Tendai Moyo, Hugh Wood Canada

Pre-Conference Workshop

Tendai has comprehensive knowledge of commercial insurance with over a decade of experience in the industry with a specific focus on cyber and privacy liability. She currently leads the cyber risk insurance practice building bespoke solutions to respond to the complex needs of clients, as they navigate the evolving risks of a connected world and the potential impact on their business.

Scott Shannon, KPMG

Pre-Conference Workshop

Scott comes to cybersecurity from an engineering background and understands the unique challenges in the operational technology space. He uses this background in renewable energy, experience building SCADA and ICS systems and cybersecurity consulting to help bridge the gap between cybersecurity and operations.

Ronak Shah, Torys LLP

Pre-Conference Workshop

Ronak Shah’s practice focuses on privacy, cyber security, and data management. He routinely advices clients on privacy and data protection issues, including data breach prevention and management, cross-border data transfers, global privacy compliance considerations, and data governance.

Jen Aitchison, Hugh Wood Canada

Pre-Conference Workshop

Jen Aitchison leads the Sustainable Energy Risk Management Practice at Hugh Wood Canada and has extensive experience in risk management strategy consulting and insurance placements serving a broad range of sustainable energy industry stakeholders. Founded in 1982, Hugh Wood remains an independent and privately-owned global insurance brokerage and risk management consulting firm, providing tailored solutions to clients in their niche business segments including sustainable energy, engineering, real estate, fine arts and cannabis

Mike Voll, Stantec

Pre-Conference Workshop

Mike Voll is the Global Sector Leader for Stantec’s Smart Technology services. He has over 35 years of experience with both industrial and power clients serving positions with equipment suppliers, manufacturers, system integrators and the last 15 years with Stantec. In the last 8 years. Mike has supported the rehabilitation of Ontario’s electricity system through Stantec’s involvement in over 1GW of solar PV in addition to nearly 100MW of energy storage projects. Mike is also leading a research project to deploy a commercial microgrid for a research park near the University of Waterloo which should pave pathways for mass deployments of community microgrids globally. Mike is an active member of the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), the Energy Storage Association (ESA) as well as Energy Storage Canada (ESC) and has supported both utilities and iconic developers such as Tesla and Sidewalk Labs in the roll-out of their grid modernization, smart city and vehicle electrification programs.

Tom Tisdale, Stantec

Pre-Conference Workshop

Tom has over 40 years of experience in the electrical design and project management of renewable energy, battery energy storage systems, microgrid systems, low voltage distribution, medium voltage distribution, utility coordination, lighting, controls and automation, system studies, Arc Flash Risk Assessments, ancillary systems, Electrical Safety Program development and Electrical Safety Awareness training for a wide range of infrastructure, commercial, industrial and power related clients.

Tom is currently a Project Manager with Stantec’s Power group and is located in the Waterloo ON office.

Ryan Franks, Energy Storage Response Group (ESRG)

Pre-Conference Workshop

Ryan Franks has a decade of experience in codes, standards, and safety testing for batteries and energy storage, previously with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and CSA Group. Currently, Ryan manages the business and operations of Energy Storage Response Group, the ESS industry’s first and only complete provider of safety and emergency management solutions.

Michael Scott, RESCo Energy Inc.

Pre-Conference Workshop

Michael is the Manager of Technology and Innovation with RESCo Energy Inc. an award winning solar and energy storage solutions provider for Institutional, Commercial and Industrial clients. He works collaboratively with clients, utilities, and leading experts to help bring to life some of Canada’s largest and most innovative projects. With a background in physics and construction, Michael focuses on energy systems design with and implementation of technical and innovative solutions in the real world. Michael will be with us on.

Matt Sachs, Peak Power Inc.

