Speakers

Alexandre Paris is a clean energy executive working at the intersection of renewable energy deployment, community partnerships, and sustainable infrastructure financing. 

With a career spanning technology commercialization, infrastructure development, and public-private collaboration, he now leads strategic initiatives at ORPC to deliver reliable river and tidal energy solutions to remote and Indigenous communities across Canada, reducing diesel dependence while supporting long-term economic resilience and local capacity building. 

He works closely with government agencies, Indigenous leadership, investors, and utilities to accelerate clean energy deployment in the communities that need it most.

As Senior Director of Operations & Member Services for Marine Renewables Canada, Amanda is responsible for membership development and services, operational and logistical support, trade development and supply chain growth and advancing seminars, missions and conferences.

Amanda began her career in the energy industry in 2002 when she first joined OTANS (The Maritimes Energy Association), where she managed all local events and conferences as well as national and international trade missions including OTC in Houston, All-Energy in Scotland, Rio Oil & Gas in Brazil, CanWEA Wind Energy Conference in Canada and the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum. She was also responsible for all member relations and communications. Prior to her time at The Maritimes Energy Association, Amanda worked for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, allowing her the initial experience in working for a member based, not-for-profit association.

Amanda is a native Nova Scotian and began her career after graduating from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Science Degree with an Advanced Major in Psychology.

Amy MacKenzie, PMP, MA, is a Managing Associate Partner at 21FSP Advisory with more than a decade of experience in socio-economic research and collaborating with communities and organizations to develop clear paths towards their goals.

With a background in economic development, policy research, and journalism, Amy’s passion is helping communities and organizations identify solutions to complex problems through mixed-methods research and strategic planning.

Amy has led the development of many studies, strategies, options analyses, and policies for governments, non-profit organizations, and Indigenous communities with a focus on providing evidence-based solutions that are both realistic and future-focused. This includes recently leading the Socio-Economic Impact of Offshore Wind study for Net Zero Atlantic, as well as an initial socio-economic impact study for the Committee for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind in Nova Scotia.

Amy is passionate about finding systemic-level solutions to the challenges facing society in this time of disruption and has applied this interest to projects focused on the renewable energy transition, housing solutions, green transportation, improving accessibility of health care, inclusive economic development, among others.

She is also a published author, award-winning researcher, and former journalist.

Andrew Haigh is Director of Technical Services at Evolv Energies & Xodus.

He established Gardline, a site survey & geohazard consultancy service in 2000, which became Ocean Geo Solutions in 2018 and part of the Xodus Group in 2021. Andrew is a marine geophysicist with a wealth of oƯshore marine survey/ocean science experience working over 3,000 site characterization projects in a 35-year career for oil & gas and renewable projects.

He is a fellow of the Society for Underwater Technology and global award winner. Andrew chairs the SUT educational outreach eƯort in Houston to share knowledge with students and our future professionals.

Ann Overmeire is Chief Operating Officer at Blue Cluster, the Belgian innovation cluster for the sustainable blue economy. A chemical engineer by training, Ann has more than 20 years of experience in innovation, sustainability and economic development, with a strong focus on the marine and maritime economy.

She brings together industry, research and government to turn innovation opportunities into collaborative projects and international partnerships. Her experience spans offshore renewable energy, sustainable maritime infrastructure and blue economy development, combining a strong understanding of the maritime ecosystem with a pragmatic approach to collaboration and innovation.

Anne-Marie Belliveau is a leading project developer in the Marine Renewable Energy sector and has held various senior management roles within the sector for the last 10 years including Tidal Project Development Manager at Emera, and Director of Operations at the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE).

In 2020 she established Projectable Consulting, where she provides project development, project management, and strategic planning services primarily in the marine renewable energy sector. Her most recent clients include Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, where she is proving project and business development support; Blue Orca Marine, where she is the lead for Eastern Canada; DP Energy, where she was the early-stage project development lead of the Nova East Wind floating offshore wind project; and FORCE, where she provided project management support on R&D projects.

She advocates educating young women to pursue careers in the fields of engineering, technologies, trades, math and sciences, where she is a member of Engineers Nova Scotia’s Women in Engineering committee. She also mentors aspiring young and newcomer professionals through the Halifax Partnership’s Connector Program

Anne-Marie holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Dalhousie University, a Master of Science from New York University, and a certificate in Financial Management from Saint Mary’s University. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia with her husband and two sons.

Anntonette Zembrzuska, JD, is Vice President of Strategic Growth at INSPIRE Environmental, a Venterra Group company specializing in marine environmental science and technology. She works at the intersection of science, policy, and business strategy, helping expand INSPIRE’s environmental services across the offshore energy sector in North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Anntonette helps lead INSPIRE’s growth in the offshore energy sector, drawing on the company’s extensive experience supporting the development of offshore wind in the United States. A key part of that work is advancing the use of Sediment Profile Imaging and Plan View (SPI/PV), a rapid, high-resolution approach to understanding seafloor conditions that can provide actionable environmental information throughout the project lifecycle. INSPIRE has deployed SPI/PV across more than 70% of U.S. offshore wind lease areas, building one of the industry’s most extensive bodies of experience applying the technology to offshore wind. Anntonette is now helping bring that experience to Canada and other emerging offshore energy markets, working with developers, regulators, Indigenous organizations, and industry partners to identify practical approaches to environmental characterization, permitting, monitoring, and responsible development.

Blake Holowaty is a Research Engineer focusing on mechanical design and oceanographic simulations at the Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED). He is an EIT, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria. Blake’s expertise lies in Computer-Aided Design where he creates detailed mechanical models and engineering drawings, and ProteusDS where he simulates surface objects and moorings in a marine environment. Blake first attended the 2025 Marine Renewables Canada conference in Halifax where he gained valuable knowledge about marine energy projects happening across the country. He has presented at the Marine Technology Society Workshop, and is excited for the opportunity to present and share his passion for marine renewables with those attending this year’s MRC conference.

Dr. Buckham is the Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and a member of the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems at the University of Victoria. His research is centered in offshore mechanics with a focus on marine energy technologies, marine energy resource assessment and design of marine energy systems. Dr. Buckham is also the co-director of the Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) – a marine energy commercialization hub at UVic that works to identify BC’s strategic marine energy sites, support community scale marine energy projects and demonstrate tidal and wave conversion devices in fully integrated hybrid renewable energy systems. The work of the PRIMED team is a central component of the UVic Accelerating Community Energy Transformations (ACET) initiative funded in 2023 by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. Dr. Buckham’s contributions to research and training in the marine renewables sector have been recognized by the BC Innovation Council, Natural Resources Canada and Mitacs Canada. In his role as a University instructor he has been awarded the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science Teaching Excellence Award in 2006 and 2014, the Engineering Students’ Society Teaching Excellence Award in 2019, and was the 2018 recipient of Excellence in Teaching awards from both Engineers and Geoscientists of BC and Engineers Canada.

Brenda Chisholm-Beaton is the Mayor of the Town of Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia – a major regional service hub for the Strait of Canso and surrounding communities and industries. She is a strong advocate for community-driven sustainable and inclusive economic development and has participated in the emerging marine renewable energy sector in Nova Scotia as a long-serving co-chair of the Strait of Canso Offshore Wind Task Force.

Mayor Chisholm-Beaton brings a municipal perspective grounded in more than a decade of work focused on the collaborative growth of the Town and the region – while navigating the challenges and opportunities for Port Hawkesbury as it continues to participate in multiple emerging sectors and port development.

Mayor Chisholm-Beaton believes Municipalities play a critical role in — preparing communities for growth; proactive collaboration with First Nation communities, regional partners and other orders of government; working with developers and other partners on economic development initiatives; and making sure local benefits remain a key focus.

Brendan is Senior Manager of Eastern Canada at Power Advisory. He has more than 15 years of experience in data analytics and policy development in the energy sector, with roles in innovation, power system planning, market assessment, renewable energy, and conservation and demand management (CDM). Since joining Power Advisory in 2022, Brendan has leveraged his Ontario market experience from working at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and Ontario Power Authority to work on projects across Atlantic Canada as well as transmission projects in the northeast and southwest US.  

Brendan supported Marine Renewables Canada on its 2050 Sector Vision by providing economic metrics and contributing report content, such as commentary on the known limitations of the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) metric. In Atlantic Canada, Brendan has conducted capacity expansion modelling and provided market analysis for government, utilities, institutions and developers. He has developed and assessed supply mix scenarios and price forecasts, analyzed electricity rates and tariffs, and researched market opportunities for onshore renewables, offshore wind, energy storage and green hydrogen. Brendan also led the analysis and report writing for the New England-Maritimes Offshore Energy Corridor (NEMOEC) White Paper for a coalition of offshore wind and green hydrogen developers and presented the findings at webinars. 

As a power system planner at the IESO, Brendan modeled the long-term effects of carbon pricing on generation and intertie flows for jurisdictions across the Northeast, managed the avoided cost and GHG emission analysis, and worked on Integrated Regional Resource Plans as a transmission planner. During his time with the Market Assessment Unit at the IESO, Brendan led the market analysis for the Ontario Energy Board’s Market Surveillance Panel for six of their Monitoring Reports including topics on renewable energy forecast uncertainty, Operating Reserve markets, gas generation commitments, capacity planning, need assessment processes, reliability standards, the role of non-firm imports, carbon pricing, and competitive procurements. While based in Scotland, Brendan was a wind energy analyst with a global developer and a consultancy where he conducted wind resource assessments for sites, designed wind farm layouts and calculated energy yields.

