We are honoured to share that Dirk Brinkman, Founder of Brinkman Group, has been awarded the 2026 Clean50 Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his decades of leadership in ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, and environmental innovation. 

For more than five decades, Dirk has been a pioneering voice for ecological renewal in Canada and around the world. Under his leadership, Brinkman has planted over 1.85 billion trees, restored hundreds of thousands of hectares of ecosystems - from intertidal zones to alpine regions. His leadership has helped shape national forestry policy, advance progressive models of collaborative stewardship with Indigenous Nations and communities, champion ecosystem-based forest management, and inspire generations of environmental practitioners. 

This recognition is especially meaningful as Dirk’s partner and Brinkman co-founder, Joyce Murray, has also independently received a Public Sector Clean50 award in 2018, celebrating her own distinguished contributions to environmental leadership and public service. Together, Dirk and Joyce represent the first couple to have both been honoured with Clean50 awards — a testament to their shared lifelong commitment to Canada’s ecological future.

Joyce and Dirk in tree planting camp, circa 1973.

Dirk was among 180 past and incoming Clean50 Honourees who met on Wednesday, October 15th, at the "Clean50 Summit 15.0" in Toronto, where they spent the evening with peers and colleagues tackling critical sustainability challenges facing Canada.

The Clean50 Awards celebrate leaders from across Canada who are driving measurable progress towards a more sustainable future. Each year, honourees are recognized for their innovation, collaboration, and impact in advancing the clean economy.

The achievements being recognized through this award would not have been possible without the incredible talent, dedication and passion of everyone at Brinkman. This recognition reflects the collective impact we have had on the Canadian landscape, and the shared commitment that defines us as a mission aligned, impact driven company. Every project, from planting our first tree in the 70's to today large-scale restoration initiatives, has been a team effort, rooted in collaboration, respect for ecosystems, and belief in regeneration as a force for good.

We're honoured to see Dirk's lifelong commitment to restoration and sustainability recognized nationally through this award, and are proud to continue building a future where people and the planet thrive together.

About the Clean50 Awards:
Founded in 2011, the Clean50 Awards recognize leaders from every sector of Canadian endeavour advancing sustainability and climate action nationwide.