Pre-Conference Workshop

Matthew Sachs is COO of Peak Power, an energy storage services provider focused on delivering innovative solutions to offset the most expensive hours of electric demand for utilities and building owners. Peak has developed an industry leading software platform that uses machine learning to optimize the operation of behind-the-meter energy storage systems. Matthew has extensive experience in the energy space, as a member of the Energy Transformation Network of Ontario (ETNO), Ontario IESO’s Market Renewal Working Group, the OEB’s DERs Connection Working Group, a board member of Energy Storage Canada, and a founding board member of BGIS’ Building Energy Innovators Council.

Fiona Oliver-Glasford, Enbridge Gas Inc.

Prospects for Energy Storage Globally

Fiona is passionate about advancing low-carbon energy policy and programs that result in energy and environmental benefits. Fiona has held progressive positions during her 15-year tenure with Enbridge Gas Inc.in the low-carbon space. Prior to joining a gas utility, Fiona worked at Environmental NGOs as well as for-profit companies in media, management consulting and packaged goods sectors. Fiona’s career to-date has included work in areas such as Marketing, Sales, Market Research, Business Development, Energy Efficiency Program Design, Energy Efficiency Evaluation and Policy, Regulatory Strategy and Witnessing, Carbon Markets, Compliance Planning and Organizational Change Management. Fiona holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business with an International exchange at the Copenhagen Business School.

Yayoi Sekine, BloombergNEF

Prospects for Energy Storage Globally

Yayoi Sekine heads the Decentralized Energy practice at BloombergNEF based out of New York. Yayoi oversees a research team that produces insights on the impacts of decentralization of our energy systems. These include demand-side opportunities, the growing role of energy storage and how our power systems and networks are being shaped and responding to these trends. She advises utilities, technology companies, investors and policymakers across these fields. She has authored numerous research papers and regularly speaks at international conferences and in the mainstream media. She previously led the Americas Energy Storage research practice for BNEF, also in New York, and prior to that was Research Analyst based in Sao Paulo having spent four years covering Latin American renewable energy market development through BNEF. Yayoi holds a BSc in Global Resource Systems with focus on Latin America from the University of British Columbia (Canada).

Justin Rangooni
Energy Storage Canada

Prospects for Energy Storage Globally

Justin is a lawyer with over a decade experience in the energy sector starting with being a Senior Policy Advisor for the Ontario Minister of Energy and then as a the Ontario Policy Lead for the Canadian Wind Energy Association and most recently Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs at the Electricity Distributors Association. Justin holds a Honours BA in Economics & Political Science from the University of Toronto as well as a Law Degree from the University of Western. He also currently sits on the board of the York Children’s Aid Society.

Jason Burwen

Energy Storage Association (US)

Jason Burwen is Vice President of Policy for the U.S. Energy Storage Association. Previously, Jason was the Associate Director for Energy Innovation at the Bipartisan Policy Center, where he directed research and advocacy on U.S. energy R&D and tax policy. He also served as staff director of the American Energy Innovation Council, a group of CEOs led by Bill Gates to advocate for greater U.S. federal investments in clean energy technology development. Jason has also consulted to utilities on demand response program design and evaluation for FSC Group (acquired by Nexant) and reviewed renewable energy procurement processes and trends for the California Public Utilities Commission.

Brad Kyte, Ontario Power Generation (OPG)

BTM Opportunities for Energy Storage

Brad is a Senior Manager in Ontario Power Generation’s Business Development team and manages energy storage projects for large customers and grid opportunities. He has over 15 years of experience in the power generation sector and has been involved in a variety of electricity generation and storage projects. Brad will be with us on September 23rd moderating the panel discussion on BTM Opportunities for Energy Storage.

Tremor Temchin, Convergent Power

BTM Opportunities for Energy Storage

Tremor Temchin is a Vice President of Business Development at Convergent Energy + Power. Convergent owns and operates over 45 MW of energy storage assets in Ontario, including grid-tied facilities for the IESO and behind-the-meter assets for commercial and industrial customers.

