Our Team
Allen Langdon – Chief Executive Officer
As CEO, Allen is responsible for leading Circular Materials through the development of Ontario’s new blue box recycling system while expanding the organization’s operations into other provinces, starting with New Brunswick. His mission is to support producers with a robust not-for-profit service offering that advances the circular economy, delivers national harmonization of extended producer responsibility (EPR) services and harnesses competitive procurement to provide the best value for producers.
Prior to joining Circular Materials, Allen served as the President and CEO of Return-It, British Columbia’s very successful used beverage container management program in Canada. In this role, Allen oversaw the modernization of Return-It’s collection network, which consists of more than 170 collection sites, including Return-It depots, Express Plus and Express & GO stations. Return-It has routinely exceeded a 75% recovery rate for used beverage containers in British Columbia, and its network has supported the collection of new materials, including waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Allen also served as the Managing Director for Recycle BC, the first 100% EPR program for paper and packaging in North America where industry assumed full financial and managerial responsibility for the residential recycling system.
Allen currently serves as a Board member of the National Zero Waste Council, Advisory Council Member for the Canada Plastics Pact, and Advisory Board Member for the Washington State Recycling Development Centre.
Baljit Lalli – Chief Communications Officer
As CCO at Circular Materials, Baljit Lalli is responsible for leading the organization’s communications strategy, including advancing corporate marketing, customer relations and stakeholder relations strategies in support of the organization’s goals and objectives.
Prior to joining Circular Materials, Bal was the Vice President of Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations at Return-It, British Columbia’s successful used beverage container management program in Canada. At Return-It, Bal oversaw the organization’s stakeholder relations, corporate communications, and customer relations strategy. Bal also led the development and ongoing implementation of the organization’s social purpose of fostering a world where nothing is waste.
Prior to Return-It, Bal worked in the beverage and natural resources sector creating and delivering a wide range of innovative initiatives that protect and enhance corporate and product reputations. Bal has extensive experience in advancing stakeholder partnerships and leading media relations, corporate communications, crisis communications, and global rebranding initiatives.
Bal serves as a Board Director of Burnaby Family Life and Council Member of the Salvation Army – Vancouver Harbor Light. Bal has a Bachelor of Applied Sciences, Honors Program from Simon Fraser University and Executive Certificate in General Management from the University of British Columbia.
Elena Zevakhina – Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, Elena provides executive leadership and leads the organization’s financial management and administrative operations. Elena is responsible for implementing data-driven strategies and processes to ensure compliance with legal, accounting and treasury policies and supports Circular Materials’ fiduciary responsibility.
Prior to joining Circular Materials, Elena was the Chief Financial Officer at Return-It, British Columbia’s successful used beverage container management program. In this role, Elena led the organization’s financial reporting, planning, budgeting, information technology (IT) and risk management strategy.
Elena has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Laurentian University and a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Canada designation.
Nicole Gourley – Chief Operating Officer
As COO, Nicole Gourley leads the development and implementation of the organization’s operations strategy. In her role, Nicole is responsible for implementing the procurement strategy, managing stakeholder relationships, and designing and continuously improving the collection and post-collection systems for residential blue box materials in each jurisdiction in which Circular Materials is active.
Prior to joining Circular Materials, Nicole was the Chief Global Membership and Marketing Officer at Foresters Financial where she was responsible for securing global partnerships and providing leadership and operational oversight for three million members. Nicole was also a senior executive at GS1 Canada where she managed a client base of over 20,000 members and managed their multi-site operations, as well as the launch and maintenance of GS1 Canada’s Industry Managed Services.
Nicole has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from McMaster University.
Jeff MacCallum – Managing Director of Atlantic Canada
As Circular Materials’ Managing Director of Atlantic Canada, Jeff MacCallum leads the organization’s packaging and paper products EPR program in New Brunswick as well as future programs in Atlantic Canada. Jeff is responsible for managing and collaborating with stakeholders to develop and operationalize annual and program goals and commitments, and local solutions that support Circular Materials’ national and harmonization standards.
Prior to joining Circular Materials, Jeff was the Chief Executive Officer of Divert NS where he helped the organization build a recycling culture through environmental stewardship, education, and programming. Jeff began his career with Divert NS over 15 years ago. During his tenure, he led their strategic programs and services, including the implementation of new compaction trailer technology to improve efficiencies and reduce GHG impacts, and sustainability initiatives that helped make Nova Scotia a recognized global innovator in waste diversion solutions. Working with industry, government and the university sector, Jeff has had an active role in building and advancing initiatives that support the circular economy.
Jeff holds a Master of Business Administration from McMaster University and a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University. He is a member of the Minister’s Round Table on the Environment and Sustainable Prosperity, member of the Beverage Container Recycling Network of Canada and the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce.
Alex Chan – Vice President, Data and Program Performance
As the Vice President, Data and Program Performance, Alex Chan provides leadership in leading and developing the organization’s BI roadmap and data services strategy in support of the organization’s strategic objectives. Alex leads the delivery of data intelligence, quantitative modelling and analytics services within the organization.
Alex is a data and analytics leader with over 15 years of experience in building BI and analytics competencies within organizations and delivering strategic value to business unit partners. This includes managing and disseminating relevant data and reporting to stakeholders that generate actionable insights and enable decision-making.
Prior to joining Circular Materials, Alex worked in the waste management industry where he successfully established himself as a strategic business partner in recycling operations. He led the design and deployment of analytical tools and reporting packages that provided a lens into business health, performance drivers and informed sales and operations, planning, market intelligence and research.
In addition, Alex has worked in industries such as CPG, management consulting and digital media. Alex also has extensive experience working within the extended producer responsibility industry where he had key analytical roles in program plan designs and the operationalization of stewardship programs.
Alex has a Masters of Management Analytics degree from Queen’s University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from McGill University.
