Team

Jeanette Jackson

CEO

Jeanette is an experienced CEO and entrepreneur with broad experience in technology, business development, marketing, and operations. As the CEO of Foresight, Jeanette has led rapid growth, transforming a regional organization into Canada’s largest cleantech accelerator. Since 2018, under her leadership, Foresight has expanded accelerator programs from one province to national, built a vibrant Industry Innovation Program, and launched a sectoral approach to accelerate cleantech innovation. Jeanette is a frequent speaker, media guest, and advisor to industry and government.

Prior to joining Foresight, Jeanette was founding CEO of Light-Based Technologies, which she built into a thriving enterprise with venture capital supports and a successful personal exit in 2011. As President of The Brag Company, she oversaw the complete restructuring of the business and sale of the company in just two years. As an Executive in Residence with Foresight, Jeanette advised more than 20 ventures in several markets including bio-energy, electric vehicles, smart buildings, water tech, robotics and wind.

Aaron Fyke

Aaron Fyke has spent over twenty years as an entrepreneur, engineer, and investor, having co-founded six companies in a number of technology areas including fuel cell, ocean power, concentrating solar, and energy storage technologies. He is currently Founder and Managing Partner of Thin Line Capital, bringing investment capital to bear on some of the biggest opportunities in energy, water and food sustainability. The 2nd wave of clean tech innovation has begun and now is the time to act.

While CEO of Edisun Heliostats (now Heliogen), he was committed to lowering the costs of solar thermal power, backed by Idealab, Bill Gates, NRG, and others. Prior to Edisun, Aaron was the Founder and CEO of Energy Cache, a low-cost grid scale energy storage technology company, serving a multi-billion dollar energy market. Aaron continued his involvement with Energy Vault, also supported by Softbank.

He headed up the development of a $10M X PRIZE in Energy, he was a Partner at Starfish Ventures, Australia’s largest venture capital firm, and has been an adjunct lecturer on entrepreneurship at USC in Los Angeles. Aaron earned his MBA and MSME as an LGO fellow at MIT, and his BEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria, graduating at the top of his class, and has been certified as a Professional Engineer both in California and British Columbia.

Aaron Genest

Dr. Aaron Genest serves as the President of SaskTech and the representative for Siemens Digital Industries. SaskTech, founded in 2018, is an industry advocacy group of more than 100 organizations and businesses with corporate offices in Saskatchewan. Its goal is to address the technology labour shortage by working with government, educational institutions, and support agencies to ensure a robust labour force for technology and digital industries over this century.

Dr. Genest is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan Computer Science program, the former Director of Customer Experience at Solido, and is now an Applications Engineering Manager after an acquisition of Solido by Siemens. Prior to his life in technology, he was a professional touring musician for ten years. He lives and works in Saskatoon with his wife, Dr. Emily Jenkins, and three children

Adam Ben-Aron

Adam has founded 3 software startups. He has experience raising capital for multiple startups. He successfully bootstrapped and exited his last startup, a subscription e-commerce business, to a competitor in the space.

Most recently he joined an early stage cleantech hardware company where he performed dozens of customer interviews in order to developed the company’s MVP, go-to-market strategy and growth plan. The company found its pilot location, first customers and investors under his leadership.

He believes that early stage entrepreneurs need to focus on asking customers questions and listening, not just building products and pitching.

AJ Leitch

AJ is a business leader with over 25 years of software industry experience. She is passionate about delivering world class customer experience, building teams, and developing people. AJ has a proven track record of achieving growth and success at scale while balancing both business and customer objectives. She is mission driven, with a strong desire to make a difference, solve meaningful problems and committed to fostering the next generation of leaders.

Alan Shapiro

Director, waterNEXT

Alan is a water and sustainability professional and an instructor in BCIT’s School of Business + Media. Since January 2021, he has been leading Foresight’s new waterNEXT initiative, developing a pan-Canada ecosystem to support the acceleration and adoption of Canadian water innovation and technologies.

As Principal at Shapiro & Company, Alan works with industry, non-profit, and research sector clients on complex, crunchy water and sustainability challenges through amplifying the impact of purpose-driven organizations, building ecosystems to enable coordinated action, and helping to train the next generation of environmental leaders. His previous consulting roles, including with PGL Environmental, have included work on environmental impact assessments, groundwater studies, water management plans, and contaminated sites investigations.

Alan also serves as an advisor for the Centre for Social Innovation’s Climate Ventures accelerator and a mentor through the Connecting Environmental Professionals Vancouver network. He holds an MSc in Environmental Engineering from Columbia University and a BSc in Environmental Earth Sciences from the University of Alberta.

Alanna Sherman

Alanna has had a unique journey in the clean technology space. Her foundational career started in Oil & Gas working for a large multinational, BP in Calgary, AB where she worked as a human resource professional in the heart of operations working closely with technical professionals, where she was introduced to solar panels and electric windmills.

She also worked as a human resources professional in a variety of multinational companies including oil field services, manufacturing, and supply chain.

She was also very aware that clean tech reached far beyond solar panels and windmills, she then decided to embark on an MBA at Royal Roads in Victoria, British Columbia, her specialization was in international business and stretched her beyond human resources, this is when she was immersed in the world of consulting, clean technology, international accelerators, and engagements with various government bodies nationally and internationally.

Alanna is now located in the lower mainland in British Columbia.

Alexander Rink

Alex is a 3-time serial entrepreneur, and currently an angel investor and strategy advisor with Foresight, Invest Ottawa, and Innovation Gatineau. He has reviewed and provided feedback on hundreds of business plans, with a focus on B2B SaaS, big data/AI/ML, and Climate and FinTech. Some of his more notable recent angel investments have included Rewind, Hoppier and Mindbridge.

Previously, Alex was the Chief Growth Officer at Chicago-based Numerator, a Vista Equity Partners portfolio company, where he led M&A, merger integration and strategic partnerships. He joined Numerator upon the acquisition of 360pi, the market-leading provider of retail price intelligence, where as CEO and Business Founder he led the company through a pivot from insolvency to product market, profitability and successful exit.

Alex’s background includes management consulting at Bain & Company and as material controller at Ford/VW, an MBA from INSEAD and a B.A.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. Alex is a strong believer in living your best life. 

Alyssa Kelly

Director of Research

Alyssa is an environmental sustainability professional specializing in strategic research and communications. She brings extensive experience engaging stakeholders to build productive partnerships and break down silos in business, government and non-profit organizations. With a background in market research, consulting and project management for both private and public sector organizations, Alyssa is passionate about finding innovative ways to solve complex sustainability problems and advance the clean economy. Prior to joining Foresight, she worked as a Senior Consultant at Echion Group and holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Toronto.

Amanda Lo

Program Manager - Prairies

Amanda is a driven individual with experience in operations and project management. Through her time with Foresight, she has developed meaningful relationships within the cleantech ecosystem. Amanda is dedicated towards making Canada a global leader in cleantech.
Amanda graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics, providing a strong technical understanding of, and appreciation for, the cleantech companies she supports. In early 2020, she was selected to participate in the 2020 Leading Change Forum in Vancouver – a program for young professionals with the common vision to achieve a more sustainable future

Amanda Thomas

Amit Shukla

Amit has recently joined Foresight as an Executive-in-Residence to support start-ups within the AgTech space and develop connections with Foresight for cleantech start-ups in Saskatchewan. He is an experienced program manager and has been involved in supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the prairies and promoting industry-academia research collaborations for several years.

A plant biochemist by training, Amit completed his graduate and postdoctoral work at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), focusing on plant physiology/biochemistry and biochemical mechanisms of herbicide resistance. Following completion of his postdoc, Amit took a position as a Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, where he studied the mode of action of phytotoxins as it relates to biological control of weeds. In 2002, Amit transitioned into research management, accepting the role of Project Manager for the largest project funded by Genome Canada in the first round. He then moved back to the USask as Associate Director in Research Services and was responsible for the management of all large-scale institutional research programs. In 2014, Amit move to Innovation Enterprise (IE), the technology transfer office at USask, as their Chief Program Manager and was responsible for supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry engagement. Amit developed the Portal for Industry Engagement, a web service showcasing all the resources available at the USask for industry use in a single centralized location. Amit also managed a number of programs at IE, including the Summer Entrepreneurs Program, which provided opportunities for students to learn hands-on how to start a business, the Student Innovation and Business Analyst Program, which engages students in commercializing technologies developed at the university, as well as the AIMday initiative, which brings together researchers and industry experts to tackle complex R&D challenges faced by the industry.

Andrew Matthews

Dynamic leader with over 14 years of management experience that spans the international marketplace, with a proven track record of building and leading companies. Occupied various corporate leadership positions in challenging environments since 2003 throughout the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa including Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Djibouti. He was a partner and International Operations Director of Afghanistan’s leading engineering consulting firms and was instrumental in helping its local clients win over $150M USD in engineering projects. Currently running his own business called Douglas McNeill Consulting, which focuses on providing practical, common sense business development services to early stage Canadian companies in Cleantech.

Andrew McFarlane

With 20+ years of strategic and operational leadership experience Andrew focuses on three key elements for any business: Hiring and Coaching top talent, financial modelling/forecasting to sustain high growth rates, and deploying technology to lower expenses and increase efficiency.

At Zeemac, Andrew built an outbound sales organization that made Zeemac one of the fastest growing independent lessors in BC before being acquired by Somerville Auto Group in a competitive mergers & acquisition process. Andrew led a team of 64 people, and oversaw the implementation of new recruitment, compensation and training programs for the entire organization. He also developed new product lines including: telematics, fleet cards, appraisal services, fleet outfitting, and after market warranty and financing.

Prior to joining Zeemac, Andrew was a founding partner in a Vancouver-based start-up self storage business. Starting with an initial bare land site in Coquitlam, Andrew was part of the land development process and site design. He created the operating model to take the business to stabilized occupancy, and ultimately grew the business to four locations with over 2,700 units.

Andrew obtained his MSc. of Industrial Relations, with Distinction, from the London School of Economics, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia, as well as a Diploma in International Industrial Relations from Erasmus University, Netherlands.

Andrew Watson

Senior Executive with twenty years of progressive technical and managerial experience in Clean Energy, Clean Technology, and Oil & Gas. Proven leadership on multiple world class energy projects, commercialization of novel clean technologies, and sustainable resource development.

Currently the VP Engineering for CleanInnoGen. We are commercializing a novel, low cost, thermo-chemical process to capture waste heat for the onsite production of near zero hydrogen and oxygen.

Andrew also supports startup Clean Energy ventures commercialization strategies through Business and Technical support and leadership with various accelerator programs (Foresight Cleantech, ERA, etc.). Industries supported are: Hydrogen, Solar and Wind, Energy Storage, Graphene, Water Treatment, and Digital AI/ML.

Passionate about Clean and Renewable Energy.

Andry Tanusdjaja

Andry is a serial entrepreneur and an operation, strategy and finance-focused co-founder of a venture-backed startup. Andry is also an active mentor at Foresight, [email protected] as well EIR Entrepreneurship Roundtable Accelerator (ERA) in New York City. 

Andry comes with 11+ years of experience in corporate finance, team building, operations, management, fundraising as well as building strategy for small businesses to the world’s most recognized Fortune 500 brands. 

Andry is well versed in cross-functional leadership in business growth strategy, market validation, customer discovery, finance and operations metrics. 

Before starting up his company with 2 other co-founders and diving into entrepreneurship, Andry comes from the corporate world of finance formally from Teck, Shell Canada, Deloitte, and TELUS. 

Andry has the CPA, CA and CFA designation in terms of professional designation and is a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) alumni from University of British Columbia.

Andy Harris

Andy’s a seasoned business owner who allows his personal fondness for the great outdoors to influence his professional pursuits. He’s lived and worked all over the world, and has fostered a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of our shared home and all its inhabitants.

Enjoying variety, Andy has worked in sustainable development, clean technology, and renewable energy in remote communities throughout the Americas, and provided deployment leadership and commercialization services for real estate and infrastructure throughout SE Asia.

He’s also directed teams from the UK and Canada through complex international manufacturing and development projects, and led a sustainable real estate development in the Caribbean. He helped scale renewable energy and sustainability businesses within new markets, and worked to grow sustainable technology as Vice President of a venture capital firm.

Angela Khakali

Angela Khakali is a Senior Advisor working with the Ontario Government. An economist by training, Angela is passionate about the intersection of technology and finance, leveraging her experience to scale high growth companies and provide access to capital for founders. Committed to the role of government to drive innovation, she has led several strategic initiatives over the past 8 years, including the role of broadband in accelerating economic development in rural Ontario, with a focus on agriculture. She also has experience advising startups, as well as conducting due diligence and deal sourcing from working with early and growth stage funds.

Angela has an MBA from the University of Cambridge, UK, an MSc from the London School of Economics, UK and a BA in Economics from York University, Canada.

Annika Reinhardt

As the co-founder of Talent Collective, an organization focused on helping tech companies develop, grow and reward their talent, Annika Reinhardt creates compensation strategies that are values aligned and future focused. She is a Certified Compensation, Global Remuneration and Sales Compensation Professional with a Masters Degree in Project Management and 10+ years of experience in organizational development. Annika has worked with dozens of tech companies to help them scale their compensation and career development programs as they develop and grow.

Astrid Nuñez

Senior Events & Outreach Manager

Astrid is a marketer with experience in project management and vast knowledge in events coordination. She has a degree in marketing and a Masters degree in Business Administration, as well as several courses and diplomas in management and project management.

Astrid is passionate about communications and has experience working in market research, merchandising, advertising and branding.

Barry Hagglund

For the past 20 years Barry has worked with start-ups as founder and consultant in a variety of roles. As an engineer working in communication semiconductors, Barry loves matching technology to market needs through product roadmap & development, technology commercialization, IP strategies and business development.  Barry loves to build things – chips, companies and processes.

Bil Hetherington

I am passionate about the energy transition, fighting climate change and achieving the UN SDGs. I am a Global Risk Advisor for Shell International’s major projects, providing risk support and assurance, on projects across all continents, in countries such as Nigeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Australia, the UK, The Netherlands, Brazil, the USA and many more. I run the secretariat for Shell’s most senior reputation and policy governance committee, and I support the European Markets Policy and Advocacy team. I am a seasoned expert with 13+ years of policy, advocacy, stakeholder relations and communications experience. I am an experienced influencer, facilitating internal consensus, and liaising with senior political and department government officials, community and civil society groups, leveraging associations and multi-stakeholder groups, and building coalitions. I have worked in the electricity sector, in upstream and downstream oil and gas, and the arts and culture, and poverty reduction sectors.

Bonita Mathew

Program Manager, agriNEXT & waterNEXT

Bonita Mathew is a professional with a background in sustainable development. Having grown up in different parts of the world and with an educational background in Communications from Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada) and Sustainable Development from Uppsala University (Uppsala, Sweden), she focuses on the intersectional lens between environmental, social and economic sustainability. She has built and worked on development programming to elevate Canada’s achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and enjoys engaging people on the move towards cleantech innovation and implementation.

Bonnie Foley-Wong

Bonnie Foley-Wong helps leaders strategically plan for the future and make informed and empathetic decisions, in the face of uncertainty. She is a future-oriented finance and investment executive with over 24 years experience of financing, leading, and advising entrepreneurial businesses and funds. She is a recognized leader in ESG, impact, and responsible investing.

Over the course of her career, she financed over $1 billion dollars in the private capital markets in Europe and North America. She leverages her skills in strategic planning, initiating projects, catalyzing change, communicating impact, and influencing decisions to help investors, business leaders, and entrepreneurs prepare for the future.

Bonnie is the recipient of a Startup Canada Entrepreneur Promotion Award and a YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. She served on the Board of the WeBC, a not-for-profit organization helping women business owners be full contributors to the economy and LOCO BC, a business network focused on building sustainable, local economies. Bonnie is the founder of Pique Ventures, an award-winning investment firm supporting a diverse community of investors and entrepreneurs. She is the founding investor in Pique Fund, which invested in 8 women-led technology ventures and generated over $1M in proceeds for the fund and returns for investors. Bonnie is the former Head of Investment Strategy at the Equality Fund, stewarding a $300M multi-asset investment portfolio. She is the author of Integrated Investing: Impact Investing with Head, Heart, Body, and Soul and has been published in Business Insider, Next Billion, Inc., Forbes, and Huffington Post.

Bonnie is a CPA (Ontario), CA, and CFA charterholder. She has a Bachelor of Mathematics and Master of Accounting from the University of Waterloo.

Bram van den Berg

Bram van den Berg has over 20 years of international leadership, business development, customer service, operations and supply chain and strategy consulting experience in aviation and oil & gas helicopter services.

He is currently the COO of Circular Rubber Technologies – a Vancouver start-up focussed on developing a fully circular solution for end-of-life industrial tires. Before that he led the worldwide supply chain and customer support organisation of Heli-One – a leader in rotor-wing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO). Bram started his career with CHC Helicopter Corporation where he held increasingly senior roles across various areas of the business ranging from business development, customer support, operations and yield management.

Bram’s EiR skills include combining strong analytical skills with an ability to build strong relationships, motivate teams and deliver high-quality results in a competitive environment. Specific areas of expertise include: Project planning, design & execution | Risk management | Technology deployment | Supply Chain Management | Strategic & Financial Planning | Organizational Leadership | Process Design & Optimization | Productivity Improvement| Budgeting | Cost Management | Change Management.

Bram has a Bachelor in Aeronautical Engineering from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and a Master’s in Business Administration & Management from Nyenrode University.

Brenda Jin

Brenda Jin is an entrepreneur, software engineer, and angel investor. Most recently, she was the CEO of venture-backed software startup Bennu, a performance visibility platform that empowered engineering teams with better collaboration, communication, and alignment. As the founder and CEO of Bennu, Brenda led both Customer Discovery and Product Development, becoming an expert at developing new sales pipelines for early stage products while building a top notch product and software engineering team in a competitive hiring environment.  

Prior to Bennu, Brenda was a Staff Engineer on the Developer Platform at Slack where she led software teams on strategic launches such as the Developer Platform, Enterprise, and Slack Connect early beta.  

Brenda is also the co-author of Designing Web APIs published by O’Reilly.  

Brenda is passionate about the interfaces between businesses, software systems, and humans. 

Brett Gilmour

Brett is purpose and outcome driven person. He believes a strong vision can pull us through to our desired future, whether it be for a company, nation, or individual. To “walk the talk”, here is his current personal vision.

Brian Gerson

Brian is an electronics Industry veteran passionate about technology, its application, and its impact on society.  His current focus is the identification of silicon, software, and business model opportunities in the green tech space. 

Briare Fergsuon

Digital Marketing Manager

Briare is a charismatic, strategic-thinking marketing and communications professional with a keen eye for detail and a passion for building meaningful relationships. Briare’s has a nonprofit background working in various different industry sectors but most recently, helping tech startups grow and scale their dreams into a reality. Briare is passionate about digital marketing as well as community and ecosystem building.

Bruce Edgelow

Advisory Board

Bruce has 45 years of banking experience with a focus on lending to the oil and gas industry.

After having spent 31 years with Royal Bank of Canada, Bruce joined ATB in July 2003 and took on the responsibility to help build ATB Financial’s Energy business and capabilities. In early 2015 he headed up their Turnaround Assistance Group, providing leadership to ATB’s sales teams whose clients were experiencing financial difficulties through the downturn. He retired from the organization March 31, 2017, at which point he and his business associate Mark George formed EdgeMark Capital and Advisory Services Ltd. They specialize in advising entities related to their capital needs and sourcing either debt or equity on a fee for service basis.

Bruce has attained the ICD.D designation. He is a very active participant in community and church activities. He serves as a Director for Calgary Health Foundation and Chairs the Peter Lougheed Centre Development Council. He is vice-chair of Trellis, the predecessor agency post the merger of Boys & Girls Club & Aspen Family and Community Network and an advisor to Canada Water NEXT Innovations Inc.

Bruce also serves as a member of the Alberta Government’s Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Council and is a board member of Bumble Bees Venture Capital.

Bruce Gilkes

Bruce Gilkes is Managing Partner of ALTS Canada Inc. where he provides technology leadership, business development expertise and simulation expertise. ALTS uses computer simulation to reduce risks to business by improving personnel performance during incidents and emergencies.

Prior to ALTS, Mr. Gilkes was the founder, President and CTO of C4i Consultants Inc., a Calgary-based software development and professional services company. Mr. Gilkes provided the leadership and direction required to grow C4i into one of Canada’s Top 40 Defence Companies in under six years and later into a multinational organization with nearly 85 personnel deployed across four continents.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Gilkes served full time and part time in the Canadian Army for 29 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. After leaving full time military service, Mr. Gilkes worked for General Dynamics Canada as a System Architect on a $2B communications project for the Canadian Army. As CTO for an Ontario airport service company, Mr. Gilkes developed a “smart airport” suite of technologies and led a development team in the design, and delivery of several systems to the US Air Force, the Canadian Air Force and several commercial airports in Canada and the USA. He is also the recipient of the Canadian Forces Decoration and the NATO Special Service Medal.

Mr. Gilkes has several patents to his name and was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal for “achievements that have benefited fellow Albertans, their communities and the province.

Bruce Scatchard

Highly experienced, solutions focused engineering executive with extensive understanding of both the technical and business processes of high tech operations. Proven track record of using rigorous analysis to improve quality, reduce costs and streamline operations. Successfully integrated operations from many acquired companies. Demonstrated leadership in building and motivating teams of varying size and expertise while promoting a culture where problems are resolved quickly and effectively.

Expertise includes managing global engineering and manufacturing operations, preparing complex, high quality products for volume manufacturing, leading cross functional teams to find solutions, implementing and maintaining quality systems including ISO9000 processes.

