About | Brian Banks

Writer, editor, geographer, aspiring naturalist, animal advocate, rider, paddler, vegan …

My goal: To do meaningful work; to help protect and promote deeper engagement with animals and wildlife, habitat, wilderness and landscape; to immerse myself in places and with people/organizations that teach and inspire and lead change; to have positive, lasting impact in the world, and to convey the importance and urgency of what I care about to others.

My craft: I work with words, pictures, content creators and subject matter experts in an array of fields, on many different platforms. I produce award-winning stories, articles and reports; run publications and projects; manage talented/demanding teams with diverse interests, and deftly help others convey their ideas. I am equally in my element running creative projects or working in the field, interviewing and engaging with naturalists, biologists, fellow geographers, ecologists, conservation practitioners, business leaders, entrepreneurs, tech and science experts, adventurers and explorers.

Current positions

Freelance editor-writer-project manager (2009-present)

I do editorial, communications, start-up and project work dealing with conservation, natural science, geography, climate, business and sustainability. This includes: independent reporting, writing, editing, research and communications consulting about wildlife, endangered species and conservation; water and wetlands; environmental stewardship, habitat preservation and restoration; climate change, clean transportation and sustainability; geography and landscapes; outdoor adventure and exploration; corporate governance, shareholders and strategy.

Current/recent clients: Canadian Geographic; The Washington Post; ON Nature magazine; Nature Conservancy of Canada; Electric Autonomy Canada; The Works Design Communications; Canadian Wildlife magazine; Smith magazine; Canadian Geographic Travel; The Weather Network; ALLCAPS Content; Lambay Group; American Way magazine; Pivot magazine; St. Joseph Communications; MaRS Discovery District; The Atmospheric Fund; Maclean’s.

Recent Honours

NMAF National Magazine Awards: B2B
Gold, Best Company Profile: 2024
Finalist, Best Individual Profile: 2024

NMAF Digital Publishing Awards
Finalist, Best News Coverage: 2023

NMAF National Magazine Awards
Finalist (x2), Profiles and Long Feature: 2021

Recognition/Professional Development
Attendee, Banff Centre Literary Journalism: 2021

Royal Canadian Geographical Society
Fellow: 2016

Previous positions

Editorial director – Electric Autonomy Canada (2019-2024)

I was editorial director of the news, community and event platform Electric Autonomy Canada, in a permanent part-time role, from our 2019 launch until Sept. 2024. In that span, we established the site as the leading business-to-business platform covering Canada’s electric and autonomous transportation ecosystem. I oversaw editing, assigning and editorial strategy, and worked with founder Nino Di Cara and the project team on events, strategic planning and business development.

Editorial director and co-founder – Listed magazine (2010-2017)

Listed, an independent, controlled-circulation magazine for directors and senior executives of Canadian publicly listed companies, suspended publication at the end of 2017. Launched in 2010, with frequency varying from quarterly to bi-monthly, its editorial focus was the boardroom and the C-suite, keying on topics/stories involving governance, finance, strategy, shareholder activism, investor relations, risk, environmental affairs, M&A and business/market leadership. As a freelancer on contract, I created the editorial plan, managed a roster of industry columnists and contributing editors, did all assigning and editing, and some business development. Listed was well received by readers, advertisers and other members of the listed community. Editorially, it was recognized with the following awards:

Kenneth R. Wilson/Canadian Business Media Awards
Gold: 2015 (x2), 2014, 2013, 2012
Silver: 2016, 2011

National Magazine Awards
Silver: 2017
Honourable mention: 2018, 2014, 2012

Governor – Board of Governors, Ontario Land Trust Alliance (2010-2016)

I served two volunteer terms on the board of governors of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance. OLTA supports the vital, often unsung work of more than 30 member land trusts across the province—protecting wilderness, critical habitat, water resources, agricultural and other lands and facilities for the benefit of their communities, local species and the people of Ontario. OLTA provides these member groups with organizational and technical support, representation and promotion, and access to funding networks. My time on the board was rewarding and inspiring: I met so many great people in the field and learned a huge amount about the science, business, financing, community values and policy frameworks that shape and drive conservation. I also honed my own skills in the areas of fund development, communications and event planning in the environmental nonprofit sector.

Editor – Financial Post Magazine (2004-2009)

Financial Post Magazine is the National Post’s flagship business monthly. When I was editor, it had 1.1 million readers. I was its chief ambassador and responsible for editorial strategy and execution, staffing and budget. Prior to being editor, I was executive editor and deputy editor (2002-2004).

Editorial director – Bluerock Systems Inc. (2000-2001)

The full rise-and-fall dotcom experience in the Brightspark incubator in Toronto. I built and led the content team at what started as Careclinix, a VC-backed commerce and content portal for health practitioners and their patients; that then became Bluerock when we morphed into a (short-lived) custom content service bureau for different verticals.

Executive editor/senior features/features editor – Canadian Business magazine (1994-2000)

Staff writer, freelance writer, associate editor – Various (pre-1994)

Books

The Plan for Canada’s Capital: 2017-2067

Published by the National Capital Commission in 2017. I was hired as the external editor, worked in collaboration with NCC staff and designer Bob Coady of Cicada Creative in Ottawa.

Canadian Geographic Atlas of Canada: The story of a country through maps, photographs, history and culture

Published in 2014. I was hired as co-editor to write accompanying texts for a number of the individual subject plates and to assign and handle contributor submissions. Publisher: Royal Canadian Geographical Society and HarperCollins Publishers.

Satellite Images: Photographs of Canada from Space

Published in 1989. I was hired to research and write the book’s 8,000-word introductory essay and the companion texts for all 48 plates. Publisher: Camden House Publishing.