MaRS Cleantech Advisor Tom Rand honored as member of Canada’s 2012 Clean50

Toronto, September 19, 2011 – The MaRS Discovery District is pleased to announce that Cleantech Advisor Tom Rand has been named as a member of Canada’s 2012 Clean50. Awarded by Delta Management Group, the Clean50 honorees are recognized for their “significant contribution … to advancing the cause of sustainability and clean capitalism.”

Rand was chosen from over 300 applications for his tireless advocacy of clean energy in Canada, and the financial viability of green technologies. Rand runs and administers a private angel fund, VCi Ventures, which provides seed funding for green energy start-ups.

He is also the financier of Toronto hotel Planet Traveller, which uses a suite of low-energy and clean technologies to make it “the world’s greenest hotel.”  He has written a book Kick the Fossil Fuel Habit, on the many existing alternatives to fossil fuels. “To a large extent, we’ve already invented what we need,” says Rand. “The idea that we’re waiting for a magic bullet is absurd. What we need now is financial and political innovation.”

Rand will join the other Clean50 honorees on Sept. 28 to produce “Fifty Great Ideas that will help drive Canada’s overall sustainability.” The Clean50 recipients will produce a “To Do – Must Do” list for government and industry designed to accelerate Canada’s ability to become a more sustainable society.

Look for a short profile on Rand and the other Clean50 inductees in the latest issue of Corporate Knights magazine.

About Delta Management Group:
Delta Management is a boutique search firm with a growing practice in clean tech, corporate social responsibility and sustainability professionals. Formed in 1992, Delta has a long track record of building exceptional teams, and working closely with management on a long-term basis as a trusted advisor and true business partner.

About MaRS:
MaRS Discovery District is a large scale, mission driven innovation centre located in Toronto and networked across Ontario, focused on building Canada’s next generation of technology companies. MaRS works closely with entrepreneurs to grow and scale their ventures into global market leaders in life sciences and health care, information, communications and entertainment technologies, cleantech, advanced materials and engineering, as well as innovative social purpose businesses.

For more information, please contact:
Chris Stevenson,
Director, Communications
MaRS Discovery District
416-673-8100 x 8104
cstevenson@marsdd.com