Dr. Bryson Robertson is the Director of the Institute for Integrated Energy System (IESVic) and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Victoria. His research and teaching interests include the wave mechanics, hydrodynamics of floating bodies, and renewable energy. Working with partners in industry, government, and academia, he focuses on wave, tidal and offshore wind energy resource characteristics; the co-design of offshore wind and wave renewable technologies; and numerically integrating marine power within the emerging Blue Economy.In complimentary research, Dr. Robertson also looks at the future of our global energy systems; the nexus of technology, climate change, policy, economics, and society on the decarbonization of electrical systems; and the public trust requirements to transition power system

Calvin is Executive Vice President, Americas with over 25 years of experience in energy operations and leadership. He began his career as a power engineer and played a key role in launching Northland’s Thorold Cogeneration station. Since joining Northland, Calvin has led solar operations in Ontario, supported international expansion, and most recently established the company’s asset management hub in Spain. He oversees Northland’s Americas portfolio.

Chad Fowlow is a professional engineer with over 30 years of experience in the energy sector and is the founder and CEO of Angler Solutions Inc., a St. John’s-based consulting firm helping its clients navigate the energy transition across renewable energy, energy diversification, ocean technology, and upstream resources. Angler’s services range from techno-economic analysis and feasibility studies to full project execution, supported by MESO, Angler’s proprietary software platform for modelling and optimizing hybrid, diversified energy systems.

His project experience spans oil and gas, offshore electrification, onshore and offshore renewables, blue and green hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, marine decarbonization, and ocean technology, with work delivered across Atlantic Canada and internationally. Chad was a co-founding principal and director of Frontier Subsea Inc. and has held senior roles with offshoreoil and gas operators, Tier 1 EPC’s and research organizations, providing technical and project management expertise.

Chad holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering (1996) and a Master of Engineering in Ocean & Naval Architectural Engineering (2007), both from Memorial University, and is a registered Professional Engineer with PEGNL (Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador).

Chad is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with 13 years of experience working on large-scale energy projects. As Manager of Innovation & Opportunities, he develops proposals for consulting and research projects and provides advisory services in petroleum engineering, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and project delivery.
As part of this role, Chad leads the energy systems and software development teams responsible for Angler’s MESO platform, a ‘Model for Energy Systems Optimization’ used for techno-economic analysis of renewable and hybrid energy projects. Chad oversees the use of MESO for consulting projects across various energy sectors, and supports Angler’s intellectual property (IP) activities, funding applications, and SR&ED filings.

Previously, Chad held Senior Engineering roles at Cenovus and Husky Energy as an Innovation Engineer and Reservoir Engineer. He supported offshore oil developments in Atlantic Canada, SAGD and conventional heavy oil in Western Canada, and offshore gas projects in the Asia-Pacific region. At Cenovus, Chad served as the company’s representative in COSIA and Pathways Alliance working groups, providing engineering support to CCS and technology development in Alberta.

Chad holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) and a Master of Engineering (Oil and Gas) from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is also a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Qualified Reserves Evaluator (QRE).

Chief Sidney Peters is a Mi’kmaq from the Glooscap First Nation, NS. He is the son of former Chief Joseph Peters and was elected to the position in 2012.

In his previous work life he has worked with the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM) as the Manager of their Lands, Environment, and Natural Resources Department (LENR). He was responsible for the operation of the LENR department, which included: lands, and research on any land issues relating to First Nation communities.

​Prior to his work with CMM Sidney has 23 years of work experience with not-for profit groups, band councils, tribal councils, and municipalities, and federal and provincial governments. He is highly motivated, results based professional with a tremendous amount of experience in aboriginal housing management and program delivery. He has strong organizational and communication skills, his personal attributes include strength in project management, leadership, team building, motivation and communication.

Sidney is married to his wife, Darlene Stevenson and they have two children Dylan and Joecy.

Chief Sidney Peters is responsible for the following portfolios: Governance, Finance, Treaty Rights and General knowledge on all portfolios.

​The Chief can be contacted through his Executive Assistant Robyn Crowe: rcrowe@glooscapfirstnation.com

Christine Bonnell-Eisnor, MBA, P. Eng. ICD.D is the CEO of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER) and has been with the CNSOER since 1999. As CEO, she is responsible for organizational leadership, strategy and planning to ensure the CNSOER fulfills its mandate in an efficient and transparent manner. The CNSOER is the lead and lifecycle regulator for offshore energy activities in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.

Christine has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia, and a MBA from Saint Mary’s University. She holds the Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D (Certified Director) designation and is a Registered Professional Engineer in Nova Scotia. In 2017, Christine was named the Progress Women of Excellence – Management and Professions.

Christine is a Fellow of Engineers Canada, an active member of Engineers Nova Scotia, a Board Member of Brigadoon Village and Saint Mary’s University.

Christine Healy is President and Chief Executive Officer of Northland Power, a leading global independent power producer. She oversees a diversified portfolio of renewable and natural gas generation assets across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Christine was appointed CEO in January 2025 and leads Northland’s strategy, operational performance, capital discipline, and growth agenda. Under her leadership, the company is focused on delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable power to customers around the world.

With more than 25 years of international energy leadership, Christine has held senior executive positions with leading global energy companies, including TotalEnergies, where she served as Global Senior Vice President for Carbon Neutrality and President and Chief Executive Officer of Total E&P Canada. Over the course of her career, she has built and led high-performing global teams, shaped global strategy, overseen major investment programs, and guided organizations through complex market, regulatory, and geopolitical environments across the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Christine currently serves on the boards of Canadian Natural Resources Limited, the Ontario Energy Association, and Plan International Canada.

Dr. Craig Hill is an Associate Professor in the University of Minnesota (UMN) Duluth Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, and affiliated with the UMN Duluth Large Lakes Observatory and the Institute on the Environment. Dr. Hill has been involved with marine renewable energy research for more than 15 years spanning the Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes region, and beyond. His research group focuses on identifying new technologies to aid in society’s transition towards sustainable energy, smart environments, and resilient coastal communities. This includes exploring new real-time observation platforms for marine monitoring, fluid-structure interactions and control systems of marine energy technologies, wave climate and coastal impacts in the Great Lakes, and opportunities for marine energy technologies to power blue industries.Through the Large Lakes Observatory, Dr. Hill actively participates in mooring deployments on Lake Superior and collaborates across a variety of industries working in the marine environment.

Crystal Nicholas is an experienced leader in economic development and strategic management, currently serving as the President & Interim General Manager at Wskijinu’k Mtmo’taqnuow Agency Ltd. (WMA). She oversees the agency’s executive functions and drives its strategic initiatives, working closely with the 13 Chiefs of the Mi’kmaw First Nations to promote sustainable economic growth.

Crystal’s extensive career includes key roles in advancing Potlotek First Nation’s development, where she served as Acting Economic Development Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Executive Officer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Cape Breton University and has completed advanced programs in Management Essentials and Negotiation Mastery at Harvard Business School. Crystal is also pursuing a JD at Dalhousie University. Crystal brings valuable skills in financial management, project leadership, and strategic planning to WMA. Crystal is a proud member of Potlotek First Nation​.

Dan is a marine biologist and strategic leader with extensive experience advancing marine resource management and sustainable offshore energy development in Atlantic Canada. His work focuses on bridging science, policy, industry, and stakeholder interests to support evidence-based decision-making in complex marine environments. Dan has led and contributed to numerous initiatives involving fisheries, biodiversity conservation, and offshore energy development, with a particular emphasis on data accessibility, collaborative governance, and responsible ocean stewardship. He is recognized for his ability to convene diverse partners and develop innovative approaches to addressing emerging challenges in the ocean sector.

Dan holds a PhD in Biology from Dalhousie University and a MSc in Biology from Acadia University. He has also served as a Research Associate at both the University of Washington and the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Danna’s practice focuses on project finance, including social and transportation infrastructure, renewable energy, public-private partnerships, syndicated loan facilities and acquisition loan facilities. 

She advises a broad range of corporate borrowers and lenders including developers, equity sponsors, contractors, domestic and foreign banks, bond underwriters and other investors on the negotiation of credit facilities, indentures and infrastructure documents. Danna has led Osler’s commercial team in providing advisory services on a number of infrastructure and energy transactions, including the debt and equity financing of some of Canada’s largest wind and solar projects. 

Danna is a Founding Member and the Past Chair (2014–2016) of the Toronto Women’s Infrastructure Network and is currently a member of the Steering Committee. 

David MacGregor became the Associate Deputy Minister for the Nova Scotia Department of Energy in February 2025. He previously served as Associate Deputy Minister of the Office of Priorities and Planning. David’s mandate at the Department of Energy is to co-ordinate the efforts of the various departments working on Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Projects.

David was the Principal Secretary and energy policy advisor to Premier John Hamm from 1999 to 2005. David also spent 17 years working at MacGregors Industrial Group, where he was the Manager of the Modular Building Division, which specializes in serving the electrical utility, industrial and mining markets. David is a Past Chair of the Board of the Construction Association of Nova Scotia.

Dawn MacDonald is the Global Offshore Wind Market Sector lead for AECOM, a global infrastructure consulting firm that provides environmental, engineering and advisory services to clients around the world. She works closely with AECOM’s OSW teams and clients in Europe, Asia, Australia, the US and Latin America, providing her with a very broad view of the global offshore wind market, the key players, emerging technologies, and issues facing the industry.

