Speakers

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  Elyse Allan, GE Canada

  In her role as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Canada and Vice-President GE, Ms. Allan is responsible for growing GE’s business in Canada and advancing the company’s leadership in advanced technology, services and finance. Her career spanned the US, Canada, and several industrial and consumer GE businesses including aviation, energy and lighting. Ms. Allan’s career outside GE included executive positions in the health care, energy and non-profit sectors.

  
  

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  Dr. Susanna Laaksonen-Craig, Province of B.C.

  Susanna Laaksonen-Craig has worked for the BC Government since 2007. After a variety of roles in the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, she is currently the Head of Climate Action Secretariat in the Ministry of Environment. Susanna is originally a forest economist from Finland, with a Master’s degree from the University of Helsinki.  She went on to receive a Ph.D. in Wildland Resource Science from the University of California at Berkeley.  Susanna worked in many jurisdictions before joining the BC Government, including as an assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Forestry and as the Assistant Director of the University of California Forest Products Laboratory.  She continues to hold an appointment as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Forestry.

   

  
  

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  Gord Lambert, Suncor Energy

  Gord Lambert is Executive Advisor, Sustainability and Innovation for Suncor Energy. In this role, Mr. Lambert drives improvements in environmental, social and economic performance through innovation and collaboration.  With extensive experience in the energy industry, he is involved with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in support of its work on climate change, energy and sustainable development within the business community. Mr. Lambert is on the Boards of the Suncor Energy Foundation and  the Canadian Water Network and is Chair of the Board of Carbon Management Canada.

  
  

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  Dr. David Lewin, Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation

  Dr. David Lewin is the Electricity Generation Vice-Chair, Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation (CCEMC). Former Senior Vice-President of IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) Development Capital Power Corporation, David Lewin has over 30 years of experience in the field of power generation using fossil fuels in Alberta and internationally. David served as Senior Vice-President Environment with EPCOR Utilities Inc. and has served on a number of boards, including Chair of the Canadian Clean Power Coalition and the Alberta Innovates — Energy and Environment Solutions Board.

  
  

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  Richard MacKellar, Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital

  Richard is a successful entrepreneur and electric power industry veteran with deep technical expertise. He has spent more than 20 years in the energy technology sector where he has built and run several award winning venture-backed startup companies. Richard has worked with Chrysalix EVC team members since 1997 and is currently a director of the firm’s investments in GlassPoint, NanoSteel, and ENBALA Power Networks.

  
  

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  David Mitchell, Canada’s Public Policy Forum

  David Mitchell is the President and CEO of Canada’s Public Policy Forum, which fosters constructive dialogue to promote good governance and effective public service. Mr. Mitchell has held diverse positions in the public, private and non-profit sectors. He has been a legislative clerk in Saskatchewan, an executive in the resource industries in western Canada, an elected member of the British Columbia Legislature, and a Vice-President of three Canadian universities.

  
  

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  Robert Oglesby, California Energy Commission

  Rob Oglesby is the Executive Director of the California Energy Commission. Rob began his career under the first Brown Administration Department of Economic and Business Development, and worked in the private sector for ten years on issues related to public finance, the environmental and economic development. Immediately prior to joining the Energy Commission, Rob held several positions at the California Air Resources Board (ARB) where he served four Governors as an appointee and participated at a high level in virtually all major issues affecting air pollution and global warming over the past two decades. Rob’s tenure at the ARB included the inception of the Low and Zero Emission Vehicle standards, adoption of reformulated gasoline and diesel fuel requirements, and development and implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32).

  
  

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  Frank Des Rosiers, Natural Resourses Canada

  Frank Des Rosiers was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister Of Innovation and Energy Technology Sector in May 2013. Mr. Des Rosiers also served as General Director, Tax Policy at Finance Canada and Director General, Strategic Policy Branch at Natural Resources Canada. He also worked in Intergovernmental Affairs at the Privy Council Office as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Minister and Director, Economic and Fiscal Analysis.

  
  

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  The Honorable George Shultz, Hoover Institution, Stanford University

  Since 1989, Mr. Shultz has been a Distinguished Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. He is Honorary Chairman of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Advisory Council Chair of the Precourt Institute for Energy Efficiency at Stanford, Chair of the MIT Energy Initiative External Advisory Board and Chair of the Shultz-Stephenson Task Force on Energy Policy at the Hoover Institution. Mr. Shultz also served as Secretary of Labor, Director of the Office of Management and Budget and Secretary of the Treasury.

  
  

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  Matt Trevithick, Planet Labs/Phononic/Atieva

  Matt Trevithick is a technology entrepreneur, advisor and investor. From 2004 to 2013, he was a partner with Venrock, the venture capital firm established by the Rockefeller family. Matt focused on energy for Venrock, and was responsible for the firm’s investments in smart electronics (Nest, Phononic and FINsix), vehicle technology (Transonic Combustion and Atieva) and clean power generation (Tri Alpha Energy). Prior to Venrock, Matt investigated energy-related applications of nanotechnology and co-founded two successful software companies.  He earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MS in Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Matt was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and serves on the Organizing Committee of the C100.

  

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  Rick Whittaker , Sustainable Development Technology Canada

  Rick Whittaker is CTO at Sustainable Development Technology Canada and founding Vice President of Investments. Mr. Whittaker sets the priorities for the portfolio, which has produced an unprecedented 14-fold social and economic return for every dollar invested by the Federal Government. In addition to managing a portfolio of over 250 companies, Mr. Whittaker has launched, built and transitioned four of his own start-up companies.  He has held executive positions in engineering, business development, strategic corporate investment, and venture capital investment for companies including BCE Capital, Everest Partners, Nortel Networks, APN, West Carleton Meeting Centre, and AirShare.

  
  

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  Dr. Dan Wicklum, COSIA

  Dan has been the Chief Executive of COSIA (Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance) since March 2012. Prior to joining COSIA, Dan occupied various senior positions for Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada including Director General of Wildlife and Landscape Science, Director General of Water Science and Technology, and Director of Strategic Alliances. Dan has a vast range of experience in sustainable development. He was a Senior Policy Advisor to the Canadian Federal Minister of Natural Resources and the Government House Leader, and he launched and was the Executive Director of The Canadian Forest Innovation Council.