Director, Biocoal Development, Taaleri Bioindustry Ltd.

Juha has over 15 years experience in bioenergy and forestry industries with deep expertise in the development of value chains for by-products in those business sectors. As an entrepreneur in bioenergy and forestry consulting business his work has ranged from planning, executing, and constructing investment projects, identifying potential opportunities for further processing, developing bioenergy procurement, and enhancing service production and operational management within the wood processing sector. Prior to his entrepreneurial career, he served in various leadership roles in bioenergy and wood procurement at Koskinen Ltd and Junnikkala Ltd. For two years he was CEO at Finnish civil engineering company, Maarakennus Kamara Ltd., and served as Chairman of the Board for another two years. Throughout these four years, the civil engineering company engaged in investments in the mining, renewable energy, and forestry industries.

President, Advanced Biofuels Association

The Advanced Biofuels Association, is a Washington-D.C. based association of more than 40 advanced biofuels feedstock, production, marketing, and distribution companies. Michael formed the Association in 2007 and has acted as its lead representative since, building on more than 40 years’ experience in government and public affairs focused on energy, fuels policy, climate change, air policy and tax. In the private sector, Mr. McAdams worked for BP for more than 14 years, and on Capitol Hill, including as legislative director to Congressman Ralph Hall (R-TX). A leading voice in the renewable fuels field, Mr. McAdams has testified numerous times before Congress and federal agencies, speaks regularly at industry and academic conferences, and authors a twice-monthly column in Real Clear Energy.

Founder & CEO, FrontFundr

Peter-Paul has over 20 years experience in banking in Europe. After moving to Canada in 2010, he worked with several young companies and realized there were no efficient channels for attracting capital and that most investors are locked out from investing in private companies. Peter-Paul is the founder and CEO of Silver Maple Ventures Inc., the company that built and operates Canada’s leading investment crowdfunding platform FrontFundr and DealSquare, Canada’s first centralized dealer platform for private placements. He is a member of the advisory committees of the Private Capital Markets Association in Canada (PCMA) and National Crowdfunding Association Canada (NCFA). Peter-Paul holds a Master of Science in business economics and finance from Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

County Forester, County of Renfrew

Lacey grew up Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador. Graduating from the University of New Brunswick in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry, Lacey has been a Registered Professional Forester in Ontario since 2008. Her work has ranged from field work in the Boreal forest, to writing a forest management plan for 250,000 hectares of Crown forest in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence forest, to the hands-on management of the Renfrew County Forest, as the County Forester. Lacey is the Co-Founder of Women in Wood, a network for women who work with, in and for the woods, and the host of the web-series “Mighty Jobs”.

Founder, Green Revival

Sydney attended Rice University where she studied Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She saw that research has a shelf of discoveries waiting to be applied. She worked in upstate New York scuba diving in Lake George to weed out Eurasian Watermilfoil. There are many more invasive species the State needs eliminate. As a young female, Sydney is exposed to misinformation among her peers that are fear and inattention based that lead to advocacy for non-solutions and a feeling of unnecessary hopelessness. She launched Green Revival as her way to contribute to society, solve the invasive species problem, generate bioproducts, and accelerate the bioeconomy. She feels her undertaking will help prevent wildfires, reduce soil and nutrient erosion, improve land use, and act as a counter to bio-terrorism.

Program Manager, Ontario Woodlot Association

As Program Manager for the Ontario Woodlot Association, Glen manages their Forest Certification, Carbon Offset, Climate Change Adaptation, and Indigenous Engagement Programs. Glen has worked in consulting, research, and academia in both the private and public sectors. He has a Masters degree in Forest Conservation from the University of Toronto, and a Masters of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from McMaster University. Glen is a Managed Forest Plan Approver under the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) and has completed the Ontario Tree Marking Course. Glen lives in North Bay with his wife and two young boys.

