Institute president pays tribute to Business Trust leader

WINNIPEG — On September 10, Jim Leslie, President of the IISD Business Trust, died at the age of 63 while hiking in Banff, Alberta.

The following is a statement from David Runnalls, President and CEO of the International Institute for Sustainable Development:

"It is with great sorrow that we mourn the death of our longtime colleague and friend, Jim Leslie. As President of the IISD Business Trust, Jim played a critical role in the advancement of our work with corporate partners around the world. While Interim Director of our Climate Change strategic objective, he freely contributed his expertise and experience as IISD sought to develop a very solid program of climate change activities.

We will miss Jim greatly. His gentle wit was ever present, never malicious. He was a consummate professional whose work, by virtue of its quality, contributed to the cause of sustainable development. He was a team player who shared his energies on major, institute-wide matters such has strategic planning and our examination of innovation. We treasured his expertise and enthusiasm.

But we will remember him best as a superb human being. We will miss him greatly in the months and years ahead. Our thoughts are with Jim's wife, Marjorie, and the Leslie family."

Jim Leslie - Biography

Jim Leslie completed his BSc in Civil Engineering and later received an MBA while working as a management consultant in the energy industry and other areas for over two decades. He served as a senior officer with TransAlta Utilities Corporation, including three years as the Senior Vice-President, Sustainable Development from 1994 until he joined IISD in 1997. Jim Leslie lived and worked in Calgary.