OUR PEOPLE

Meet the people behind ReCover.

Headshot of Brittany Davison

Brittany Davison

Fractional CFO

Pronouns: She/Her

Brittany Davison is a CPA, CA with over 12 years of progressive financial leadership experience in both the biotech industry and public accounting. Brittany leads her own Fractional CFO practice where she leverages her experience to drive financial success in innovative organizations with impactful missions, including ReCover.

 Prior to starting her own consulting firm, she worked for IMV Inc., a pre-revenue biotech start-up listed on the TSX and Nasdaq, developing novel therapies for cancer treatment. She held a series of roles of increasing responsibility at IMV Inc., where she was most recently Chief Accounting Officer and Acting CFO. During her time at IMV, she developed corporate strategy, supported raising over US$150M in capital, managed investor relations, governance & compliance as well as business transformation and change management.  Prior to joining IMV, Brittany began her career in the audit practice at Grant Thornton LLP.

Brittany is proudly Nova Scotian. She loves water activities and is an avid interior design enthusiast who enjoys DIY projects. 

Connect with Brittany: brittany@davisonconsulting.ca

Yvonne Ekpe

Communications Specialist

Pronouns: She/Her

Yvonne Ekpe brings a strategic vision to her role, overseeing ReCover’s communications efforts from strategic planning to implementation and evaluation. Her knack for aligning messaging with organizational goals and stakeholder information needs ensures impactful outreach.

Yvonne is a communications professional with over 11 years of international development experience. She has successfully led communications efforts for projects funded by the US and UK governments, working with diverse teams across multiple regions, including Africa, Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Thus, demonstrating her expertise in navigating complex global contexts and her ability to rally teams and drive results.

Her academic background includes a Bachelor's in Biochemistry from the University of Port Harcourt in Nigeria, and a Master's in Biotechnology Bioprocessing and Business Management from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. Additionally, she holds a diploma in Marketing Communications from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK.

Yvonne actively seeks opportunities to enhance her skills and believes in sharing knowledge. She is committed to positively impacting her community. When not at work, Yvonne is an avid volunteer, offering her skills and time in whatever capacity is needed. She also indulges her curiosity through do-it-yourself projects, explores new recipes, and enjoys hiking and exercising. She misses her family and her dog, Buddie, in Nigeria.

Connect with Yvonne: yvonne@recoverinitiative.ca

Sebastian Green

Manager of Program Design & Delivery

Pronouns: He/Him

As the Program Development and Delivery Manager, Sebastian Green leads the Programs team to support building owners across Atlantic Canada throughout their deep retrofit journey. Sebastian comes to Recover from the tech startup ecosystem, having focused his career on supporting the development and growth of entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Atlantic Canada. 

 Sebastian is a passionate and dynamic individual with a diverse background across academia, science, architectural engineering, entrepreneurship, and innovation. He started his career with a construction technology (ConTech) startup, before starting and exiting his own ConTech business, and then moving to the support side by starting an rural innovation incubator to help those in underserved areas access and explore entrepreneurship for the first time.

For the last number of years Sebastian has been at Dalhousie University, first with the Faculty of Engineering before moving to a tri-faculty position within the Faculties of Dentistry, Health, and Medicine where he developed and taught programs focused on integrating emerging technology and innovation processes such as AI and design thinking into traditional sectors such as construction and healthcare to catalyze local innovation. 

 Sebastian has been recognized by the Innovators and Entrepreneurs Foundation of Canada with the CANIE Award for Social Innovation, by Atlantic Business Magazine as one of the top innovators under thirty in Atlantic Canada, by Future of Good with the Top Recovery Project award, and by RBC with the Ecosystem Impact Catalyst Award for creating cohesion and growth in the Atlantic Canadian tech and startup communities.

Connect with Sebastian: seb@recoverinitiative.ca

Cheryl Hojnowski

Manager of Community Impact and Partnerships

Pronouns: She/Her

Cheryl Hojnowski is an environmental scientist who has dedicated much of her career to collaborating with communities. Cheryl believes that a regard for equity is essential as we respond to the climate crisis. 

Prior to joining ReCover, Cheryl facilitated community-run tiger and leopard conservation programs in eastern Russia for the Wildlife Conservation Society, coordinated science communications and community-based climate change adaptation planning in the Galapagos Islands, and served as the Executive Director of the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, a non-profit focused on human-wildlife coexistence, climate change, and community leadership in Canmore, Alberta.

In her role at ReCover, Cheryl looks forward to learning how we can best advance deep retrofits at scale, in a way that benefits as many Atlantic Canadians as possible. 

Cheryl is a former Fulbright Student Research Fellow and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Fellow, and she holds a certificate in Planning and Techniques for Public Participation from the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2). Cheryl also has a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from the University of California, Berkeley. 

When she is not collaborating with communities on deep retrofit projects, Cheryl can be found swimming laps at the pool or enthusiastically exploring Nova Scotia’s landscapes on foot with her adventurous terrier, Nishka.  

Connect with Cheryl: cheryl@recoverinitiative.ca

Headshot of Amanda McNeil

Amanda McNeil

Managing Director

Pronouns: She/Her

Amanda has been a dedicated professional in the construction industry for over fifteen years, specializing in design-build project delivery and sustainable retrofit solutions. As the Managing Director of the ReCover Initiative, she leads day-to-day operations and project execution with a commitment to urgency and impact.

