Panel: Building on Legacy - How Conservation’s Past Informs Its Future
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
As we celebrate 30 years of the Latornell Conservation Symposium and reflect on 80 years of conservation impact in Ontario, this panel brings together seasoned leaders—including two recently retired trailblazers—and current professionals driving today’s conservation efforts. Together, they’ll explore how the values, lessons, and innovations of the past can shape a resilient future. Through reflective insights and forward-looking dialogue, this session will celebrate the evolution of conservation while tackling the urgent challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.
Moderator:
JO-ANNE RZADKI, MSc. | Manager, Business Development and Partnerships, Conservation Ontario
Jo-Anne brings nearly 40 years of experience in watershed restoration, stewardship, and environmental partnership development. As Manager of Business Development and Partnerships at Conservation Ontario, she leads initiatives that connect organizations and communities to create healthy, resilient watersheds.
Prior to joining Conservation Ontario almost two decades ago, Jo-Anne spent 12 years managing a joint watershed stewardship program for the Hamilton Conservation Authority and Conservation Halton. Her work spans research, program design, negotiation, and on-the-ground delivery at local, provincial, and national levels.
Rooted in both urban and rural perspectives, Jo-Anne draws inspiration from her family’s long-standing farm in Grey County, active in forestry, honey production, cash cropping, and livestock pasture.
Jo-Anne’s greatest interests are in connecting people and organizations to achieve shared solutions and outcomes that result in healthy watersheds and communities. A passionate collaborator, Jo-Anne contributes to numerous boards and coalitions including the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, Climate Proof Canada, Ontario’s Soil Action Group, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Nutrients Annex Subcommittee, and Carolinian Canada, among others.
Fun Fact: Jo-Anne has been a long-time contributor to the Latornell Conservation Symposium, including as a presenter at the very first event 30 years ago.
CHRIS DARLING, MCIP, RPP | Chief Administrative Officer, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority
Chris is a Registered Professional Planner with over 30 years of experience in land use planning. Since 2015, he has served as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA).
Chris joined CLOCA in 2010 as Director of Development Review and Regulations, bringing with him extensive experience from previous roles as Principal Planner at the Region of Durham and Director of Development Services for the City of Kawartha Lakes.
In addition to his professional roles, Chris has contributed to the broader conservation and planning community through his involvement on several boards, including the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail Association and the Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation.
DEBORAH MARTIN-DOWNS, B.E.S., M. Sc., PhD | (Retired) Chief Administrative Officer, Credit Valley Conservation
Deborah is a retired environmental professional with over 40 years of experience in environmental consulting and senior leadership roles at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Credit Valley Conservation. She is widely respected for her expertise in watershed management, freshwater ecosystems, and environmental planning, and was awarded an honorary PhD in Science for her work in freshwater conservation.
She is the founder of Conservation Authorities University, was a member of the Latornell Steering Committee for over 10 years, held provincial appointments to the Walkerton Clean Water Centre Board and the Greenbelt Council, chaired Green Infrastructure Ontario and volunteered for 12 years on the Don Watershed Regeneration Council, whose vision to naturalize the Don River Mouth has finally been realized.
She is actively involved with the Muskoka Lakes Association and the Federation of Ontario Cottager’s Associations.
Fun Fact: In her spare time Deborah is grandmother to the next generation of environmental advocates and cottagers.
MARTIN STRAATHOF, MSc. | Executive Director, Ontario Farmland Trust
Martin is the Executive Director of the Ontario Farmland Trust, a conservation organization dedicated to the long-term protection of Ontario’s food producing landscapes. With his upbringing on a dairy farm, a Master of Science in Agricultural Land Use Planning, and various experiences in food systems, non-profit, and community engagement, he is a lifelong agricultural community devotee.
Martin brings his steadfast advocacy for sustainable agriculture and farmland protection, leveraging his knowledge and experience to address the province’s issue of farmland loss, while actively engaging with stakeholders and fostering partnerships to advance farmland protection awareness and initiatives.
BARBARA VEALE, PhD, MCIP, RPP | (Retired) Senior Director of Watershed Management and Climate Change, Conservation Halton
Barbara retired from Conservation Halton after 12 years, during which she served in multiple roles, including Senior Director of Watershed Management and Climate Change, as well as acting Chief Administrative Officer in 2024.
As senior director, Barbara managed a multidisciplinary team responsible for climate change projects, watershed planning and restoration, source water protection, Lake Ontario initiatives, and the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Program.
Before joining Conservation Halton, Barbara spent 35 years at the Grand River Conservation Authority in various policy and planning roles.
Barbara has extensive experience in administering Conservation Authority regulations and implementing integrated watershed management. She has co-authored many reports and journal articles on these topics and provided advice to fledgling watershed management groups across Canada and beyond.
Barbara is a Registered Professional Planner and member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.
Barbara holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Geography from the University of Waterloo. Her doctoral research examined watershed governance and the application of watershed report cards as decision tools for watershed management in Canada.