Founder & CEO, Circle Bay Capital

Duncan is a seasoned private markets investor, infrastructure developer and advisor. He recently founded Circle Bay to provide capital and advice to companies and project developers in the energy transition and digital infrastructure sectors. Current partners in the bioeconomy include Hughes Energy and CarbonSweep – both of which are in the late stages of developing institutional-scale projects which transform municipal solid waste into high-value, carbon-negative fuels using proven technologies. Prior to founding Circle Bay, Duncan led the private equity business at Forum Asset Management and worked at Macquarie Capital where he focused on principal investing and infrastructure development.

President, Hydrogen Naturally (H2N)

Brett is an Alberta based entrepreneurial engineer always in search of a meaningful problem to address. He found one in the challenge to decarbonize our energy industry and reduce CO2. As President of H2N, Brett plans to build the world’s largest carbon removal and negative emission hydrogen hub, first in Alberta, and ultimately building four hubs to remove 1 GT of CO2 from the air while producing large amounts of bright green hydrogen using low value forest harvest residuals. Prior to H2N, Brett started a company which engineers and manufactures steel moulds used for large scale precast concrete infrastructure projects. He also founded a company to develop and manufacture gasification systems for turning hard to convert high carbon feeds into hydrogen and CO2 recently used in the Sturgeon Refinery - the first refinery to have integrated carbon capture. Both companies are still in operation today, and gave Brett a deep understanding of how to start ventures and build meaningful infrastructure.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry Sector, ISED

Charles Vincent is currently the Acting Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry Sector at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). Industry Sector provides advice on issues of Canadian industrial policy, based on the sector’s economic and technological expertise. In doing so, it addresses a broad range of Canadian industries in the context of global markets, supporting government decision making on policies and programs to enhance innovation, competitiveness and the productivity of Canadian industries. Charles was formerly the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Small Business, Tourism and Marketplace Services Sector at ISED. Prior to this, Charles held executive roles at ISED, including responsibility for the Made-in-Canada industry mobilization initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the Automotive, Transportation and Digital Technologies branch. Before joining ISED, Charles served as an executive at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Director General, Trade, Economic and Industry Branch, Canadian Forest Service (CFS), Natural Resources Canada

Monique’s team at CFS is responsible for Canada’s commitment to plant two billion trees by 2031; supporting research, development and deployment of innovative processes and forest products - including accelerating the development of the forest bioeconomy; forest stewardship and economic opportunities in Indigenous communities, and international relations. Monique has held various high-profile positions across the Federal Public Service, including at Health Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, Infrastructure Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Global Affairs Canada. Internationally, Monique has held positions with the International Organization on Migration, as well as with Global Affairs Canada in Washington DC. Monique hails from Cape Breton Nova Scotia, but currently lives in Ottawa.

Editor & Publisher, The Daily Digest

Jim is the editor & publisher of The Daily Digest, the world’s most widely read bioeconomy daily with 5.9 million readers globally. He is the co-founder of the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC) series, and founder of The Circular, Reenergize, and Robin.Stream.

Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM), Market and Industry Services Branch

Tom has been part of the senior management team at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) since 2017, and became ADM, Market and Industry Services Branch in 2021.  His responsibilities include trade negotiations, agriculture and agri-food sectoral competitiveness, emergency management  and departmental regional offices. Previously, Tom served as the department’s Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Policy. Before joining AAFC, Tom held senior positions at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Natural Resources Canada.

​President, MJ Rensing Consulting Inc.

Michael was part of the British Columbia public service for 20 years. As Executive Director of the Low Carbon Fuels Branch, Electricity and Alternative Energy Division at the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation, he led the development of BC's Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program which has been responsible for ~30% of the emission reductions achieved by the province, making it one of the most successful low-carbon fuels programs in North America. Michael is the 2021 recipient of the BC Bioenergy Network’s Sector “Champion” Award for outstanding leadership and contribution to the bioenergy sector in BC. As President of MJ Rensing Consulting, he provides strategic guidance to companies seeking to understand low carbon opportunities, and prosper in the low carbon economy. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Victoria.

