Speaker profile
Scott Thurlow
W. Scott Thurlow, a lawyer, was called to the bar of Ontario in 2003. He has worked in the Canadian chemicals management space since 1998. He has an expertise on regulatory matters and policies pertaining to Chemicals Management, Climate Change, Elections Law, Government Ethics and lobbying rules.
Scott is registered as a lobbyist on behalf of the American Chemistry Council, Dow Canada, Celanese, Methanex and the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC). He has offered legal services to an array of primary suppliers of polymers and plastic formulators and has represented the plastic industry in Canada’s Courts.
On behalf of resin producers and formulators, Scott has been involved in the development for the regulation of plastic waste by the federal government since 2016. Scott chairs an industry coalition on the reform of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (S-5), which is the primary federal statute for Chemicals Management and waste reduction in Canada.
Scott earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Carleton University, a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario, and his law degree from the University of Ottawa.
Scott represented chemistry industry on the Minister of Environment & Climate Change and Minister of Health’s Chemicals Management Plan Stakeholder Advisory Council.[i] Scott is often sought after to represent the chemistry industry in the national media[ii] and has served as a media spokesperson for both Canadian operators and global trade associations.
Scott previously served as the President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, representing the producers of ethanol and renewable diesel. Scott served as legal counsel to Elections Canada in 2003-04. In 2005, he served as the Director of Parliamentary Affairs to the Minister of Natural Resources. He frequently represents electoral campaigns and elected officials related to matters involving the Canada Elections Act and the Conflict of Interest Act.
Scott served on the national board of directors of Equal Voice[iii] from 2014-2019, and was the national capital region co-chair from 2015-2019. He is currently as an advisor to GreenPac, a charity dedicated to endorsing environmentally minded candidates for political office.[iv] He has previously served as a board member for Carefor (2009-2012), the Global Renewable Fuels Association (2012-14), Biotalent Canada (2014) and the Government Relations Institute of Canada (GRIC) (2012-2014).