Jim Fonger, Ameresco

BTM Opportunities for Energy Storage

Jim is Vice President – Asset and Advanced Technology Development, at Ameresco Canada. He is also a Director and Chair of the Board for Energy Storage Canada. Jim has led many of Ameresco’s carbon reduction and advanced technology projects since joining the company in 2010. Now he is focused on leading a team that helps customers greatly reduce or eliminate their energy carbon footprints though Energy-as-a-Service offerings, many of which include Energy Storage and Microgrids as part of the solution mix. Jim is a York University Economics graduate and has been in the clean energy sector since 2005.

Geoff Osborne, NRStor Inc.

BTM Opportunities for Energy Storage

Geoff helped to start NRStor in 2012 and is on the Board of MPOWER – Canada’s certified installer of the Tesla Powerwall. As Director of Strategy & Operations at NRStor, Geoff is focused on development / M&A, asset management, fundraising, and strategic planning. Geoff has led several first-of-kind utility infrastructure initiatives and has extensive experience working on battery, flywheel, compressed air energy storage (CAES) and renewable energy projects.

Felix Aguayo, EDF

BTM Opportunities for Energy Storage

DIRECTOR, DISTRIBUTED SOLUTIONS, EDF RENEWABLES Felix Aguayo is Director of Distributed Solutions at EDF Renewables – a global leader in renewable energy and storage with 6 GW of wind and solar in North America and 824MWh of storage worldwide. Prior to his current position, Felix was Director of Strategic Partnerships at Sunedison, and at SolarCity, Director of Off-site Solar Solutions. At SunPower, he developed over 40 MWs of distributed generation projects. Prior to his solar career, Mr. Aguayo was an energy consultant specializing in the Northeast deregulated energy markets, an investment banker at UBS, and an electrical engineer for the Consolidated Edison Company of New York.

Tyler Hamilton, MaRS

Politics of Energy Storage

Tyler is an author, cleantech expert and former award-winning journalist with 20 years of experience writing about technology and energy innovations. He is currently director of cleantech at MaRS Discovery District, where he works with more than 240 ventures from across Canada -- including energy storage companies -- and is a board member with the Ontario Clean Technology Industry Association.

Chris Benedetti, Sussex Strategy

Politics of Energy Storage

Chris Benedetti is the Head of Energy and Environment Practice at Sussex Strategy Group, and has extensive experience in strategic communications and public affairs. Since 1998 Sussex has been providing comprehensive advisory and advocacy support for a diverse range of stakeholders in the energy and environmental sectors.

Aaron Freeman, Pivot Strategies

Politics of Energy Storage

Aaron Freeman is the owner and principal of Pivot Strategic Consulting, which helps companies and organizations develop their capacity to solve environmental problems through public policy. He is formerly a Senior Advisor to the Premier of Ontario; he is a recipient of a "Canada Clean50" Award for his work on sustainable development and clean capitalism; and he has been named by the Hill Times as one of the Top 100 Federal Lobbyists in Canada.

Jeff Sterzuk, Prairie Sky Strategies

Politics of Energy Storage

Jeff is President of Prairie Sky Strategy, a strategy and public affairs consulting firm focused on the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Prairie Sky assists clients with strategy development, government relations, stakeholder relations, market intel, business development and strategic communications across several sectors including energy, power, agriculture, mining, health, and technology. Prior to establishing Prairie Sky, Jeff was Chief Operating Officer at Impact Society from 2007 to 2012, spent 15 years in senior management in the financial services sector and three years working as a Ministerial Assistant in the Saskatchewan Legislature from 1989-1991.

