Complete Profile

Resource Futures International

Last Updated: 2009-02-05
	Legal Name:   RFI-GES Incorporated
	Operating Name:   Resource Futures International
	Mailing Address 1945 Fairbanks Ave OTTAWA, Ontario K1H 5Y2	Location Address 1945 Fairbanks Ave OTTAWA, Ontario K1H 5Y2
	Telephone: (613) 235-4343
	Fax: (613) 235-9916
	Email: info@rfigroup.com
	Website URL: http://www.rfigroup.com

Contact Information

Thomas Conway
	Title:   President
	Area of Responsibility:   Management Executive
	Telephone:   (613) 235-4343
	Fax:   (613) 235-9916
	Email:   info@rfigroup.com
Rita Fung
	Title:   Admin/Exec Assistant
	Area of Responsibility:   Administrative Services
	Telephone:   (613) 235-4343
	Fax:   (613) 235-9916
	Email:   rfung@rfigroup.com

Company Description

RFI-GES Inc. and Cost-Effective Environmental Solutions Resource Futures International is an environmental consulting firm that provides quality and cost-effective environmental solutions to government and private-sector clients in the Americas and Asia. Our company is known for taking a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to analysing complex environmental problems. We devise durable environmental solutions that incorporate sustainable practices and enhance our client’s performance within the global marketplace based on international and locally appropriate standards. Established in 1989 and headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, our firm combines the best of North American expertise and technologies to bring clients throughout the world’s most rapidly developing regions the best and latest in environmental project and process management and knowledge systems. RFI then helps clients to identify how best to adapt and tailor such information to their particular needs. Our clients are governments, companies, international organizations and community-based groups RFI works with: §Companies to improve their environmental decisions, processes and products; §Governments to develop policies, programs and investments that promote best environmental practices; §International organisations to develop strategies and projects and to manage environmental negotiation processes; and §Stakeholders - the public, non-governmental organisations, indigenous groups (including First Nations) and others to promote understanding of sustainable development issues and advance mutual interests. RFI Core Expertise RFI has distinguished itself in seven core areas: §Strategic planning for sustainability; §Policy analysis; §Multilateral Agreements (environment and trade); §Capacity building; §Large project management (defining, developing and managing); §Environmental Assessments (domestic and international) §Air and water (POPs; criteria pollutants; climate change; watershed management) Strategic Planning for Sustainability RFI provides the tools that enable clients to assess, integrate and enhance sustainable practices within their institutions and programs so that they will be better positioned to meet domestic and global demands for sustainability. Environmental concerns and regulatory measures are raising expectations, both nationally and internationally, with regard to “green” corporate performance. Leading-edge companies are ensuring that environmental, social and economic issues (the “triple bottom line” of sustainability) are integrated in their long-term strategic planning. Equally significant, the private sector, through its investment and technology decisions, has tremendous potential to influence and advance environmentally-sustainable practices on both national and global scales. RFI’s expertise includes a thorough knowledge of the interface between trade and the environment in the context of sustainable development. Policy Analysis RFI helps governments and private sector clients design, implement and evaluate: §International and domestic environmental laws and policies; §Environmental regulations; §Policies and policy instruments; §Environmental assessments (EAs); and §Best environmental practices for governments and corporate clients (ISO 14,000 and other environmental management systems; pollution prevention; green labelling; etc.) Multilateral Environmental Agreements, Finance and Trade Increasingly, clients in the world’s fastest developing regions recognize that environmental demands occur in a global setting and require familiarity and expertise with global environmental instruments. RFI has extensive international experience assisting clients with: §Negotiations for development of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs); §Development of country- and company-specific implementation strategies for MEAs; and §Adaptation of best practices to assist government and private-sector clients in meeting international standards and remaining globally competitive (ISO 14000; pollution prevention and green product policies; and other voluntary measures; environmental laws and policy assessment and development). Capacity Building RFI helps clients in the public and private sector to build their institutional capacity to meet their environmental commitments and bolster efforts aimed at poverty alleviation and basic health. We offer sound and creative solutions that help our clients maximize their intellectual and technical capital through incorporation of cost-effective approaches. Our firm has extensive experience with building government and corporate capacity to meet international commitments pertaining to climate change and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). We assist our government clients to build capacity in and across agencies and departments in a manner that will help them to achieve long-term objectives for sustainability. These solutions range from building capacity on broader, long-term issues, such as environmental educational capacity, to targeted approaches to building managerial, strategic planning, science and technical capacity in the near, as well as long-term. Our national and international government clients include federal, regional, provincial/state, and municipal governments. We assist our corporate clients to identify and integrate sustainable practices that are environmentally, economically and socially sound in their management, production processes and products. We assist companies to enter international markets, especially in developing countries and those with emerging economies, by identifying