Bruce Sharpe

Veteran of many product companies and startups. Currently CEO of Singular Hearing Inc.

Bryan Duarte

Bryan is a Social Venturist, Entrepreneur, a licensed Professional Engineer and over 30 years of experience in the Energy Industry. He is a Co-Founder and the Managing Partner at BlackTech Capital and the Founder & CEO of Enliten. He has experience in creating, developing and growing companies in the Energy, CleanTech and Sustainability Sectors with a focus on underrepresented founders.

Helping to develop and grow early-stage companies and their founders is a passion for Bryan; it is all about helping others to make their dreams come true. To that end Bryan is a CleanTech Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR), Mentor or Advisor for Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), University of Toronto’s Black Founders Network, Haltech Regional Innovation Centre, Climate Ventures, Foresight Canada, SeedSpot (Washington DC) and TechStars (Toronto and Tulsa).

For Bryan, energy is something greater than simply the power for heating, cooling and transportation, it is the force that propels people and organizations. For him the key to sustainability is not if we can overcome the technological challenges, it is all about finding and nurturing the great people and companies that are creating or will create the needed technology solutions.

His core values are Love, Integrity and Transparency with a focus on developing companies that are Good for People and Good for Planet.

Carlos Espejo

Senior Research & Data Analyst

Carlos is a business development professional specializing in innovation. His experience in the US and Europe broadens the scope and range of solutions of our projects. Throughout his career, he has worked in the public and private sectors helping companies to develop strategic lines. Although having worked in different areas, he is passionate about cleantech and finding innovative ways to reach the ecological goals that we all want, by transforming jobs, companies and sectors. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering and a MBA in International Management.

Catherine Brownlee

Catherine is the President and CEO of CBI where she brings over 30 years’ experience in  Recruitment and Business Development strategies across all sectors. Her database of over  85,000 contacts demonstrates her capacity to motivate, build and achieve results. She was  recognized by her peers for her outstanding leadership with Women of Influence and a Paul  Harris Award through the Rotary Club of Calgary.  

Catherine regularly presents career and business development seminars for those looking to find  the job of their dreams or building their business.  

Catherine is the co-author of three bestsellers. Want to Work in Oil and Gas? Cat’s Tips to Get  the Job of Your Dreams and How to Sell in Any Economy, the latter of which hit the number one  on Amazon, in three categories, on its first day of release. 

In her spare time, Catherine is committed to serving the community through the Rotary Club of  Calgary. Her passion is seen in the areas of business, politics, tech and AI, and most  importantly, human rights.

Chih-Ting Lo

Chih-Ting is the founder and president at EELO Solutions.

She is a strategist, entrepreneur, and Independent Director committed to making global net-zero carbon future a reality focusing on high-impact industries. A professional engineer with 20 years of experience, her deep sectoral knowledge, expertise in environment, social, and governance (ESG) performance, and leadership in innovation has gained international recognition. Chih-Ting’s data driven approach uniquely compliments exercising governance best practices and overseeing risks. She is collaborative, deliberate, and authentic.

Chih-Ting founded EELO Solutions in 2011 and her team of experts and partners have delivered extensive energy and carbon reductions while increasing capacity in organizations they work with. Her global experience in mining, marine, energy, and international financial institutions has enabled $100M+ private sector investment and raised $45M+ for innovation and decarbonization projects in recent years.

Chih-Ting believes that ESG innovation and investment are necessary to reach climate action targets, and that the mining sector can lead the way. Chih-Ting is a non-executive Director at Sherritt International, Director at the Centre of Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI), and the Board Vice Chair of Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre. She is also an Industry Advisor at UBC Bradshaw Research Initiative for Minerals and Mining, and sits on the Advisory Board of clean tech companies such as Summit Nanotech and Invert Inc.

Chris Dambrowitz

Chris leads a boutique strategic advisory & technical services firm serving industrial and  institutional clients across Western Canada, provides strategic and business-development  services for corporate and public-sector organizations, and serves as a strategic advisor to  the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering. While leading the research & innovation  portfolio at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Chris was instrumental in  developing integrated solutions and services for industry clients through applied research  facilities, advanced manufacturing labs, acceleration spaces, and corporate workforce  training services. He has led industry-focused initiatives linking the capabilities of Alberta  post-secondaries with major sectors of Western Canada’s economy, including agriculture,  energy, construction & infrastructure. Chris brings technology development experience from  the bioanalytical and biotechnology industries with MDS Sciex (Concord ON), Blue Heron  Biotechnology (Bothell WA), Visible Genetics (Toronto ON) and Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd  (Chalk River ON). Chris has a PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of  Alberta.

Chris Edwards

Chris, a strategic thinker by nature, is a Calgary-based entrepreneur investing  and advising in the pre-seed and seed stages of western Canadian tech  startups. Through his network and background in agriculture and energy, he  focuses mainly on technology in these areas, with an interest in AI and  machine learning applications. 

He has a diverse background, with 16 years working as an engineer in the  upstream oil and gas sector domestically in Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, as well  as, internationally in France and the Netherlands where he led multi cultural, interdisciplinary teams. Project management, growth planning, and  leadership are some of his strong points with a penchant for corporate  entrepreneurship and innovative thinking. Chris has been involved in the  early-stage development of many sustainability projects geared towards responsible corporate behaviour. He is exceedingly committed to supporting the global energy transition, and  honouring the interests of all stakeholders via sustainable development  practices. 

Chris has a BSc in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Alberta and an  executive MBA with Honours from IMD Business School in Switzerland. While  completing his MBA he also developed an interest for impact investing and  social enterprises, and hopes to expand in this area further.

Chris Reid

Chris has been involved in the clean technology sector for over 20 years. He excels at pulling together diverse elements of opportunities to turn them into successful ventures. Chris has had successful experience developing companies from the nascent stage, through technology development, productization and cost down, market establishment, sales, as well as establishing highly effective teams.

Chris was co-founder and CEO of Cellex Power Products which was subsequently acquired by Plug Power in 2007. Chris then ran the Motive Power Division of Plug Power for 3 years. He is currently Chairman of Hydrexia, an Australian hydrogen storage company, and he recently led them through major financing.

Chris’s specialties include: company creation and development, business/opportunity analysis and synthesis, creating and/or strengthening customer value propositions, raising capital, technology development, establishment of product delivery organizations, market development and customer sales, and CEO/leadership mentoring. As well, Chris holds a masters degree in engineering and has worked extensively with cryogenics, novel materials, energy conversion systems, hydrogen, fuel cells and other clean technologies. Chris is part of the BCIC mentoring group and a director of the Working Opportunity Fund.

Chuck Hamilton

Chuck is passionate about helping businesses grow and succeed. One part future technology geek, one part coach, and three parts innovator, Chuck has a long work history at the intersection of people and technology. His work includes Open Innovation, Crowdsourcing, CleanTech, EDTech, TalentTech, Smarter Cities, and Digital Strategy.

Chuck is the Chief Learning Officer at MeetAMi, former IBM executive, and Chief Operating Officer of HeroX. In addition to his work as an EIR with Foresight, he is an executive advisor to Riipen, FAME, IOAirFlow and KorrAi and Venture Labs EIR. Chuck is also a TED Talker, designer, and community volunteer who lives in Tsawwassen, BC.

Claire Dixon

Claire’s superpower is navigating technical and commercial complexity – defining strategy from disparate and incomplete information and translating strategy into coherent and actionable plans. Prior to becoming a deep-tech founder, Claire held a number of senior operational roles at the University of Calgary and had a strategic consulting career spanning more than a decade. She brings a strong investor lens having worked with Private Equity clients, within a VC firm in her early career and with angel investors through CDL. Claire holds a Masters of Engineering (and MA) from Cambridge University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Clay Braziller

Clay is a seasoned COO, innovation catalyst and evangelist who enjoys working with cross-functional interdisciplinary teams of engineers, researchers, and business people to advance new products and services that strengthen the community and environment. Clay’s vast experience embodies all aspects of technology commercialization, strategic planning, change management, governance, and stakeholder engagement. Clay is passionate about sustainability, circular economies, cooperative business models and social ventures.

Colin McWhinnie

Colin is an experienced CEO, entrepreneur, and sales strategist with over 20 years experience developing, testing, and executing on sales programs for over 300 clients. His passion is helping entrepreneurs successfully bring their solution to the world by focusing on the right markets, with the right offering, and the right sales process.

Colin launched SalesXperts in 2000 focusing on B2C and B2B sales campaigns for clients including Oracle, Microsoft, and Bell, to over 200 small to medium-sized businesses at all stages of their business lifecycle.

Canada Start Up was launched in 2005 to help entrepreneurs navigate through the fog of the first couple years and focus on practical sales activities to acquire customers quickly and profitably. Since then, Colin has worked with hundreds of start-ups representing the SaaS, ICT, Fintech, Digital Health, and CleanTech industries, helping companies move from strategy to execution through practical, test-driven sales programs and coaching. In 2020, Colin launched his third venture called Sales Primer to help entrepreneurs understand the underlying sales metrics for their business model.

Colin also is passionate about sharing his experience with entrepreneurs as an Advisor, coach, speaker, and instructor. He is an EIR with Foresight Innovation; a Sales Mentor with Volition Advisors, SFU Innovation Lab and the Edmonton Regional Innovation Network; instructor with the BCIT Venture program,  and has been the keynote speaker for several Entrepreneurial Conferences including the MIT Venture forum in Seattle. He also developed and teaches an entrepreneurial course to First Nation Groups in Northern BC

A graduate of Western, Colin has lived and worked in Japan and the US, and now makes his home in sunny Tsawwassen BC.

Cormac O’Cleirigh

Cormac O’Cleirigh is a senior business development executive with extensive international experience in technology scouting, corporate business development and partnering/licensing in the consumer, life sciences and technology sectors. After almost 10 years of global technical/business roles with a division of Associated British Foods he moved to Vancouver and for 4 years was the Chief Business Development Officer of a local life sciences company, Renaissance BioScience, before starting his own consulting practice in July of 2019. Cormac works with a number of early-stage small/medium-sized IP rich companies looking to transform their businesses through industry partnerships.

Cormac holds a B.Sc. in Biotechnology and a Ph.D. in Bioprocess Engineering.

Craig Hughes

A results-driven senior executive with over 30 years of experience working in 9 different companies, demonstrating continued success in the delivery of complex technology solutions to international markets.

A passion for start-ups and clean technology translated into my most recent full-time role as President/COO of Terramera Inc. Terramera is a Vancouver-based AgTech company that fuses science, nature and artificial intelligence to create game-changing technologies to address significant real-world problems. Over a period of almost 5 years, I led operations at Terramera, ensuring alignment, coordination and communication between all areas of the business. An ability to hold the team accountable to objectives and key results while supporting a “can-do” culture of innovation led to the continued expansion of the company, fuelled by over $50M in private equity and government funding.

Prior to Terramera, I had a multi-year involvement with QuickMobile Inc. including varying roles as COO, VP Products and VP Business Development. QuickMobile was a SaaS-based mobile technology start-up that achieved rapid growth over multiple years and #1 ranking in the 2013 Deloitte Technology Fast 50TM.

With a background in Electronic Engineering, co-founder of two tech companies, and a depth of experience in project and program management roles in AgTech, Telecoms, Mobile and Automation, I’m now looking to utilize the gained experience to help organizations to scale and to maximize their positive environmental impact.

Crystal Henrickson

Crystal Henrickson is a certified Leadership Coach, People Operations consultant, and  co-founder of Talent Collective where she works alongside technology-driven companies to build  healthy, fair, inclusive workplace cultures. Certified as a Co-Active® and Professional Coach,  Leadership Circle Profile PractitionerTM, Mentor Coach and team facilitator, she supports leaders  to surface, manage and excel through all of the discomforts of becoming effective leaders to lead  healthy, engaged teams.  

Her own career spans industries (technology and startups, non-profits, food and beverage,  cosmetics, recruitment) and functions (marketing, sales and people operations) giving her an  adaptable lens through which to view organizations, leadership and individual careers. She is  credited with driving the market expansion for Yelp into Canada and has had opportunities to  work with local entrepreneurial economies from across North America and as far away as  Belgrade, Serbia. 

A few years ago, she took a big leap, moving from a shoebox apartment in Vancouver to an acre in Penticton where she spends her offline time building a sustainable homestead.  

Curtis Marcotte

As well as serving on the Advisory Board of CruxOCM, a Calgary and Houston based Robotic Industrial Process Automation (RIPA) entity, Mr. Marcotte served in the role of Senior Vice President, Corporate Development for CruxOCM, on an interim basis. Curtis holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) professional designation, and is a seasoned finance, commercial viability, and economics professional. He has worked with and for small and medium size enterprises as well as large organizations, including roles as VP, Corporate Finance, Director, Commercial Banking and Senior Advisor, Business Development. Over the last ten plus years as an industry consultant, Mr. Marcotte has served as the CFO for startup organizations and provided Corporate Development and Financial and Acquisition Advisory Services to entities in Tech, E&P, Energy Services and Midstream industries. Curtis has seen and experienced much in his more than thirty (30) years in Investment Banking, Commercial Banking and Industry roles. Mr. Marcotte served as an active member of the Zone Startups Calgary Mentorship program and as well as served on Foothills Medical Centre’s Fund Development Council, part of Calgary Health Foundation. Mr. Marcotte continues to serve as an Independent Member of the Investment Advisory Committee for Alberta’s Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee.

Dana Ramnarine

Dana is an architect of highly innovative teams, helping businesses steer through the (often depleted) talent pools around the world to attract and retain humans with high potential. She has spent almost 15 years helping grow some of the world’s most innovative and successful creative and technical companies, exploring innovative and effective tools to find, attract, and retain incredible people. She was Unity’s first in-house global Recruiter, has worked with Disney, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and many more, helping humans connect to their purpose and helping teams scale. Now at Rhum.hr,  Dana is co-founder and heads up the west coast  operations, working with startups and growing tech companies to bring HR and talent acquisition support to teams through an innovative, on-demand model, disrupting the external agency framework to meet the needs of an evolving workforce. 

Danielle Graham

General Partner of Phoenix Fire and Co-Founder of The Firehood, an angel stage fund and network focused on women in technology. Investing in early stage tech startups and advising for scaling tech at ventureLAB within the Capital Investment Program.

Unlocked capital for underrepresented founders as Principal at Sandpiper Ventures and Dream Maker Ventures. Champion for women’s initiatives such as the Dovetail Summit, the Canadian Women’s Network and GTAN WIT, the first angel group training program for female investors. An important part of the angel community network, as a board member, investment officer and advisor to tech incubators.

Prev. Market Readiness Fund at Ontario Centres of Excellence, Deloitte Human Capital Consultant and Women in Tech Program Manager at Communitech, and founder of the Fierce Founders Programs, the first female-focused accelerator and bootcamp series in Canada.

Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Wilfrid Laurier University, a Masters of Arts (M.A.) from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Trinity College, University of Toronto.

Dave Mclaren

With 15 years of global consulting experience, Dave works with L2P clients to design and implement business transformations and key strategy initiatives. Using his experience in energy, technology, power, manufacturing, distribution and sporting goods, he helps leadership teams align on the levers that drive results. He has a keen interest in helping people develop a performance mindset and acts as a mentor at all levels of the organization.

David Gordon

David is a seasoned executive leader committed to driving results through the development and protection of corporate brand profile and business infrastructure. His focus over these years has been providing strategic leadership through strong “vision” and hands-on communications to deliver measurable results and create value in rejuvenating and bringing businesses to life, no matter the roles and responsibilities he has taken on. 

Most recently, as Chief Corporate Communication Officer for PharmaCielo Ltd., David fully engaged in development of the new industry on a global level, managing an extensive range of internal and external leadership and ESG focused activities, engaging multiple stakeholder communities ranging from investors and regulators to customers and staff. He passionately believe in the power of teams and am enthusiastic about harnessing insights from others to solve complex business challenge. 

Prior to this, David was Managing Partner of the Canadian operations of Cohn & Wolfe, a global communications agency, leading strategies that addressed issues from crisis management and brand marketing to regulatory and government affairs. His clients came from virtually all sectors of the economy, ranging from packaged goods to finance, automotive, waste, mining, gaming, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, among others. 

With a background in public policy and political strategy acquired from decade spent working in the government in Ontario, David has engaged in the community and served on the Boards of various non-profit organizations. He also previously served as the Chair of the Canadian Council of Public Relations Firms. Currently, David is a certified member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, as well as having completed the Innovation Governance Program (iGP) in support of directors for the technology sector. He previously sat on the corporate Board of Directors of PharmaCielo Ltd., and currently serve on the Advisory Board of Regennabis, a provider of consultative ESG support services. 

Other roles that have driven David towards the leadership he exhibits today include work as a government relations consultant, Senior Advisor to the Attorney General of Ontario and Minister Responsible for Native Affairs, and as an international trade analyst with the Korean Trade  Commission. 

David’s education achievements include degrees from York University (BA), McMaster University (MA) and the University of Toronto (MBA). His achievements as a communicator have been recognized by peers globally with awards for successful communication program delivery. 

David Hunt

David Hunt is a prominent figure and thought leader in the clean technology sector. Hailed as a leading green entrepreneur by the Financial Times, David also presents at industry events such as EcoSummit, Energy Storage Europe, Solar & Storage Live and Fully Charged Live. He also hosts the ‘Leaders in Cleantech’ Podcast. He was also chosen as one of 25 LinkedIn Top Voices 2018, where he has over 150,000 followers.

David is a frequent contributor to trade publications such as Energy Storage News, Solar Power Portal, PV Tech, Clean Energy News and Smart Cities World. His industry insights have been quoted in UK broadsheet newspapers such as The Guardian, The Independent, The Telegraph and the Sunday Times. Being well versed in business and economics, he has also lent his voice to the likes of BBC Radio Four and ITV’s 6 o’clock news.

A cleantech expert and industry insider, David specialises in the clean energy and eMobility sectors. His drive to accelerate these growing markets led him to set up Hyperion Executive Search Ltd, a talent acquisition company specialising in the cleantech space that incisively places talent where it’s needed. Hyperion has been helping businesses grow and succeed since 2014, with offices in Liverpool, Munich and Austin, TX. David’s headhunting team now operates across EMEA and the US. David is also Board Advisor at Nanotechnology company Nexgen Futures.

Before this, David co-founded an award-winning multi-technology renewable energy installation business, sat as a policy board member with the UK Renewable Energy Association, and was a member of PRASEG (Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group).

The ‘Leaders in Cleantech’ podcast is a platform where David invites expert guests from his network to share their cleantech journeys and insights. Speaking with entrepreneurs, CEOs, thought leaders and industry insiders, David explores the challenges, opportunities, highs, and lows of business in the cleantech sector.

David Ing

David Ing is a technology business executive with extensive academic research and teaching experience. His 28-year career with IBM included assignments in management consulting, market development and headquarters planning. After graduating from IBM, he led an IBM Business Partner in healthcare technology services with operations in Canada and Jamaica. In a small organization experience, David is a corporate director in a family business originating in Gravenhurst, Ontario in 1961. In the systems thinking community, David was president of the International Society for the Systems Sciences, 2011-2012. He has taught in graduate school programs worldwide (Finland, China, Japan, UK), as well as OCADU, UToronto and York U. Towards completing a Ph.D. the book “Open Innovation Learning: Theory-building on open sourcing while private sourcing” was published in 2017-2018. David has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern U., and a B. Comm. from U. Toronto.

David Sanguinetti

VP, Technology Adoption

David Sanguinetti is an executive engineer with over 25+ years’ experience in industry. He has a particular focus on helping companies with the development and commercialization of new technologies and has extensive experience both with technical scale-up and with designing the corporate, engineering, and project management systems to support growing companies.

He started his career designing gas processing plants, and has since worked in potable water treatment, biomass-to-energy, industrial water treatment, and metals recovery. In recent years, David has focused on supporting new companies to develop and scale their technologies and systems, and is an instructor/course developer for our Deliver program, geared toward cleantech CTO’s, now being delivered across western Canada.

David’s role centres on helping industry find and adopt clean technology. This includes managing Foresight’s Industry Challenge program, research initiatives, and other programs that connect industry with innovation.

David Yiptong

REGIONAL DIRECTOR, ALBERTA

Technology development, commercialization and community engagement have been at the heart of David’s recent work. He has worked with hundreds of technology startups and entrepreneurs, helping them build their businesses and connecting them with resources and supports in the community. Their successes are what drives David’s passion for the sector in Calgary and Alberta.

David brings a wide range of experience having worked in startups, large corporations, and not-for-profits, in industries ranging from manufacturing, energy, and telecommunications. He continues to volunteer to coach students and entrepreneurs through various programs in Calgary.

Deepak Gupta

Dr. Deepak S. Gupta is an award-winning senior leader who has worked in progressive roles  in both industry and academia.  

Dr. Gupta has led research, innovation, and entrepreneurship endeavors in his career cross  three countries. He has founded or started up research and innovation centres, incubators,  accelerators, and micro-loan funding programs. He has advised or coached several founders,  on activities such as investor pitches, non-dilutive funding, product strategy, and market  research. 

Dr. Gupta has a doctorate in chemical engineering.

Don Verdonck

Don Verdonck is retired from a career in the oil and gas business, and is currently on the Board of Directors of a private energy company, and a not-for-profit enterprise. He has served on several public, private, and not-for profit boards, including St Mary’s University, where he was Board Chair for 3 years. He is actively involved with several organizations dedicated to coaching and mentoring entrepreneurs grow their leadership skills and their businesses. This provides opportunities for continued engagement with very bright, hard working young people, as well as opportunities for personal and professional growth.