An energy industry veteran with more than 20 years in the sector and a professional engineer by trade, Dawn brings an impressive portfolio of offshore wind experience, having overseen development, construction, and operations projects as part of the Maple Power joint venture in Europe. Prior to that role, she was based out of Calgary, Canada and oversaw the front-end technical development of North American energy sector megaprojects and investment opportunities.

Based in Newfoundland and Labrador, Delia works closely with clients to deliver multi-faceted work scopes across a broad range of projects in renewable energy, electricity and transmission sectors. In her consulting work, she leads in-depth supply chain assessments, provides market entry advisory services, and delivers strategic advice to clients including developers, governments, utilities, economic development agencies, and industry associations.

Denise Sudom is a senior researcher at the National Research Council’s Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centre, with a specialization in sea ice, icebergs and river ice. With over 20 years of experience, she leads projects on ice characterization and risk assessment, advancing knowledge and technologies that support operations in cold regions. Her work strengthens collaboration between science and industry, and contributes to safer and more sustainable activities in ice-affected environments.

Doug is a naval architect and marine engineer with a background in systems integration and platform structural design spanning a range of materials and manufacturing methods including composites, plastics, and metallic structures. At Kelson, he leverages past system prototyping experience in combination with Kelson’s ocean engineering of dynamic floating systems to aid Marine Renewable Energy technology developers advance their novel concepts and get them working in the water.

Dr. Aidan Bharath is Director of Science and Environmental Programs at FORCE. He holds a PhD in fluid dynamics from the Australian Maritime College and brings expertise in wave and tidal energy, particularly in computational fluid dynamics and resource assessment. Before joining FORCE, he worked at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, where he contributed to offshore energy research, data systems, and marine renewable energy innovation. A Canadian and Acadia University alumnus, Dr. Bharath leads scientific research and environmental monitoring programs at FORCE and is helping strengthen academic and industry partnerships across the sector.

Dr. Anna Redden is a marine ecology professor in the Biology Dept at Acadia University. Over the last 2 decades, Anna’s research efforts in the Bay of Fundy have focused on marine life monitoring and environmental effects of tidal energy development. Her research with colleagues and research students includes acoustic detection and tracking of several fish species of concern, and harbour porpoise detection studies conducted in collaboration with FORCE and SMRU Ltd. She has authored or co-authored >90 primary publications, technical reports, and review papers. Anna has served as an independent member on both the Board of FORCE (2009-2016) and the Board of the Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia (2017-2022). She and her colleagues at Acadia founded the Fundy Energy Research Network (est. 2010; reignited 2025). In 2011, she co-founded and co-chaired the Acadia Tidal Energy Institute. From 2017-2023, Anna was the lead administrator of Acadia’s Research, Innovation and Graduate Studies Office. She is currently leading an NRCan OERD-EIP tidal energy enabling project, Reducing fish-turbine collision risk uncertainty in the Minas Passage, Bay of Fundy.

Dr. CA Ward-Paige is a Canadian marine scientist and multi-award-winning founder of eOceans®, recently named an Economist Ocean Changemaker. She works with governments, communities, businesses, and international partners to address ocean challenges from local to global scales. By connecting data from marine protected areas, ports, offshore energy sites, and citizen science programs, eOceans® enables cross-sector collaboration—supporting biodiversity conservation, maritime safety, and sustainable ocean economies worldwide.

Dr Laura Williamson, Head of Science at HiDef Aerial Surveying Limited has worked in marine consultancy since 2018, focussing on marine mammal and ornithology risk mitigation and impact assessment during windfarm construction. She develops mitigation strategies and research programmes to meet clients’ regulatory and reporting requirements, and provides advice throughout the consent, construction, and operational phases and contributes to HiDef R&D outputs.

Dr. Ogban is a Senior Energy Systems Engineer and technical leader at Angler Solutions Inc. He is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) registered with the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland & Labrador (PEGNL) and a Certified Energy Manager (CEM). He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He has over 15 years of experience in the techno-economic modelling of renewable energy and energy storage technologies, energy systems optimization, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, concept evaluation, and project management. He has led and managed multi-technology hybrid energy systems projects and has contributed to numerous research and development initiatives spanning renewable energy and energy transition.

At Angler Solutions, Peter leads a team of engineers building and validating techno-economic and dispatch optimization models across wind, hydropower, pumped storage, hydrogen carrier pathways, battery storage, and compressed air energy storage. He leads the development of MESO (Model for Energy Systems Optimization), Angler’s in-house platform for techno-economic and hybrid energy systems analysis.

Dr. Peter Porskamp is FORCE’s Marine Optics and Acoustics Research Scientist, bringing expertise in benthic habitat mapping, acoustic monitoring, and marine survey operations to FORCE’s environmental research programs. He holds a PhD in Biology from Deakin University, an Advanced Diploma in Marine Geomatics from the Centre of Geographic Sciences, and an MSc in Biology from Acadia University. Most recently a postdoctoral researcher at Dalhousie University, his work spans multibeam sonar surveying, backscatter analysis, species distribution modelling, and passive acoustic monitoring across Atlantic Canada and beyond. His graduate research at Acadia focused on harbour porpoise detection in Minas Passage, contributing to pre-turbine baseline studies at the FORCE site.

Shelley Denny is a Mi’kmaq from Eskasoni First Nation and the Senior Advisor for an organization that represents the five First Nations in the Mi’kmaw district of Unama’ki, also known as Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resource. Dr Denny holds three adjunct professor positions at Dalhousie University (Marine Affairs & Biology) and University of Windsor (Biology). Having a keen interest in aquatic life and habitats, Shelley attended Acadia University where she obtained her BSc in Biology and obtained her MSc in Biology at St. F.X University. In 2022, she obtained a PhD at Dalhousie University in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Her research interests are in exploring ways Indigenous and western knowledge can be used for the benefit of all, known as Two-Eyed Seeing. Her doctoral research built on her current interest and experience at UINR by exploring how Aboriginal and treaty fisheries can be governed in Nova Scotia using Two-Eyed Seeing, and continues to be involved in a wide range of research utilizing the perspective of Two-Eyed Seeing.

Shelley enjoys opportunities for working with traditional fishers/harvesters and plays a key role in bringing the voice of traditional Mi’kmaw fishers into discussions with Indigenous, federal, provincial governments and international forums.

Dr. Fischer is acting as Global Executive Director at Ramboll, the world-leading wind consultancy, where he manages the global wind division with currently close to 1,000 experts based in over 20 different countries. Tim is a well-respected international expert in the wind sector with close to 20 years of industry expertise. He is one of Ramboll’s leading experts in wind development, design, and associated business cases and has worked on an abundance of high-profile projects worldwide.

In addition to his role at Ramboll, Tim serves in various board and advisory roles, including being on the Steering Committee of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA).

Dr. Fischer studied Wind Energy at the Technical University of Denmark and a holds doctoral degree in Aerospace and Aircraft Design with a major in Offshore Wind from Stuttgart University. As part of his scientific career prior to Ramboll, he authored and contributed to more than 40 scientific publications in the area of wind energy.

Elisa is Chief Executive Officer of Marine Renewables Canada, where she leads efforts to advance Canada’s offshore wind, tidal, wave, and river current energy sector. She brings more than a decade of experience in marine renewable energy and a broad background in clean technology, energy policy, business development, and stakeholder engagement. In her role, Elisa works to advance supportive policy and regulatory frameworks, build international business opportunities, and enhance the capacity of the local supply chain. Elisa has also designed and led numerous engagement and outreach activities to grow knowledge and support for marine renewable energy development.

Elisa is a founding member of Electricity Alliance Canada (EAC) and the former Canadian Council on Renewable Electricity (CanCORE). She is currently Canada’s alternate delegate on the International Energy Agency’s Ocean Energy Systems Executive Committee. She has served on advisory and governance boards for the National Research Council, Offshore Energy Research Association, the Pan-American Marine Energy Conference (PAMEC), and was recognized as a 2018 Clean50 honouree.

Previously, Elisa held roles with Sustainable Development Technology Canada, the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE), and the Nova Scotia Department of Energy.

Elisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master in Public Administration from Dalhousie University.

Eric Finé studied business law at the University of Antwerp. After a short career at sea, Eric gained more than 35 years experience in shipbuilding: civil ships as well as naval ships and oil & gas structures. As from 2009, Eric is engaged in the offshore wind industry as project and business manager. Eric has contributed to the construction of installation vessels, offshore substations and offshore foundations. Today, Eric works on the realisation of various projects in Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia and North America. Eric is also involved in developing floating offshore wind as well as innovative offshore wind foundation and substation designs. Eric proudly served as a Commander (OF-3) in the Belgian Navy Reserve.

Senior Research Officer, Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering (OCRE), National Research Council (NRC) Canada, St. John’s, NL

Research Focus: Hydrodynamics of ships and offshore platforms, ice-structure interactions, marine renewables

Professional Background: Assistant Professor – Hiroshima University; Researcher – Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research (IIHR); Numerical Specialist – Oceanic Consulting Corporation in Canada

Ph.D. (2011), Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Hiroshima University, Japan

Federico Pisanò joined NGI in January 2023 and currently serves as Manager, Energy Transition and Emerging Markets. He earned his Ph.D. degree in 2011 from Politecnico di Milano (Italy) and subsequently worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of California at Davis (2012) and Politecnico di Milano (2013). In 2014, he joined TU Delft in the Netherlands as Assistant Professor of Offshore Soil Mechanics and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2021. His technical expertise centers on the development and application of advanced numerical models to understand and predict soil behavior and soil–structure interaction processes, with a particular emphasis on offshore wind applications.