Alex Phillips

Politics of Energy Storage

Alex Phillips is a skilled public policy and government relations professional with over 15 years of experience in policy and program development, strategic planning, project and issues management as well as stakeholder engagement. She builds and maintains productive and enduring relationships where collaboration in key and thrives in multi-disciplinary teams operating in fast-paced, challenging environments where excellent analytical and communications skills are a necessity. Alex is currently Senior Manager, Policy and Partnerships at Hydro One. Since joining the company in 2016, she is responsible for leading the development and implementation of government relations strategies. With a background in public policy, she has been a key author in developing comprehensive, evidence-based policy recommendations. From 2010 to 2016, Alex served as Senior Policy Advisor to both the Ministers of Economic Development and Environment as well as to the Premier of Ontario. Prior to her political career, Alex held senior roles within the Ministry of Environment and she began her career in the environmental non-profit sector working with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

She holds a Master of Environment and Business and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies, Honours Environment and Resource Studies from the University of Waterloo. In her spare time, she mentors students at the University of Waterloo and chairs her local parent council. She enjoys cycling, running, riding horses and gardening.

Paul Luukkonen, Customized Energy Solutions (CES)

Storage PLUS Everything

Paul is a strategic and versatile energy professional with an established track record providing advice and strategic recommendations to clients and executive management within the energy sector. With more than ten years of sector experience as an energy market and innovation specialist Paul has extensive insight to the impacts and consequences of current emerging trends, technologies, market mechanisms and the evolution of sector reform.

Paul is the Canadian Consultant, Emerging Technologies for Customized Energy Solutions and helps clients understand the value proposition of energy storage resources in a variety of contexts; providing project and portfolio revenue forecasts, identifying target markets, commercialization strategies, and policy recommendations for corporations, utilities, project developers, ISOs, governments and lenders.

John Fernandes, Customized Energy Solutions (CES)

Storage PLUS Everything

John joined Customized Energy Solutions after nearly 5 years in the development, construction, and IPP sectors managing policy and creating new market opportunities across renewable, fossil, transmission, and energy storage business lines. Prior to his time in the commercial space, John was on staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and a regulatory manager for an investor-owned utility. He has operated in every US wholesale energy market and has offered expertise in international markets, including Canada, the UK, Mexico, Australia, Africa, and Southeast Asia. John has an MBA from the University of Delaware, a Master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, and is a guest lecturer for the University of Colorado at Denver Global Energy Management Program.

Kristyn Annis, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)

Storage PLUS Everything

Kristyn works closely with her clients to help them build their energy and infrastructure businesses. She advises Indigenous groups, developers and lenders on all aspects of renewable energy generation and transmission development.

Specifically, Kristyn negotiates the suite of agreements involved in power and infrastructure projects including legal and economic partnerships, financing agreements, supply and service agreements.

Daniel Wishnick, Fluence

Storage PLUS Everything

Dan Wishnick is a Managing Director at Fluence – A Siemens and AES Company. Siemens and AES have joined forces to form Fluence, an energy storage technology and services company that combines the expertise, vision, and financial backing of the two most experienced icons in energy storage. Dan’s responsibilities for Fluence include management of the distributed solutions markets for North America. Dan has more than 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, engineering, business development and managing operations in the US, China, India, South America and Europe for other international companies including Siemens.

April Currey, Alectra Utilities

Word on the Street: Customer Challenges in Deploying Energy Storage

April Currey is the Director, Customer Insights and Acquisition for Alectra Energy Solutions. She is responsible for developing marketing and customer outreach strategies, overseeing customer intelligence initiatives and developing/maintaining metrics and methodologies for tracking customer satisfaction, customer awareness and impact/effectiveness of marketing and sales efforts. Prior to Alectra, April was a Business Development Specialist with Rodan Energy Solutions and previous to that she held several marketing related positions in the consumer products industry. April holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Queens University and is a Certified Customer Experience Professional.

Sara Ganowski, Alectra Utilities

Word on the Street: Customer Challenges in Deploying Energy Storage

Sara Ganowski is a Project Lead at Alectra’s Green Energy & Technology Centre (GRE&T) , where she manages various e-mobility projects supporting the commercialization of emerging green, customer-friendly energy solutions. Sara’s background is in sustainability research, program management, and communications within the utility and non-profit energy sector. She holds a Master’s degree in Social and Ecological Sustainability and a Joint-Honours Bachelor of Environmental Studies and Communications from the University of Waterloo. Interested in how social processes drive energy system change, Sara has published several studies on the social acceptance of energy storage solutions during her work with the NSERC Energy Storage Technology Network. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Our Energy Guelph and has been active in the community energy and climate space for years, volunteering with the non-profits such as REEP Green Solutions, Student Energy, and Youth Climate Lab.