He has worked in the Energy Industry in Western Canada for 40 years. His experience spans executive level management, as well as operational and facilities management. He retired from his position as VP Thermal at Athabasca Oil Corporation in 2018, and prior to that worked as the senior representative of Athabasca in a joint venture with a major international energy company. He also spent a number of years at Murphy Oil, and worked in many positions with operations across Western Canada.

Dr. Roslyn Kunin

Dr. Roslyn Kunin is one of those rare economists who can make the often difficult subject of economics understandable and even interesting. 

She was educated in Quebec and Ontario, finishing her studies with a Ph.D. in economics from the University of British Columbia. The University of Victoria has granted her the degree  of Honorary Doctor of Laws. The Institute of Corporate Directors has granted her the ICD.D  designation. 

She has been awarded the Crystal Ball Award by the Association of Professional Economists, the Woman of Distinction Award by the YWCA and a Canada 125 medal for service to  Canada and is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia. Dr. Kunin was Chair of the Haida Enterprise Corporation and has served the community in many positions including Chair of WorkSafe BC, Chair of the Vancouver Stock Exchange, Director of the Business Development Bank of Canada, Governor of the University of British Columbia, Chair of the Vancouver Crisis Centre, member of the National Statistics Council and Vice-President of the YWCA. She has published numerous articles and books. In her career, Dr. Kunin has worked in the private sector, written a weekly newspaper column,  aught at several Canadian universities including Simon Fraser and UBC and served twenty years as Regional Economist for the federal government in B.C. and Yukon.

Dylan Jones

Dylan has 10 years experience in start-up leadership and specializes in leveraging lean growth models to maximize new revenue generation. He’s a serial entrepreneur having started several start-ups in the innovative healthy food and cleantech industries. He is a sales specialist, believing heavily in a blend of product-market fit, a robust go-to-market strategy, and a strong dose of good timing is the mark of success for most companies.

Dylan obtained his MBA in the clean energy economy and focuses on products and technologies that either help people or help reduce negative impact on the environment.

Ean Jackson

Ean Jackson has invested the past 25 years of his professional career in management, technical and business development roles in the technology industry. He has been employed by a wide range of businesses across North America ranging from technology startups to major multinational corporations including IBM, Sprint International, and Oracle Corporation.

Jackson is very active in the Vancouver business community. In his current role as President of Analytics Marketing Inc., a provider of contract business development and coaching services, he is accountable for delivering new revenues, new clients and investors to growing businesses.

Jackson is an angel investor, a frequent speaker on business and technology topics and serves on multiple boards. He is a sessional professor in the business faculties of the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University and coaches early-stage businesses as Executive in Residence (EiR) for Foresight, New Ventures BC, and EMBERS Ventures. A former Canadian National Team manager, competitive long-distance runner, and triathlete, Jackson remains heavily involved with amateur athletics.

Fluent in four languages (English, French, Spanish, German), Jackson’s educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Arts (University of Western Ontario), a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering (Southern Methodist University) and certificates in Internet Marketing (UBC), Business Analysis and Project Management (The George Washington University).

Ehsan Mirdamadi

Ehsan is a serial entrepreneur with focus around tech companies with strong IP at core. He has built and exited multiple tech companies since 1999, and in Cloud Computing, Computer Networks & Software areas. He is now the CEO at Nubinary Inc, a fractional CTO firm, and also an active Angel investor and GP at ArchAngel / Axion VC fund.

Elaine Honsberger

As President and Founder of Energy Influence, Elaine is passionate about her mission to positively  influence the growth of emerging clean energy technology companies and is honoured to be an EIR with Foresight Canada. 

People, Purpose and Profit are three key elements that have fuelled Elaine’s passion for her multi decade career that has included mining exploration, seismic data processing, and her progression from a technical professional to a strategic leader of people and technology in the oil and gas energy industry. Connecting people with the value of technology has been critical to her success and leveraging a coaching-focused leadership style is one of her key traits.  

As an explorationist and former Chief Geophysicist for large and mid-cap companies in the oil and gas energy industry, Elaine has decades of experience leading innovative technology strategies that have driven up capital efficiency, driven down costs and reduced risk impacting over $10 Billion of investment decisions. She is known for strengthening, connecting, and diversifying the corporate talent base along with leveraging advanced technology to drive up safety and corporate performance, and for promoting a culture where every individual contributes value. She possesses extensive upstream oil and gas experience in diverse geo-political environments having served at Husky Energy, Enerplus,  EnCana, Alberta Energy Company, and Shell Canada, complemented by early experiences in data  processing services and mining.  

Elaine has served on the Boards for the Association of Professional Engineer & Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) and the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (CSEG), along with several  other related technical and professional committees. She has been honoured as an honorary Fellow  of the Engineers of Canada, a Fellow of the Geoscientists of Canada, received the Meritorious Service award for her service to the CSEG, and the Best Speaker Award at the Denver Geophysical Society  3D Symposium.  

Elaine holds an Honours B.Sc. from Western University in Applied Geophysics and is a registered Professional Geophysicist with APEGA in Alberta.  

Elena Popovici

Elena is a Computer Science PhD with over 15 years of industry experience using algorithms to solve complex, real-world business and engineering problems across a wide variety of domains. She was doing data science long before it was called that. Through research and development, she has delivered time&cost-saving software and analyses to Fortune and Global 500 companies, governments and non profit organizations in areas such as Energy Management, Naval Engineering, Fisheries Supply Chains, Healthcare, Pharma, Insurance, Advertising and more. She has generated Intellectual Property material that was patented in the US and Europe.

For the past few years, Elena has been focused on opportunities to drive business value in the cleantech sector. She believes that impactful solutions can only be delivered through an end-to-end approach: communicate with business stakeholders and subject matter experts to identify current and future needs, map them to appropriate computational approaches (be they machine learning, evolutionary optimization, network analysis, scheduling, simulation or something else entirely) and use cross-functional teams to implement solutions and deliver results.

Elesie Ezenwanne

Elesie is the Project Lead Well Engineer for one of Shell’s strategic greenfield  deepwater project. She joined Royal Dutch Shell in 2012 after receiving a master’s  degree in petroleum engineering from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United  Kingdom and has held various technical and business roles across Shell’s global  projects, including a role as the Technology focal point for her business unit. 

A passionate and consummate Energy Professional with extensive field-based and  design experience of which 4+ years were Cross-functional experiences in Business  Performance and Project Management; A results-oriented professional with keen  commercial focus. 

Elesie has over nine years experience of working for Shell and in this time, has built a  deep understanding of the energy industry and broad industrial outlook with the most  practical and recent business perspectives through her ongoing Executive MBA with  the Oxford Said Business School. 

Her strength comes from her ability to combine a variety of skills to achieve business  outcomes: 

• Proficient in delivering operational excellence and managing technical and non technical risks. 
• Developing cost-effective execution strategies and executing projects flawlessly  across diverse working environments and key global projects in multicultural  and virtual environments.  
• Strategic partnering, relationship building and stakeholder management. ∙ Commercial negotiation of contract agreements and management of suppliers ∙ Integration of experiences from a multi-sectoral view in multi-disciplinary  teams. 

Elesie’s professional background also combines an external perspective with her active  contribution to industry conversations and advocacy as a member of the board of the  Society of Petroleum Engineers. She is keenly interested in helping shape the green  economy and the drive for cleaner energy through her varied experiences. 

Elicia Maine

Director

Elicia Maine is a Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Simon Fraser University. She is also the Academic Director of the Invention to Innovation program, aimed at giving PhD Scientists and Engineers the skills to lead Science & Technology Commercialization. Prof. Maine teaches Managing Technological Innovation in the Management of Technology MBA program, Managing Innovation in the Executive MBA program, and Lab to Market in the Invention to Innovation program at SFU Beedie School of Business. She has used her expertise at home and abroad to guide innovation policy and strategy and to mentor emerging talent. Shaped by formative experiences at Shad Valley and at M.I.T., she is passionate about the positive impact that can be made by scientist-entrepreneurs in addressing global challenges. Dr. Maine holds a PhD in Technology Management from the University of Cambridge, Masters degrees in Technology & Policy and in Materials Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Bachelors degrees in Materials Engineering and in English from Queens University. She publishes extensively on Innovation Management in journals such as Research Policy, R&D Management, Nature Nanotechnology and Nature Materials. She has worked in industry as a strategy consultant, specializing in technology management in the automotive sector and in advanced materials sectors. She is active as a speaker on innovation policy and the commercialization of science.

Elisabeth Paul

Elisabeth’s passion is in developing and deploying complex technology solutions both from outer space and earth to make our world a better place! She excels at strategic business development & project management for large zero-emissions demonstration programs at ports and within cities. Using her unique blend of technical and people leadership skills, she brings together commercial partners and vehicle operators, secures funding from government and corporate sources to deploy new clean technology projects.

Before joining Zen, Elisabeth spent 20 years at MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates in technical and business leadership roles within the Space & Earth Observation Industry, from Software Engineer for the CanadArm and the International Space Station to Program Manager of the RADARSAT-2 satellite ground systems (earth observation image processing and management in near real-time) for major surveillance and intelligence customers. She led both the business development and delivery of mission-critical complex systems in the most rigorous environments; overseeing a group of 30 engineers. Fascinated about all facets of the earth observation business, Elisabeth also held the role of Director of Geospatial Product Development to create new cloud-based solutions deriving information from radar images for smart enterprise mapping, defense and intelligence, self-driving cars and forestry.

Elisabeth studied Computer Engineering at École Polytechnique de Montréal and Université Libre de Bruxelles. Fluent in both English & French, she embraces cultural differences and perspectives while conducting business worldwide.

Elizabeth Thorsen

VP, Operations

Elizabeth has worked with start-up and scale-up businesses for nearly 10 years in the areas of investment preparation and funding strategy, marketing & sales development, and growth planning. With experience in industries including tech, SaaS, CPG, finance, and life sciences, Elizabeth specializes in working with teams to distill complex opportunities into tangible and actionable strategic plans. She joined the Foresight team in August of 2020 as Director of Development and moved into the Director of Operations role shortly thereafter, leading the Marketing, Communications & Events team.

Prior to joining the Foresight team, Elizabeth worked within the Regional Innovation Centre network in Ontario, supporting entrepreneurs through consulting and mentorship, creation and deployment of start-up competitions, and facilitating connections between industry, SMEs, academic supports, government, and investors. Elizabeth supported the creation of the Synapse Life Sciences Consortium, a cluster for the greater Hamilton region with the goal of facilitating the commercialization of health innovation, and has guided many companies through Series A and B investment cycles. She excels in leading cross functional teams, and is delighted to support the growth of clean technology in Canada.

Elizabeth has had the pleasure of serving on several boards and committees, including as a member of the Board of Directors at HIVE, with the Angel One Investment Network screening committee, and as a planner and judge at several ‘hackathon’ events and pitch competitions. She has been called upon to speak at business events & innovation days, and has a strong commitment to supporting the growth of women in STEM fields.

Elizabeth oversees Foresight’s operations, including strategic planning and partnerships, programs, HR, marketing, and events.

Emily Kinread

Emily Kinread is a senior marketing leader with over 15 years of experience creating innovative marketing strategies that drive results.

Passionate about building impactful experiences and understanding what motivates customers, Emily looks to combine the art and science of marketing and capitalize on the insights and opportunities created through new technology.

Emily’s interest in entrepreneurship blossomed while working with entrepreneurs at an Ontario Regional Innovation Centre, where she focused on creating events, programming, and pitch training for startups, and culminated when she recently helped launch Canada’s first direct-to-consumer paint store.

Emma Cotten

MANAGER, PARTNERSHIPS

Emma Cotten comes from a background in wellness and public health outreach where she developed many important relationships with clients and stakeholders. She is excited to foster new connections as the Manager, Partnerships with Foresight. Her multi-disciplinary background brings a new lens to the sustainability and clean tech space and she has a Masters in Kinesiology and a graduate certificate in the Policy and Science of Climate Change.

Enrico Cappelletto

Engineering executive and business leader with over 41 years of industry experience in both the upstream and downstream sectors of the energy industry. Proven leadership skills coupled with a successful business track record.
Able to combine strong technical skills and problem-solving aptitude, with solid business acumen and marketing skills.

Enrico Vonghia

Eric Meliton

Over 19 years of strategic and operational experience comprised of industrial manufacturing, regulatory and compliance, water and wastewater treatment technologies and governmental stakeholder engagement.

Previously serving as a Senior Industry Analyst for the environmental technologies and cleantech sector both for North American and global clientele, I have supported venture capitalists, Tier I industrial end users and technology providers, large scale municipal stakeholders, and emerging and innovative systems with key decision-making scenarios. I have maintained a trusted rapport with multi-national corporations and industry trade associations and have an accomplished portfolio of strategic research projects and publications focused on topics including: corporate social responsibility, resource reuse and sustainability, infrastructure funding and investment, impact of regulatory compliance, and the emergence of innovative treatment technologies and processes.

Eric Wen

Eric Wen has spent over twenty years as an entrepreneur, a senior executive, and an investor. He has held various senior management positions within sales, marketing, R&D, project execution, and supply chain. He has taken leading management roles in strategy, planning, business development, and operation. 

His systematic, pragmatic, and analytical approach has helped companies to understand the market landscape, to identify and to leverage opportunities and right partners, to find the strategic alignment between the companies and potential strategic partners, to develop  theses on industries, to develop go-to-market strategies, and to accelerate the path to commercialization. 

He has successfully demonstrated his ability to help companies to determine the right level of business involvement/activities to build an asset, not a liability, in economic, geopolitical, and moral terms. His ability of doing so is even more invaluable given the challenges that the business world is facing at the present time.

Erik Johannes

Erik Johannes has spend the last 30+ years building clean technology companies in Vancouver. From 1990 to 1999 while at Ballard Power Systems he was a test engineer for a methanol fueled fuel cell power plant. He was responsible for system engineering and testing of an H2/LOx fuel cell power plant for German military submarines. He also built a 15 person test engineering team for the 600 kW stationary fuel cell stack. In 1999 Erik joined QuestAir Technologies where he started with 2 junior team members and grew a 25 person product development team delivering protype compact fast cycle Pressure Swing Adsorption equipment. Erik then founded a company to develop products for heavy duty diesel engine emission control systems. The company’s IP was acquired by two Tier 1 auto/truck parts companies. Erik then worked with numerous small startup companies sharing his experience.

More recently Erik was the Engineering Manager of the Proheat brand of heater products at Dometic (formerly Teleflex in Richmond) and then recruited to be Engineering Manager at Genesis Robotics in Langley. Erik is now focused on building an on-line training platform for product development professionals in the first phase of their career.

Erik graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1985 with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering.

Ernest Barbaric

Ernest help innovative leaders elevate executive performance and accelerate positive change. 

Before executive coaching and strategy work, he spent 15 years working with high-level leaders to navigate strategy, innovation and digital transformation. He worked with global brands, health and tech startups, non-profits, and universities. He founded a podcast conference, designed three strategy certificate programs, and delivered a TEDx talk on digital addiction. 

Ernest’s clients included organizations like Yamaha, Shure, Parks Canada, Intact Insurance, and Brookfield. 

His projects have been featured in Forbes, USA Today, HubSpot, Smart Insights, CBC,  GlobalTV and Canadian Business. 

In the last few years, he helped senior leaders break glass ceilings and get promoted to executive positions. He helped entrepreneurs fund startups, and helped co-founders unite their distributed teams around a crystal clear 100-year vision. Hi clients are often recognized for how calm, clear, and confident they are, no matter what situation they’re facing.

Fatima Kamenge

Fatima is a serial Entrepreneur and strategy consultant who is committed to empowering people though business development and financial independence. She currently serves as Head of Social Ausum, a consulting firm on impact sustainability and financial resiliency for mission based social enterprise. At Social Ausum, Fatima enjoys co-cocreating safe spaces for growth.

Fatima also serves as the Lead of Validation and Launch programs for D3 social at Concordia university.

An avid volunteer, she currently sits on the board of Vibe Arts and can also be found participating in various civic actions in Toronto such as sitting on the grant Review Committee of OTF. Although she calls Toronto home, she was born in Burundi and has lived and worked in Ivory coast, Cameroon, Zimbabwe and few other places. She is passionate about community engagement, art and social Entrepreneurship

Floyd Sijmons

Floyd Sijmons is an experienced CEO, Founder and Business Mentor with a demonstrated & successful history in building up tech start-ups and scale-ups to success. Floyd is experienced in all parts that come with founding, building, and scaling a digital business, especially the tech kind. Floyd is particularly skilled in Business Dev, Operations, PR (including public speaking), HR management, and Marketing (Growth Hacking). Floyd is most proud of and passionate about

a) Analytical skill & energy in the face of problems
b) Building and leading highly effective & motivated teams
c) Building a world class company-culture conducive to success

Floyd has a Master of Science in Strategic Management from RSM Erasmus University. Floyd’s primary career ambition: build, scale, and lead a for-profit social impact business to significant, positive, & global impact. Change starts with us, and I plan to do what I can to create lasting change.

Francis Vaillancourt

Since 2004, Francis has been exploring solutions to help cities and industries meet their needs for water quality and quantity. He is a strategic thinker who excel at solving complex problems and a subject matter expert in water treatment. In short, he is an engineer who can efficiently combines his technical skills with his business acumen. 

As an accountable and solution-oriented leader, he likes to engage others in the realization of a common objective, creating value and delivering results. He stays positive, energetic, and authentic and is known for building long lasting and trusted relationships with every stakeholder. He has lived in French and English Canada, Mexico and the USA and likes diverse and / or global teams. 

Francis studied Mechanical Engineering at the Montréal Polytechnic School, Canada and at the Monterrey Institute of Technology, Mexico. After working in construction in northern Québec and traveling to Argentina, his desire to change people’s lives pushed him to pursue a master’s degree in Applied Science from Montréal’s Polytechnic. There, he learnt water and wastewater treatment technologies and researched water disinfection by-products in distribution systems. 

His first job was in R&D in Montreal; improving water treatment plants performance. Later, he moved to the Toronto area to pursue greater challenges and continue his career in design. After travelling to Africa, the Himalayas and a career in startup, construction, and design of Water and  Wastewater treatment plants, he got an MBA from the Sauder School of Business with a specialization in Strategic Management. This training helped Francis become an accomplished sales and business development professional. 

Frank Leffelaar

Frank advises early-stage companies in Agrifood Tech on business and goto market strategy and supports them on their journey to get investment ready.

For the past 10 years he has been actively involved in the innovation ecosystem. As a mentor at New Ventures BC, an active investor with eFund, a BC-based Angel Fund that invested in 40+ BC technology ventures, as a leadership team member at the VANTEC Angel Network, BC’s largest Angel investor community who host monthly investor pitch meetings.

At Foresight Canada I enjoy the opportunity to support Agritech founders who are solving some of the most challenging problems in agriculture with transformative innovation and as an eco-system supporter and connector at Foresight agriNEXT.

Prior to advising and mentoring early-stage companies Frank provided marketing strategy and services to SME’s with his agency Crush Marketing. He held senior marketing positions with high-tech SME’s in Canada and US Fortune 500 companies in Europe. He studied at the European Business School in London, lived and worked in 5 countries and enjoys travelling and exploring the wine regions of the world.

Gary Tong

Bookkeeper

Geoff Davenport

25+ years of experience as VP Sales/Bus Dev and COO roles, developing and leading teams to take great technologies and products to international and domestic markets. Success in leading high performance teams and building strong lasting relationships with strategic partners, stakeholders and team members. Notable achievements include: Achieved Sales growth of over 250% at Radiant; successfully led the acquisition and integration of a target company at Alpha; and led a team at Shift that built a production facility to deliver 15 projects totalling in excess of 12 MWh of battery technology over 15 months.  

Geoff’s unique combination of experience and demonstrated ability to build and lead teams, streamline operations and grow revenues allows him to bring strength and focus to any business. 

Glen McCrimmon

Glen McCrimmon is currently an Executive Committee member of the Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) and a Board Director for Alberta Innovates.

He is a senior energy sector leader and influencer with extensive experience in corporate innovation, subsurface technical, portfolio management, strategic planning, stakeholder relations and governance. He inspires much needed change by reminding all that “…better is always different.”

Appointed Husky Energy’s Chief of Innovation in 2018, Glen built on the expertise of technical chiefs and out-of-the-box thinkers from across the industry, providing a coordinated approach to foster innovation. Prior to this role, he had been appointed Chief Geologist in 2016 and started with the company in 2013 as Manager of Frontier Exploration. He began his career as a geoscientist with Imperial Oil in 1996. Over his career Glen has held multi-year assignments based out of Houston, Texas, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and in Calgary.

Glen received a BSc in Geology from the University of Regina and an MSc in Earth Sciences from the University of Ottawa.

Outside of work Glen is an avid cross-country skier and runner.

Graeme Lodge

Graeme obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology while attending Saint Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. He currently lives in Prince George with his wife Rilla, and their son Walker where he recently completed his Masters of Business Administration at the University of Northern British Columbia. Graeme joined GroupHEALTH North Benefits & Pensions in November 2016 and currently leads a team of advisors who specialize in group benefits, working with companies who range from sole proprietors to companies with 1000s of employees. Graeme’s specialty includes offering advice to entrepreneurs and new business owners who are in the need of attracting, hiring and retaining top talent in a highly competitive environment. Graeme is very passionate about helping companies reach their business goals and knows an attractive benefits offering can increase the odds of building a strong workforce.

Graham Gilchrist

Graham Gilchrist is a Professional Agrologist with over 30 years of experience serving the needs of rural Alberta and British Columbia.

Principal of Gilchrist Consulting, he does a few things well. He advises farms and rural businesses on management and governance. As a licensed investigator, he assists both farms and their legal advisors build cases. He also advises rural organizations that need a little help with governance.