Federico has co-authored about 100 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. He co-chaired the 4th International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing (CPT’18) and currently serves as Chair of the ISSMGE Technical Committee TC209 on Offshore Geotechnics. He is also a member of the SUT-US Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics (OSIG) committee, the ASCE Aerospace, Space Engineering and Construction Committee, and serves as Associate Editor for the ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. His recognitions include the ISSMGE Bright Spark Lecture Award for emerging academics (2019) and the ICE David Hislop Offshore Award (2022).

In his current role at NGI, Federico works at the interface between industry and academia, supporting both consulting and R&D activities. His primary focus is on innovation and emerging markets across the Americas, while leading NGI’s team in Boston.

Håkon holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Power System Engineering from NTNU in Norway. He has more than 6 years of experience from early phase offshore wind farm development in emerging markets, including Norway, Sweden, Scotland, and Australia. He has led the Electrical System Infrastructure discipline in consortia with development partners, with experience ranging from technical concept design and business case evaluations to development of new technologies and grid connection and permitting processes of both bottom-fixed and floating offshore wind farms. He is currently working in Entr, Aker Solutions’ dedicated consultancy arm towards wind and transmission developers.

Haniyeh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Guilan and graduated with a Master of Science in Water Engineering and Hydraulic Structures from the Sharif University of Technology in 2022. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Carleton University.

Her academic work focuses on the fundamental principles of hydrodynamics and their practical application in the renewable energy domain. Haniyeh’s research expertise lies in the numerical modeling of stream flows, power estimation, and the integration of machine learning to enhance renewable energy assessments. She is dedicated to developing innovative, data-driven solutions for complex hydraulic challenges and sustainable energy resource management.

Dr. Hilary Moors-Murphy is a Research Scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and leads the DFO Maritimes Region Cetacean Research and Monitoring Program. Her main area of expertise is marine mammal biology and bioacoustics. The objectives of her research program include increasing knowledge of cetacean occurrence off eastern Canada through innovative collection, analysis, and management of broadscale, long-term passive acoustic monitoring and sightings data. These data can help in the assessment of risks and impacts of human activities, increasing our understanding of threats to cetaceans and informing management and mitigation measures. Hilary is actively working with colleagues in DFO Maritimes region to develop and support baseline data collection and modelling studies in proposed wind energy areas off Nova Scotia.

Since moving to Ottawa in 2020 to attend Carleton University’s Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program to pursue his passion for renewable energy, Ian has been growing his career with Natural Resources Canada’s CanmetENERGY-Ottawa research lab. For the past three years as a Research Engineer within the Renewable Heat and Power team, he has spent a significant portion of his time working on the research and development side of topics such as wildlife interaction, wind resource assessments, hydrodynamic modelling, and wind farm performance optimization.

Dr. James Walker is Head of Unit – Systemic Innovation at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which works to support 173 member countries to drive the widespread adoption of renewable energies globally. James is based at IRENA’s Innovation and Technology Centre in Bonn, Germany. He is responsible for managing a programme of activities focused on identifying novel and innovative solutions and approaches across the whole renewable energy value chain, and highlighting the measures needed to accelerate their uptake.

Amongst other topics, James and his team are responsible for advancing the Agency’s work on ocean energies. This work involves highlighting the unique opportunity which ocean energy offers in different country contexts, and spotlighting the latest developments in the sector which are enhancing technology readiness and commercial viability.

James has previously worked in a range of roles across academic research, consultancy, and in the civil service, always with a focus on renewable energy and the emerging hydrogen economy. Before joining IRENA he was Head of Hydrogen Strategy at Ofgem, the economic regulator of energy infrastructure and markets in Great Britain. Before that, he also worked for the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney.

John has a comprehensive energy law practice covering a breadth of corporate, commercial and regulatory issues with a particular focus on Canadian electricity markets and infrastructure revitalization. 

He is a Partner and National Co-leader, Energy and Power Group at BLG, encompassing the Power, Oil & Gas, Mining and Forestry sectors. His clients include Provincial and Territorial governments, system operators, regulated utilities, developers, investors, and lenders. He provides counsel concerning corporate, commercial and regulatory aspects of the electricity and natural gas industries and power project development for a variety of technologies including wind, tidal, battery storage, solar, and biomass. 

Jonathan Dogterom is Co-founder and Director of Aks Wind, a Canadian company working to advance floating offshore wind development in British Columbia. Aks Wind is developing a proposed project in Barkley Sound that combines floating wind technology, energy storage and Indigenous partnership, with the longer-term goal of supporting clean energy development and a Canadian Pacific offshore wind industry.

Jonathan has more than 25 years of experience developing and commercializing clean technologies. He is Managing Partner of Windward Labs and previously held senior leadership roles at MaRS, where he led cleantech initiatives and helped launch the MaRS Advanced Energy Centre. His experience spans renewable energy, hydrogen, energy storage, carbon capture and utility innovation. Throughout his career, Jonathan has worked with technology companies, investors, governments, utilities and Indigenous partners to move emerging energy solutions toward commercial deployment.

Jon is currently a Senior Project Engineer and Project Manager at C-CORE. He is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng) and holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation. He has been working on harsh ocean related challenges for 20 years. He has experience leading field campaigns, laboratory test programs and desktop studies. His focus areas include: metocean data analysis and design basis development, risk analysis and probabilistic methods including extreme event and risk mitigation modeling; iceberg and sea ice design loads on offshore structures; analysis of risk to subsea infrastructure.

As the Manager of Workforce Development at COVE, Katherine Mataya is involved in the development of strategic-level workforce and education initiatives. Initially, Kat found her passion for education after working in South America researching and educating people on the local flora and fauna. With a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Math from Queen’s University and a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management and Assessment from Niagara College, Kat has taken her experiences to support the workforce development programs at COVE. In her work today, Kat engages with a wide variety of stakeholders including educators, youth, industry partners, and government departments to adopt and implement programs aimed at building capacity and talent in the marine economy. 

Kathryn has over 18 years of experience working in U.S. and Canada offshore industries, specializing in logistics, reporting, associate management, technical planning and client relations. Her background in marine aquatic ecosystems stems from work as a Fisheries Observer, Protected Species Observer and Trainer, as well as Project and Program Management focused in the North Atlantic. She has regulatory and technical knowledge of operations, specializing in geophysical and geotechnical surveys, as well as pile driving and cable laying operations pertaining to renewable projects in the Atlantic. Her professional experience spans the public and private sectors and her experience includes the development and management of permitting documents and reporting in compliance with agency and regulatory requirements.

Dr. Vigness-Raposa is a marine scientist with expertise in bioacoustics, spatial modeling, and impact assessments of anthropogenic activities in the marine environment. She has a strong program management background including strategic planning and proposal writing for environmental programs and Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental management and compliance. Over the course of her career, she has authored numerous reports assessing the impacts of anthropogenic activities on marine mammals, sea turtles, and fishes; predicted marine mammal distributions and abundances; led passive underwater acoustic monitoring teams on research cruises; and taught graduate-level courses at the University of Rhode Island. Dr. Vigness-Raposa participated in the acoustics and electromagnetic studies for the Rhode Island Ocean Special Area Management Plan (Ocean SAMP), as well as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management studies of the underwater sound from construction and operation of the Block Island Wind facility. She uses innovative techniques to model and predict environmental impacts and co-created the award-winning educational website “Discovery of Sound in the Sea” (dosits.org). She is the Associate Editor for Acoustics Today with the Acoustical Society of America and co-chair of the Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life Conference Series. Dr. Vigness-Raposa has more than twenty-five years of experience in environmental modeling and field work.

Kelly Bates is a Senior Marine Geoscientist based in Canada with more than 15 years of offshore energy sector experience. She specializes in offshore geohazard identification and mitigation, integrated marine site characterization, and geophysical data interpretation for offshore developments. Her work has supported projects across the Canadian and U.S. Atlantic, southern U.S., Trinidad, Colombia, Guyana, Australia, and the Caspian Sea, with recent emphasis on offshore wind development and seabed characterization.

Her expertise spans high-resolution geophysical interpretation, sediment characterization, offshore survey planning, ground modelling, and integrated geophysical and geotechnical assessments. She has supported offshore wind projects through seabed mapping, geohazard assessments, and multidisciplinary data integration, helping improve spatial understanding of seabed and subsurface conditions.

Ken Kimmell serves as both the CEO of the Vineyard Wind 1 Project and the Chief Development Officer for Offshore Wind at Avangrid Renewables.  As CEO, he manages the transition of the project from the construction phase to the operation and maintenance phase.  As Chief Development Officer, He leads a team to develop new offshore wind business opportunities, secure offtake agreements, obtain federal, state and local approvals for Avangrid’s offshore wind projects, execute infrastructure and economic development partnerships, and ensure implementation of workforce and other commitments made by the projects. Ken has successfully permitted two large scale offshore wind farms in New England, secured leases from the federal government for two large offshore wind farms in the Gulf of Maine, and created a partnership with a nation leading admiralty company to redevelop a former coal plant site into a new marshalling port for offshore wind. 

