Recognizing 20 years of green building leadership
Recognizing 20 years of green building leadership
Jody Becker, CAGBC Board of Directors Chair on July 3, 2025
- Theme
- Advocacy
The following speech was given at the CAGBC Awards Gala—part of the Building Lasting Change conference by the Chair of the CAGBC Board of Directors on behalf of CAGBC staff and board members past and present.
At BLC, our gala celebration is more than just an event—it’s a moment to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of our community and the transformative projects we’ve brought to life together. Tonight, we also pause to recognize a singular force behind so much of this progress: our visionary leader, Mr. Thomas Mueller, as he marks an incredible 20 years as CEO of the Canada Green Building Council.
To help me pay tribute to Thomas, I’m honored to welcome to the stage a group of remarkable individuals—friends, colleagues, and current and former Board members: Stéphan Déry, Emma Schindler, Lillian Tummonds, Kit Milnes, Tony Cupido, Nisha Agrawal, Kathy Wardle, Mike, Jenny McMinn, Kevin Hydes, John Pontarollo, Chris Piché, and Michael Brooks.
Since 2005, Thomas has been at the helm of CAGBC, guiding it from its formative years into a globally respected catalyst for the design, construction and financing of green buildings. From the beginning, he has led with unwavering integrity, deep purpose, and a bold vision—working alongside pioneers like Kevin Hydes and Peter Busby to lay the foundation for what we are today.
His impact is nothing short of monumental. Under his leadership, Canada now boasts over 72 million square meters of LEED-certified space and nearly 6,300 certified projects—each one a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence and sustainability. But Thomas didn’t stop there.
In 2017, he spearheaded the creation of Canada’s own Zero Carbon Building Standards—an ambitious, homegrown initiative that has already certified 100 ZCB-Design and 70 ZCB-Performance buildings. This wasn’t just a technical achievement—it was a bold declaration that Canada would lead the world in decarbonizing the built environment.
Thomas is more than a CEO, he’s a connector of people and ideas, a leader who sees around corners and anticipates the future. I remember when he first approached me about joining the Board in 2021. I was hesitant—busy with my day job and focused on post-COVID recovery. But Thomas’s conviction was compelling. Even in the darkest days of the pandemic, he was championing industrial transformation and a low-carbon economy. I’ll never forget our first strategic retreat at the Rotman School of Business—socially distanced, yet united in purpose—where we mapped out a bold path to net-zero for all large buildings in Canada. That clarity of vision is Thomas’s hallmark.
Today, as CAGBC continues to push boundaries—from tackling embodied carbon to making decarbonization a business imperative—Thomas remains at the forefront. He is a tireless advocate, a trusted voice in both public and private sectors, and a masterful influencer who moves seamlessly among political and industry leaders, using his intellect and incomparable charm to drive scalable change.
But perhaps most importantly, Thomas has built and nurtured an exceptional team. He leads with confidence, humility, and humanity. He attracts top talent, empowering them to thrive, and always making time for a thoughtful conversation (preferably over a great glass of wine).
With his devoted partner Inge by his side, and egging him on, they are a powerful duo. And because we know that no one achieves their accomplishments alone, we want to thank Inge for her support of our organization and Thomas over the last two decades.
Thomas, your legacy is not just in the buildings we’ve certified or the policies we’ve helped to shape—it’s in the culture of excellence, courage, and compassion you’ve instilled in all of us. On behalf of the entire CAGBC community, thank you for 20 years of extraordinary leadership. Here’s a continued era of lasting change.