Graham serves as the CEO of the non-profit society Biological Carbon Canada specializing in greenhouse gas markets for Canadian farms. Graham is also proud to serve as an independent director for the past three years with the Alberta Federation of Agriculture.

Graham spent 25 years with the Alberta civil service and rose to serve Albertans as the Province’s Assistant Farmers’ Advocate and Assistant Property Rights Advocate. Graham also spent 5 years as an administrative judge with the Municipal Government Board. Graham holds a license to practice agrology in Alberta and British Columbia and is a registered investigator for Alberta.

Greg Pocherewny

Greg is an executive search and leadership consultant with more than 25 years of varied business experience. Through his long history in the search industry, as an investor and as a business owner, he has had the opportunity to advise on hundreds of mandates including growth strategies, succession planning, employee development, compensation trends and other critical leadership issues.

Greg holds a B.Comm from the University of Saskatchewan, an MBA from the Haskayne School of Business (University of Calgary), the CSC from the Canadian Securities Institute, and has the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. As an active community builder, Greg volunteers his time with several organizations.

Greg Stewart

Seasoned, award-winning, entrepreneurial professional skilled at identifying and developing advanced machine learning, automation, and control through the challenges between conception, experiment, and production in engineering and agriculture domains. Collaborative leader with two decades of professional experience in founding initiatives, setting vision, securing teams and funding to research and iterate between technology feasibility and market needs to bring offerings to production for traditional and new domains. Familiar with best practices in innovation and addressing its potential  roadblocks or slowdowns. Articulate and able to communicate with C-level executives, interact with customers, public speaking, and lead multidisciplinary teams. 

He has worked with a wide range of industries – agriculture, papermaking, automotive powertrains, semiconductor manufacturing, carbon fiber airplane brake production, combustion health in industrial burners, large scale data centers, microalgae cultivation, reinforcement learning for maintenance-free industrial control. And during the pandemic collaborating with public health researchers on the role of feedback in modeling and decision making on public policies in the presence of high uncertainty. 

He holds 46 patents, 58 technical publications, his designs reside on over 350 paper machines, 35000 production diesel vehicles, 12 commercial greenhouses, creating more than $40M/year in value, and the standing up of a new business – Honeywell Automotive Software (now Garrett Motion).  

He received a B.Sc. in Physics and a M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics from Dalhousie University, and a PhD from University of British Columbia in Control Engineering. Dr. Stewart is a Fellow of IEEE and IFAC, received the IFAC Industrial Achievement Award, twice received the IEEE Control Systems Technology Award, the IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology Outstanding Paper Award, and the NSERC University-Industry Synergy Award for Innovation. He enjoys family, mountain biking, cooking, and is a  certified judge for competitive barbecue. 

Gregory Donovan

Former Capital Markets banker who can provide some guidance on raising debt or working
with lenders. Whether it is your first deal, or you are building out a large syndicate of lenders,
Gregory would be happy to have a conversation. He also has a focus on sustainable finance and is keen
to help others in the space.

Gregory Stulen

Gregory J. Stulen is a specialist in public policy transformation and strategic communications. 

He has a track record of success in working with political, business, public service, media, and community leaders to influence change and to create positive outcomes for clients. He brings to the team a strong knowledge of government processes, a focus on fostering  meaningful relationships with decision makers, and a drive to find compromises that ensure  public policy wins for everyone involved. 

Gregory is a seasoned political operator. He has worked at all three levels of government, has served as both political staff and as a public servant, has run two government focused private sector businesses, and has worked on 19 political campaigns and counting. 

He holds a Master’s Degree in Political Management from Carleton University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with an emphasis in Law and Policy from Trent University. 

Hami Ben Bassat

Hamutal is a business Development expert with over 12 years experience in creating new platforms that support the organization’s global growth. Hamutal is passionate about finding the right growth vehicles and is a strong believer in multidisciplinary environments.

Over her career, she enabled growth by a multitude of vehicles and processes including investments, mergers and acquisitions, strategic cooperation agreements, devising and implementing market entry strategies, leading BI-CI teams, business model analysis, capital raising for start-up and mature companies and International public bids.

Hamutal holds an LLB and an MA in philosophy. In the 5 years, she practiced law, Hamutal lead various Public offerings (TASE, NASDAQ), closed numerous International transactions and M&A processes.

Hamutal worked with leading global water technology companies as well as startups and new ventures. Her focus is on international expansion and finding the best platform to generate growth.

With extensive experience in LATAM and Asia Hamutal offers deep knowledge of these business environments.

In her last role, Hamutal lead the Business Development activity of Essilor’s online Division, expanding its activity to LATAM and Europe through M&As and organic expansion. She currently works as a consultant for various organizations and is a mentor at the [email protected] UBC LLP program.

Hani Eskandari

As a seasoned technology executive and an experienced product and engineering leader, Hani Eskandari has led several technology innovations and business initiatives during his career. He was the head of Product Innovation and Technology Strategy at Postmates’ and Uber’s autonomous robotics divisions where they built an autonomous last-mile delivery robot that was called out by the Times magazine as one of the top inventions of 2019. Hani has co-founded two highly innovative startups in the past. As the CTO of his first startup, he led engineering and product development of a novel medical robotics technology for early stage cancer imaging and diagnosis. More recently, he was the CEO of an AgTech startup, developing autonomous robots for manual labor automation in vineyards and other specialty crops. Hani is skilled in various technology stacks including computer vision, AI and robotics and has worked at the intersection of software and hardware engineering throughout his career. Hani has a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering with specializations in Robotics and MedTech, holds 12 patents and more than 30 peer-reviewed publications.

Heather Crochetiere

DIRECTOR, INNOVATION CHALLENGES

Heather is a passionate environmental professional with over a decade of experience in empowering impact at a variety of scales. She has proven success in stakeholder and rightsholder engagement, strategic planning and project management. She seeks to catalyze solutions to complex problems.

Prior to joining Foresight, Heather spent ten years at WWF-Canada, where she successfully led many initiatives including WWF-Canada’s tech challenge program, large scale restoration projects with First Nations, grant programs, and environmental legislation engagement. She was part of a global team which worked to create a culture of innovation across the international WWF network. She holds a BSc from McMaster University and a MES from the University of Waterloo.

Heather Herring

Heather Herring is a professional engineer and proud alumna of the Haskayne School of Business. She is known for her ability to pinpoint the essential elements of an idea, business, challenge or person and use her leadership, innovation, and management skills to identify opportunities for excellence. As a coach, she supports client companies in business, communications and customer development. Often described as passionate, driven, and admired for her ability to forge connections between people and industries, Heather shines brightest at the intersection of cooperation, collaboration and competition to drive success for all parties.

Her varied career has included serving as the Executive in Residence with Zone Startups Calgary and extensive work in academia, private and public sector companies with a focus on energy and sustainability. She was responsible for securing research grants and developing VR and 3D printing research facilities at the University of Calgary; focusing the R&D program, overseeing field pilots for new oil sands technologies, and formulating the creation of COSIA for Total E&P Canada; and exploring the emergence of the digital oil field at Laricina.

Helen Hu

Helen is Principal at H2E Inc., dedicated to capacity building and bridging sustainability and resilience, shaping cleantech ventures and SMEs focused on low carbon innovation and tech integration.

Having served cross-cutting sectors in energy, water and the built environment, Helen is a Biochemical Engineer (UBC) with an MBA in Finance (UC), and a Certified Energy Manager (CEM). As a catalyst in transformation, her energy, enthusiasm and insight keep collaborators engaged in building high performing teams and relationships.

In her spare time, you can find Helen active in community building and the outdoors.

Henry Kutarna

Henry Kutarna is an experienced business executive and mentor. He is Chair of  a private family investment fund concentrating on manufacturing and real estate.  His investments are mainly in real estate and manufacturing. He has personally  capitalized twenty-two early stage technology deals. 

He has been a Deputy Minister of Economic Development, President of the  Saskatchewan Diversification Corporation, and a Deputy Minister of Social  Services.  

He is a private mentor and executive coach. He owns The Executive Advisor, a  consultant group working with corporations and not-for-profit organizations in  executive coaching, advisory services, board governance, deal making, and  other business development. He has served on numerous private and public  boards, as well as on many not for profit and charitable boards. He has served as  a chair, member, and advisor to many large and small not for profits. His most  recent start-up is The Catholic CEO a business mentoring service for a fast 

growing segment, that of business owners who want to be Catholic and  successful in business. 

He was an executive in residence at the Banff Centre for Leadership, has led  CEO peer groups, and was president and CEO of the Calgary Convention &  Visitors Bureau. Henry most recently held the position of Vice President of  Investment and Market Development at Innovate Calgary. He led an active angel  investment group – Invest Tech. He is often asked to be a panelist and meeting  facilitator. 

Henry holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Economics from the  University of Saskatchewan, has done post-graduate work in Economics at the  University of Regina, has a Certified Destination Management Executive  designation [C.D.M.E.] from Purdue University/University of Calgary, was a  participant in the Province of Saskatchewan Executive Development Program,  and has taken the Canadian Securities Course, the Exempt Market Dealers  Exam and a host of other executive seminars such as the Queen’s University  Negotiations Seminar. Henry has been accredited in the past as a Certified  Management Consultant (CMC). He is a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the  Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (KHS). Henry is a member of Executive Mentors, a  private group of mentors. 

He is an acknowledged leader in the western Canadian angel finance community  and has been an A100 member (by invitation to top Alberta entrepreneurs). He is a member of Rocky Mountain Ventures, an accelerator. He mentors CEOs and  not for profit leaders in Canada (Vancouver and Calgary) and in the USA  (Wisconsin, Texas). 

Hilary Travis

Director, British Columbia

Hilary is a passionate cleantech advocate, who brings experience in policy development, strategic partnerships, and project management. She has advised Senior Cabinet Ministers and key decision makers in the Federal Government on cleantech, clean resources, the innovation economy and skills development.

Hiroki Kudo

Ivette Vera-Perez

Ivette Vera-Perez is the National Team Lead for Account Management at Mitacs. She leads a multidisciplinary team of account managers across Canada, with the mandate to help organizations execute on their innovation roadmaps by securing top talent from post-secondary institutions. She also leads the organization’s cleantech deployment strategy. 

Before Mitacs, Ivette was the Manager for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction programs at the Ontario Centres of Excellence, where she managed over $275M dollars in programs funding from Cap and Trade revenue, to help Ontario’s top industrial emitters reduce their carbon footprint. During this time, she developed partnerships with Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Canada, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, and Natural  Resources Canada’s Clean Growth Fund, among others, to help leverage provincial and federal funding to develop multi million-dollar projects. 

Ivette has over 15 years of experience in the cleantech and environmental technologies sector. Her expertise spans from business development to site engineering, operations, and financing. 

Ivette holds a Master of Applied Science from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from McGill University. She is an active member of Cleantech North, the Ontario Hydrogen Business Council, and a founding board member of the Ontario Clean Technologies Industry Association. 

Jack Elliot

Advisory Board

Mr. Elliott has over 40 years of experience in construction and technology-enabled engineering. He was President and CEO of Pure Technologies Ltd. (“Pure”) until the company was acquired by Xylem, a leading provider of water technologies and solutions, in February 2018. During his tenure, Mr. Elliott was instrumental in building Pure into a world leader in technology-driven condition assessment, monitoring and analysis of water, wastewater and oil and gas pipelines.

From April 2018 until June 2020, Mr. Elliott was a Director of DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd. (DRT:TSX), a technology-enabled provider of high-quality customized prefabricated wall systems for building interiors. Prior to joining Pure, Mr. Elliott’s experience included general management and engineering roles with several leading construction companies. Mr. Elliott holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from National University of Ireland (University College Cork).

Jack Elliot

Advisory Board

Mr. Elliott has over 40 years of experience in construction and technology-enabled engineering. He was President and CEO of Pure Technologies Ltd. (“Pure”) until the company was acquired by Xylem, a leading provider of water technologies and solutions, in February 2018. During his tenure, Mr. Elliott was instrumental in building Pure into a world leader in technology-driven condition assessment, monitoring and analysis of water, wastewater and oil and gas pipelines.

From April 2018 until June 2020, Mr. Elliott was a Director of DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd. (DRT:TSX), a technology-enabled provider of high-quality customized prefabricated wall systems for building interiors. Prior to joining Pure, Mr. Elliott’s experience included general management and engineering roles with several leading construction companies. Mr. Elliott holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from National University of Ireland (University College Cork).

Jacob Atherton

MANAGER, BC ECOSYSTEMS

Jacob is a Registered Professional Forester in BC and has been passionate about sustainability and innovation throughout his life.

Prior to Foresight, he gained experience in the forest sector on Vancouver Island and along the Sunshine Coast. He worked alongside First Nations, industry representatives, government, and other stakeholders, in a wide array of forest management, including harvest operations, reforestation planning, forest policy, and meeting wildlife/biodiversity targets.

James Chepyha

James is a a business development and corporate finance professional with over 20 years of experience working with companies to manage strategic and financial issues. James has worked with hundreds of companies to advise, structure and develop strategies to manage financial and operational challenges.

James has been responsible for establishing new operations for multiple major companies including Goldman Sachs where he was a principal investor. As a Vice President for Chrysalix Venture Capital, an alternative energy & cleantech VC, James was responsible for investing in early stage energy technology companies. In this regard, James worked with a broad range of energy and cleantech companies to construct capital solutions.

James’s experience includes both equity and debt capital. James was responsible for establishing and managing Union Bank of California’s Canadian operations. Responsibilities included all aspects of the Bank’s Canadian operations including portfolio development. James has worked for both domestic and foreign financial institutions in Canada with a focus on corporate, debt, equity and structured finance.

James graduated with a B.Comm. with Honours from the University of Saskatchewan and a Masters in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto. James also holds the ICD.D designation.

James Chepyha

SENIOR EIR

James is a a business development and corporate finance professional with over 20 years of experience working with companies to manage strategic and financial issues. James has worked with hundreds of companies to advise, structure and develop strategies to manage financial and operational challenges.

James has been responsible for establishing new operations for multiple major companies including Goldman Sachs where he was a principal investor. As a Vice President for Chrysalix Venture Capital, an alternative energy & cleantech VC, James was responsible for investing in early stage energy technology companies. In this regard, James worked with a broad range of energy and cleantech companies to construct capital solutions.

James’s experience includes both equity and debt capital. James was responsible for establishing and managing Union Bank of California’s Canadian operations. Responsibilities included all aspects of the Bank’s Canadian operations including portfolio development. James has worked for both domestic and foreign financial institutions in Canada with a focus on corporate, debt, equity and structured finance.

James graduated with a B.Comm. with Honours from the University of Saskatchewan and a Masters in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto. James also holds the ICD.D designation.

James de Vellis

James De Vellis is a partner and intellectual property lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP. He is  the chair of the Intellectual Property Department in Foley’s Boston office and practices in the  area of intellectual property, with a particular focus on patent portfolio development, related  counseling, and post-grant practice, including inter partes reviews. James is a member of the  firm’s Electronics and Patent Office Trials Practices. He is also a member of the Automotive  and Technology Industry Teams. 

James’ strategic patent portfolio development practice includes thoughtful preparation and  worldwide prosecution of patent applications to build effective IP portfolios. He helps  innovators secure both offensive and defensive patent protection, enabling them to operate in  their intellectual space on their terms. 

James practices to advance clients’ business objectives by developing sustainable patent  portfolios and by acting as a check on competitors’ patents that encroach beyond their  appropriate boundaries. James is active in the areas of internet services, voice-based  devices, seismic data detection and analysis, electric vehicle technology, batteries and  battery system management, autonomous technology, medical devices, and other innovative  spaces. 

James has experience in foreign jurisdictions to complement his U.S. patent portfolio  development practice. James also prepares non-infringement and freedom-to-operate  opinions for industry leaders, represents clients in appeal proceedings before the U.S. Patent  and Trademark Office, and guides clients through European patent portfolio development  matters.

James Freeman

James has 32 years of experience in the Telecommunications, Electric Utility, Oil & Gas and Agri-food industries. He is presently President of Valentis International, a privately-held management consulting and investment company he has run since 2003. From 2019-2021, he was proud to be a  part of the Executive Team of TrustBIX as Chief Growth Officer. How to feed 10 billion people sustainably given a changing climate by 2050 is an existential problem for humanity, and TrustBIX will enable solutions to help solve this problem. 

From 2007-2017, he was on the Executive Team of Zedi. While at Zedi, and oversaw the design and development of their IoT platform, which included field devices, back-end Cloud, and  market-facing applications, as well as efforts to pivot their technology outside of Oil & Gas into sectors like CleanTech, AgriFoods, and Smart Cities. 

Most of his career has been spent in strategy or technology management roles. He spent six years with ED TEL/TELUS in broadband access network planning and investment management, 2.5  years in the Czech Republic in a GSM start-up that has since become Vodafone CZ, and 5 years  as a partner in a local IT Project Management consulting firm before joining Zedi in 2007. 

In 2015, he became a member of the Board of TRIG, a start-up technology company  commercializing a novel measurement technology for Petrochemicals-by-Rail transport. 

He has a MSc Degree in Electrical Engineering, and a MBA, both earned from the University of Alberta. He is active in many sports and fitness and wellness are important to him. 

He is a member of Valhalla Capital and Vantec and is an active angel investor.

James Rowe

James Rowe has been on the founding team of three companies, most recently as President and Chief Product Advisor of Insightful Product Innovation. Insightful provides product coaching and consulting services to early stage companies as they develop their product MVPs and search for product-market fit. Previously, James was Head of Product at FoodMesh, the company he co-founded to help eliminate food waste in the food supply chain. James helped grow the business to over $1M of annual recurring revenue in under three years while redirecting over 20 million meals of surplus food to needy families. Before FoodMesh, James co-founded Made For Me, an additive manufacturing marketplace for designers to create product prototypes, where he was responsible for leading the product roadmap and developing North American strategic partnerships.

Before diving into entrepreneurship, James began his career as a software developer at MDA, Canada’ leading aerospace company and the grandfather of BC’s tech industry. His curiosity about customer problems, product development, and international business quickly led him into technical sales and business development. James completed his career at MDA as an international business development manager, working on multi-million dollar geointelligence system sales. He led multi-disciplinary teams through complex enterprise sales, booking over $125M in contracts with Canadian, US and other foreign defense departments.

James is also passionate about sharing his business knowledge and experiences through teaching and coaching. He is a volunteer mentor with Spring Activator, [email protected] and Futurpreneur, advising young entrepreneurs and early stage companies as they launch their businesses. James is also a long-time Junior Achievement volunteer, where he teaches elementary and middle-school students about entrepreneurship, business and financial literacy.

Jamie Corby

Prior to moving to Canada Jamie ran a successful boutique advisory firm in the City of London (UK). He brings over a decade’s experience working with brands and corporates including MBC Group, BP, Indra Renewable Technologies, Modo, MyVoucher-Codes, TXM Plant & Scotgold Resources.

Transactional experience includes corporate acquisitions and disposals, capital raises, MBOs and strategic reviews. Internal functions include board reports, audits, risk processes and control improvement. His largest deal cap to date is £100m.

Jamie currently holds two board seats and is an advisor to two charities. His sector expertise covers Cleantech, Renewables, Manufacturing, Automotive, Tech (IoT and SaaS), Media and Telecoms.

Jamie Moran

Jamie’s mission is to help climate technology companies “cross the chasm” to successfully tell their story, find their customers, and go to market faster. As an early-stage revenue and marketing leader for science-based tech startups, he has had the opportunity to cut his teeth in the Bay Area Lean Startup world. As the first employee at a San Francisco venture-backed neuroscience technology company, he developed the go-to-market strategy and sales & marketing function for a national rollout. Jamie’s core skills are in early B2B startup customer discovery, go-to-market strategy, and building sales & marketing teams. He sees climate change as the defining challenge of our lifetime, and is passionate about finding ways to commercialize viable solutions at scale to achieve drawdown and ultimately net negative.

Janet Annesley

Janet is president of Langanberg, an ESG and corporate affairs consulting company. A former chief of staff to Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Janet has led ESG, investor relations, policy and communications on some of the most complex energy business issues in the last decade.

Jasmine Lothian

Jasmine Lothian is a lawyer in the securities and capital markets group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in  Calgary, Alberta. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law, receiving the Law  Society of Saskatchewan Gold Medal for the most distinguished graduate.  

Jasmine’s practice focuses on securities and corporate law across all industries, with a focus on both  energy law and agribusiness. She serves in an advisory capacity and role for both public and private  companies in Canada and the United States, with experience in mergers and acquisitions, finance,  regulatory law and governance. In the Agribusiness sector, she advises a range of industry players, from  multinational, to small- and mid-sized companies, including: seed and chemical manufacturers, food  producers, manufacturers of farming/industrial equipment, processors of agricultural commodities, bio-fuel  producers and bio-tech. 

Jasmine currently sits on the BLG national Agribusiness steering committee and serves as a board of  director for various for-profit and not-for-profit entities in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, including the  Canadian Association of Petroleum Landman (CAPL) and Western Development Council Ltd. 

Jason Jones

Jason launched Vertical Motion in 2006 and has since grown the business to be one of Canada’s top software and application developers. Besides running and managing his business, Jason predominantly dedicates his time to advising founders and entrepreneurs through Vertical Motion’s Product Launch and C-Suite on Demand services. As a well-regarded member of the entrepreneur community, Jason plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of startups as an Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR) at Foresight Canada and a Business Mentor at Futurpreneur Canada. Jason is regarded by his peers as a practiced leader, self-starter, and visionary who effectively articulates both high-level business concepts and intricate technical details in a way that experienced and novice founders can comprehend. His strong commitment to supporting his clients coupled with his genuine care for their business creates an open space for creativity, innovation, and growth.