Prior to his position at Avangrid, Ken served as President of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), a leading science-based nonprofit which works at the federal and state level to promote renewable energy policies.  Prior to joining UCS in May 2014, Kimmell was the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). He has also served as General Counsel at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s administration, and in that capacity worked on state regulatory and siting policy to advance offshore and onshore wind projects.  Ken also practiced law for 17 years as the director and senior attorney at a Boston-based law firm specializing in environmental, energy, and land-use issues. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Wesleyan University and his law degree at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Ken Paul is a member of the Wolastoqey First Nation at Neqotkuk, located in the community of Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick.

For 9 years, Ken has held the positions as National Fisheries Director with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Integrated Resources Director with the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs. Ken has advocated for First Nations regionally, nationally and internationally on all aspects relating to fisheries, aquaculture, ocean protection and aquatic resources as they relate to inherent aboriginal and treaty-protected rights, legislation, and policy. This includes Indigenous Knowledge Systems, economic prosperity, community engagement, shipping, renewable energy and resource management. Ken continues this work as a member of the AFN National Fisheries Committee.

Previous to this, he had worked for 10 years in with the Canadian Hydrographic Service as and Hydrographic Engineer and Hydrographer-in-Charge of field-based ocean mapping and 10 years with Parks Canada as a Senior Policy Advisor in Atlantic Canada and the Field Unit Superintendent in the Northwest Territories.

Ken was a recent corporate board member of the Ocean Supercluster, the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS), and a past board member of the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) on tidal energy. He is currently involved with initiates on offshore wind, ocean research, kelp aquaculture, Indigenous marine protected areas, fisheries mentorship for Inuit in Nunavut, and private partnerships.

He has also been active on the international front in Indigenous advocacy with the Post 2020 framework of the Convention of Biological Diversity, the Ocean Working Group for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the Expert Working Group with Ocean Decade Unit of the UN IOC, and the Indigenous Peoples’ Unit at the UN FAO.

Ken has been an invited speaker and moderator at numerous conferences and gatherings, as well as a guest lecturer at several universities.

Ken has an MBA with St Mary’s University and a BSc from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has extensive training in leadership, policy development, mediation, labour relations, First Nations governance and traditional teachings.

Among his other initiatives, Ken is the principal/owner of Pokiok Associates and serves as the Lead Fisheries Negotiator and Research Coordinator for the Wolastoqey Nation of New Brunswick.

Dr. Kevin Pope is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Memorial University, where he leads research on sustainable energy systems. In recognition of his contributions to the field, the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME) awarded him the prestigious I.W. Smith Award and named him a CSME Fellow.

Kieran is a Senior Engineer within Global Maritime’s Subsea Cable Engineering Team, benefitting from eight years of experience executing offshore wind and oil and gas projects. Holding expertise in subsea cable installation, design feasibility studies, cable routing, landfalls, Cable Burial Risk Assessments, and Burial Assessment Studies.

Kieran is also an experienced Marine Warranty Surveyor and Transportation and Installation package manager, with experience including all aspects of offshore wind infrastructure transportation and installation including subsea cables, wind turbines and substations

As Director of Learning & Workforce Transformation at COVE, Kim brings substantial expertise in higher education and workforce development. Her work is grounded in strategic program design, team management, and fostering industry collaboration to build effective talent pipelines.  With over two decades of experience in academia and workforce development, Kim’s mission centers on aligning education with industry needs to empower individuals and organizations. Kim holds a Master of Education focused on curriculum design and the adult learner from Queens University, along with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Dalhousie University. Kim is motivated by the opportunity to create innovative learning experiences and partnerships that prepare learners for success in a rapidly evolving workforce. 

Dr. Krishnaveni Balakrishnan is a Project Manager and Senior Structural Engineer at EXP Services Inc., with over 15 years of experience specializing in marine infrastructure and floating offshore wind (FLOW) development. She brings expertise in port planning, port upgradation, structural design, waterfront structures, and offshore wind integration, with a strong focus on both fixed-bottom monopiles and mooring analysis of floating platforms. She has supported initial pre-FEED studies for large-scale offshore wind projects along the United States Pacific Coast, as well as in Taiwan and India, where she has led feasibility studies, concept selection, and multidisciplinary coordination. She also led the deployment of a LiDAR-based offshore monopile platform in Gujarat, India, supporting wind resource assessment in challenging seabed conditions within a seismic marine environment.Dr. Balakrishnan holds a Ph.D. in Floating Offshore Wind Structures from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is an active contributor to industry research, with publications on mooring systems and shared anchor concepts for floating offshore wind turbines.

Leone is a communications and engagement professional with extensive experience supporting Canada’s energy sector and not for profit organizations. Since joining Energy Storage Canada in 2021, she has played a central role in strengthening the organization’s communications, stakeholder engagement, and industry outreach efforts.

With more than fifteen years of experience in strategic development, project management, and event leadership across Canada, Leone brings a strong operational and strategic perspective to advancing ESC’s mission. She works closely with industry, government, and stakeholders to elevate understanding of energy storage and support collaboration across Canada’s evolving electricity system.

Leone is passionate about strengthening communication and education across the energy ecosystem to help accelerate the deployment of energy storage and support Canada’s broader energy transition.

Lindsay Bennett is the Executive Director of the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE), Canada’s leading tidal energy research facility. Under her leadership, FORCE advances tidal energy as a shared priority for Nova Scotia and Canada by showcasing the potential and impact of the Bay of Fundy’s resource, engaging partners across industry, government, Rights Holders, communities, and academia, and supporting development through applied research, environmental stewardship, and innovation. With a background in environmental management, business, and organizational leadership, Lindsay has spent the past decade fostering collaboration to advance clean energy solutions that create economic opportunity and support a low-carbon future. 

Luca Barbetti has over 16 years of experience in the blue energy sector, contributing to the development of more than 35 GW of offshore wind capacity and over 4,000 km of subsea power cables and interconnectors. He has supported developers, contractors, transmission system operators, and government institutions across the full project lifecycle, from feasibility studies and FEED to installation, commissioning, and operations. His expertise includes offshore wind, subsea power cables, interconnectors, cable routing, marine surveys, offshore infrastructure engineering and ocean energy projects. Luca has led multidisciplinary teams and managed complex international projects across Europe and the APAC regions.

Luticia Miller has had a notable career in major projects, initially starting as a welding apprentice and subsequently specializing in planning & execution, project controls, contracts & risk management. With over 20 years of experience in industrial construction, her portfolio spans diverse sectors from conventional oil & gas to renewables (including geothermal, wind, & solar), power & transmission, wastewater, infrastructure, and transportation.  Luticia is Cree-Metis, and a champion of First Nations active-equity participation in energy project development as a major contributor to Indigenous health & wealth and to greater levels of project success.

Ms. Miller holds an MBA from Queen’s University: Smith School of Business.  She has sat on both public and private boards, and is an active speaker and contributor to executive education on the topics related to Indigenous Business engagement for corporate Canada.

Ms. Miller is honoured to contribute her projects expertise along with her professional passion for Indigenous economic empowerment to serve FNMPC’s valued members.

Marc Beaubien is a Partner in Cox & Palmer’s Halifax office. Before completing his law degree at the University of New Brunswick, Marc earned his Bachelor of Commerce in Economics & Marketing from Saint Mary’s University. 

Marc acts for a variety of clients in commercial real estate acquisition, leasing, and financing. He also has significant experience acting on behalf of retailers in the acquisition and subleasing of properties in Atlantic Canada. 

Ms. Hartnett is a Principal at Epsilon Associates and leads Epsilon’s offshore wind practice, with a project portfolio totaling over 10,000 megawatts (MW).  She has over 26 years of experience in environmental permitting and scientific analyses for offshore wind energy development, coastal and marine projects, and submarine cables. Maria has been at the forefront of US offshore wind permitting since filing the Vineyard Wind 1 construction and operations plan (COP) with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in December 2017, which is the first COP filed for the current generation of US offshore wind projects. Maria has led the federal permitting of several other US offshore wind projects, including New England Wind, Vineyard Northeast, and Vineyard Mid-Atlantic. She has managed the preparation of two site assessment plans (SAPs) for offshore wind site assessment activities and five COPs for offshore wind construction and operational activities. These comprehensive permitting documents analyze the potential effects of offshore wind activities on physical, biological, and socioeconomic resources. Maria’s experience also includes preparing multiple mitigation packages for commercial and recreational fisheries. Maria has also served as an expert witness for several offshore wind projects. 

Mark Chapeskie (he/him) is Vice President, Programs at Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) and a nationally recognized leader in workforce strategy for Canada’s electricity sector. With more than 20 years of experience, he brings deep expertise in labour market intelligence, program leadership, and cross-sector collaboration to addressing the workforce challenges critical to Canada’s clean energy
transition.

At EHRC, Mark leads a national portfolio of workforce development initiatives focused on strengthening labour mobility, enabling career transitions, and expanding participation across the electricity value chain. Central to his role is convening and aligning employers, labour organizations, post-secondary institutions, and governments to develop practical, evidence-based solutions that respond to evolving skill requirements across both regulated and unregulated occupations. Mark also oversees EHRC’s labour market intelligence function, translating complex data into actionable insights that inform employer decision-making, public policy, and long-term workforce planning. His work helps ensure workforce strategies are aligned with electrification, infrastructure renewal, and decarbonization priorities, supporting a reliable and resilient electricity system.

A strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Mark embeds inclusive approaches across workforce programs, recognizing inclusion as essential to sector resilience and sustainability. He contributes sector expertise through the One Canadian Clean Economy Task Force and advisory roles across workforce development and education. Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from St. Lawrence University and a Master’s degree in Human Security and Peacebuilding from Royal Roads University

Martin Rovers is Senior Director, Business Development at Emera Inc., where he leads efforts to advance clean energy and grid infrastructure projects.

