About Us
Aiming to Be the Best
We Deliver Measurable Results
Wade Bowers is the Founder and CEO of Barnett Clarke Associates.
Wade has 30+ years of experience in senior executive roles across government and academia. Early in his career he worked as a tester for the pulp and paper industry where he first learned the importance and value of quality assurance, industrial standards, and organizational principles.
Growing up in a small town in rural Newfoundland, Wade was inspired by the work ethic of forestry workers and the value of the forest resource. He pursued a career as a research scientist and later served as Director of The Canadian Forest Service (Natural Resources Canada) in Newfoundland and Labrador. Later, he served as Assistant Deputy Minister and chief forester for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2002, Wade joined Memorial University as Associate Vice-Principle (Research) and acted as Director of the Environmental Policy Institute.
“My story begins at the foot of my father’s library in rural Newfoundland where I traveled the world in books. Books made of paper derived from wood fibre. At the turn of the 19th century that same cellulose fibre sustained my ancestors (descendants of the Manuel and Clarke families) in the lumber industry and boat building business. Schooners, with their deep, heavy keels constructed from locally cut green timbers provided a means to trade and sustain isolated rural communities along Newfoundland’s rugged coastline. I would learn more about wood fibre as a pulp and paper tester and later as a researcher, responsible for the growth and protection of Newfoundland’s forest resource. My relationship with nature grew as I learned that nature-based solutions (NbS) offer high potential to help transform many of our current endeavors to allow for a reframing of human-nature relationships. BCA was founded to promote NbS as a novel way to “make use of nature” to solve environmental and social challenges. The concept helps us understand the connections between people and nature, and how we can better protect, manage and sustain our natural resources. My story continues to unfold by the recognition that current actions to address the climate crisis, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss, are largely insufficient. A new paradigm encompassing sustainability science and the inherent link between people and nature is required to meet our future challenges. As such, there is a pressing need for a profound transformation of our production and consumption patterns. My intention is to position BCA to promote and assist in our transition to a low-carbon economy, one with place-based values, elements of circularity, and resilience.”
– Wade Bowers, CEO Barnett Clarke Associates
About BCA
Barnett Clarke Associates (BCA) is a sustainability consultancy firm committed to helping our clients achieve better environmental and business outcomes.
As a Canadian knowledge management company, we focus on the wise and sustainable use of our natural resources and the protection of our environment. BCA is a young, fast-growing company providing multi-sectoral expert consultancy and professional technical support to firms and organizations in the private and public sectors.
We took inspiration in naming our business after our family with origins in Ireland and England. Our work ethic, passed down through generations, has shaped the core values and boundaries of our business. BCA seeks to build relationships with our clients, underpinned by respect, integrity, and quality service. Our logo is informed by the circularity implicit in the emerging bioeconomy and sustainable practices.