Jason Switzer

Director, carbonNEXT

Its Executive Director since 2016, Jason Switzer led the Alberta Clean Technology Industry Alliance to join with Foresight in Spring 2021.  With a new focus on unlocking Capital for Canadian cleantech ventures, Jason brings 20 years of experience in developing industrial and natural climate solutions, partnerships and policy with organizations including the Pembina Institute, Cenovus Energy, Shell, and IISD.  A cofounder of the Canada Clean Technology Alliance and of Biological Carbon Canada, Jason is vice chair of the SIF-backed Clean Resources Innovation Network, Alberta Ecotrust’s Low Carbon Innovation Fund Advisory Committee, and sits on the CSA Committee on Transition and Sustainable Finance.  Jason holds master’s degrees in engineering and public policy from MIT, and co-hosts Canada’s leading energy and environment podcast, Pipelines and Turbines.

As Director, Jason is as employee of Carbon Management Canada on our joint carbonNEXT initiative. 

Jean-Louis Iaconis

Jean-Louis is an Entrepreneurial product development professional with a unique combination of creative, analytical and management expertise driven by a passion for creating new products in both the cleantech and consumer electronics spaces. Renowned for developing simple, creative solutions blending engineering principles with bold design aesthetics and successfully leading multidisciplinary teams through numerous new product development cycles from ideation to implementation.

Jeff Addison

Jeff Addison is an experienced finance professional and award-winning entrepreneur. He has been in the clean technology space for over 10 years having successfully founded and exited multiple start-up companies.

Jeff was recently involved in raising over $300M to be deployed in the renewable energy space and currently is a founding partner at Hotham Group, a clean tech company that owns, operates, and develops renewable energy utilities across North America.

He was named to Canada’s Clean50 Clean Capitalism Leaders in 2017 and also won the Canada Green Building Council Product of the Year while leading Kiko Water Systems as its co-founder and Managing Director. He’s been featured in numerous international publications and presents at major industry conferences around the world.

Jeff Cutler

Jeffrey Cutler is the President of Sylter Science Inc. A highly dynamic and talented leader with more than 30 years of experience in applying leading-edge scientific techniques and methods to a broad array of industrial and academic issues in fields ranging from health to agriculture to advanced materials. Accomplished at a range of high-level management, support services and stakeholder relations in order to meet both strategic and operational objectives. Participated in strategy development and oversaw management plan implementation. Seen as a dependable and collaborative leader who builds bridges and finds consensus among teams to reach organizational goals. A mentor who engages and empowers colleagues and multi-disciplinary teams to attain top performance. A compelling and personable communicator with an ability to articulate research outcomes to both academic and non-academic communities.

After spending nearly 20 years at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron, the coolest science job in Canada, I realized a rewarding career that impacted many areas of scientific endeavor ranging from the fundamental to the applied giving me a broad scientific base to draw upon for problem solutions. Unafraid to take on new challenges and roles, I lead the creation of an industry-focused user program which is recognized by colleagues globally as one of the most successful private sector engagement programs at a major research facility in the world.

A business-savvy, results-driven and team-oriented strategic thinker and a promoter for innovative initiatives that address scientific challenges for today and tomorrow.

Jeff Davis

Jeff is a high impact executive and entrepreneur with experience building a successful international consulting firm, and operating professional services and software firms.

Jeff Guild

Advisory Board

Jeff is an internationally recognized expert on water technologies and their markets, with over 25 years’ of commercial and technical experience gained from engagements with start-ups, investors and large corporations in the dynamic global water space. He is globally connected and uniquely positioned to advise companies on their technology portfolios and future innovation strategies. Jeff has worked with global Fortune 500 corporates including P&G, BHP, L’Oréal, Unilever, Samsung and PepsiCo. Jeff has also advised many leading utilities such as Metro Vancouver, DC Water, OCWD, Singapore PUB and Severn Trent Water, helping them create business and asset management plans.

A business strategist and water industry leader who knows how to impact the bottom line, Jeff has advised businesses with wastewater treatment technologies, has led technology acquisition and integration projects, and has structured and negotiated strategic alliances, joint ventures and licensing agreements. Jeff has managed technology scale-ups, executed technology commercialization projects, and has held senior process engineering and project management roles in both the municipal and industrial market sectors.

Jeff is widely recognized for his expertise in market analysis and ability to identify growth opportunities. He has successfully worked with numerous venture-backed water companies and has assisted a number of Venture Capital and Private Equity funds such as XPV Capital, True North Venture Partners, SKion and Emerald Ventures, helping them identify water sector investment opportunities. Jeff also advises companies on acquisitions, running comprehensive due diligence projects to assess assets, liabilities and evaluate commercial potential. He has supported Morgan Stanley, Baird Capital, Novozymes, Hitachi, DuPont, and Siemens, to name a few.

Jeff earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Bio-Resource Engineering and a Master of Applied Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He has authored several published papers, has delivered numerous presentations at water and wastewater conferences, and is a co-author for the Humana Press “Handbook of Environmental Engineering” series. Jeff is an active member of WEF and provides mentorship to a variety of accelerators, funds and SMEs in the water space.

Jeff Reading

Jeff is President of Actions Matter, Inc., an independent, social enterprise benefit corporation intent on efforts that address energy innovation, energy efficiency, climate change mitigation  and adaption, sustainability, energy and environmental literacy and commercialization of cleantech/carbontech solutions.  

Jeff has more than 35 years’ experience across the environmental sector. He has worked in education with the North York Board of Education, Calgary Board of Education, at the University  of Calgary; and provincially through the Alberta Teacher’s Association; in leadership  development and risk management around the world; provided sustainability leadership to  government with the City of Calgary and the Government of Alberta; in the oil/gas and utility  sectors; supported the build out of a number of global energy and tech start-ups; and has been active in the not-for profit sector with Climate Change Central (C3), Carbon Management  Canada (CMC.RI) and the Foresight CleanTech Accelerator Centre. 

In addition, Jeff is the Chair for the Green Learning Canada Foundation (GLCF), Past Chair of the Alberta Council for Environmental Education (ACEE), Founding Board member with the Alberta Clean Technology Innovation Alliance (ACTia), member of the advisory committee for the  McNeil Centre for Applied Renewable Energy at Concordia University and an advisor with Carbon Talks Canada and the Alberta Ecotrust Foundation. 

When Jeff is not working, he enjoys international travel and wilderness adventures with his family. 

Jennifer Manning

Strategic, results-driven lawyer and executive with expertise in start-up scaling, capital-raising and corporate governance gained while in private practice and in-house. Currently developing one of the world’s largest clean energy projects, contributing to a low-carbon future.

Jennifer Schab

PEO Canada is a Professional Employer Organization headquartered in Calgary, AB  supporting both Canadian and Global companies with integrated employee management  outsourcing solutions mitigating the employer risk by ensuring compliance within all provinces  the company has or is looking to set up operations in. PEO Canada provides an efficient and  cost-effective way for businesses to outsource services such as recruitment, payroll  administration, Human Resources, benefits and Workers Compensation Administration. We  assign a dedicated team of HR professionals who bring relevant experience and knowledge  to meet your employee management needs, and your PEO Canada Client Liaison and  Business Development Consultant provide ongoing support throughout the entire partnership  experience.  

Having a proper employee management platform in place can make a company more  attractive to investors, attract and retain top talent and reduce your administrative burden  allowing you to concentrate on the revenue generating tasks at hand. We act as an extension  of the business adapting to corporate culture and supporting the executive direction through  the entire lifecycle of our partnership. 

Our service begins with a needs assessment consultation to help identify the areas within the  organization that require additional support, followed by a strategic plan to address these  concerns and support the business’ growth for today and in the future. Our fully customized  service solution will help get the business to the next level and have the key employees do  what they were hired to do.

Jody Epp

There has been quite a lot of diversity through my career. Mostly involved in sales and marketing, I have managed to be involved in several start-ups, raise capital, coach a team to the Olympic Trials and receive a Health Canada Cannabis Production License.  

Born and raised on Vancouver Island my passion was fishing and curling. In my 20’s I simply  worked hard every day to support my fishing and curling habits. In 2000, my wife suggested I get a real job. With my General Management training at Camosun, I was able to land a Senior Account Manager position with Black Press. In a short time, I became the top  salesperson in the province. I was promoted to Director of Sales where, while leading 16 salespeople, was able to meet and exceed a $10 Million budget, one newspaper ad at a time. 

In 2009, I moved to Usedeverywhere.com as National Sales Manager. Travelling across Canada promoting and selling Usedeverywhere.com, we became part of the International  Classified Media Association. This affiliation introduced me to great opportunities worldwide. After Usedeverywhere.com, my partner and I raised seed round funding for an ecommerce  social marketplace.  

My next adventure was with a renewable engineering firm called Titus Infrastructure. This was my introduction to several great renewable energy companies and technologies. It was fascinating to see how these companies can ultimately help save the world while dealing with the challenges of creating traction and adoption in the market. During this time, I was  introduced to Eco-growth which has created an organic waste to energy process who I currently rep for.

John Pitchko

John is a Lead Software Engineer with more than 16 years experience designing, developing, and implementing software and IT projects. He presently work at SureSwift Capital specializing in building technology that supports equity and derivative traders. He uses Ruby on Rails, Vue.js, and Nuxt.js in his daily work. He also builds and supports API integrations with Stripe, Mixpanel, Segment, Typeform, Plaid and Customer.io. 

His previous work experience includes a broad range of leadership and technical roles across both private and public sectors. Previously, John was a Dean for SAIT Polytechnic, he lead delivery of post-secondary in the fields of information technology and digital media to more  than 3000 students per year. Before that, he developed software applications and lead IT project delivery for Shell Oil as well as worked in a local startup incubator teaching Lean Startup and Customer Development methodologies. 

John Tak

Director

John Tak, a Foresight board member, has deep experience in international business development, joint ventures, and government relations. He understands the primary drivers that motivate the private sector, public sector, clean tech business associations.

Mr. Tak is a business consultant advising private sector enterprises and the federal government. Most recently, he was Vice President, International Business, for the Factors Group of Nutritional Companies Inc., Canada’s largest manufacturer of health supplements. Prior to joining the Factors Group, John worked in a number of senior business development roles. He was: President and CEO of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association; Department Manager of Specialty Chemicals at Mitsubishi Canada Limited; Senior Representative in Tokyo for the British Columbia Trade Development Corporation; and Director of International Marketing for Magna International, Canada’s largest autoparts manufacturer.

John completed the Advanced Japanese language program at Stanford University’s Inter-University Centre in Tokyo and completed post-graduate research in Economics at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan. He graduated with a Diploma of Finance from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and B.A. in Asian Studies from the University of British Columbia.

John is a board member of Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre and the Canada Japan Society of British Columbia.

John Van Ham

Advisory Board

John Van Ham is the Executive Director for Sector Alignment & Programs at InnoTech Alberta. He’s responsible for fostering relationships and alignment with others in the innovation ecosystem, including priority clientele, industry associations, technology consortia, and public and private sector organizations in the research and tech development space (provincial and national). The group also works with public sector investment and granting programs, to align InnoTech’s research capacity and capabilities (facilities, equipment and people) with provincial R&D needs.

John has worked extensively in the private and public sectors. Most recently at Alberta Innovates, he was an Executive Director in Clean Resources, focused on investment funding for R&D in environmental innovation. Prior to InnoTech & Alberta Innovates, John spent much of his career in the natural resource sectors, working for industry (ConocoPhillips and Geomaque Exploration), not-for-profit organizations (International Institute for Sustainable Development), government agencies, and several start-up companies/organizations in oil & gas, renewables, clean-tech, mining and agriculture.

John has a track record as a driven and resourceful leader in the natural resource and clean tech sectors, with a passionate for innovation and strategy to create business and product sustainability. Assets include deep expertise in corporate strategy and business planning, combined with extensive operational and field experience. This background enables a core strength in leading organizations through complex external environments, to achieve knowledge-based or technical solutions that deliver economic value, environmental stewardship, and social progress.

John has a Master of Environmental Design Degree (MEDes) and a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) – double major in Geology and Geophysics – both from the University of Calgary. John lives in Calgary with his wife and family, and enjoys all activities related to food, travel and the great outdoors.

John W. Tak

Director

John is a cleantech consultant advising the federal government and acts as strategic advisor to the Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre on the development of a B.C. Cleantech Cluster Strategy.

John was CEO of the Canadian Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) and prior to that managed Mitsubishi Canada’s multi-million dollar specialty chemicals business based out of Vancouver. He also worked in Tokyo for five years as the Senior Representative for the BC Trade and Development Corporation. John started his career working for Magna International at the corporate head office and opened Magna’s first office in Tokyo. Magna is Canada’s largest automotive parts company.

John also serves as Vice President & Board member of the Canada Japan Society of British Columbia (CJSBC). He has served on the Advisory Board of the National Research Council’s Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation and as a member of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan.

Jon Sheeran

Jon is a strategic, multidisciplinary business-development professional with a keen understanding  of what it takes to exceed customer expectations. His more than 15 years of domestic and  international experience at a variety of companies has enabled him to develop into a  customer-focused professional with strong balance of both technical and soft skills. Business Development – Jon manages the team responsible for all commercial and contractual  requirements for a services start-up business stream, which involves bringing in new business, negotiating contracts, project execution and completing all financial and business reporting  requirements. Jon is responsible for the commercial success of 147 projects heavily weighted in  the renewable energy space with a total contract value exceeding $80 million since 2017.  Accounting Policies and Procedures – Created and implemented project accounting policies and  procedures, cost control measures, and financial reporting processes for new start-up business  line. Experience in full cycle accounting and management reporting. 

• Leadership – Successfully delivered Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) projects  in both the renewables, and power transmission and distribution sectors ranging in value from  $50,000 to $100,000,000. Project delivery was accomplished through the coordination and  management of cross functional project and operations teams of all levels. Jon currently  manages a high performing team consisting of a variety of Professional Engineers, Accountants,  and tradespeople.  
• Project Management – Professional Project Manager with experience in bid preparation, project  planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and project close-out 
• Commercial and Legal – Strong contract analysis and negotiation skills having negotiated 147 engagements over the past five years 

Julie Dickson Olmstead

Julie Dickson Olmstead is a seasoned business executive with a strong track record of success in innovation leadership, business management, integrated marketing communications and stakeholder engagement across a number of sectors and disciplines.

Today, as the Managing Director of Public Affairs and Corporate Responsibility for Canada’s largest privately-held Western-based food retailer, Julie holds responsibility for public affairs, ESG and DEI strategy, government and industry relations and strategic planning for sustainability, zero waste and environmental leadership projects.

In addition to participating in a wide range of strategic food industry initiatives and cross-sectoral projects, Julie is a member of the board of directors of Encorp Pacific (Return-It), Call2Recycle, Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba, Food Banks BC, the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity and BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation. Julie is also a member of the Management Board of Canada’s National Zero Waste Council; the Canadian Food Policy Advisory Council, and acts as an industry advisor on a number of food waste, food security, and nutrition research projects. Julie is also an advisor to Protein Innovation Canada’s Road to $25 Billion.

An accomplished presenter and accredited adult educator, Julie has developed content for and hosted lectures, workshops, seminars and university courses on effective media relations, board governance, community engagement, issues and crisis management, business management and social media. She was proud to be named a Star Women in Grocery award winner in 2021.

Kaitie Unwin

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Kaitie is a creative and strategic communications professional with a passion for storytelling. Throughout her career, she has developed impactful communications strategies for organizations across a variety of sectors including health and wellness, non-profit, and government. Kaitie is excited to continue to advance her expertise within the position of Communications Manager at Foresight, while helping the team achieve its goal of making Canada the first G7 country to reach net zero.

Karen Speirs

Karen is a communications specialist with deep experience in tech generally and cleantech specifically. A former journalist and public relations manager, she has worked recently with Best Buy Canada, Innovate BC, BlueShore Financial, and Foresight. Karen advises organizations and individuals about strategies that tell their story in a concise and compelling way.

For emerging ventures looking to develop messaging or create a content strategy, Karen provides pragmatic advice that generates results.

Kariann Aaurup

Advisory Board

Kariann has been with Aqua Forum since 2017, focusing on scaling its flagship program, the AquaHacking Challenge.

Motivated by sustainability-focused outcomes, especially those that engage stakeholders from multiple sectors, Kariann enjoys finding the sweet spot around which partners can collaborate to amplify impact. Originally from Montreal, enjoying the freshwater lakes of the Laurentians, Kariann grew up in a family enterprise and holds an MBA from McGill University. Committed to change-agency, Kariann has brought her passion for social innovation to all her work – as founder and Executive Director of a national cross-sector internship program, instructor at the Desautels School of Business, and 10 years of community and external relations in the mining sector. She is very happy to be back in the non-profit world, making use of her business background to positively impact freshwater health.

Kariann has been in BC since 2013 and lives in Victoria, with her partner and two children. The silver lining of COVID has meant less travel and more hygge home-time, for which the whole family is happy. In her spare time, Kariann enjoys seaside dog walks, driftwood collecting and cooking. She also loves to bake sourdough bread for family & friends.

Kate Bayliff

Controller

Kate Grant

Kate Grant is passionate about technology, entrepreneurship and showcasing Canada as an innovation leader. With a background in ecosystem development, strategy, VC, innovation and product, she has successfully helped build and grow early-stage companies throughout  her career. 

Kate has successfully worked within the North American startup and innovation ecosystem for close to 10-years, during this time, she was able to align companies with the best  strategies for raising funds, driving growth and creating impact strategies within their ecosystem. She has become known as a leader within the Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo (KW) tech ecosystem, and frequently is asked to speak on various panels, webinars and podcasts on trends related to Canadian Tech. Within the tech industry, she has experience working with B2B, and B2C products over a wide variety of sectors including FinTech, LegalTech, CleanTech, SaaS and AdTech. In addition to her time spent in the tech ecosystem, she also worked with an early-stage VC fund in Toronto where she was able to build their platform strategy and helped the fund embed themselves within important tech communities. 

Aside from her daily work, Kate is a mentor and advisor to many accelerators and incubators across the North American ecosystem and often acts as a sounding board for entrepreneurs trying to solve the next big problem.

Kathleen Norman

Kathleen is a management consultant and generalist who loves creating positive impacts with people, businesses, and the planet. With 15 years of experience in marketing and environmental research she provides coaching in business strategy, marketing strategy, communications, market intelligence research, environmental design, systems thinking, and strategies for behaviour change. She has a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University and a Master of Environmental Design from the University of Calgary. In 2019, Kathleen was the Edmonton Innovation Ecosystem Navigator helping hundreds of early-stage companies with growth strategies and navigating startup services available to new entrepreneurs. In 2021, Kathleen became an EIR through the Edmonton Regional Innovation Network to coach entrepreneurs in growing technology-based businesses and taught design thinking classes at Concordia University of Edmonton. Kathleen became an EIR with Foresight in July 2022 to help cleantech companies thrive.

Kathrin Bussmann

Kathrin Bussmann, Ph.D. is the Head of Verbaccino Inc., the independent marketing consultancy for Cleantech companies going global. Her mission is to empower Cleantech companies to expand internationally in a smart, strategic way. The climate crisis requires globally-scalable solutions. Green technologies need to be promoted and deployed successfully across languages, borders and cultures. Working at the intersection of global business, international marketing, and localization, Kathrin advises companies on digital content strategies that drive business OKRs in new markets, and on the implementation of those strategies by qualified practitioners.

As German-Canadian dual citizen born in the province of Québec, Kathrin grew up equally fluent in German, French, and English. She holds degrees in Communication Studies and Linguistics, and launched her own consultancy in 2014. As a parent, she is increasingly concerned about the future of our planet. That’s why, in 2021, she re-positioned her consultancy to serve the Cleantech sector.

In addition to her consulting practice, Kathrin produces and hosts The Worldly Marketer Podcast, an award-winning show that explores what it takes to grow a global brand in today’s digital, social, multilingual marketplace. To date, she has interviewed over 230 thought leaders in the areas of global business, global marketing, and localization.

Kathrin is a member of the Globalization and Localization Association (GALA), The Global Chamber, Soft Land Partners, Women and Cleantech and Sustainability, the ToFu community of climate tech marketers, and she is a Co-Founder & Leadership Team member of Women in Localization Eastern Canada chapter (WLEC). She is based in Toronto, Canada.

Katrina Carroll-Foster

As partner and co-founder of Kollectively.io Katrina works with the founders and leadership teams  of innovative tech companies and associations to develop results-driven business, brand and  marketing strategies. Katrina also co-founded, raised capital for, and sold an e-commerce startup  – pre-Shopify 😉 

Katrina champions entrepreneurs as a mentor, advisor and speaker for organizations like New  Ventures BC, League of Innovators, the Forum and Foresight. In 2017 she co-founded The Raise  Collective to help change the ratio of women in early-stage investing. She recently participated in  the Spring Impact Investor Challenge, and is an LP with Women’s Equity Lab. 

Keith Gillard

Director

Mr. Gillard is General Partner at Pangaea Ventures Ltd., an industry leader in early stage advanced materials investment. He joined Pangaea in 2010. Mr. Gillard has over twenty years’ experience as an investor and entrepreneur, with the past twelve years focused on Cleantech and advanced materials.

