Following a national search conducted this fall, it is my pleasure, on behalf of MMSM’s Board of Directors, to announce that Christa Rust has accepted our offer to become the next Executive Director of MMSM, effective January 12, 2026.
Christa is an accomplished sustainability and recycling leader with more than 15 years of experience in Manitoba program development and operations. She currently serves with the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, where she leads the Green Advantage program and the development of Manitoba’s roadmap to net zero. Many of MMSM’s long-serving team members will also recall her decade with CBCRA’s Recycle Everywhere program, where, as Senior Program Director, she built and scaled the initiative, leading a team that grew to nine permanent and 20 seasonal staff.
Christa brings deep industry expertise and a strong understanding of the partners and stakeholders central to MMSM’s success. She is well known and highly respected across the province, with established relationships among municipalities, First Nations, provincial officials, producers, and other key partners—relationships that will be invaluable as MMSM grows into its significant future role.
Christa is looking forward to joining MMSM and working alongside and learning from such a dedicated and highly regarded team. We have shared with her that MMSM’s strong reputation is a direct reflection of the team’s commitment and professionalism.
We also extend our sincere appreciation to Karen Melnychuk, who has led MMSM with dedication and vision for 15 years. When she steps down as Executive Director on December 31, 2025, we are pleased that she has agreed to continue supporting the organization for a limited period of time, as needed and at Christa’s discretion, to ensure a seamless transition for both the team and the organization.
We are very pleased to welcome Christa to MMSM.