He has developed and delivered a wide range of strategic capital projects, including transmission infrastructure, renewable energy, energy storage, and grid modernization initiatives. He also held a leadership role in Nova Scotia Power’s transition away from coal-fired electricity generation.

Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across project development, operations, management consulting, and energy sector start-ups, Martin specializes in building partnerships, engaging with governments and stakeholders, and turning complex ideas into successful projects.

Martin serves on the Board of Wasoqonatl Transmission Inc. and represents Emera on government and industry working groups. He holds a Master of Science in Physics from McMaster University and an MBA from the University of Toronto.

Mary Ellen Greenough is Director, Legal and Regulatory, with the Eastern Clean Energy Initiative at Nova Scotia Power Inc., working on achieving clean energy goals for our region. 

Mary Ellen possesses a broad legal background with over two decades of experience focused in the areas of commercial, construction and regulatory law. 

Mary Ellen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary’s University and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Dalhousie University. She was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1999. She is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and a past member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association. 

Since 2018, Melissa has been the Director of Fisheries and Integrated Resources at the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC) where she works closely with Atlantic First Nations communities and organizations on fisheries, environment, Indigenous Knowledgesystems, climate and energy. The APC Fisheries & Integrated resources department amplifies and advocates policy change, research, collaboration, capacity and funding across the region.APC is an Aboriginal Aquatic Resources and Oceans Management (AAROM) body, that works closely with other AAROMs across the Atlantic region to support coordination and collaboration. 

Melissa participates in various federal and provincial committees on energy, mining, environment, climate change and is an active board member of both FORCE (2019 – present) and CLIMAtlantic (2024 – present). As of 2025, APC have received accreditation from the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) as an Indigenous Peoples’ Representative Institution (IPRI) official observer. The IPRI role of APC is to provide Indigenous perspectives and traditional knowledge into the science of Atlantic salmon.

With over 20 years in supporting First Nations rights in the Fisheries sector, Melissa is a strong advocate for Atlantic First Nations as she ensures that Indigenous knowledge systems, perspectives, and values are brought to the forefront of every conversation and are seen as a priority at the policy level.

Melissa Nevin is a member of Sipekne’katik First Nation and holds a master’s degree in Geography from St. Mary’s University.

Melissa can be reached at: melissa.nevin@apcfnc.ca

Michelle Williams is the Associate Director of Social Enterprises and Economic Development at the Confederacy of Mi’kmaw Nations (CMN). She leads initiatives that advance Indigenous economic development, strategic partnerships, and community engagement across Mi’kmaw communities. Her work focuses on creating opportunities in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and environmental services while ensuring development delivers meaningful, long-term benefits for Indigenous communities. Michelle works closely with governments, industry, and Indigenous partners to build collaborative approaches that support sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity.

Mike is a Senior Director of Investments at the CIB, responsible for structuring and leading investments in the Clean Power sector, including investments in generation, transmission, battery storage, and district energy.

Before joining the CIB, Mike was a member of Sun Life’s Project Finance and Infrastructure Debt team in Toronto for over 10 years, responsible for executing energy and infrastructure transactions and portfolio management across North America and Europe.

 
Mike holds an MBA from the University of Toronto and is a CFA Charterholder.

Mohammad Ali has over 20 years of experience in general corporate commercial advisory and transactional and regulatory work, both in private practice and in-house in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Canada. 

In his practice, Mohammad Ali supports businesses in multiple sectors, most notably in energy, housing, infrastructure development, and ocean technology. From drafting complex contracts to advising on project structuring and financing, Mohammad Ali provides practical solutions to the challenges his clients face at every stage and aspect of their business operations. Mohammad Ali is experienced in fast-paced business environments and recognizes the importance of response times. He believes passionately in working hard to understand the business of his clients – a trait that he feels is a distinguishing characteristic of a successful business lawyer. 

Nadine Templeman is a Senior National Science Advisor with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)’s Ecosystem Science Directorate, Ottawa, where she supports the coordination and application of ocean science to inform decision-making on various integrated oceans management files. A current focus of her work, alongside marine conservation targets science, is providing national leadership to advance DFO collaboration across scientific disciplines and that between departments related to offshore wind development in Atlantic Canada.

Nadine began her career with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 1998 while completing her graduate studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Over the course of her career, she has held a range of scientific, advisory, and leadership positions, contributing to programs related to various aquatic sciences, ecosystem assessment and reporting, and marine conservation science and management. Her experience spans both regional and national mandates, supporting evidence-based decision-making for both ongoing operations and emerging marine and environmental topics. Favoring collaborative approaches to achieving program objectives, Nadine has worked closely with scientists, managers, Indigenous partners and various stakeholders to ensure that the best available science informs sustainable ocean use and conservation outcomes. She remains particularly interested in the integration of science, policy, and management to address complex challenges in Canada’s marine environment.

Nadine resides in St. John’s, NL with her partner and 2 super-spoiled felines. Her connection to the ocean and natural environment continues to inspire both her professional work and personal pursuits. In her spare time, she enjoys indoor and outdoor gardening, honing her quilting skills, traveling to new places, exploring local hiking trails and spending time at her cabin.

Natalie Shea is Program Manager for Marine Renewables at the Geological Survey of Canada–Atlantic, leading the geoscience data collection campaign for Nova Scotia’s Offshore Wind Pre-Development Program since 2023. She oversees the acquisition and integration of marine geoscience data to support offshore wind planning, regulatory processes, and evidence-based decision-making. Natalie also serves as Head of the Marine Resources Geoscience Subdivision, leading a multidisciplinary team focused on the offshore subsurface of Canada’s East Coast and northern regions. With over 25 years of experience in energy and marine science leadership at Natural Resources Canada, she works at the intersection of science, policy, and collaboration, supporting offshore development, energy research, and strategic science planning. She holds degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Carleton University and Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Ms. Béchamp is Director General of the regional network, intergovernmental affairs and sector groups at Global Affairs Canada, where she provides senior leadership on international engagement, foreign policy, trade and investment.

A career diplomat with more than three decades of experience in international affairs, she has held a range of senior positions across the Government of Canada. Previously, she served as Director of Operations at the Privy Council Office, advising on foreign and defence policy issues involving the United States, Mexico and Asia, as well as on trade and investment matters.

Ms. Béchamp also served as Chief of Investor Services at Invest in Canada, where she led the organization’s investor concierge function and developed strategic partnerships to support foreign investment in Canada.

Her diplomatic career has included assignments in Moscow, New York, Santiago and Bangkok.

Ms. Béchamp holds a Bachelor of Commerce, with a major in Accounting, from the University of Ottawa (1993).

Oliver Wragg is Development Director at Orbital Marine Power, bringing over 18 years of experience in clean energy and science. He has been instrumental in securing more than £195 million in funding to accelerate the development of pioneering technologies that drive the clean energy transition. A recognised leader in the ocean energy sector, Oliver also serves on the boards of the UK Marine Energy Council and the European trade body Ocean Energy Europe.

Olivia Burke is an Associate Director based in the Dutch office of the Carbon Trust, where she leads offshore wind innovation and collaborative research programmes across Europe and North America. She specialises in establishing and managing multi-stakeholder initiatives that bring together industry, government, researchers, and coastal communities to address shared challenges and support responsible offshore wind research and development.

Olivia plays a leading role in Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA), one of the world’s largest collaborative offshore wind innovation programmes. Her work spans a range of international initiatives, including supporting the Maine Offshore Wind Research Consortium, a state-established group studying the ecological, economic and social impacts of floating wind in the Gulf of Maine, and leading stakeholder engagement for the Regional Fisheries Compensation Fund (RFA), a first-of-its-kind initiative working with 11 U.S. Atlantic States to provide a consistent and equitable approach to compensating commercial fisheries affected by offshore wind development.

Olivia holds an MA (Cantab) in Geography from the University of Cambridge.

Mechanical Engineering PhD student specializing in renewable energy and multiphysics modeling, dedicated to advancing the understanding of complex fluid dynamics through state-of-the-art simulation techniques. Backed by over six years of experience in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), my graduate research at Université Laval focuses on hydrokinetic turbines and cavitation dynamics to support sustainable energy development

Olivier Ruiz is North America Regional Business Leader of Grid Systems Integration (GSI) and Vice President GE Vernova Canada leading a team of more than 500 professionals delivering complex infrastructure projects in the Electrification sector, covering Utilities, Data Centers, Oil and Gas and other industries.

Our GE Vernova technology helps deliver a more affordable, reliable, sustainable and secure energy future. We are committed to help electrify and decarbonize the world with advanced grid technologies and systems. At GSI, we deliver integrated solutions to enable large scale electrification and support our customer needs.

GSI covers 4 segments: High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC), AC Substations, Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) and Services.

Olivier holds an Engineering Degree from France’s ENSIEG, Canadian and French citizenship and has more than 30 years experience in the energy industry. He has led teams and deliver projects in many countries across the world. He is currently based on Montreal QC Canada.

Paul has 39 years of experience in the design of offshore and subsea structures across civil, structural, and mechanical engineering. For the last 25 years he has focused on the design and installation of subsea systems, with growing involvement in the offshore wind and marine renewables sectors. Paul has represented Orcina in North America since 2001, providing local technical support and training to OrcaFlex and OrcaWave users across the region.

Paul holds a bachelor’s degree and an engineering doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, and is both a licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas and a Chartered Engineer in the UK.