opportunities that are compatible with their strengths, client groups and investors. We also help clients to facilitate business and partnership contacts and to initiate, negotiate and finalize joint-venture arrangements. Large Project Management RFI offers large project expertise, including field-level management of environmental capacity and institutional development projects. Our involvement extends from designing projects to providing leadership for multi-disciplinary teams, staffing and sub-contracting, managing day-to-day activities, administering budgets, and monitoring and reporting on project results. Our wide range of projects attests to our success in helping clients understand and implement the principles of sustainable development in the context of well-managed projects. Environmental Assessments (EAs) RFI is widely acknowledged as a leading Canadian and international EA policy institution. We help clients to identify environmental risks and impacts and adopt effective solutions that prevent costly problems down the road. Our extensive experience includes conducting and reviewing assessments, developing EA procedures, and strengthening institutional and EA capacity. We have undertaken EA projects pertaining to water resources; infrastructure; major transportation (including railway routes) ; fish habitat; energy development (thermal and hydropower); agriculture; pulp and paper; mineral and petroleum developments; waste management operations; tourism and park development; transfer of First Nation lands (Canada); and sale of federal properties, to name a few. We have extensive knowledge and experience with international, federal and provincial/state regulatory environments. Air and Water RFI helps clients develop strategic plans and policy instruments and multi-disciplinary tools that build their capacity to effectively measure and address air and water pollution, including assistance to individual facilities, government jurisdictions and public agencies working to improve quality of life in large urban centres, and national and international organizations responsible for air and watershed management. Air: We help governments (federal/state/municipal levels) to shape effective strategic policies and plans for large urban centres that will help them measure and reduce inhaleable particles (PM 10 and PM 2.5); ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (S02), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). POPs and metals: We offer expertise on devising plans to address life cycle planning (cradle-to-grave management solutions) for persistent toxic and bioaccumulative pollutants subject to long- range air transport at the facility level (management practices; pollution prevention; process changes) and for governmental clients. Our work on Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs, (PCBs, DDT, chlordane, dioxins and furans, etc.) and heavy metals (mercury; lead) includes assistance with development of domestic and multi- national action plans for POPs. Our services include provision of advice on environmentally sound technologies (for example, for destruction of PCBs); alternatives to these substances in processes/products; monitoring and assessment practices, and risk communications. RFI’s experience includes assistance to the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) with development of a framing resolution that sets forth the direction for North American cooperative work on POPs and other persistent substances that are subject to long-range transport. RFI has also helped facilitate development of North American action plans on several POPs and mercury. Climate Change: RFI is well known in Canada and internationally for in-depth knowledge of climate change policy, trans-boundary air pollution issues, and the policy instruments to address greenhouse gases and air pollution issues, including technology transfer. RFI has a strong understanding of climate change issues in developed and developing countries. Recent international and Canadian projects that we have completed in this area include the Canada-China Cooperation Project to Survey Technology Requirements for Greenhouse Gas Reductions in China and Canadian Supply Capabilities, a review of the National Action Program on Climate Change for the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, and the multi-stakeholder consultative Evaluation of Control Options for Fossil-Fuel Power Sector Air Emissions for Canadian Ministers of Health and the Environment. Water: Water is recognized to be an increasingly important factor in global and national security at a time when population density, agricultural and other practices (deforestation, waste disposal, etc.) are diminishing the quality and quantity of water available for drinking and irrigation. RFI assists governments, corporate clients and indigenous groups with effective watershed management planning, inclusive of sustainability issues pertaining to rural areas (groundwater sustainability in the context of irrigation and pollution) and to large urban centres (infrastructure pertaining to water quantity and quality; sustainable industrial practices; delivery and finance mechanisms). Consultation, Facilitation and Risk Communication Engaging stakeholders is key to developing and implementing successful environmental management and planning systems. RFI helps clients conduct focus groups and surveys to define interests and clarify issues. We facilitate public engagement processes and can help clients to determine which consultation models best fit their needs. We also help train clients to develop strategic communication strategies and to hone their internal and external skills so that they can communicate their objectives with consistency and confidence. RFI Corporate Profile RFI’s associates are global leaders whose vision and insight ensure we are offering our clients the latest and very best in advice and technical and science expertise. Our staff brings engineering, geology, environmental sciences, economic, public policy and administration, managerial and facilitation expertise together to assure our clients that they will receive comprehensive, as well as targeted expertise.
Country of Ownership:	Canada
Year Established:	1989
Exporting:	Yes
Primary Industry (NAICS):	541620 - Environmental Consulting Services
Primary Business Activity:	Services
Number of Employees:	18