​Manager Strategic Initiatives, Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group)

Lynn’s is the CSA Group lead for their Bioeconomy Initiative which includes activities across the value chain from biomass source to end of use. She is passionate about helping advance the Canadian Bioeconomy through standards. Prior to taking on this cross-sector role, she managed Canadian and International standards development committees including having a leadership role in the Canadian-held Secretariat as the International Committee Manager for ISO TC/6 Paper, board, and pulps. She has over 25 years’ experience working with a broad set of stakeholders across Natural Resource sectors including Oil & Gas, Forestry, Mining as well as working extensively with municipal governments on environmental issues. She has a degree in geological engineering and a master’s degree in petroleum geology.

Director Strategy and Policy, Boeing Canada

​As Director, Strategy and Policy for Boeing Canada, Pierre contributes to the development of strategic programs and initiatives in support of The Boeing Company’s core business interests in Canada including sustainable aviation fuels. His broad aviation background includes 37 years with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Ornge, and Transport Canada. He is a former fighter pilot with combat experience and 3500 flying hours. He holds a valid Airline Transport Pilot license (ATPL) with an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) rating and a seaplane endorsement.

CEO, The Transition Accelerator

Dan has spent more than 25 years performing and managing research, driving innovation, and fostering collaboration between industry, government, academia, and civil society. The Transition Accelerator is a pan-Canadian charity that works with groups across the country to solve business and social challenges while building in net zero emission solutions. Dan is also the co-chair of Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body, the statutory independent body that advises the federal government on setting interim emission reduction targets on the way to a net-zero emission Canada by 2050, and on the most likely pathways to get there. Prior to the Transition Accelerator, Dan was CEO of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance, Executive Director of the Canadian Forest Innovation Council, and a senior manager at Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada. He was Assistant Professor at the University of Montana, and holds a PhD in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Montana. His initial career was in professional football, as a linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Executive Director, Council on Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accountability (CoSAFA)

Through CoSAFA Madison is working to develop a standardized, publicly available, transparent, and verifiable, environmental attribute accounting framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) book and claim transactions. Prior to her work with CoSAFA, Madison spent 11 years as a CH-53E helicopter pilot in the US Marine Corps. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Environmental Planning and Management.

CEO, Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE)

Chris is a management professional with over 25 years experience specializing in government relations, strategic planning, sustainability planning and project development, with a focus in the forest products and bio-economy sectors.

Managing Consultant, Commercial Sustainability Team, Guidehouse

Anjana has over 15 years experience in the public and private sector in the US and Canada. Prior to joining Guidehouse, she worked with the Ontario Public Sector on developing low-carbon fuel regulations, GHG reduction targets, and helped with developing the biochemical sector in Ontario. Anjana's private sector experience includes working with renewable gasoline and carbon capture start-ups in California and with Dow Chemicals in Philadelphia. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and Bachelor' in Chemical Engineering from IIT Bombay. She recently completed her Executive MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. 

Executive Director, Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels

With more than 25 years experience in integrating aviation fuel procurement, environment, and climate risk management, Geoff is a senior leader in commercial aviation, and an engineering professional at the forefront of airline sustainability. This gives him a unique perspective on creating a sustainable aviation fuels market in Canada to support decarbonizing the aviation industry. His past responsibilities centred around setting direction on aviation environmental sustainability strategies, being an industry advocate in the design of aviation climate policy and regulatory measures, and reducing aviation emissions through stakeholder collaborations to advance the use of sustainable fuels and other emissions reduction initiatives. Geoff holds a master’s degree in civil engineering, and is a fellow of the Alberta Energy Futures Lab - a sustainability-driven, innovation-focused initiative whose vision is to accelerate the clean transition of Alberta’s energy system. He serves on the Board of the Clean Resource Innovation Network.

