ professors and operations staff. Most recently he crafted and executed on a sustainability strategy as the Associate Vice President and Sustainability Leader of Sears Canada where, from 2008 to 2012, he was instrumental in increasing sales of eco-products by $260MM (a compounded annual growth rate >30%) and reducing electricity consumption per square foot by 21.3%.
James brings a global perspective to the area of sustainability. He has worked in the Philippines at the International Rice Research Institute, conducted his masters research on solid waste management in Vietnam, and completed his doctoral research in the inner city of Lima, Peru. He was the Research Coordinator at the Centre for Sustainable Futures (University of Plymouth, U.K.) from 2005-2007 where he provided guidance and project management to 25+ professors and operations staff. Most recently he crafted and executed on a sustainability strategy as the Associate Vice President and Sustainability Leader of Sears Canada where, from 2008 to 2012, he was instrumental in increasing sales of eco-products by $260MM (a compounded annual growth rate >30%) and reducing electricity consumption per square foot by 21.3%.