Pedro Monzón is the Director of International Promotion at Proexca, an organisation where he has spent more than three decades leading the internationalisation strategy for the Canary Islands’ business community. He holds a degree in Law from the Complutense University of Madrid, has specialised in International Business at the University of Miami, and has a Master’s degree in Corporate Legal Advice. He combines his managerial role with university teaching as a lecturer in International Business and Markets at the Universidad del Atlántico Medio (UNIDAM) and on various postgraduate programmes at the ULPGC.

Phaedra Taiarol is an electrical engineer who has over 25 years of experience as a consulting engineer in the high voltage power transmission industry. She has been involved with and led teams on projects that include high voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, high voltage power cables, transmission planning and power system studies, and substation grounding studies and design. She has been involved in the planning, development, and implementation of many HVDC systems throughout her career, including HVDC projects in India, Chile, North America, and Europe.  

NORTHGREEN CAPITAL, part of the NORTHGREEN Platform, is a strategic M&A advisory firm. With more than two decades of international experience in energy and finance across Canada, the United States and Europe, Philip Bassil advises sponsors and institutional investors on structuring and executing transactions in sustainable energy infrastructure.

As Managing Director at NORTHGREEN CAPITAL, Philip focuses on M&A advisory, capital raising and strategic partnerships. He connects reputable sponsors with pension funds, insurance companies and infrastructure investors to help accelerate the energy transition.

He has been a featured speaker at leading industry platforms, including BloombergNEF (New York), the Global Offshore Wind Conference (London) and the Euromoney Renewable Energy Finance Forum (Toronto).

Select transactions include:

• $1.1 billion sale of Alterra Power to Innergex, one of the largest renewable energy transactions in Canadian history.
• Sale of Aypa Power to Blackstone, enabling a multi-billion-dollar capital deployment program in energy storage.
• Sale of a 51% stake in ib vogt (Germany) to DIF, strengthening one of the world’s largest solar platforms.
• Sale of OwnEnergy (U.S.) to EDF, expanding EDF’s U.S. wind portfolio with a 10 GW pipeline.
• Advisory work for TC Energy, which holds more than $100 billion in energy assets.

Previously, Philip led Marathon Capital’s Canadian operations, was a founding member of the Business Renewables Centre Canada and began his career at Scotia Capital, the investment banking arm of Scotiabank.

Philip Duguay is Principal at Canada Grid Advisory, offering independent advice on interregional transmission development to clients ranging from utilities and independent developers to Indigenous governments and civil society clients. Phil has over fifteen years of experience working across Canada and the United States, originating projects for two independent transmission developers, running public advocacy campaigns, and serving in strategic advisory roles for the governments of Québec and the Northwest Territories. He also worked on international development initiatives in Senegal, Ethiopia, Indonesia, as well as for a wind energy trade association in South Africa. Phil holds a dual law degree from McGill University and BA from Dalhousie University.

Rebecca Clayton is an energy transition and ESG advisory leader with more than 20 years of international experience across the energy sector. Her expertise spans ESG governance, sustainability reporting, carbon markets, and nature-related risk management. She has worked closely with boards, executive teams, investors, regulators, and industry bodies to embed sustainability considerations into strategy and decision-making working for organisations across the UK, Middle East, and Europe. She currently helps clients translate complex policy and regulatory requirements into practical business action evaluating risks and opportunities.

Rebecca joined HiDef in March 2025. She completed her PhD in Evolutionary Biology / Zoology from the University of Potsdam, where her research focused on how populations of wild animals adapt to their environment. She has extensive experience collecting and analysing ecological data, including mixed effects modelling and simulation analyses.

Remco Boersma is Director of Contracting and Construction at Ventolines, the Dutch integrated renewable energy services fi rm. With over 25 years of experience in wind energy, Remco has overseen the contracting and construction of multiple large-scale wind projects across the Netherlands and internationally, including Windpark Fryslân, the world’s largest shallow-water wind farm, and Windplan Groen, the largest onshore wind programme in Dutch history. Prior to joining Ventolines, he spent more than 12 years at Vattenfall. He holds a degree from Universiteit Twente.

Rezvan Rakhshan is a Research Engineer with the Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) at the University of Victoria. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering, as well as a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Iran.

Prior to joining PRIMED, she worked in the oil and gas industry as a design and manufacturing engineer, contributing to the development of turbomachinery equipment including centrifugal compressors, industrial fans, inlet guide vanes, and associated mechanical systems. Her work involved engineering design, manufacturing support, performance testing, and the development of numerical models for performance prediction and design evaluation. Through these projects, she gained experience in product development, computational analysis, and turbomachinery system design.

At PRIMED, Rezvan supports the development of marine renewable energy technologies through engineering design, numerical modeling, and manufacturing activities. Her work includes the design and structural assessment of floating platforms and subsea equipment, including underwater junction box systems and tidal energy infrastructure. She has conducted finite element and fatigue analyses of offshore structures and contributes to the development of hydrodynamic and performance models for tidal energy devices using computational fluid dynamics and multi-body dynamics approaches. Her interests include the design and development of turbomachinery systems, marine renewable energy, hydrodynamic modeling, structural and fatigue analysis, and engineering design for manufacturable and deployable offshore systems.

Richard is a mechanical engineer with 30 years’ experience in subsea engineering, mainly focused on delivering subsea production systems for the Oil and Gas Industry.  He is currently the Technical Sales Manager for Siemens Energy based in Houston Texas.  Originally from the UK, he moved to Houston in 1997 for a 6 month assignment and never went home.

Richard holds a BSC from the University of Durham and an MSC from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.  He is a chartered mechanical engineer, is Chairman of the API 17Z committee on subsea medium voltage power systems, and holds four patents.

Romain is a seasoned professional with 15 years of international experience across Europe, the Middle East, and more recently, Canada.

Throughout his career, he has been deeply involved in the site characterization process for offshore projects, including geophysical and geotechnical surveys. These activities are essential in assessing seabed and subsurface conditions to ensure the safe installation and construction of piled assets and linear elements such as power cables.

The ground component is especially critical for offshore wind projects, given the large field footprints and the significant cost contribution of turbine foundation systems. Romain has also gained exposure to other key aspects of site characterization, including metocean and environmental surveys, which are typically conducted prior to or alongside subsurface investigations. These elements play a vital role in the success of offshore wind developments.

In addition to his technical expertise, Romain has contributed to digital product development, driven by his passion for harnessing engineering insights from data. His goal has been to enhance decision-making efficiency and bring greater convenience to the offshore industry.

Now based in Canada, Romain is eager to apply his expertise to support the exciting opportunities emerging in Nova Scotia’s offshore sector.

Ron McCarthy is Senior Manager – Marine Projects at Aker Solutions in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. A naval architect and experienced technical and project manager, he has nearly 30 years of experience leading and supporting complex offshore energy projects. His expertise includes marine transportation and installation, float-over and topsides mating, mooring systems, wet towage, load-out, dry transport, and interface management. His international portfolio spans fixed and floating offshore structures. Ron brings this experience to marine renewables, focusing on safe execution, practical solutions and effective project delivery.

Dr. Courbis has been working in marine science and regulation for 30 years. She focuses on marine protected species, particularly marine mammals, and specializes in impact assessment, permitting and compliance, and mitigation. She is a principal environmental scientist with EPI Group. Her work in offshore energy includes siting and planning, environmental impact assessment, stakeholder engagement, permitting, development of practicable mitigation, application of technologies to compliance, and scientific support to trade organizations. She has been working in marine renewables for over a decade and has authored or co-authored over 80 technical reports, presentations, and publications.

Sarah uses her thorough understanding of evolving issues in environmental and energy law to provide clients with practical, concise advice. She works with clients both directly and as a member of Davies’ transaction teams – to evaluate environmental and social risks in Canadian and international deals. Mining, renewable energy and Indigenous issues are significant areas of focus. Sarah is also very successful at advocating before administrative tribunals regarding permitting for infrastructure, resource development and manufacturing projects. Deeply involved in the development and reform of Canadian environmental law, Sarah has held leadership roles in prominent legal and business organizations. Sarah is past chair of the Environmental sections of the Canadian Bar Association and Ontario Bar Association and one of two Canadian fellows elected to the American College of Environmental Lawyers.

Sean is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, where he completed a degree in International Relations with an emphasis on China.  In 2000, he moved to Shanghai and worked first with the Canada China Business Council and later with the Economist Intelligence Unit, the business intelligence arm of The Economist Group.  In 2008, Sean returned to Canada to pursue a Juris Doctorate at Dalhousie University, where he graduated with a specialization in Environmental Law.  Upon graduation in 2011, Sean began working in Toronto as a lawyer at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, one of Canada’s leading corporate law firms, where his practice focused on construction law and renewable energy project finance.  In March 2016, Sean joined Northland Power Inc., one of Canada’s largest green energy project developers, and thereafter relocated to Taiwan to develop the 1,044 MW Hai Long Offshore Wind projects and the Taiwan Round 3 projects, with emphasis on securing and negotiating Corporate Power Purchase Agreements. Sean and his family relocated to his hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia in August, 2024, from which he continues to provide local and global support for the development of early stage offshore wind projects.   