Counsellor of Trade and Commercial Affairs, Embassy of Finland to Canada

Jaakko became Counsellor of Trade and Commercial Affairs to the Embassy of Finland in Canada in February 2023. He previously worked over 30 years in international organizations in various industries for Fiskars, Iittala, L’Oreal, Kellogg’s, Orkla, Olvi Breweries, Finnish Design Forum, and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. His long experience in international management positions, board work, Finnish government, and private businesses give him unparalleled business insight. He is a graduate of University of Jyväskylä in  Finland, with a Master Degree in Economics.

President and CEO, ECOSTRAT Inc.

Jordan has been President and CEO of Ecostrat for over 20 years where he oversees the Biomass Advisory Group and the Biomass Supply Group. He has overseen the supply of more than 5MM tons of biomass feedstock to projects around North America. As head of Ecostrat Advisory, Jordan has led supply chain de-risking teams for JP Morgan, Shell, Enviva, NREL, DTE Energy, Macquarie Bank, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Southern Company, Rentech, Noresco, EDF, Sweetwater, Solvay, McKinstry, LaFarge, PGE, Eastman, Coca-Cola, Johnson Controls, Siemens, and the Canadian government. He is presently the leading partner with US National Laboratory INL in a 5 year project to develop the new US National Standards for Biomass Supply Chain Risk for the US Department of Energy.

President and CEO, British Columbia Council of Forest Industries

Linda was appointed President and CEO of BC COFI in July 2022. Previously, she was Executive Director of Alberta-based Pembina Institute, a leading Canadian environmental think tank on climate and energy. She also served as Chief Sustainability Officer, Enbridge Inc.; Vice-President Sustainability, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games; Vice-President Pacific Region, World Wildlife Fund Canada; and Vice-President, Environmental Affairs, MacMillan Bloedel Ltd and the BC Coastal Group of Weyerhaeuser Canada. Linda has been a Distinguished Fellow at the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia, and has taught corporate social responsibility at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. She has served as a member of the City of Vancouver’s Greenest City Task Force, the 2015 Advisory Panel to the Province of Alberta on Climate Leadership, the 2018 Generation Energy Council on Canada’s Energy Future established by Natural Resources Canada, and Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body, which provides advice to the federal government on meeting requirements under Canada’s Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.

President & CEO Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA)

Since joining the CSPA in January of 2019, and with over 25 years experience in Canada’s national capital, Catherine supported the industry during the disruptive 232 tariff period, spearheaded the development of a leadership climate strategy for the association, and secured critical changes to Canada’s trade remedy regime. Prior to taking the helm at the CSPA, Catherine ran a consultancy providing strategic advice to private and public sector clients in manufacturing, mining, construction, and the forest sector. Catherine also spent 13 years at the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) where, as Executive Vice President, she played a key role in developing the sector’s long-term transformation strategy in response to changing market dynamics and the evolving expectations of civil society. For the last two years, Catherine has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Lobbyists by The Hill Times. She served on the Premier’s Council on US Trade and Industry Competitiveness & the Advanced Manufacturing Council in Ontario. She is on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Climate Institute. She is a Chemical Engineer from the University of Toronto

Chief Technology Officer, SixRing Inc.

Markus has over 25 years international research and development experience in diverse industrial fields. He holds a PhD in physical and polymer chemistry from the University of Potsdam/Germany and executed his research work at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam/Germany. He has a profound working knowledge of industrial chemical processes, and the oil and gas industry encompassing fracturing, cementing, heavy oil recovery, and oil field chemistry. Previously, Markus was the lead of a stimulation R&D group of an international Oil & Gas service provider. He has extensive experience in international commercialization of new completion and production chemistry, working closely with engineering, product development, marketing and sales. Markus has co-authored many chemical patents and leads the IP generation activities at SixRing.

Directeur général, Innofibre

Jean-Philippe holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, and a master's degree in energy and materials science. Working for several years in the family recycling business, Jean-Philippe acquired solid expertise in business development and strategic partnerships. His expertise and leadership then led him to take on a management position at Innofibre in January 2018. Since then, he supervises the research work while maintaining a collaborative project approach. According to Jean-Philippe, teamwork is the key to success in accelerating technological development and scientific innovation.

