Meet the Team

• View Michael’s profile page

Michael Bernstein is the executive director of Clean Prosperity, a Canadian non-profit that works toward market-based solutions to the climate crisis.

Michael is an economist by training. He is an advisor to elected leaders across the political spectrum, and a frequent commentator on climate policy. He was named on The Hill Times’ Top 100 Lobbyists List for 2021.

Michael joined Clean Prosperity in 2018. His career has spanned business, management consulting, international development, and politics. Prior to Clean Prosperity, Michael was the CEO of Mama Earth Organics, a small business that delivered organic produce from local farms to families around the Greater Toronto Area.

He worked directly with dozens of farmers and saw first-hand the effects climate change was having on the farms he worked with. As a father of two young kids, he’s also very concerned about the future that we’re leaving to the next generation.

Before working in the local food sector, Michael was a business management consultant at McKinsey where he advised Fortune 500 companies, institutional investors, and governments on key strategic and business issues. He also worked with InvestEco Capital to set up an advisory service that offered support to companies in the sustainable food sector.

Michael holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and a B.A. in Economics from Yale University.

Michael serves on the C.D. Howe Institute’s Energy Policy Council, on the Public Policy Forum’s Energy Futures Forum, and as a MaRS Cleantech Volunteer Advisor.

When he’s not working on climate change, you can find him building Lego airplanes with his kids or doing his best karaoke impression of Vanilla Ice.

Jason Clark is a government relations and campaign strategist. He has advised senior leadership of leading Canadian and international businesses and not-for-profits, with a focus on federal government relations and advocacy.

Prior to joining Clean Prosperity, Jason was a senior consultant at Crestview Strategy, a leading Canadian public affairs firm, where he specialized in energy, climate, trade, and sustainable development.

Since arriving in Ottawa, he has worked with a wide range of Canadian non-profit organizations on international development and trade issues, including Engineers Without Borders Canada and RESULTS Canada. Previously, Jason managed one of the largest public engagement campaigns on climate change, energy, and sustainability in Great Britain, working in partnership with all levels of government, business, industry and trade associations, the public sector, and civil society. Jason has also worked directly with female entrepreneurs and social enterprises in Lesotho, Africa.

Jason holds a Master of Arts degree in International Studies and Diplomacy with a Specialization in Global Energy & Climate Change Policy from SOAS, University of London, and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Western University. Jason serves on the Board of Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR) and has previously served on the Board of the Ottawa Bicycle Club, one of the oldest and largest bicycle clubs in Canada.

Melissa Felder is an environmental specialist who has conducted research projects for organizations across Canada since 2001. Prior to joining Clean Prosperity, she was Climate Change Lead at MaRS Discovery District, where she developed initiatives integrating climate, clean technology impact, and the future of work.

Melissa has worked with the Canadian Climate Institute, the Information Communications and Technology Council, Sustainable Buildings Canada, and Sustainable Development Technology Canada, among others. She is a Cleantech Advisor for the Centre for Social Innovation’s Climate Ventures and a Coalition Advisor for Mission from MaRS. Previously, she served a five-year term on the board of ZooShare Biogas Cooperative, Canada’s first zoo-based bioenergy plant.

Melissa has a Masters in Bio-Resource Engineering from the University of British Columbia.