While running the Alberta Green Economy Network (AGEN), I had the honour of working with Andy on one of our flagship projects: Solar4All. Andy conceived, built support for, and directed this project which involved a complex partnership between AGEN, small businesses and labour organisations. His compelling pitch to a large Network meeting launched the multi-faceted campaign which included public-facing outreach, government relations, sophisticated social media, research and top-quality written materials. All of these components were designed and implemented by Andy, a testament to his many talents: communicating complex ideas in an engaging way, building relationships with decision makers, developing visually-appealing online content, thorough research and outstanding writing.
The campaign itself led to 2,879 signed postcards, 1,566 signatures on hard copy petitions, and 3,511 signatures on an online petition being delivered to government in support of small-scale solar generation. In addition to ensuring the petitions were successfully tabled in the legislature, Andy also built long-lasting, productive relationships with MLAs, unions and solar enterprises. The announcement of solar initiatives by the Government of Alberta in 2016 and 2017 capped-off the campaign’s achievements.
Throughout the process, it was a privilege to witness Andy’s inclusive leadership style as he negotiated the challenges of directing a diverse team undertaking a complex project.