Leon Chanter, Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

What Lessons Can Canada Learn as The Worlds Largest Battery is Set to Get even Bigger.

Leon is an experienced renewable energy professional, working in ARENA's development and transactions team advising on investments across a broad range of renewable energy and enabling technologies and projects, including: Hornsdale battery expansion, Coober Pedy microgrid, Kennedy Energy Park, Flinder Island Renewable Energy Hub (FIREP), ARENA's Large Scale Solar round and Assessment Committee Member for the Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund.

Leon has over 25 years of experience in the renewable energy sector, initially working as a Project Engineer and Project Manager for BP Solar for large scale solar power projects in remote developing areas of South East Asia. Leon also worked Horizon Power, the Western Australian utility at the forefront of the Australian renewable energy transformation effort.

Anthony Capkun, Energy Manager Magazine and Electrical Business

Energy Manager Canada

Anthony Capkun is a business communicator, networker and bridge-builder with 20+ years of experience in traditional and new media platforms covering multiple facets of the Canadian electricity industry. He currently serves as the editor-publisher of Electrical Business Magazine, and has guided and produced its news and storytelling for the past 16 years

Sarah Simmons, Power Advisory

Utility Perspectives

Sarah Simmons has over 10 years of professional experience in the electricity sector. She has worked with large-scale and distributed generators, electricity distributors and transmitters, regulators, system operators, industrial load customers, and emerging technology providers. Currently, Sarah holds the position as Manager of Generation and Emerging Sectors at Power Advisory LLC

Steve Ray, Essex Power Corporation

Utility Perspectives

Since joining Essex Energy Corporation in 2008, Steve has led the successful growth of an electrical generation/storage, energy planning, and distribution engineering consulting business that includes Smart Grid software application development. Currently, as Essex Power Corporation’s Chief Operating Officer, he is responsible for all aspects of the group’s non-utility affiliates.

Ammar Nawaz, Alectra

Utility Perspectives

Ammar is the Vice President of Distributed Energy Solutions at Alectra. He is responsible for advancing Alectra’s commercial initiatives by leveraging emerging technology trends and consumer preferences to develop a suite of bespoke energy solutions.

Prior to joining Alectra, Ammar had spent over a decade at Hydro One across technical, operational and business development roles. As part of his portfolio at Hydro One, Ammar supported enterprise strategy development, new venture growth, M&A and regulatory reform initiatives.

Ammar also provided strategic advice and thought leadership on regulatory and power market reforms, and chaired several internal committees on DER integration and renumeration work.

Ammar is a Professional Engineer and also holds a Masters-in-Law from Osgoode Hall Law School focused on utility regulation and infrastructure development.

Ammar is also the Chair of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) West Toronto.

Bruno Jesus, Hydro One

Utility Perspectives

Bruno Jesus, PEng is currently the Vice President accountable for the Planning and Engineering Division of Hydro One with over 600 employees and over $2B per year of transmission and distribution projects and programs. He has extensive experience in utility strategy development, asset management, planning, engineering, and operations Received his B.A.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto in 1987. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario

Patrick Lo, IESO

Utility Perspectives or Behind-the-Metre

Patrick has over 14 years of experience in the electricity sector and is currently the Senior Manager of Partnerships in Innovation, Research, and Development at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). He oversees the Grid Innovation Fund and its portfolio of projects which serves as a vehicle to provide financial support to innovative projects with significant potential to enable ratepayer cost savings and improved reliability. Prior Patrick held various positions at Hydro One, including leading its 10- year distribution strategy and advising on grid modernization through SCADA technologies to improve system reliability.