From 2006-2010, Mr. Gillard served as President of BASF Venture Capital America. He was responsible for the establishment of the Silicon Valley office and expansion of the team. Mr. Gillard led investments into SDCmaterials Inc., Luca Technologies LLC, Ultracell Corporation, Arcadia Biosciences, Inc., Sciona, Inc., and ARCH Ventures VII, among others. From 2001-2006, Mr. Gillard was with Mitsubishi Corporation and responsible for venture investment and business development activities in Canada, with a specific focus on Cleantech. He was instrumental in establishing Japanese markets and partners for several Canadian and American Cleantech companies, with a special focus on fuel cells, solar and smart grid applications. Prior to joining Mitsubishi, Mr. Gillard began his career in investment banking, structuring mergers and acquisitions as well as manufacturing technology joint ventures into China. In the late ’90’s, he spent five years as an full-time entrepreneur, establishing three IT companies in succession. Mr. Gillard sits on the board of directors of Vestaron Corporation and NewLeaf Symbiotics Inc. He is also the co-author of “Inside the Minds: Energy Venture Capital Best Practices”, published in 2008 by Aspatore Books. Outside of work, he is a high-energy father of two, an avid cyclist and a Canadian Independent Music Award winner.

Khizr Tajammul

Khizr Imran Tajammul is a serial entrepreneur, a mentor to several clean energy companies across the globe, the founder of a clean cooking initiative called Jaan Pak and a Development Policy graduate from MIT. At CSI, Khizr co-leads two entrepreneurial development programs and is also the Entrepreneur in Residence.

Khizr brings fifteen years of leadership experience in not-for-profit management and international development to his role at CSI. Between 2007 and 2014, Khizr consulted on a broad range of poverty alleviation, behavior change communications and fundraising projects, collaborating with The World Bank, UNICEF, USAID, British High Commission, National Disaster Management Authority, UNDP, Chemonics International, GIZ and Palladium among others.

In 2014, Khizr founded Jaan Pak – a clean energy company, working towards eradicating open fires and reducing maternal and child mortality across the globe. Jaan Pak has received international acclaim, several accolades, mentions in the press, and roughly 0.5 million USD in grants from Grand Challenges Canada, UKAID/DFID, Inaara Impact Ventures, and Dubai Expo 2020.

Jaan Pak has also won laurels at the One Young World summit (from Nobel Laureate, Prof. Muhammad Yunus), Shell-Tameer Foundation, UNIDO and Social Capital Markets (SOCAP). Khizr is an Acumen Fellow, a mentor at the Mentor Capital Network, an All-Bar-None scholar at OYW and a SOCAP scholar. Khizr writes for various publications to highlight social and environmental issues dear to him.

Khushi Nilani Mohan Haranahalli

Research Analyst

Khushi is a lawyer and a policy professional specializing in energy, resources, and sustainability. Her background in law with an advanced degree in policy offers her a useful combination of knowledge and skillsets to be an effective professional in evidence-based policy making and sustainable development. She is passionate about solving complex challenges affecting the environment and climate by engaging a wide array of stakeholders in the public and private sector, by conducting research and prescribing innovative solutions and methods for industry and government. Khushi contributes to multi-sectoral collaboration for convergence of response, facilitate the involvement of corporations to achieve net zero, and bridge the gaps in the policy landscape by integrating evidence-driven and technology solutions. Prior to joining Foresight Khushi’s work experience pans across the legal, not-for-profit, and consulting sector and holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Global Affairs from the University of British Columbia.

Kim Sturgess

Advisory Board

Kim Sturgess is an Executive-In-Residence for the Watertech Program at Foresight; founder and CEO of WaterSMART Solutions Ltd. and has successfully led the organization since its inception in 2005. She is also the Executive Director of the not-for-profit Alberta WaterPortal Society, which provides education on key water issues in Alberta and around the world.

As the CEO of several technology based companies over her career, Kim has extensive experience in technology start-ups and technology management, as well as in oil and gas, pipelines, and industrial products and services. In addition to serving on the boards of her own companies, she has served on the boards of CCI Thermal Technologies, the Alberta Chamber of Resources, the Alberta Land Institute, the Alberta Water Council, the Calgary Airport Authority, the Council of Canadian Academies, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the National Research Council, APEGA, the Alberta Economic Development Authority, and Queen’s University. She also served as President of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

Kim graduated from Queen’s University with a degree in Engineering Physics, and from Western University with a Master of Business Administration. In 2016, Kim received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Queen’s University, and in 2018 she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Calgary.

In 2007, she was named as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, and in 2012 she was named Business Woman of the Year in Calgary by Consumers Choice Awards. In 2015 she was awarded the SCI Canada Medal and was recognized by the Alberta Science and Technology Foundation for her Outstanding Contribution to the Alberta Science and Technology Community.

Kim has been recognized with the YWCA Women of Distinction award, the Global Woman of Vision award, the Distinguished Service Award and the Alumni Achievement Award from Queen’s University, the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Alberta Centennial Medal. In 2015, she was awarded the Order of Canada for her outstanding achievements, dedication to community, and service to the nation.

Kim continues to build on her lifelong passion for water to make water management a priority for corporations, interest groups and policy makers at home in Alberta, in Canada and in the world.

Kirk Hamilton

Kirk Hamilton is an executive with international experience implementing strategies for technology adoption to capitalize on unique business opportunities in Information Technology, Telecom, and Manufacturing industries. As CEO of a number of public and private companies for over 20 years, he has led them from a loss position to profitability. During his career, the scope of his assignments ranges from the repositioning and turnaround of a global provider of smart card equipment and software solutions, NBS Technologies Inc, to major telecom start-up operations with leading edge technology for BCE and others, to turnarounds of manufacturing operations within GE Canada.

Currently, through personal engagement with client businesses of Élan Tactical Management Inc., he leverages business and management experience to assist companies improve market growth, productivity and cost performance. Additionally, he coaches entrepreneurs of the BC Venture Acceleration Network as an Executive-in Residence for BC Innovation Council. Kirk is an active Angel Investor in a variety of BC based start-up businesses and as an investor member through E- Fund Vantec Entrepreneur’s Fund.

Kirk is a graduate of Electrical Engineering from McGill and received his MBA from the Rotman School of Business from University of Toronto. He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and trained in Board Effectiveness for Small and Medium sized businesses.

Kirstin Gulbransen

Kirstin is a 30-year marketing and product management startup veteran with a startup success rate six times the industry average. Building on her computer science and marketing education, she thrives on conceiving, developing, and promoting groundbreaking products and services across a range of industries, including the world’s first wireless PC card modem for laptops in the late 90s and more recently, the world’s most promising industrial wastewater treatment
technology.

Not only has she generated record investor interest and orchestrated innovative go-to-market strategies for tech and cleantech startups throughout North America, she’s also worked at a global clean energy venture capital firm where she was responsible for attracting entrepreneurs, helping those same innovators drive immediate growth and value in their companies, and raising $100 million+ funds from the likes of Shell, Boeing, and Citigroup. Kirstin is known for getting the
right things done at the right time – and at the right cost – and inspires the teams she works with through her energetic, hands-on, get-it-done approach critical for success.

Korina Kinsman

Korina believe that when HR runs well, employees and managers are able to focus on doing what they do best! She founded K2K Consulting in service of well-done HR, providing a full suite of custom HR solutions: from contract and policy development, to talent attraction and management plans; tying programs with company objectives.

Korina is currently working remotely or in person in Vancouver & Elkford, BC, and Calgary, AB. She bring over 15 years of HR experience, managing HR in small, explosive-growth and matrixed environments, predominantly high-tech, engineering, telecommunications and construction.

Kristy O’Leary

Kristy is a multidisciplinary systems thinker with an innate ability to identify leading edge  entrepreneurs and align them with untapped opportunities to drive breakthrough change. She  was raised on Main St. in an entrepreneurial family, attained a unique education in both fine arts  and political theory, and is a natural facilitator. Her passion and purpose have coalesced around  empowering entrepreneurs to affect positive social, environmental and economic change.  

She has developed disruptive, future-focused impact plans for companies internationally. Having  cut her teeth in advertising and public confidence campaigning, she has a deep understanding of  how to create citizen demand for meaningful solutions that drive change and climate action. She  has transformed NIMBY’s into renewable energy investors, worked with government to transform  

public opinion from rejection to acceptance, performed supply chain impact measurement for  disruptive agricultural companies in the jungles of Latin America and now supports radical action  with the Decade Impact family of clients.  

A radical generalist and B Corp Ambassador, she has experience in food security, renewable  energy, commodity agricultural products, aboriginal technology, and natural resources. She  employs Environmental, Social and Governance auditing, B Corp Certification, impact  measurement, design thinking and radical collaboration in order to drive results for her clients and  partners.  

Kristy is an imagineer with a simple mantra; change is exhilarating.  

Lana Zral

Administrator

Lana is a dedicated administrator with many years of experience and a passion for service. She has enjoyed administrative positions in a wide variety of organizations including government, academia, non-profits and private industry. She is excited to support Foresight with her unique organizational talents and looks forward to the journey towards a sustainable future. In her free time, you can often find her caring for her garden or trying out a new board game with friends.

Laura Yu

Laura Yu is an experienced research scientist and engineer who holds a PhD degree in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering from University of Toronto. Following her graduate studies, she worked for a medical device company as R&D Engineer, primarily in chronic back pain management. During this tenure, she led the development of medical devices from concept to commercialization, including working with key opinion leaders to obtain their feedback for product development, design for manufacturing, regulatory and IP considerations. She then took on the role of Business Development Manager at Ontario Centres of Innovation Inc., where she developed an extensive network in the innovation ecosystem working with technology companies and startups to provide strategic advice on technology commercialization, developing funding roadmap to support commercialization, as well as market access outside of North America. As Engineering Project Manager with a manufacturer in the smart building sector, she managed the R&D and commercialization processes for their new hardware and software products.

Laura was a past member of the Board of Directors for the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) and Ontario Professional Engineers Foundation for Education. She is currently a member of the Research and Innovation Task Force at OSPE.

Lesley MacKinnon

Director, Investor & Indigenous Relations

Lesley is an impact strategist focused on system transformation with over a decade of innovation-oriented experience in the charitable and social impact space. Her career portfolio includes leadership roles, high net worth philanthropy, ecosystem mapping and engagement, and designing partnership-based initiatives.

In her role as Director, Investor & Indigenous Relations at Foresight, Lesley provides an organizational perspective to the strategic initiatives, partnerships, and emerging opportunities that position the organization for continued growth.

Lesley currently serves on the Board of Directors of Volunteer Alberta as Board sponsor for revenue diversification. She holds a BA (Honours) in Global Politics and Women’s and Gender Studies and an MA in Political Economy, both from Carleton University.

Lisa Doig

Ms. Doig has more than thirty year’s experience within chemical, electricity and oil and gas sectors in Canada and the UK. With a passion for energy innovation, she has championed novel clean technologies and flagship projects using clean technologies including hydrogen and large scale Carbon Capture and Use as well as energy efficient/demand response programs..

Lisa has held senior roles leading teams in research and development, market development, government relations, and communications areas. She is currently President and Chair of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA).
She is a leads by example, demonstrating key qualities of:

• Relationship builder – demonstrated success at building long-term relationships in
  cross-functional, multi-disciplined environments both externally and internally.
• Experienced Leader – 30 years leading large and small teams, formally and informally to form
  sustainable results oriented organizations.
• Proven Strategic Thinker – focused on the long term goals with capacity to analyze complex
  issues and achieve creative and desirable results using experience gained across multiple
  industries.
• Communicator and Bridger- bridging the gap between technical and business to work
  collaboratively to identify and deliver innovative focused solutions.

Lisa works in the space between technical and commercial providing practical action and advice
to companies on technology development, business and market plans and patent strategy with a
demonstrated track record of securing funding for technology projects.

Lisa Wolfe

Lisa Wolfe has 15+ years of experience in managing projects, people and operations in non-profit, and educational environments. Lisa was the Manager of Training for Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of BC (AFOABC) from 2014-2019, working with BC Indigenous communities in the areas of capacity building and financial management. She is the Principal of SpiritWolfe Consulting working with Foresight and ASTTBC. Prior to that, Lisa held the position of Director of Education for BC’s largest construction association – the Vancouver Regional Construction Association. She also worked as a project manager for the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association (CME).

Lisa completed the Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator’s program in 2017. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Simon Fraser University. Over the past 15 years, Lisa has contributed to many non-profit organizations including the Burnaby Rotary Club, Yaletown Rotary Club, Aunt Leah’s Place and Share Community Services. She is the Past President of Communities Embracing Restorative Action (CERA) and past board member of Theatre Terrific.

Marc Rose

Experienced business development leader in environmental consulting across North America.

Over 20 years of environmental planning experience, including over 12 years leading and obtaining environmental approvals (federal and provincial) for large and complex projects in the power, transportation, and water sectors.

Marc Stoiber

Marc is a creative director who works with entrepreneurs to make their brand simpler, more persuasive and creative. His career has been blessed with disruption. He has worked at ad agencies on 3 continents, in 3 distinct cultures.

Marc started in the world of mad men, writing print, radio and TV. Today, he counsel founders and CEOs on how to bring coherence and simplicity to their pitch (and selling proposition!). He believes my greatest asset is his ability to simplify complex propositions and discipline ideas.

Maria de la Puente

Results driven, senior financial professional with broad experience in international capital  markets: corporate finance, investment/corporate banking, investor relations and financial  services. Proven experience in managing strategic and sophisticated investor and client  relationships across different industries and international markets. Succesfully originated,  executed and completed complex international financial transactions. Advanced knowledge of  best practices in strategic corporate national account management. Strong communication  (verbal, written) and analytical skills. Passioned for environmental and sustainable initiatives  and practices. Strong ethics and integrity. Canadian Citizen. Eight years of Canadian  Experience. Located in Ottawa, and flexible to relocate.  

Marilyn Sanford

Marilyn left a leadership role at a large multinational firm, to venture out on her own. She launched a business, which offered Custom Electronic Design and Installation systems and services within the Construction Industry. Over the next two decades, she grew the firm, winning Industry recognition, and awards. Additionally, besides teaching within her Industry, Marilyn held leadership roles, including sitting on the Board of Directors and the Executive Team. She was awarded an Industry Fellowship.

Marilyn’s depth of experience over several decades included creating a market in a sunrise Industry, building teams, managing growth, working through partnership disruptions, as well as creating new divisions and businesses to better serve the market. Internally, she drove the creation of automated business tools for better focus, ensuring that all critical elements were tracked and monitored.  After selling her businesses she researched and built a labour sharing software App (both Android and Apple) for skilled construction trades. This software was launched, however did not survive the pandemic, for various reasons including limited cash reserves.

From years of diverse experiences, both failures and successes, Marilyn brings valuable perspective to start-up founders who have the grit and determination to pursue their vision. She has the energy and experience to help work through roadblocks, refresh thinking, establish accountability and drive ideas forward.

Mark Grist

Mark is an entrepreneur with a track record of success in new ventures and energy markets. His experience base spans a variety of industries ranging from LNG and hydrogen to advanced imaging to gas processing technologies. He has experience developing relationships with strategic partners in Europe, North America and Asia and his corporate development experience includes execution of acquisitions and divestitures.

Over his career Mark has held senior level business development and marketing positions with large enterprises such as FortisBC, Methanex and C-I-L and with a series of startups that includes BrightSide Technologies, QuestAir, SunCentral and R-Lux Innovations.

Mark has an MBA from Queen’s University and a B. Comm from UBC and his specific strengths are in business strategy, leadership and early stage revenue generation. Market areas of particular interest include clean tech, renewable and low carbon fuels and transportation.

Mark Longo

Director

Mark Longo is Co-Chair of Osler’s Emerging Companies Group and Managing Partner of Osler’s Vancouver office. Mark has over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, M&A, and technology law. During his career, he has served in General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and senior executive capacities for a number of private and publicly traded technology companies, including Intrinsyc Software International Inc., Star Data Systems Inc. and Datawire Communication Networks Inc. In the three years immediately prior to joining Osler, Mark was a partner in the Vancouver office of a boutique law firm focused on the technology industry. Previous to that, Mark was a partner in the technology and corporate finance groups of a Vancouver-based law firm for over three years.

Having earned an LL.B. from Queen’s University in 1992, Mark also obtained his Masters of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in 2001. Mark is called to the Bar in BC and Ontario. Mark’s hobbies include playing and coaching/managing his daughter and son in various sports, including hockey, volleyball and squash, and climbing the North Shore mountains in Vancouver.

Mark Reynolds

Mark has over 20 years in capital markets, both in equity research and investment banking, in increasingly senior positions including Managing Director and Group Head.  His primary focus was on energy, infrastructure and the energy service space at both large institutions and boutique investment banks (including AltaCorp, CIBC World Markets, GMP Capital, Haywood Securities and Paradigm Capital).  Mark was responsible for capital raising, relationship management,  business valuation, employee oversight and lead generation.  Over his finance career Mark has been directly involved in over $25 billion of capital raises.

Mark is currently focused on his role as a Principal and Co-Founder of Meta Capital Partners which is a Merchant Bank that both invests and advises the SME space, including supporting and investing in promising clean technology companies.

Mark is a CFA Charterholder since 2005.

Mark has a Bachelor of Commerce (Distinction), 2000, Haskayne School of Business University of Calgary.

Maryam Mohiuddin Ahmed

Maryam Mohiuddin Ahmed is a serial social entrepreneur and social innovation evangelist. Her work centres ‘dialogues of wisdoms’ and explorations around alternate ways of knowing, doing and being to decolonize social innovation and entrepreneurship. Maryam believes in enabling innovators to trigger transformative change in themselves and their communities, and through that process co-create more just, equitable and regenerative systems. Maryam previously co-founded the Social Innovation Lab, a social innovation ecosystem builder in South Asia and Daftarkhwan, a series of co-working spaces in Pakistan, alongside starting a number of impact focused initiatives. She is currently completing her PhD at the University of Waterloo and designs Climate entrepreneurship programs and Social Innovation Labs for Social Innovation Canada. She also serves as an EDI advocate and researcher at the Waterloo Institute of Social Innovation and Resilience.

Matt McCulloch

Director

Matt is Vice President, Clean Technology & Innovation, at Exergy Solutions where he helps lead the rapid and cost-effective development of low carbon and clean technologies through the combination of agile engineering, advanced manufacturing and additive manufacturing. Matt accelerates energy and process technology innovation to support industry’s transition to a low carbon economy. Prior to Exergy, Matt was the Director of the Greenhouse Gas Priority Area at COSIA supporting the oil sands industry alliance members in accelerating the pace of technology innovation and deployment through collaboration. Matt guided the collaboration efforts of several Steering Committees and numerous Working Groups to identify and advance priority GHG mitigation and associated cost reduction technologies, including low carbon heat and power, CO2 capture and utilization, area fugitives, energy efficiency, and novel in situ and mining production technologies. Prior to joining COSIA Matt helped build and lead the consulting arm of the Pembina Institute, a Canadian non-profit environmental organization, working with Canadian businesses of all sizes and sectors to improve their environmental and financial performance by integrating sustainability solutions, innovation, and clean energy technology into their strategies and operations.

Matt is the Low Carbon Value Added Products theme co-lead for the Clean Resource Innovation Network, board member of Foresight, Energy Future Lab fellow, and chair of the board for the Academy for Sustainable Innovation.

Matt Stefan

When I was 5 years old, my mom asked me a classic question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” She recorded my answer in her journal later that day (pictured). I wanted to sell software.

Since launching my first e-commerce website to sell custom t-shirts in High School, I have been fascinated with business and technology.

In my post-secondary years I moved to Kelowna and formed an inter disciplinary team of students to launch Festfeed, a custom mobile app platform for events. We quickly became one of The Next Big Thing’s Top 20 Under 25 in Canada and were led to Vancouver.

After transitioning the business, I moved to Toronto and spent two years as the acting Chief Marketing and Technology Officer of FrontRunner Technologies – a high-growth startup changing the face of the Digital Out of Home (DOOH) advertising industry.

In my latest chapter, I had the opportunity to lead Co.Labs, Saskatchewan’s first tech incubator as Executive Director before finally being drawn back to Kelowna in June of 2022.

Taking all that I’ve learned, I’m excited to be working with pre-series A companies to help them scale revenue and fundraise capital.

Mauro F. Meneghetti

Mauro Meneghetti is a proven leader and trusted advisor with over 30 years of experience. As an Executive in Residence and Mentor with Foresight he helps ambitious leaders drive innovation in Clean Technology and supports and all aspects of business planning and execution and governance.

He has held executive positions with organizations such as Thermal Systems, Western Management Consultants, SMART Technologies, Innovate Calgary, Accenture and Action Leaders.  He also chaired the City’s Economic Development Strategy Steering Team in 2008.

His accomplishments and experience span many industries.  Mauro has a strong track record of coaching and developing executives and building cohesive teams and companies. He brings deep multi-disciplinary skills in the public and private sector. 

Mauro chairs private sector advisory boards, is a member of the Haskayne Business School Management Advisory Council (MAC) and has previously served on several public boards including Canadian Association of Management Consultants, Calgary Economic Development, Westside Regional Recreation Centre, CIPS and Mount Royal University. 

Mauro obtained his B. Commerce (Honours) from the University of Calgary in 1983, where he was awarded the ASM gold medal for academic achievement. In 1998 he earned his Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation, ranking in the top 10% in Canada. He is also certified in PROSCI and ODR Change Management methodologies.

Melanie McClare

Melanie has a Chemical Engineering Degree from McGill University and an MBA from Haskayne School of Business in Calgary, Canada.

Melanie began her career working in the industrial resource sector in Europe and West Africa. She moved into the water and wastewater industry over a decade ago and is the former CEO of Swirltex Inc, a water technology company solving wastewater problems across market verticals. Melanie is passionate about cleantech, sustainability and the important work of minimizing human impact on planet earth.

Michelle Hunt

Operations Manager

Michelle is experienced in customer service, project management and administration. Before joining Foresight over two years ago, she held positions in companies ranging from small consultancies to large retail chain stores. During her tenure at Foresight, she has proven her adaptability and efficiency. Juggling timelines and being exposed to a variety of projects feed Michelle’s desire to make things happen and keep it interesting.