Product / Service / Licensing

Product Name:	Corporate sustainable development plans. (Exporting)
Service Name:	Other Environmental Services (Exporting)
RFI-GES Inc. and Cost-Effective Environmental Solutions Resource Futures International is an environmental consulting firm that provides quality and cost-effective environmental solutions to government and private-sector clients in the Americas and Asia. Our company is known for taking a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to analysing complex environmental problems. We devise durable environmental solutions that incorporate sustainable practices and enhance our client’s performance within the global marketplace based on international and locally appropriate standards. Established in 1989 and headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, our firm combines the best of North American expertise and technologies to bring clients throughout the world’s most rapidly developing regions the best and latest in environmental project and process management and knowledge systems. RFI then helps clients to identify how best to adapt and tailor such information to their particular needs. Our clients are governments, companies, international organizations and community-based groups RFI works with: §Companies to improve their environmental decisions, processes and products; §Governments to develop policies, programs and investments that promote best environmental practices; §International organisations to develop strategies and projects and to manage environmental negotiation processes; and §Stakeholders - the public, non-governmental organisations, indigenous groups (including First Nations) and others to promote understanding of sustainable development issues and advance mutual interests. RFI Core Expertise RFI has distinguished itself in seven core areas: §Strategic planning for sustainability; §Policy analysis; §Multilateral Agreements (environment and trade); §Capacity building; §Large project management (defining, developing and managing); §Environmental Assessments (domestic and international) §Air and water (POPs; criteria pollutants; climate change; watershed management) Strategic Planning for Sustainability RFI provides the tools that enable clients to assess, integrate and enhance sustainable practices within their institutions and programs so that they will be better positioned to meet domestic and global demands for sustainability. Environmental concerns and regulatory measures are raising expectations, both nationally and internationally, with regard to “green” corporate performance. Leading-edge companies are ensuring that environmental, social and economic issues (the “triple bottom line” of sustainability) are integrated in their long-term strategic planning. Equally significant, the private sector, through its investment and technology decisions, has tremendous potential to influence and advance environmentally-sustainable practices on both national and global scales. RFI’s expertise includes a thorough knowledge of the interface between trade and the environment in the context of sustainable development. Policy Analysis RFI helps governments and private sector clients design, implement and evaluate: §International and domestic environmental laws and policies; §Environmental regulations; §Policies and policy instruments; §Environmental assessments (EAs); and §Best environmental practices for governments and corporate clients (ISO 14,000 and other environmental management systems; pollution prevention; green labelling; etc.) Multilateral Environmental Agreements, Finance and Trade Increasingly, clients in the world’s fastest developing regions recognize that environmental demands occur in a global setting and require familiarity and expertise with global environmental instruments. RFI has extensive international experience assisting clients with: §Negotiations for development of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs); §Development of country- and company-specific implementation strategies for MEAs; and §Adaptation of best practices to assist government and private-sector clients in meeting international standards and remaining globally competitive (ISO 14000; pollution prevention and green product policies; and other voluntary measures; environmental laws and policy assessment and development). Capacity Building RFI helps clients in the public and private sector to build their institutional capacity to meet their environmental commitments and bolster efforts aimed at poverty alleviation and basic health. We offer sound and creative solutions that help our clients maximize their intellectual and technical capital through incorporation of cost-effective approaches. Our firm has extensive experience with building government and corporate capacity to meet international commitments pertaining to climate change and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). We assist our government clients to build capacity in and across agencies and departments in a manner that will help them to achieve long-term objectives for sustainability. These solutions range from building capacity on broader, long-term issues, such as environmental educational capacity, to targeted approaches to building managerial, strategic planning, science and technical capacity in the near, as well as long-term. Our national and international government clients include federal, regional, provincial/state, and municipal governments. We assist our corporate clients to identify and integrate sustainable practices that are environmentally, economically and socially sound in their management, production processes and products. We assist companies to enter international markets, especially in developing countries and those with emerging economies, by identifying opportunities that are compatible with their strengths, client groups and investors. We also help clients to facilitate business and partnership contacts and to initiate, negotiate and finalize joint-venture arrangements. Large Project Management RFI offers large project expertise, including field-level management of environmental capacity and institutional development projects. Our involvement extends from designing projects to providing leadership for multi-disciplinary teams, staffing and sub-contracting, managing