François Vitez, BBA.ca

View from Alberta

Mr. Vitez is a Hydropower and Storage expert with 25 years of experience in the development, engineering and construction management as well as O&M of hydropower projects in North America and Internationally. Francois started specializing in the field of hydropower in 1992 on the James Bay hydroelectric complex of Hydro-Quebec. Early on in Francois’s career, he worked at developing numerous hydropower projects in Nepal including his own Khudi Hydropower Project. Francois later worked as VP Hydro for SNC-Lavalin and supported the development of various hydropower and pumped hydro projects of increasing sizes. Francois served as VP Hydro and Storage for SNC-Lavalin leading the development of these business and representing the company in various Association Boards including Energy Storage Canada, Waterpower Canada, and California Energy Storage Alliance.

Francois is passionately engaged in promoting the multilayered value of all forms of storage including bulk storage.

Travis Lusney, Power Advisory

View from Alberta

Travis Lusney is a Professional Engineer with over 13 years of experience in the regulated and commercial electricity sectors. He offers relevant experience in transmission and distribution power system planning, energy storage development, generation procurement strategy, policy analysis and power purchase agreement negotiations. Travis provides clients with a unique expertise in the integration between resource development and transmission/distribution planning by providing advice on project risk assessment and strategic investment.

Ata Rehman, AESO

View from Alberta

Ata Rehman is currently Director, Grid Planning and Operations Engineering at the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) and is leading the Energy Storage initiative. He has more than 30 years of experience in the field of transmission system planning, power system studies, power system operations planning, interconnections, project delivery and regulatory affairs.

Jessica Kennedy, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

View from Alberta

Jessica Kennedy holds a J.D., B.Sc. (Hons.) in Environmental Biology and an M.B.A. in Natural Resources, Energy & Environment Specialization from the University of Alberta. Jessica is a lawyer at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP with a practice focused on regulatory law as it pertains to project development, energy transmission and electricity market regulation

Lars Linder, TC Energy

View from Alberta

Lars Linder is the Manager of Power Market Analysis at TC Energy. He is a member of Energy Storage Canada’s Alberta group and has 14 years of experience in power market forecasting and asset evaluations in Alberta, Ontario, New England, New York and PJM. TC Energy is currently developing two energy storage projects in Alberta and one in Ontario. Lars holds a B.A in Economics from University of Calgary

Alex McNichol, TransAlta

View from Alberta

Alex McNichol leads TransAlta’s greenfield development of clean energy solutions for onsite customers in Canada and the United States. His teams focus is on developing cogeneration, renewables and storage projects that reduce customers energy costs and overall environmental impact. His team is responsible for the recently constructed WindCharger lithium ion battery project and the announced SemCAMS cogeneration project in Alberta.

Alex has nearly a decade of experience in the Canadian electricity sector with a focus on project development. Over this time Alex has been responsible for advancing both large and small scale project with values ranging from $100M to over $1.0 Billion. Prior to TransAlta, Alex worked in investment banking focused primarily on the Junior Energy space in Western Canada.

Alex holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary. He is originally from Calgary and lives here with his wife and two children.

Jon Dogterom, MaRS

Power to Gas Potential

Jon Dogterom is the Senior Vice President of Venture Services at MaRS Discovery District where he leads programming and advisory support to help grow Canada’s leading innovative companies in Health, Cleantech, Fintech and Enterprise.

Jon has degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Queen’s University and in Marketing and Product Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Sam McDermott, Enbridge

Power to Gas Potential

Sam McDermott is a licensed professional engineer in the province of Ontario, with over 25 years of Engineering and Project Management experience in both the Manufacturing and Energy sectors.

He holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from Ryerson University as well as a Masters of Advanced Design and Manufacturing post graduate degree from the University of Toronto.

Sam is currently the Technical Manager for Renewable Hydrogen in Enbridge’s Business Development team.

