Velma McColl

Principal Earnscliffe Strategy Group

  • Ottawa ON

Velma McColl blends her deep understanding of business, government and policy to create opportunities for her clients.

Contact

Media

Social

Biography

Prior to joining Earnscliffe in 2004, Velma advised Federal Cabinet Ministers on political strategy, policy and communications. She has also worked provincially in British Columbia and Alberta. Through her career, she has focused on Canada's competitiveness and innovation opportunities, climate change, energy, technology and sustainable development. She has worked to find creative solutions across federal/provincial/territorial, North American and international boundaries. Her career includes success as an entrepreneur and experience working collaboratively with business, academia, think tanks, not-for-profit organizations and the public sector.

A Westerner with fifteen years of experience in Ottawa, Velma studied at the University of British Columbia and the Banff School of Management. She is a co-founder of the Canadian Clean Technology Coalition and Women in GR. She also plays a leadership role with several organizations including Sustainable Prosperity and the Ryan's Well Foundation.

Industry Expertise

Government Relations
Public Policy
Public Relations and Communications
Program Development
Think Tanks
Corporate Leadership
International Trade and Development

Areas of Expertise

Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Sustainable Development
Technology
Energy
Climate Change
Management & Leadership
International Development
Collaborative models

Accomplishments

Co-Founder

2016-06-15

Canadian Clean Technology Coalition

Education

University of British Columbia

Business

Affiliations

  • Women in Government Relations
  • World of Children
  • Sustainable Prosperity
  • Ryan's Well Foundation
  • Loran Scholars

Media Appearances

Experts debate what innovation will be the iPhone of cleantech

Business in Vancouver  

2016-03-08

Moderator Velma McColl of Earnscliffe Strategy Group stumped the panellists when she asked what “disruptive” technologies under development have the potential to affect climate change in the way that Apple’s (Nasdaq:AAPL) iPhone changed communication...

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The heat's on: Paris climate talks head into extra innings

iPolitics  

2015-12-11

Starting with Thursday’s overnight indaba, ministerial diplomacy at the COP21 climate talks kicked into overdrive Friday, lasting through the day and now extending into another night.

Ministers are tired, some are frustrated but, for many, political will has strengthened and ministers are now doubling down on conversations with colleagues. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius now has the pen and the ‘President’s text’ will be presented Saturday morning...

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The Paris homestretch: Optimism at the COP21 indaba

iPolitics  

2015-12-10

On Thursday night in Paris, countries were still choosing distance over speed, carefully drawing together the elements of a balanced global climate agreement...

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