She understands our business and keeps us on track – all with a sense of humour! In her spare time, Michelle is a curling coach, a musician and the mother of two elementary school children.

Michelle Pavlik

Director of Marketing

Michelle is an accomplished graphic designer, brand strategist and content creator. Throughout her career, she has worked with government, nonprofits and early-stage companies to discover their brand’s look and feel. She is passionate about developing a strong national technology sector and supporting a sustainable future.

Prior to Foresight, Michelle worked with Innovate BC, supporting the provincial innovation ecosystem and managing the visual design for the #BCTECHSummit, Western Canada’s largest annual innovation event. She is a multi-disciplinary marketer with degrees and certifications in performing arts, graphic design, film production, and UX design. She’s a skilled amateur photographer, spending her free time exploring the wild places of BC.

Mike Brooks

Mike is a growth focused COO and business development executive in enterprise B2B and  FinTech software markets. He has over 20 years of experience building, leading & coaching a  wide variety of teams – Executive/Leadership Teams, Product/R&D, Marketing, Sales,  Alliances/Partnering & Client Services to drive growth & improve operational performance. 

Mitalie Makhani

Mitalie had an unconventional journey into entrepreneurship. She made a hard life decision to leave a PhD in Renewable Resources at McGill University to start a waste management company with an innovative double stream revenue model in Montreal. As the former CTO of Groundit Waste Management & Composting Inc. she developed a waste management pickup service and aerated static pile composting system that diverted thousands of tonnes of organic waste from landfills. Her company also supported some clients in achieving a zero waste status.

Mitalie is highly adaptable and has extensive technical experience in soil science, sample extraction & analysis, as well as regulatory compliance and monitoring and evaluation. In addition, she has a high level of emotional intelligence which has contributed to building successful conflict resolution protocols and organizational change management processes.

She is also a mentor with the The Scotiabank Women Initiative Mentor Program. Since 2016 she has supported and advised over 150 entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses.

Morgan Lehtinen

Morgan focuses her energy on finding creative ways to collaboratively combat the planet’s most pressing problems through the power of chem-tech innovation. She began her career by founding a clean technology start-up based on her PhD research in polymer and materials chemistry bringing environmentally conscious processes to industrial oily wastewater separation. Acknowledging the technical, business, and emotional challenges that go along with being a deep-tech founder, she expanded her career into the role of founding Director of Commercialization at Reaction (RXN) Hub to build systems to support chem-tech start-ups from bench through pilot to commercialization and beyond.

In alignment with her passion for collaboration and innovation, Morgan also built multiple initiatives focused on connecting individuals across academic, public, and private sectors in the chemical and entrepreneurial ecosystems to address issues such as under-representation of women in entrepreneurship and gaps in professional development and mentorship opportunities for science-based graduate students. She currently sits as the Canadian delegate of the International Younger Chemists’ Network to continue this work across the globe.

Nav Dhaliwal

Nav Dhaliwal is a partner in the Securities and Capital Markets Group in BLG’s Calgary office. Nav’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and private  equity transactions, as well as corporate governance, shareholder activism, and general  securities and corporate law compliance. 

In his mergers and acquisitions practice, Nav has extensive experience advising clients on  public and private mergers, acquisitions and reorganization transactions, including take-over  bids, amalgamations, plans of arrangement and private sales. He also advises companies in  respect of shareholder activism and corporate governance issues. 

In his corporate finance practice, Nav has experience in representing both private issuers and  publicly traded issuers listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange  and the TSX Venture Exchange. Nav has acted for issuers, underwriters and investors in  financing transactions, including public and private offerings of debt, equity and convertible  securities and strategic investments by private equity groups. 

Neil Dobson

Executive Director, British Columbia

Neil grew up in the UK, and after completing an Economics and Business Management degree, he started his career in the finance industry in London, England. After five years Neil pivoted and spend the next decade in the sports marketing industry, working with brands, events and teams negotiating and implementing sponsorship deals for the likes of the British Government, General Motors, Nivea and British Gas. In 2010 Neil established Sow Consulting, to help companies, sports organizations and event owners maximize the value of sustainability in their marketing and their own operations.

Having moved to Canada in 2012 after working with clients through the London Olympics, Neil joined FortisBC to support their renewable natural gas and then energy efficiency and conservation programs. In 2015 Neil joined the BC Government, most recently filling the role as Executive Director, CleanBC Implementation and leading the work to develop the BC Governments GHG reduction strategies. Neil joined Foresight in September 2021.

Nnaziri Ihejirika

Nnaziri Ihejirika has a passion for sustainable energy, leadership and unlocking operational
potential; and has demonstrated his multifaceted abilities across the energy value chain, from
strategy to development and operations.

Nnaziri is currently accountable for the availability and reliability of Suncor Energy’s thirteen
midstream liquid fuels storage, processing and logistics facilities across Canada as manager,
maintenance and reliability. Prior to this, Nnaziri held roles of increasing leadership and business
responsibility over fourteen years at Suncor, including operations manager at MacKay River – the
first commercial steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) project in Canada. As part of the latter
role, he led the operational pilot of the Enhanced Solvent Extraction Incorporating
Electromagnetic Heating (ESEIEH) technology at MacKay River. ESEIEH, funded by Suncor and
partners including Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), has the potential to reduce the emissions
associated with the SAGD process by up to 80%.

Nnaziri is also an emerging thought leader in the development of executable strategies for the
energy transition and the decarbonization of heavy industry, with three papers published by the
Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES), an affiliate of the University of Oxford. In 2017 he
founded Clean Efficiency, a sustainable energy collective. Through Clean Efficiency, Nnaziri
co-founded Electrify Capital which invests in and mentors sustainable energy start-ups in
sub-Saharan Africa; and Energy Savers Nigeria, which coordinates energy conservation
education and advocacy efforts in rural and peri-urban communities in Nigeria.

Nnaziri has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA
specializing in energy management and strategy from the Vienna University of Economics and
Business in Vienna, Austria.

Pankaj Bagga

Paul Paynter

Paul is an experienced executive accomplished in the Economic Development, Business Development, Real Estate, Marketing, Media, Communications and Government Relations fields. With demonstrable success in leading real and virtual teams – underpinned by the drive to achieve consistently excellent results, Paul offers strategic thinking together with a passion for getting things done….and done well, on-time and on-budget.

Paul has an enviable network of contacts – especially across the western Canadian provinces plus the rest of Canada, the US and internationally. Paul is recognized for building and maintaining strong and mutually beneficial working relationships, underpinned by integrity and an ability to put himself in the shoes of others while always retaining a strong commercial focus.

Previous roles have included senior roles with, among others : Vodafone UK, Bell Canada, UK Trade & Investment, Calgary Economic Development, KPMG Canada, Saskatchewan Research Council and CLEAResult. Current clients supported by Paul include – besides Foresight (where Paul is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and leads the mentoring of several Foresight-supported emerging companies) – firms such as General Energy Recovery Inc, Crownsmen Partners and EventWorx.

Paul also played a significant role on the WPC Canada Board which successfully won the competitive global bid to bring the World Petroleum Congress to Calgary in September 2023. He has also served on a large number of voluntary Boards.

Paul Teitelman

With over 15 years of experience, Paul is one of the top ranking SEO Consultants and SEO Experts on Google.ca and has been featured on major SEO and media publications including The Globe and Mail, GoDaddy, Entrepreneur and Rogers. His company specializes in offering cost-effective SEO and link building services to help clients rank at the top of Page One organically on Google.

Paul Teitelman SEO Consulting offers professional SEO services to clients in Toronto & across North America. The company was founded by Paul Teitelman in 2011 and boasts a team of 25+ full time employees, including a full in-house content team of which 3 have their Masters Degrees.

Pierre-Xavier Roy

Strategic leader, member of executive and governance committees, with extensive expertise in  innovation strategy, business development and operation excellence responsibilities in Europe,  North America and Asia.  

Strong experience in developing and executing new visions, combining technological advances,  business requirements, program management, quality and industrial execution.  

Aeronautical engineering background, with experience in both the aerospace, automotive and  mobility fields. Accomplished builder of customer relationships and leader of cross-functional  teams across multiple geographies.  

Multilingual, with the ability to adapt quickly in different cultural settings. 

Ravipal Bains

Ravipal (Ravi) Bains is a Senior Associate at McMillan LLP, a leading Canadian business law
firm. At McMillan, he is a leader of their ESG Initiative and advises boards and senior
executives on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and corporate strategy. He
assists clients in various industries, including cleantech, mining, and forestry. In 2019, the
M&A Advisor recognized Ravi as one of the “Emerging Leaders” (formerly, the 40 Under 40).

Active in public and civic affairs, Ravi is a member of the Board of Governors of the Business
Council of British Columbia. He is also a David Rockefeller Fellow with The Trilateral
Commission, a Carnegie New Leader with the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International
Affairs, and a member of the Board of Directors of South Asian Bar Association of British
Columbia.

A frequent speaker and author on corporate governance-related issues, Ravi’s commentary
has been featured in national and international forums, including the Harvard Law School
Forum on Corporate Governance, Institute for Research on Public Policy, The Globe and
Mail, European Banking Institute, and the University of British Columbia.

Prior to joining McMillan LLP, Ravi was a legal advisor at the United Nations International
Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands. Born and raised on a
farm in rural Punjab, India he also clerked at the High Court of Punjab and Haryana and
worked at one of India’s premier business law firms.

Rejaa Dar

Grant Writer

Rejaa Dar is a non-profit and resource development professional with a decade of experience in Canada and abroad. Originally from Pakistan where she was deeply involved with nonprofits working on policy changes, she moved to Canada in 2013 to pursue her MA in Political Science from Simon Fraser University. Upon completion of her degree, she joined the Advancement sector and has not looked back since. She is passionate about working for social change around the world and helping create a sustainable future.

Rick Gagner

Rick began his career in finance, and quickly rose to the level of CFO after graduating from SFU with a BBA and obtaining his Chartered Professional Accountant (CMA) designation. His first taste of high growth was in apparel and sporting brands, going from early stage to $50M in 6 short years. Subsequently, Rick turned around two publishing enterprises, one of which he transitioned into digital marketing as the media world changed over, and ran as President for 7.5yrs, before making a successful exit.

Rick’s talents in leading growth were called upon once again when he took on an Integrator/CFO position in a startup food processing concern that quickly grew to $10M after 3 years. He then moved on to another processing concern where he was responsible for 5 plants, 800 employees, representing $330M in revenues. Rick’s last CEO role was the successful turnaround of a nutraceutical enterprise that was in special credit and close to failure. In two short years the company was refinanced and restructured, growing from $50M to $82M.  Since then Rick has focused his time on fast growth small to mid-size enterprises in food and advanced manufacturing, and has had the greatest satisfaction coaching and mentoring them following a coaching model based on EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System).

In addition to Rick’s work in industry, he was also a Director, Vice Chair, and then Chair of the BC Food and Beverage Association (over an 8 year period), BC’s largest food, beverage, and natural products manufacturing industry association. He was also a Director of Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C., an industry-led, not-for-profit organization working with industry partners and funders to invest in projects that enhance the competitiveness, profitability and sustainability of BC agriculture and agri-food.

Rick Gagner

SENIOR EIR

Rick began his career in finance, and quickly rose to the level of CFO after graduating from SFU with a BBA and obtaining his Chartered Professional Accountant (CMA) designation. His first taste of high growth was in apparel and sporting brands, going from early stage to $50M in 6 short years. Subsequently, Rick turned around two publishing enterprises, one of which he transitioned into digital marketing as the media world changed over, and ran as President for 7.5yrs, before making a successful exit.

Rick’s talents in leading growth were called upon once again when he took on an Integrator/CFO position in a startup food processing concern that quickly grew to $10M after 3 years. He then moved on to another processing concern where he was responsible for 5 plants, 800 employees, representing $330M in revenues. Rick’s last CEO role was the successful turnaround of a nutraceutical enterprise that was in special credit and close to failure. In two short years the company was refinanced and restructured, growing from $50M to $82M.  Since then Rick has focused his time on fast growth small to mid-size enterprises in food and advanced manufacturing, and has had the greatest satisfaction coaching and mentoring them following a coaching model based on EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System).

In addition to Rick’s work in industry, he was also a Director, Vice Chair, and then Chair of the BC Food and Beverage Association (over an 8 year period), BC’s largest food, beverage, and natural products manufacturing industry association. He was also a Director of Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C., an industry-led, not-for-profit organization working with industry partners and funders to invest in projects that enhance the competitiveness, profitability and sustainability of BC agriculture and agri-food.

Rick VanSant

Advisory Board

Rick is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor.

He serves as a Senior Advisor to the cleantech sector at MaRS Discovery District, Toronto, and is a member of the Board of Advisors to WaterNEXT, the water cluster accelerator with Foresight Cleantech Centre, British Columbia. Rick is also a Director and the CEO of Aclarus Ozone Water Systems, a Director of Island Water Technologies, a partner with Toronto based private equity investment group 1440 Capital, and past Chair of WaterTAP Ontario, the province of Ontario’s water technology accelerator.

From 2002 to 2018 he was President and founding CEO of UV Pure Technologies, a Canadian environmental technology company that develops and manufactures advanced UV water disinfection technology. Prior to UV Pure, Rick founded several public and private companies and was a member and Director of the Young Presidents’ Organization, in Toronto.

He has a degree in Astro-geophysics from Colgate University, a Masters of Education from St. Lawrence University, and is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business’ Institute of Corporate Directors program.

Rina Carlini

Rina Carlini is an accomplished business executive with 25 years of experience in science and technology innovation, product development & commercialization and developing new tech ventures in the areas of medical devices & health IT, life sciences, advanced materials, nanotechnology, and cleantech. Her professional experience spans diverse industries and leadership roles, including pharma drug discovery R&D (Merck, Syntex); Xerox Innovation Group (Canada) as Director for Nanotechnology and Xerox Global Tech Incubator Network; in cleantech as Director of Commercialization at GreenCentre Canada, and as President & CEO of Haltech Regional Innovation Centre where she helped tech startups transform to viable, growing ventures.

Dr. Carlini is the Founder and President of Optimal Innovation Group, a technology innovation consulting firm that helps startups to commercialize and go to market, as well advise established companies on scaleup growth and market strategies. She has supported many organizations in her consulting work, executive management, board member and advisory roles including University of Waterloo, University of British Columbia, Concordia University, Dalhousie University, National Research Council of Canada, Innovacorp, and various health companies including Medtronic Canada, Cloud DX Canada, Rapid Dose Therapeutics Corp., and GreenCentre Canada. More details can be found at her website.

Rina Carlini’s credentials include B.Sc. Honours degree from Concordia University and Ph.D. degree from University of Waterloo (Science), where she earned the 1998 Alumni Gold Medal. In 2017, she was recognized as the University of Waterloo Science Alumni of Honour Award. She is certified in Artificial Intelligence for Business Strategy (MIT), Business Model Innovation (Harvard University), Executive Management (DeGroote School of Business), Technology Commercialization and Lean Six Sigma Engineering Design.

Rina Carlini is the inventor of over 100 US patents has authored over 20 peer-reviewed research articles and conference proceedings; she has extensive expertise in IP and patent strategy, product development, technology commercialization. She is deeply committed to helping technology companies, STEM professionals (especially women in science and technology) achieve business success. She serves as a board member for the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business Executive Education Board, Concordia University’s Gina Cody School of Engineering & Computer Science, and as an expert reviewer on several Canadian and Ontario grant funding committees including NSERC, CFI, MaRS, OCE and others. Rina is actively engaged as a member of several professional associations, including Digital Health Canada, Chemical Institute of Canada, American Chemical Society, Life Sciences Ontario, and Natural Products Canada.

Robert E. Kulhawy

Advisory Board

Robert was the founder (former CEO and Executive Chairman) of newterra Group Ltd. – a global leader in the research, development and manufacturer of practical environmental and water treatment solutions.

Robert was appointed to and served on Canada’s National Round Table on the Environment and Economy.

Robert currently serves as:
• Executive Chairman of Cleantech Utilities Inc.
• Member Board of Directors of BURNCO Rock Products Ltd.
• CEO of Commerx Corporation – a leader in Telecom Services network transformation, Billing Revenue Management, and Digital Technology Solutions with projects, staff, operations and clients across North America, Central America and the Caribbean
• Executive Chairman of CLAS (Canadian Land Access Systems)

And is currently a member of:
• The Commanderie de Bordeaux, Confrerie du Tastevin, Chaine des Rotisseurs
• YPO Alberta Gold

Some of his past capacities include:
• Global Advisory Board of the Thomas and Charles Edison Foundations
• International President and the structural architect of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization
• Member of the President’s Council and international board member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO)
• Longtime judge of the finals of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards
• Chairman of the Premiers’ CEO Advisory Board
• Co-founder and Chair YPO Homes of Hope

Robert is co-author of “The Canadian Creed”, a featured speaker on water and environment, business, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, wine, technological innovation, and advocates businesses donating their excess capacity to worthwhile charitable endeavours.

Robert Eisses

Robert Eisses, B.Comm Finance, is a senior business development executive with extensive  international experience in partnering, channel development, and bringing novel technologies to  market. An accomplished entrepreneur, he is CEO and co-founder of Orbitless Drives Inc, and  previous CEO of Icron Technologies. He is also a former Board Member of BC Tech Association and AceTech, He continues to mentor through programs like Foresight and [email protected] Mentor  network. Over the past 30 years, he has worked with a variety of early-stage technology companies in senior sales and marketing roles to launch new solutions across a variety of markets and technology domains. 

Robert focuses his efforts on early-stage companies, advising on market development,  international expansion, strategic partnerships, and licensing. 

Robert McGillivray

Robert is an executive leader and general manager with deep expertise in developing new businesses. He is a connector of diverse functions, leading teams through all stage of commercialization – from technology development to sustained growth and revenue. Robert has extensive experience working in complex, international markets building trusted partnerships and  credibility with clients. 

Robert has held responsibility for corporate strategy, business development, technology development, sales and marketing for a variety of companies in the cleantech, industrial and aerospace sectors. Robert holds an MBA from the University of Western Ontario and a BScE in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University. He is also a Professional Engineer with the  Association of Professional Engineers and Geologists of Alberta (APEGA) and Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).  

Rodger Bernar

Advisory Board

Rodger is a business and technology development professional with expertise in strategy, business analysis, customer acquisition and retention, product development and management. He is experienced in commercializing new products and services and skilled in researching and determining new business development opportunities across the water, energy, power, agriculture and pulp and paper sectors. He has extensive experience from both the technology developer and industrial client consumer perspective.

Rolf Dekleer

Rolf has over 20 years of venture capital experience, currently as VP with Pender Ventures. Additionally, he has 15 years of operating experience with private and public technology companies such as Cymbolic Sciences, MacDonald Dettwiler, Agilent Technologies, Hewlett-Packard and Schlumberger. He has extensive experience in operations, product management and business development, including over 10 years with venture capital backed firms.

Recent board roles include Boreal Genomics, Cooledge Lighting, Copperleaf Technologies, D-Wave Systems, General Fusion, Switch Materials and the Vancouver Entrepreneurs Forum (VEF). He also currently serves as a lab investigator at Creative Destruction Lab (CDL-Vancouver). Rolf has an MA and an MBA from York University, and graduated from BCIT’s Electronics Engineering Program.

Ron Simmer

Ron Simmer founded PATSCAN while employed as a patent searcher at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Library in 1987 as an intellectual property service to all the BC academic research institutions to expedite technology transfer. Sixteen years later he left UBC, acquired the PATSCAN trademark, and launched his own company, PATEX Research and Consulting Ltd.

While at UBC Ron had been active in publishing articles on Intellectual Property, teaching students the basics of IP and working with the Licensing Executives society in hosting series of seminars on IP related topics, such as competitive intelligence research.  While operating PATEX Research Ron continued offering IP seminars to inventors and business leaders and was active as a board member of the local chapter of the Licensing Executives Society.

Today PATEX Research serves the major Canadian IP law firms on a contract basis for patentability, freedom to operate and validity research.  Ron provides timely, efficient and expert patent searches with detailed search reports and full copies of patents to many private sector clients on a confidential basis. PATEX searches cover a wide range of subjects from business methods in software to fuel cell technology and oilfield production hardware from the major world patent issuing jurisdictions. 

Russel Matichuk

Director

Over the past three decades Rus has held senior executive roles in several companies ranging from 75 to 560 employees and has been actively mentoring and investing in CleanTech, software and hardware companies.  He is currently the Executive Vice President of Bio-Stream Diagnostics Inc., a start-up medical device company that is developing unique pathogen detection hardware and software. He was the CEO of a private company in the hospitality, transportation, and recreation industries where he developed and executed strategies to launch new development projects, re-organized ownership and investment in key investments, and repositioned major assets.  He was the VP Capital for a large real estate development company where was responsible for strategy and execution of a $40 million investment portfolio which included loans, real estate investments and expansion into US markets.  Rus was a co-founder and partner in a corporate finance advisory firm that specialized in M&A services and investments.  Rus founded, developed and sold an Internet Service Provider that pioneered the use of retail channels for distribution, co-founded an online business travel booking software company, and co-founded an international enterprise software integration company that acquired a hardware and software division of Apple Inc.

Rus has been involved in launching and developing a number of industry associations and programs throughout his career and has been a board member of a number of small business and other not for profit associations as well.   Some technology sector associations and programs include Alberta Clean Technology Industry Alliance, Deal Generator, VenturePrize, Banff Venture Forum, InfoTech Alberta, and the Innovation Network Collaborative.

Rus has a B.Ed. Business with Distinction degree from the University of Alberta, is married and has 4 children.  He is passionate about sports and followed, supported, and coached his first three children with local, national and international travel and success.  The current focus is on Special Olympics sports and Blue Jays Challenger Baseball with his fourth child who has Down Syndrome.