Michel Archambault, Hydrogenics

Power to Gas Potential

Michel is a mechanical engineer with close to 20 years experience in the hydrogen sector. He is currently a Business Development Director at Hydrogenics, a global provider of hydrogen fuel cell and electrolysis solutions. His main areas of focus are renewable hydrogen production, power-to-gas, infrastructure and fuel cell for electric mobility. He developed multi MW electrolyzer opportunities, energy storage projects with fuel cells and electrolyzers, fueling stations in Europe and North America and Industrial hydrogen production plant worldwide.

Patrick Carr, 2G Energy

Power to Gas Potential

Pat has been in a Business Development role in the CHP industry for over 8 years. He has been very successful at developing opportunities and building relationships that have resulted in over 20MW of equipment sales. Pat has a strong understanding of the benefits of the complete, pre-engineered CHP package. And the need of a complete Service Team to stand behind the product for the customer to achieve the necessary results from their system. With a broad understanding of prime movers such as 2G, MWM, and Jenbacher, Pat can speak to necessary areas of the opportunity to help them succeed.

Patrick Lo, IESO

Utility Perspectives or Behind-the-Metre

Patrick has over 14 years of experience in the electricity sector and is currently the Senior Manager of Partnerships in Innovation, Research, and Development at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). He oversees the Grid Innovation Fund and its portfolio of projects which serves as a vehicle to provide financial support to innovative projects with significant potential to enable ratepayer cost savings and improved reliability. Prior Patrick held various positions at Hydro One, including leading its 10- year distribution strategy and advising on grid modernization through SCADA technologies to improve system reliability.

Sarah Petrevan, Clean Energy Canada

Power to Gas Potential

Sarah Petrevan is the Policy Director for Clean Energy Canada, a program within the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. With more than a decade of public policy experience, Sarah is a passionate policy advocate and commentator, working to advance policies that support Canada’s clean energy transition and tackle climate change.

Utilia Amaral C2Solutions

Reducing Reliance on Diesel

Utilia Amaral founded MarketStep Consulting after building a career spanning 20 years, which included executive-level positions in the private sector, the not-for-profit sector and as a senior ministerial advisor serving in government. She serves as advisor on energy matters to a range of clients including Stem Energy. Previously, she served as the Chair of the Canadian Solar Industries Association and was the Manager Director of Strategic Affairs for SunEdison Canada. She obtained her BAA in Urban and Regional Planning from Toronto’s Ryerson University and her Master of Science in Economics of Urbanization from University College in London, England. She also recently graduated with a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.

James Larsen, E-Zn

Reducing Reliance on Diesel

James Larsen is a Professional Engineer with over two decades of business leadership and engineering experience. He is the CEO of e-Zinc, a corporation that has developed an electrochemical technology for storing energy in zinc metal.

Matt Nejati, Hitachi ABB Power

Reducing Reliance on Diesel

Matt Nejati is the Senior Technical Sales Manager for Grid Edge Solutions at ABB. Since 2015 he has worked in engineering and business development roles on remote and grid-tied microgrid and energy storage projects around North America and the Caribbean. He has a strong background modelling, designing, testing and commissioning hybrid microgrid and energy storage systems.

AJ Esquega, Gull Bay First Nation

Reducing Reliance on Diesel

AJ Esquega is from Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek - Gull Bay First Nation which sits on the Western Shorelines of Lake Nipigon. He serves his Community as the Mashkawiziiwin Energy Projects Coordinator and has recently celebrated the success of Canada’s First fully-integrated remote renewable energy-storage micro grid;.

Shivani Chotalia, NRStor Inc.

Reducing Reliance on Diesel

Shivani works with NRStor Inc. to build own and operate first-of-a-kind energy storage projects. Shivani leads NRStor’s work with remote, off-grid Indigenous communities building partnerships and projects reducing dependence on diesel fuel while supporting local economic growth. She is focussed on the intersection of clean technologies and social impact and holds a BESc. in Green Process Engineering from Western University and an HBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business.