Jessica Strauss

Jessica Strauss is a 2008 Switzer Award Recipient and is focused on energy and climate change. Jessica is currently a Senior Policy Advisor with the Government of Canada in the Privy Council Office (like the U.S. Department of State). Prior to joining PCO, Jessica held a number of positions within the federal public service including as the lead analyst on the infrastructure file at the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, as a Financial Advisor at the Parliamentary Budget Office (like the U.S. Congressional Budget Office), and as a senior analyst responsible for the climate finance file at Environment Canada. Prior to joining the public service, Jessica worked as a consultant for both private sector firms and for non-governmental agencies including Genivar and the Ontario Ministries of Education, Energy and Infrastructure in Canada; Seva Mandir in India; the Gold Standard Foundation in Switzerland; Kohn Pederson Fox in the United Kingdom; and Arup, Lexington Reality Corporation and the Pei Partnership in the United States. In Ottawa, Jessica teaches economics at Carleton University and serves on the Jewish Family Services board as Treasurer. Jessica holds a BArch in Architecture from Cornell University. She also holds an MSc from New York University and an MBA from Yale University’s School of Management. Jessica is licensed to practice architecture in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and is a LEED accredited professional through both the U.S. and the Canadian Green Building Councils.