Shauna Kelly (she/her) is Sierra Club Canada Foundation’s Offshore Wind Coordinator for Newfoundland and Labrador. Based in Burin, NL, she is responsible for coordinating and strengthening Sierra Club Canada’s offshore wind community engagement, policy advocacy, program development, and research. Coming from a family and a community that once relied on the cod fishery and that now relies on non-renewable industries, Shauna is passionate about bridging the gap between lived realities, local knowledge and policy development to build a sustainable future for communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. Specifically, as the offshore wind sector develops in Atlantic Canada, her work currently centres around three questions: How do we create space and build capacity for local communities to engage at decision-making tables? How do we ensure that communities meaningfully benefit? What does a just transition to offshore wind look like, and what policies and programs do we need in place to achieve it? 

To develop answers to these questions, Shauna works collaboratively within the Atlantic Offshore Wind Coalition (AOSWC). The AOSWC is a partnership of East Coast Environmental Law, Ecology Action Centre, Sierra Club Canada. Their work rests on three foundational pillars – Respect, Regulation, and Responsibility – prioritizing respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, meaningful engagement, ocean protection, and transparent, participatory assessment processes. Working together, they bring trusted legal, policy, and social expertise to offshore wind development in Atlantic Canada.

Sougata Halder is a Senior Business Development Manager at TGS. With a strong Geoscience research background and more than 17 years of experience in diversified energy sectors, she drives TGS’s commercial activities related to offshore wind, CCS and Geohazard Site Surveys. Drawing from her expertise from strong technical background, she is known for developing, executing and delivering data-driven solutions/services that support effective business strategies for offshore wind and CCS projects globally.

She holds a doctorate degree in Geoscience from Southern Methodist University, Texas. Her expertise plays a key role in advancing all energy initiatives through developing efficient project development strategies.

Dr. Stephanie Avery-Gomm is a conservation scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate. Her research focuses on assessing and managing the impacts of human activities on coastal ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on cumulative effects. By partnering with academics, First Nations, conservation organizations, and government agencies, she ensures her work has a tangible conservation impact. Most recently, Dr. Avery-Gomm has led efforts to develop and demonstrate a flexible framework for assessing the cumulative impacts of offshore wind energy development on migratory birds in Atlantic Canada to support the sustainable growth of this emerging industry.

Stephen is a Director of Entr, Aker Solutions’ consultancy arm, where he leads a dedicated techno-economic team providing clients with low-carbon and renewable energy solutions. In this role, he combines Canadian industrial experience with insights from Aker Solutions’ global market leadership to deliver value-focused results. Stephen is a graduate of Memorial University with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) degree and is a licensed professional engineer. With 25 years of experience in the energy industry, he has gained insight from complex project developments in both Canada as well as internationally. He has held leadership roles with owner project management teams as well as with EPC contractors in the areas of engineering, construction, and commissioning of energy infrastructure.

Dr Steven Benjamins is a marine ecologist whose work focuses on evaluating and mitigating marine industrial impacts on marine megafauna, notably marine mammals and elasmobranchs. He has extensive experience assessing distribution, relative abundance and habitat use of these species, with particular emphasis on interactions with offshore renewable energy infrastructure, commercial fisheries and aquaculture. He also has valuable expertise in undertaking status assessments for marine species and habitats, and is a member of the Scottish Government’s Marine Energy Research (ScotMER) ‘marine mammals’ receptor group.

Sven leads Net Zero Atlantic’s offshore wind, electricity, and energy system modelling portfolios, providing strategic leadership on research and collaboration initiatives that support the energy transition in Atlantic Canada. He works with governments, utilities, industry, Indigenous organizations, researchers, and community partners to advance evidence-based decision-making and energy system planning. With more than 18 years of experience across the wind, geothermal, and hydrocarbon sectors, Sven has worked in Germany, Iceland, the United States, and Canada. He holds degrees in international management and sustainable energy science and is a frequent speaker on offshore wind development, electricity system transformation, and energy system planning.

Tanya Martinez is a seasoned energy developer and engineer with more than 20 years of experience developing community- and utility-scale energy projects across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. She has led the development and delivery of more than 2 GW of renewable energy projects. Tanya is the Founder, CEO and Chief Development Officer of Mi’kma’ki Energy, an Indigenous-led energy company focused on advancing First Nations energy sovereignty and creating long-term economic opportunities through clean energy development. She leads the company’s development efforts across Canada, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, energy storage, and other renewable energy opportunities. Her expertise spans the full project development lifecycle, including strategic energy planning, siting, interconnection, power purchase agreements, permitting, land agreements, project financing, First Nations consultation, and stakeholder engagement. Tanya is Mi’kmaq from Ugpi’ganjig First Nation and Puerto Rican. Her work is grounded in ensuring First Nations have a meaningful role in shaping and benefiting from the energy transition.

The Honourable Minister Fraser was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Central Nova in 2015.

Minister Fraser has previously served as Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and as Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. He also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Before entering politics, Minister Fraser had a successful legal career with one of Canada’s top-ranked law firms, where he practised commercial litigation and international dispute resolution.

He is a long-time volunteer, having served as the Vice-President of a local branch of the United Nations Association in Canada, acted as a Research Fellow with the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law, and provided pro bono legal services to the local BGC Club and vulnerable community members.

Minister Fraser holds a law degree from Dalhousie University, a Master’s degree in Public International Law from Leiden University in the Netherlands, and a Bachelor of Science from St. Francis Xavier University.

Minister Fraser grew up in Pictou County, and has family throughout the Town and County of Antigonish. He enjoys spending time in Central Nova with his wife, Sarah, and their children, Molly and Jack.

Tim Newson is a Professor and research director in the Geotechnical Research Centre at Western University. He has 30+ years’ experience of industry and academic projects in civil engineering for the oil/gas, mining and renewable energy sectors, and has conducted both consulting and research in Europe, Australasia, Asia and the Americas. He is a former Vice President for North America for the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. His research interests and consulting activities include in situ testing, constitutive modelling of soils, wind engineering, buried structures, centrifuge and laboratory testing techniques, dynamic and cyclic soil-structure interaction, contaminant transport through soils and offshore foundations.

Tom Levy is a professional engineer, licensed in the Province of Ontario. Tom is a Senior Technical Advisor – Offshore Renewables, and formerly the Deputy Portfolio Director, Smart Grid & Renewables, with Natural Resources Canada.

Tom’s present role is the design, management and execution of the Government of Canada’s Offshore Wind Predevelopment Program, announced in Budget 2023.

Tom has worked in the wind industry since 2003, first as a consultant, where he grew and led the wind energy consultancy business line for a waterloo-based engineering firm. In that role, Tom supported studies and assessments for over 2 GW of proposed or constructed wind projects in Ontario, New York and Illinois. From 2009 Tom spent nearly seven years as the Director of Technical and Utility Affairs for the Canadian Wind Energy Association. His work involved liaising with wind industry professionals, regulators and utilities on a variety of technical matters ranging from bats and wildlife, radar interference and grid integration.

By 2016 Tom had moved to CanmetENERGY-Ottawa, Natural Resources Canada, where he led the wind R&D research program for over five years. Under Tom’s leadership, the group tackled such issues as advanced wind plant forecasting, resource assessment for remote and northern communities, and grid integration. R&D efforts evolved to include consideration of advanced wind plant controls for the provision of ancillary services, eventually leading to proposed grid code changes and wholesale market adjustments.

Outside of work, Tom enjoys spending time with his children and partner, gardening, backcountry camping, kayaking, cross country skiing and biking – he would include hacking away at his guitar and song writing, but he’s not quite there yet – at least he isn’t tone deaf, according to his kids

Tricia is the Research Program Manager at the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) where she manages ROSA’s regional research programs that support and coordinate efforts for research and monitoring on offshore wind, fish, and fisheries on the U.S. East Coast. Her work focuses on organizing complex research landscapes so scientists, industry, and managers can better coordinate efforts, share knowledge, and make informed decisions.

Troy Garnett is a senior business development and industry leader with more than 25 years of experience in the construction, steel fabrication, infrastructure and renewable energy sectors. As Vice President of Sales & Business Development with Cherubini Bridges & Structures, Troy is responsible for developing strategic relationships, identifying new market opportunities, and positioning the company for growth across Canada and internationally.

Throughout his career, Troy has worked extensively with owners, contractors, engineers, government organizations and industry partners to develop and deliver complex infrastructure projects. His experience includes bridge fabrication and construction, structural steel, marine infrastructure, transportation projects, and emerging renewable energy opportunities. He has played a key role in advancing Cherubini’s involvement in major projects across North America, including large-scale bridge and infrastructure projects where fabrication, transportation, erection, and constructability are critical to successful delivery.

A significant part of Troy’s experience has been his involvement in the marine renewable energy sector. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Marine Renewables Canada (MRC), providing him with direct experience at the industry-association level and an opportunity to work alongside developers, technology companies, manufacturers, government representatives and other organizations involved in Canada’s marine renewable energy sector.

Cherubini Bridges & Structures have recently signed a partnership agreement with Riggs Distler and Smulders to pursue Offshore Wind projects in Nova Scotia, Canada.

William Shemie is the Director of Development for Pattern Energy’s Canadian business. William’s focus is on the Quebec market, but he is actively involved in developing new projects across Canada. He joined Pattern in 2015, where he managed engineering and construction of projects in Canada.  William has worked in the renewable energy sector since 2010 in various roles, including: project development, construction management, and lender’s Independent Engineer. He led the development and construction of several projects in Quebec and Ontario, including Pattern’s Mont Sainte-Marguerite project and Henvey Inlet Project. William sits on the board of directors of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), and the Association québécoise de la production d’énergie renouvelable (AQPER).