Amanda’s extensive experience includes over eight years as a freelance project manager, primarily in the construction and consulting fields, working closely with small business owners to deliver high-quality results. Prior to this, she served as a project manager at a large construction company, overseeing major projects and coordinating efforts among diverse teams to ensure successful project delivery.

Amanda is passionate about fostering collaboration among cross-functional teams built on trust, cooperation, and innovation. Her deep technical knowledge of building construction ensures that every project benefits from her emphasis on teamwork, valuing contributions from all team members, from building owners to on-site carpenters.

Amanda loves to garden, specifically edible vegetables. She also enjoys running and participates in dog sports such as cancicross and bikejour with her dogs, Luna and Nora. 

Connect with Amanda: amanda@recoverinitiative.ca

Headshot of Emma Norton

Emma Norton

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Pronouns: She/Her

Emma has been working in Canada’s energy sector for over a decade, specifically in the areas of energy efficiency and deep energy retrofits. 

Emma has effectively intervened in provincial utility hearings to ensure increasing ambition of demand-side management programs. She ran the Climate Jobs Roundtable, a series of events that focused on job creation and transitioning the energy economy. As the Nova Scotia lead for the international project Smarter Energy Communities in Northern and Arctic Regions of Europe, Emma facilitated knowledge transfer between communities in Canada and Europe who were seeking to reduce their carbon footprint through smarter energy use.

Before working full-time with ReCover, Emma worked as the Atlantic Director with the Climate Emergency Unit, at QUEST, a community energy planning non-profit, and before that she worked on the Energy Team at the Ecology Action Centre, Nova Scotia's environmental watchdog. 

When not working, you can find Emma in her garden, reading speculative fiction and fantasy novels, cooking a meal in the kitchen for friends, watching live music, or playing fetch with her dog.

Connect with Emma: emma@recoverinitiative.ca

Yohan Peiris

Program Development Lead

Pronouns: He/Him

Yohan Peiris is the Program Development Lead at ReCover, where he plays a crucial role in supporting both business and program development teams. His efforts are focused on accelerating deep energy retrofit initiatives across Atlantic Canada, helping to create more sustainable and energy-efficient communities. 

Passionate about renewable energy and customer success, Yohan has dedicated the past nine years to assisting homeowners and businesses in navigating the adoption of solar energy and battery storage technologies. As the founder of Renewly Solar, he has been instrumental in simplifying the solar installation process, offering guidance and multiple proposals from vetted installers. 

Yohan holds certificates in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and general arts and science, and is currently pursuing part-time studies in Renewable Energy Technologies. 

Born and raised in East York, Toronto, Yohan is of Sri Lankan heritage, which has deeply influenced his commitment to community and sustainability. Outside of work, he enjoys immersing himself in nature through hiking, kayaking, and drone photography, exploring the beautiful landscapes of Atlantic Canada. Yohan's love for nature and his dedication to sustainable living drives his professional and personal endeavors, making a positive impact on both his community and the environment. 

Connect with Yohan: yohan@recoverinitiative.ca

Headshot of Lorrie Rand

Lorrie Rand

Co-Founder & Design Director

Pronouns: She/her

Lorrie is the President and Director of Sustainability of Habit Studio, and Design Director for the ReCover Initiative. With twenty years of retrofit design expertise, her goal is to reduce the financial and technical limitations of completing custom renovation projects, one building at a time, in the face of a looming climate crisis. 

As a Certified Passive House Designer and a recognized building science expert, Lorrie has the experience and expertise needed to develop a repeatable and systematic approach to deep retrofits specifically adapted to the Nova Scotia context. 

Connect with Lorrie: lorrie@recoverinitiative.ca

Rebecca Richards

Office Manager

Pronouns: She/her

Rebecca is our Office Manager who supports our team by keeping us on track and organized. With a passion for organization and a knack for problem-solving, Rebecca strides to make every day in our office as efficient and enjoyable as possible.

With years of experience in office management, Rebecca has honed her skills in handling administrative tasks, coordinating schedules, and maintaining office supplies to keep everything running like a well-oiled machine. Rebecca attended NSCC and Mount Saint Vincent University where she studied Business.

When Rebecca is not immersed in the world of office management, you can find her tending to her farm, walking on the beach, or enjoying a good book. She believes in maintaining a healthy work-life balance and bringing positivity into everything she does, both inside and outside the office.

Connect with Rebecca: rebecca@recoverinitiative.ca

Jean-Paul Robicheau

Director, Business Development

Pronouns: He/Him

Jean-Paul (JP) Robicheau brings over 20 years of proven success in Business Development at local, national, and international levels, specializing in fostering private sector growth and forging impactful public sector partnerships.

JP’s success can be attributed to the commitment and passion for ensuring positive outcomes for the organization and clients he represents. His team approach to providing solid value propositions, backed by multiple stakeholders and partners, has garnered award winning national and international attention within the sectors he has worked in.

When not in the office, JP enjoys spending time with his family, volunteering in any capacity including coaching the sports his children are active in. JP keeps active and healthy as an avid cross country and alpine skier, and road and mountain bike cyclist. He has competed in marathons, triathlons and adventure racing over the years.

Connect with JP: jp@recoverinitiative.ca