Graduate student, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Vancouver

An economist/writer turned environmentalist, Aish has over 8 years’ experience in multiple disciplines that give her robust agility and the ability to bring a diverse point of view to the table. Aish is currently a graduate student of Green Business and Sustainability Management at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, British Columbia and spends most of her time involved in youth-led environmental projects be it engagement or education centric. She is interested in creating a circular economy, impact investing, and unlocking innovation to accelerate the transition to clean technology.

Research & Development Specialist, Davey Textile Solutions Inc.

Davey Textile Solutions Inc., is a Canadian manufacturer of high visibility striping. Lelia has a BSc and MSc in Human Ecology (Textiles & Clothing) and is currently enrolled in the Human Ecology Doctoral Program at the University of Alberta researching regenerated cellulosic fibres from hemp feedstock. Her experience in the textile industry spans over 20 years, specializing in industrial personal protective clothing.  Her continuing passion is in hemp, and seeing this amazing plant become part of Canada’s bioeconomy revolution.

Director, Carbon and Sustainability, Advanced Biofuels Canada

Fred is the Director for Carbon and Sustainability of Advanced Biofuels Canada (ABFC), a national industry association established to promote the production and use of advanced biofuels in Canada. Fred leads ABFC’s work to establish biofuel carbon value, lifecycle analyses in regulations, and sector engagement in sustainability initiatives. Fred has 14 + years experience in the Canadian renewable fuels sector, and is a partner in Waterfall Group.

Executive Chair, Hydrogen Naturally

From a young age, Ian has followed his mother’s sage advice: “When someone tells you that you can’t do something, that just means they can’t do it. It has nothing to do with you.” MacGregor is an entrepreneur who likes to build projects from the ground up. He embraces technical complexity, demonstrated in the $10 billion Sturgeon Refinery project he spearheaded. He also conceived and built the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line, the largest system in the world for the capture and storage of manmade CO2. This system is now fully operational and resulted in the storage of about 2 million tons of CO2 in 2021. After earning his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Calgary in 1971, MacGregor decided he’d earn a better living as a welder. Because he likes commercial opportunity that permits growth to world scale, he often embarks on endeavors others conclude are not economically or technically viable, specializing in building and/or fixing big pieces of missing infrastructure. He is now working on building a world scale carbon removal and green hydrogen hub. Using forest waste (treetops and branches) left behind from existing forest operations, and marginalized trees not processed by sawmills, the hub’s natural air capture facility makes and sequesters CO2, as well as making renewable fuels. The goal is to remove 1 GT of CO2 from the atmosphere and make large quantities of clean hydrogen. The first Carbon Removal and Bright Green Hydrogen hub will be in Western Canada close to existing carbon sequestration infrastructure and forest feedstocks.

Regulatory Engagement Director, EcoEngineers

Lisa has nearly 20 years’ experience leading government relations and regulatory outreach in North America and Europe. She serves as EcoEngineers policy and regulatory engagement expert. She is responsible for staying current on key local, state, national, and international legislative, regulatory, and policy developments. She analyzes policy developments and how they fit within government decarbonization goals and efforts. In previous positions, Ms. Hanke provided technical and business leadership, advocacy, and support to members of the Canadian Fuels Association. She also spent 16 years leading global government affairs for clean technology companies Enerkem and Iogen. Ms. Hanke advocated for biofuels and renewable energy under the low-carbon fuel standards in Canada, British Columbia, the United States, the European Union, California, and other emerging markets.

Director Policy & Regulation, Advanced Biofuels Canada

Since 2005, Doug has helped lead the development of Canada’s advanced biofuels sector. He has worked directly on all key federal/provincial energy and climate action policies, including program support to build biofuel production capacity and expand clean fuel use in Canada. He is the Past Chair of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.