day-to-day activities, administering budgets, and monitoring and reporting on project results. Our wide range of projects attests to our success in helping clients understand and implement the principles of sustainable development in the context of well-managed projects. Environmental Assessments (EAs) RFI is widely acknowledged as a leading Canadian and international EA policy institution. We help clients to identify environmental risks and impacts and adopt effective solutions that prevent costly problems down the road. Our extensive experience includes conducting and reviewing assessments, developing EA procedures, and strengthening institutional and EA capacity. We have undertaken EA projects pertaining to water resources; infrastructure; major transportation (including railway routes) ; fish habitat; energy development (thermal and hydropower); agriculture; pulp and paper; mineral and petroleum developments; waste management operations; tourism and park development; transfer of First Nation lands (Canada); and sale of federal properties, to name a few. We have extensive knowledge and experience with international, federal and provincial/state regulatory environments. Air and Water RFI helps clients develop strategic plans and policy instruments and multi-disciplinary tools that build their capacity to effectively measure and address air and water pollution, including assistance to individual facilities, government jurisdictions and public agencies working to improve quality of life in large urban centres, and national and international organizations responsible for air and watershed management. Air: We help governments (federal/state/municipal levels) to shape effective strategic policies and plans for large urban centres that will help them measure and reduce inhaleable particles (PM 10 and PM 2.5); ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (S02), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). POPs and metals: We offer expertise on devising plans to address life cycle planning (cradle-to-grave management solutions) for persistent toxic and bioaccumulative pollutants subject to long- range air transport at the facility level (management practices; pollution prevention; process changes) and for governmental clients. Our work on Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs, (PCBs, DDT, chlordane, dioxins and furans, etc.) and heavy metals (mercury; lead) includes assistance with development of domestic and multi- national action plans for POPs. Our services include provision of advice on environmentally sound technologies (for example, for destruction of PCBs); alternatives to these substances in processes/products; monitoring and assessment practices, and risk communications. RFI’s experience includes assistance to the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) with development of a framing resolution that sets forth the direction for North American cooperative work on POPs and other persistent substances that are subject to long-range transport. RFI has also helped facilitate development of North American action plans on several POPs and mercury. Climate Change: RFI is well known in Canada and internationally for in-depth knowledge of climate change policy, trans-boundary air pollution issues, and the policy instruments to address greenhouse gases and air pollution issues, including technology transfer. RFI has a strong understanding of climate change issues in developed and developing countries. Recent international and Canadian projects that we have completed in this area include the Canada-China Cooperation Project to Survey Technology Requirements for Greenhouse Gas Reductions in China and Canadian Supply Capabilities, a review of the National Action Program on Climate Change for the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, and the multi-stakeholder consultative Evaluation of Control Options for Fossil-Fuel Power Sector Air Emissions for Canadian Ministers of Health and the Environment. Water: Water is recognized to be an increasingly important factor in global and national security at a time when population density, agricultural and other practices (deforestation, waste disposal, etc.) are diminishing the quality and quantity of water available for drinking and irrigation. RFI assists governments, corporate clients and indigenous groups with effective watershed management planning, inclusive of sustainability issues pertaining to rural areas (groundwater sustainability in the context of irrigation and pollution) and to large urban centres (infrastructure pertaining to water quantity and quality; sustainable industrial practices; delivery and finance mechanisms). Consultation, Facilitation and Risk Communication Engaging stakeholders is key to developing and implementing successful environmental management and planning systems. RFI helps clients conduct focus groups and surveys to define interests and clarify issues. We facilitate public engagement processes and can help clients to determine which consultation models best fit their needs. We also help train clients to develop strategic communication strategies and to hone their internal and external skills so that they can communicate their objectives with consistency and confidence. RFI Corporate Profile RFI’s associates are global leaders whose vision and insight ensure we are offering our clients the latest and very best in advice and technical and science expertise. Our staff brings engineering, geology, environmental sciences, economic, public policy and administration, managerial and facilitation expertise together to assure our clients that they will receive comprehensive, as well as targeted expertise.

Market Profile

Alliances: Financial: Domestic, Foreign Sales/Marketing: Domestic, Foreign Technology: Domestic, Foreign   Industry Sector Market Interests: Agriculture Construction Consumer Products Culture Environment Fishery Forestry Information Technology and Telecommunications Manufacturing Medical/Biotechnology/Chemical Mining/Petroleum/Gas Service Industry Tourism Transportation Wholesale/Retail

Sector Information

Key / Major Clients:

GovEnvironment Canada, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Canadian International Development Agency, Commission for Environmental cooperation