Founder & CEO, Digital Networking for Thought-Leaders (DN4TL)

As a natural communicator, leader and entrepreneur, Flo has produced multimedia projects globally since 2008. In 2017, he co-created TheFutureEconomy.ca, an impressive Canadian-focused site of leader interviews on the future economy, and built an influential national network and social media following in the process. Previously, Flo produced high-profile investment profiles in Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and eventually in Canada, where he also organized 3 high-level conferences in Alberta. He speaks 4 languages, has lived and worked in 12 countries and 3 Canadian provinces (AB, BC, QC), has conducted over 1,500 top-level leader interviews globally, 1,000 of which were in Canada. In autumn 2021, Flo launched DN4TL to leverage his passion for business development, his extensive real-life networking experience and connections, and his affinity with technology, to help Canadian leaders connect and grow their social media influence in support of Canadian competitiveness.

Managing Director, TorchLight Bioresources

Dr. Jamie Stephen is the Managing Director of TorchLight Bioresources, a decarbonization strategy and policy advisor for national, provincial, and municipal governments, First Nations, utilities, airlines, large industrial emitters, property developers, and investment funds. Projects range from the development of energy facilities to national strategies on meeting Net Zero targets. He has two decades of experience in the bioenergy industry, working at the interface of the energy, forestry, agriculture, and waste sectors. Dr. Stephen holds a PhD in Forest and Energy Economics and a Masters in Chemical and Biological Engineering from the University of British Columbia. After growing up in the prairies and spending over a decade in Ontario, he now resides with his wife and three daughters in Nova Scotia. 

Green Tech Solutions, Munich Re

Derek is a Chemical Engineer working in the GreenTech solutions group of Munich RE, which offers innovative technology risk-transfer solutions for industrial clients in the bio-circular economy space. A key benefit of the insurance is the transfer of technology performance risk from project investors & lenders to the insurer to enable and improve project financing. The GreenTech focus on the circular economy is aligned with Munich RE’s global decarbonization strategy by providing unique insurance solutions for companies with bioenergy, waste to energy, carbon recycling, and other green technologies. Derek previously worked for LanzaTech as a Technology Manager focused on scale-up and commercialization of a novel gas fermentation technology.

President & CEO, Canadian Fuels Association

Bob, a native of Hawkesbury Ontario, joined the Canadian Fuels Association as President and CEO in September 2020. He is proud to represent Canada’s innovative fuels sector, and the critical role the sector plays to provide reliable, safe and environmentally responsible transportation energy to all Canadians. Bob leads the Association in driving policies that improve environmental performance, protect industry competitiveness and strengthen Canada’s critical energy infrastructure. Focusing on maintaining an open dialogue between industry and government, its stakeholders and the public are priorities. Bob also strongly believes that the Association can offer access to information and analysis in order to help drive informed policy decisions. Prior to joining the CFA, Bob was Senior Vice-President at the Forestry Products Association of Canada where he supported the sector on policy and technical issues relating to climate change, innovation, Indigenous engagement and environmental regulations.  Mr. Larocque was also responsible for supporting the sector in achieving its “30 by 30 Climate Change Challenge”. Bob attended the University of Ottawa graduating with an Honours Degree in Chemical Engineering. He resides in Ottawa with his wife Tara and their three children.

Executive Director, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)

Meaghan is a nationally recognized thought-leader in the bioeconomy and has been spearheading research and innovation opportunities across the country for almost a decade. Prior to joining BIC, she was Executive Director of BioNB, a high-impact NGO focused on providing support to companies and stakeholders in New Brunswick’s bioscience sector. She also served as Chief Executive Officer of New Brunswick’s Health Research Foundation. She has a graduate degree in agricultural sciences and several certificates and diplomas in communications and management development. Her influence is national in scope and brings industry and association collaborators together building strong partnerships across a multitude of science, and technology sectors. She serves in leadership roles on several regional and national boards in support of entrepreneurs, research, innovation and investment entities.

Consultation Coordinator/Climate Change Specialist & 20/20 Catalyst 2018 Cohort of Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek First Nation

As the first point of entry for all industrial undertakings, Kyla’s main priority is protecting the rights and interests of Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek, along with teaching her community how to adapt to a changing climate. She sees the absolute value in using green/clean energy to fight Climate Change and lower carbon emissions for the next generations. Kyla also works closely with their Community Planner and Development Manager to research best practices as they push forward with the construction of the new community. She has been exploring clean energy initiatives to help her community move forward to achieve its Green Community vision. She has a profound passion for environmental preservation and protection. She believes if humanity works together to understand and carry out these clean energy initiatives, our world will still be here seven generations from now. She has strong feelings towards youth engagement, talking and listening to them, including them in the dialogue, and teaching them new ways of seeing. Kyla is the proud mother of six Ojibway children and co-author of The Palgrave Handbook of Global Arts Education.

Vice President Investments, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)

Ziyad joined SDTC in 2016.  As Vice President, Investments, Ziyad ensures that the organization is sourcing and nurturing innovative clean technology companies that have the potential to deliver strong environmental and economic benefits to Canada.  He oversees the day-to-day operation of the SDTech Fund investment process, from intake through to assessment, selection and recommendation of investments to SDTC’s Project Review Committee and Board (approximately $90-100M/year of allocated investment).

Prior to joining SDTC, Ziyad spent 18 years at Iogen Corporation. As EVP Operations and Engineering, and General Manager of Iogen Energy, he successfully led the commercialization of Iogen’s cellulosic ethanol technology, and completed construction and start-up of a US$105M industrial scale facility with its partner Raízen. Ziyad holds an M.B.A., an M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering and a B.A.Sc. in Chemical Engineering.

President and CEO, Iogen Corporation

Brian joined Iogen in 1982 and became the company’s CEO in 1986. He has been responsible for the formation and operation of the company’s strategic alliances and overseen Iogen’s technology development and positioning. Under his leadership, Iogen became a world leader in cellulosic ethanol, and built a successful business manufacturing industrial enzymes. Brian holds Bachelors degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering and a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all received in 1980.

Managing Partner, AJW Inc.

Christopher Hessler founded the government relations firm AJW and is recognized as one of the country’s foremost experts in environmental market mechanisms and renewable fuels policy. With three decades of experience, he specializes in leveraging public policy to help clean technologies enter and thriv.e in energy and environmental markets

Advisor, Structured and Corporate Finance, New Energy Risk, California

Christopher Angelo joined New Energy Risk in 2018. He brings with him a wealth of expertise with over 15 years experience in banking, investing, and executive-level corporate finance. Prior to joining New Energy Risk, Christopher was chief financial officer at Silicor Materials Inc (formerly Calisolar Inc.), a solar manufacturing and R&D company. There he led the company’s project financing and financial operations as the company scaled and ramped its solar cell and solar silicon technologies from R&D to two high volume manufacturing plants.Christopher holds a master’s degree in Law and Accounting from the London School of Economics and Political Science, as well dual undergraduate degrees in Finance and Economics from Lehigh University.

CEO, Passmore Group Inc.; Chair, Scaling Up

Jeff has worked in the renewable energy, renewable chemicals, and bio-economy sectors for 40 years. His expertise includes strategic investor relations, project capital attraction, site location assessment, and corporate communications. In 2010, he launched the management consultancy Passmore Group Inc. In November, 2016 he created Canada’s inaugural Bioeconomy Conference “Scaling Up” focussing on the commercialization challenges faced by biochemical, bioenergy, biofuels, and bioproducts technology providers. He has served on the CleanTech Advisory Board of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and on Canada’s National Advisory Board on Energy Science & Technology. He is the Past Chair of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, Past Chair of the Canadian Wind Energy Association, Past Chair of the Solar Energy Society of Canada, Past Vice-Chair of the Independent Power Producers’ Society of Ontario, and Past President of the Ottawa Chapter of the International Association for Energy Economics. He currently serves on the Board of the Canadian Association for the Club of Rome.