Sahar Shamsi

PROGRAM MANAGER, ACCELERATE FROM ANYWHERE & EARTH TECH

At Foresight, Sahar manages the Earth Tech program and supports the national Accelerate from Anywhere initiative to accelerate the growth of Canadian cleantech companies.

After graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto, Sahar focused primarily on pursuing her love for humanitarian engineering, with an interest in the intersection between technology and social innovation. Sahar has worked previously with Hands Across the Nations (HATN) on the development of rainwater harvesting systems in Mali, as well as with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the United States Department of Energy to support the development and analysis of wave-powered desalination systems for disaster relief and costal communities. Sahar is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs in creating innovative technologies to tackle issues around water challenges and climate change.

Sam Anderson

Sam Grill

After working as a forest fire fighter in the early years after graduating from University of BC with a BA in economics, Sam started a financial advising business in 2005. In early 2008 Sam sold his book to a colleague and returned to grad school in Toronto where he graduated with an MBA from the University of Toronto in 2010. Working for the next four years in investment banking and commodities trading, Sam moved out of finance in the Summer of 2014 to take over a struggling waste-to-resource startup. As the CEO of IMR, Sam brought the company to profitability one year later and in 2017 built a new facility in partnership with a global player in the recycling industry.

Seeking a challenge above all else, Sam thrives in a dynamic setting where the only sure thing is the unexpected. A broad skillset built through years in finance, managing companies and time in the outdoors allows him to operate at an elevated capacity. Using a relational management style and focusing on motivation through responsibility, Sam develops the trust and respect of clients, contacts and colleagues to effectively execute his duties.

Samir Musayev

Sean Irvine

Sean Irvine is a professional engineer (Civil – P.Eng. – Carleton University, 1986) and an expert in technology commercialization and strategic management (C.L.P.). He started as an engineering project manager overseeing innovative construction projects located from Ottawa to Iqaluit.

Within the federal government, Sean was a senior patent examiner where he issued over 1,000 patents in the arts of buoyant and propelled marine structures, railway rolling stock and solar-related systems integration. For the NRC, he was an Associate IRAP ITA and became their go-to advisor on IP matters in Western Canada. In 2000, he became Industry Canada’s life sciences lead across Western Canada where he worked closely with provincial governments on fed/provincial strategic plans such as Saskatchewan’s Life Sciences Strategy (2007). He also provided due diligence support for federal funding into various hundred-million-dollar investments such as the Michael Smith building at UBC, and Genome Canada. After 2008, Sean managed several grants and contributions programs supporting Canadian innovators across various industry sectors.

Sean held governance roles as a board member at BC Medical Devices Association (now LSBC),  at his own companies, and at BIRC Corporation a small life sciences venture capital firm in BC.  Over 30 years, Sean has owned an advertising agency, a real estate business, and two management consulting firms.  In non-voting governance roles, he was a board advisor at Life Sciences BC,  at the Canadian Health Information Technology Association (now CATA-Health), and at the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Science.  As a volunteer, he co-chaired of the Canadian Education Committee for the Licensing Executive Society (Canada-USA) the worlds largest community of technology transfer professionals.  Finally, as a professor at the University of British Columbia, Sean taught two intellectual property management courses over two decades.

Today, Sean is the Managing Director at Mojo Ventures advising on growth, fund raising, exit strategy, and competitive dynamics. He is an Executive in Residence at Foresight CleanTech Accelerator, an executive coach for several technology firms, and an active angel investor. In finance, his experience includes oversight of professional accountants, venture capital management, mergers and acquisitions, early-stage fund raising, the Canadian Securities Course (1992), and the Canadian Exempt Market Dealer Program (2018). Sean has supervised CPA’s and other professional staff for over 20 years. Finally, (@2022) Sean has invested in five Foresight companies to date: Solaires, Alea Labs, Digital Water Solutions, Spraywerx Technologies, and CamDo Solutions.

Sean Puchalski

Sean has spent his entire career applying technology to environmental challenges.  He started his career as an environmental management consultant working for notable firms such as TRI – Technology Resource Inc. (acquired by Metro Testing + Engineering Ltd.) and Hemmera (acquired by Ausenco) assessing and remediating some of Canada’s worst contaminated sites. 

In 2007, following completion of an MBA, Sean pivoted into cleantech commercialization after an MBA internship at leading clean energy VC, Chrysalix sparked his interest in the Energy Transition.  Since then, Sean has helped to build two local technology success stories, 4Refuel and Corvus Energy. 

Between 2007 and 2011, Sean held key roles on the 4Refuel management team, including VP Corporate Development and President and board member of its technology subsidiary. 4Refuel (now a Finning company) was a technology-enabled, fuel as-a-service business for commercial and industrial fleets – a decade or more ahead of similar business models Booster, Fill’d, Yoshi, etc.  In 2011, Sean and other managers exited when the company was sold to private equity. 

In 2011, Sean joined Corvus Energy when the company was pre-revenue and has helped to build the business into the market leader it is today with over 50% market share and an installed base on five continents. Corvus Energy supplies large-scale, lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells to the maritime industries, enabling hybrid and fully electric, zero emission ships, port equipment and offshore O&G and renewable energy installations. 

Sean has seen all phases of start-up and scale-up from pre-revenue to $0.5B in revenue and has significant international experience.  Sean volunteers as the Treasurer and steering committee member at the Vancouver Maritime Centre for Climate and enjoys living in the Vancouver areas with his wife and two children.  Puchalski holds a B.Sc. (Microbiology, University of British Columbia), a B.Tech. (Environmental Engineering, BC Institute of Technology) and an MBA (Strategy & Corporate Finance, UBC/Duke University). 

Sebastian Alamillo

Sebastian started his career by founding a science-based cleantech start-up out of the University of Waterloo. Following the company’s exit, he turned his attention to bridging the gap between research and commercialization for deep-tech companies. His first significant push towards this was as the Leader of KPM-Accelerate; a global chemtech accelerator that helped founders prepare for scale-up by integrating technical development with business strategy and financial modelling. Now, as the founding Executive Director of RXN HUB, he works to further support the commercialization gap by bringing together the best business, financial, technical resources and infrastructure together to collaboratively support firms’ scale-up and piloting in a purpose-built commercialization facility. Unlike a traditional incubator or accelerator, the commercialization hub has two functions: it acts as a centralized ecosystem with the wrap-around services I wish I had; and, it provides bespoke services for multinationals to integrate sustainable technologies using open innovation and corporate venturing strategies. He leverages this tool and his other roles as an investor, board member, business architect and economics nerd to help chemtech start-ups, at any stage, bring the most impactful solutions to market.

Shannon Bard

Shannon is a dynamic leader with over 25 years of experience in commercializing innovations, sustainability, environmental health, biomedical research, toxicology, ecological impact and risk assessment. She has extensive experience in leading regional, national and international multidisciplinary technical teams to tackle complex interdisciplinary environmental problems. Her environmental health and sustainability work has required forging working relationships with multiple stakeholders including business, industry, government regulators, environmental managers, politicians, academia, environmental groups, First Nations, media and the public.

Co-Lead of the Climate Venture Studio at the University of British Columbia, Shannon co-developed and launched a Climate Solutions strategy to create a framework for concrete action by the university to address the recently declared climate emergency. This strategy addresses the need for faster feedback loops and better communication between academic researchers and the broader market (industry, governments, civil society and consumers) to create impactful Climate Solutions. To accelerate the successful commercialization and scaling of the Climate Ventures, she and her team facilitate commercial scale pilots with industry or government collaborators, engage with regulators and policy makers to create regulatory pathways for adoption of climate-smart solutions, and engage with governments, corporations, and other large entities to create scalable procurement opportunities.

Shannon was previously the global Director of Innovation for the environmental consultancy Hemmera and parent engineering firm Ausenco. She developed and launched a global corporate Innovation Program for >2000 staff to undertake industrial-academic-government R&D collaborations to develop and commercialize new science and engineering services to solve sustainability issues. She oversaw a Board-directed innovation incubator to invest in applying new technologies and approaches, including AI, automation, data analytics, clean tech, VR/AR & digital solutions, biological and genomic tools to reduce the environmental footprint of industry activities. Formerly, Shannon was a professor of Environmental Science at Dalhousie University, Director of the Marine Ecotoxicology Laboratory and co-winner of the Senate Environmental Award.

Shannon Kaustinen

I have worked with 5 different cross-border companies throughout my career, which has given me a strong cross functional lens to rapidly growing innovation-driven businesses. I have learnt the importance of building bridges internally and externally, not only to support the vision of a company, but also to bring insights and establish coalitions that move the business forward.

One of my biggest accomplishments to date was the closing of the Generac Power Systems Inc. acquisition of Neurio (providers of clean tech to companies like Tesla). This was one of the largest and more complicated technology acquisitions in BC and the deal was closed in a blistering 38 days! Generac’s initial $3.5B market cap (NYSE:GNRC) soared to $25B within 2 years after the acquisition and their announcement of entering clean technology.

Purpose and value driven companies are my passion. I have spent my entire career working alongside people and companies that stand for more than just a product or service. On more than one occasion I have witnessed technology driven companies that I have helped build, save a life.

I am metrics and results-driven. I have both private and public company experience, have reported under ASPE, IFRS and US GAAP, and have built or been involved with many cross board companies. I am unique for CPAs as I hold a Public License and bring this useful additional perspective to my work with companies

Shannon Wilson

Program Manager, carbonNEXT

Sharon Van Grol

Sharon’s work experience includes companies such as Motorola, Sierra Wireless Inc., Axine Water Techonolgy, Apana Inc., ACR Systems and other small start up companies. 

She has 30+ years experience in Sales, Sales Ops and have also led several teams in acquisitions, merges, SW implementation (Oracle, JD Edwards, Sales Force, HubSpot) for MRP and CRM,  Project management for ISO and various other large scale projects. 

Shaun Kelly

A Senior Executive with over 25 years’ experience in leading multi-million-dollar businesses and a successful track record in achieving top quartile results. Solid background in managing across geographies including Canada, USA, Mexico, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Demonstrated career growth through positions including: Engineering, Field
Services, Customer Service, Quality Assurance, Six Sigma, Operations, Sales, and Executive Leadership.

Shaun is on a journey of Indigenous Inclusion, believing that industry can be a force for good. Shaun has had the pleasure of formulating multiple Mutual Benefit Agreements and Joint Venture Agreements with First Nations communities in Western Canada and has made a lot of friends along the way.

Shaun has spent his entire career in the Energy industry, most notable, Shaun held a variety of roles over a 24-year career at General Electric, culminating in the position of President for GE Oil & Gas Canada. After the merger of GE Oil and Gas with Baker Hughes in 2017, Shaun joined Trican to lead their Pipeline and Industrial division, and successfully sold the
division to Blackstone in 2020, where he led the acquisition and integration activities until the spring of 2021.

Shaun is an active in the entrepreneurial ecosystem that is growing in Calgary and sits on the Advisory Boards of three tech companies. Shaun is a registered Professional Engineer in Alberta, Canada, and a member of the Canadian Energy Executive.

Shea Sinnott

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, ACCELERATE FROM ANYWHERE

Shea is an experienced facilitator and program designer with over a decade of experience in social innovation and environmental advocacy. In her role as Director of Programs, Accelerate from Anywhere, Shea represents our partners at Social Innovation Canada, and plays a leadership role on the acceleration team, refining program strategy and educational content to better support the growth and impact of Foresight’s cleantech ventures.

Motivated by the climate emergency and committed to a just transition, Shea has held myriad roles and run successful programs with the Centre for Social Innovation (leading Climate Ventures and Earth Tech), Code for Canada, the David Suzuki Foundation, Next Up, and OpenMedia. She holds a Master’s in Adult Education & Community Development from the University of Toronto.

Shelley Voyer

As a leader in the technology industry bringing innovative products and services to market, Shelley’s launched programs for multinationals Nokia and Vivendi, founded an award-winning online community for girls, co-founded the UX/UI firm Forge Experience Design and spearheaded W Venture entrepreneurship program.

Shiraz Ramji

Over 20 years of experience in new product development and operations in the clean technology, green energy sector. Managed new product development projects from concept to close out for companies such as Ballard Power Systems, Endurance Wind Power and Svante Inc. Led cross-functional teams to develop project charters, plans, schedules, and reports to stakeholders including senior management and customers. Also, led supplier qualification and procurement efforts for prototype parts and short production runs. Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional with Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Calgary.

Shreyas G. Sali

Stephanie Gnissios

With 10 years experience in international project delivery, portfolio management, strategic  planning, and risk management, Stephanie works at the intersection of impact, strategy, and  climate. She also brings a focus of impact measurement and management, with experience  developing theories of change, impact outcome frameworks, and impact management and  measurement plans.

Her experience focuses on bridging communication and collaboration of  multi-functional teams and facilitating alignment of objectives, brought together in  action-oriented plans and strategies to achieve clear outcomes embedding climate and  sustainability as factors in strategic decision-making and risk management.

Stephanie has a  Bachelors in Applied Science (University of British Columbia) and a Master in Business  Administration (University of Oxford).

Stephanie Wright

Stephanie brings over 15 years of progressive experience in a diverse range of corporate finance and business development roles within the energy sector. Most recently, she was the Vice President of a private energy company with a focus on transitioning legacy oil assets in Alberta into a carbon neutral business. Prior to that, she was part of the team that developed an asset in Chad from zero to 25,000 barrels/day, managing a $1.5 billion budget throughout.

She is an advocate for a clean energy transition, and passionate about diversifying Calgary’s economy. Outside of work, she can be found hiking, trail running, rock climbing or spending time with a house full of rescue dogs.

Stephen Evans

Stephen Evans has lived in the Fraser Valley for the past 30 years. Since 1994, Stephen has worked in the field of Human Resources and Business Development. Having worked as a Self-Employment Program Coordinator/ Business Analyst/General Manager for several Community Futures organizations located throughout Canada. Stephen has also managed several human resource and employment service delivery agencies. In addition, Stephen managed the largest raspberry cooperative in Canada having been responsible for the processing and sales of more then 10 million pounds of fruit internationally. Dealing with blue-chip customers, international finance and trade has provided a unique skills set for Stephen.

Stephen has also acquired extensive experience within the employment services, grants and contributions, and sales/business coaching fields. In his current role, Stephen has been instrumental in the developing the Fraser Valley Artisans Food Hub, a regional shared-use kitchen; an online marketplace for Small Scale Food Processors called Buy BC Food and Drink; and several youth self-employment programs including the Wild Craft Foods Program targeting Indigenous Youth. Stephen operates his own ag-food business consulting service. Stephen’s passion for small business as they scale, particularly within the ag-food sector, has provided him with specialized expertise within the fields of food production, human resources and small business financing. Stephen knows how to scale a food business. Stephen received his Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies from the University of Cape Breton (with distinction) and a Diploma in Applied Arts (Community Development) from the College of the North Atlantic.

Stephen Wilson

VP, Acceleration

Stephen is experienced in sales, business development, and operations. Always looking to add a positive contribution to all stakeholders, Stephen brings high-level thinking and a broad base of experience.

Stephen graduated from the Sauder School of Business with a Bachelor in Commerce. Starting his career at an event marketing company, he moved into fashion before finding his passion for electronics. Having worked with startups in the LED lighting space to a global company in power conversion, Stephen has worked in teams both small and large to raise financing, launch products, drive volume and deliver on complex custom sales.

Stephen is responsible for delivering the value of our flagship accelerator programs, and EIR and mentor networks to the cleantech ventures Foresight supports. 

Steve Oldham

Steve is an experienced growth focused executive with extensive experience in large, established companies as well as start up / scale up companies.

Steve was CEO of BC based Carbon Engineering from 2018 to 2022, taking the company from a small scale R&D focused company into a world leader in carbon removal. His tenure involved raising significant equity funding, securing Government financial support at the Federal and Provincial level, negotiating strategic partnerships and customer contracts, building internal support functions and driving public and policy awareness for carbon removal.

Prior to Carbon Engineering, Steve was an Executive Vice President at Macdonald Dettilwer (MDA). Over a 21 year career at MDA, Steve managed large divisions, developed corporate and divisional strategy, booked contracts totalling in the billions and applied core business skills to many different domains and markets.

Steve is a graduate in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Birmingham in England and now lives in Vancouver.

Steven Lee

Steven is a dynamic leader and experienced financial executive with a career focused on hypergrowth companies. He most recently was the Head of Finance for Beanworks, an AP Automation software company, where he oversaw a 400% growth in revenue, successfully completed the company’s first ever financial audit, and oversaw its eventual sale to Quadient. As an early employee of Mobify, a privately-owned SaaS company with a staff size of 160, Steven successfully secured the company’s first financing (+$10M), led the M&A process of multiple companies, oversaw a 300% growth in revenue and a 400% increase in staff with expansion into the UK and US. Steven was also an early employee of Slack Technologies, touted as the fastest company to reach a billion-dollar valuation. He was instrumental in creating infrastructure and helping to grow and scale the business through multiple rounds of financing and acquisitions.

Besides Steven’s expertise in SaaS, M&A and financing of high-growth companies, he also had many years of experience in senior management at Grant Thornton LLP. He is currently VP of Finance for Relay Platform Inc., an InsurTech SaaS company that helps insurance brokers drastically increase their close and renewal rates by securing and comparing quotes and creating winning proposals faster. He was also board advisor for HealthSpace Data Systems Ltd., Olive Technologies Inc., and Blimp Technologies Inc. As a passionate advocate for community and mentorship he has also served as Treasurer and Chair of Audit and Finance Committee of Ronald McDonald House BC, Vancouver Treasurer of St. John’s Ambulance Canada and acts as a mentor to start-ups and growing businesses.

Suvranil Majumdar

Suvranil is currently working as a senior advisor on climate smart innovation focusing on technology / partnerships/financing at the World Bank in India and SE Asia. Suvranil had supported the 250 m USD electric mobility program in India where he have engaged with governments, corporates, FI’s startups on policy/business models and financing. Additionally, he has co-founded two global platforms at the World Bank focusing on startups in climate urban tech (including renewable/storage, built environment, waste tech) and water in Asia/Africa/ Latin America.

In 2021, Suvranil co-founded Harvard Climate Circle accelerator (Harvard Climate Circle) where he is advising 16 startups working on clean energy, circular economy, waste water reuse solutions, environmental monitoring, carbon offsets etc. He is also an advisor/mentor at Techstars Sustainability, Boston and Alabama Accelerators and a venture partner at India’s
dedicated climate fund.

Prior to the World Bank, Suvranil had worked as a Product Manager at a Financial Technologies’ company (acquired by Oracle). I am a mechanical engineer and then did his Master’s in public policy from Kennedy School.

Taran Grey

A fervent advocate for tech, Taran Grey is currently the Director of Intellectual Property and Grants for several Vancouver-based technology firms. With a 100% pending application to issued patent success rate at Moj.io Inc., Bionic Power Inc., and Nextleaf Solutions Ltd., Taran’s success far surpasses the 55% average of the Fortune 500. He has obtained non-dilutive, non-repayable cash grants and subsidized labour for his firms in the seven figures. Immediately prior, he was employed by Webtech Wireless Inc. where he tripled the size of the patent and trademark portfolios and obtained copyright registration for source code in the US and Canada while reducing the aggregate total IP expenses incurred.

Prior to Webtech, he was employed by the multinational electronics corporation Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. in the Intellectual Property and Standards Division (“IP&S”) as Senior IP Paralegal. More specifically, his position was within the Creation Team attached to the Lighting Business Group. Taran acted as sole paralegal to two attorneys situated in Boston, handling all docketing and eFiling for both. In addition, the IP&S executive branch seconded Taran to manage post-merger integration issues following the $4.5 billion USD acquisitions of several lighting firms.

Taylor Cooper

Taylor Cooper is a founding employee and principal engineer at MistyWest. He is an
engineering physicist by training with 15 years of experience in product development
ranging from instrumentation and medical diagnostics to wearables and computer
vision.

Ted Mao

Dr. Ted Mao is newly appointed as Chief Technology Officer at Evercloak. Since March 2020, he has been President, MW Technologies, Inc., offering “CTO for hire” to help start-up companies to develop and commercialize new technologies in the CleanTech space. Ted was Vice President, Research and Chief Technology Officer for 14 years at Trojan Technologies (part of Danaher Corporation, an S&P 100 company).

As part of the Executive team, drove >300% growth and built a global leading brand in the water industry with science and innovation, helping lives of over 1 Billion people with technologies in consumer, industrial, municipal and marine segments. Dr. Mao built a world-class industrial research team to develop innovative water treatment technologies using ultraviolet light and non-UV based core technologies to provide safe drinking water and to protect environment and public health. He developed a global network of thought leaders, influencers and open innovation partners, including academics, regulators, end-users, consulting engineers and technology providers. Dr. Mao is passionate on developing young scientists. He established an internship program with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at Trojan Technologies and developed over 70 highly skilled R&D professionals. Many of them are professors, scientists and senior engineers in the water industry around the world. Ted is a highly sought-after international speaker on technologies and innovation, and an active organizer of international conferences and workshops. He was Chair of IWA ecoSTP2018 Conference on “Ecotechnogies for Wastewater Treatment”.

He is currently an executive board member of International UV Association (IUVA) and vice president of IUVA Americas, and a member of WEF and IWA. He has served on Research Review Panels of US EPA, Canadian NSERC and Ontario MRI. Dr. Mao is a Professional Engineer and an adjunct professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto.

Tejas Kashyap

Tejas has been active in the Canadian Arctic both as a venture capitalist and from a policy perspective, so he understands the challenges Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs face. His focus at Tlicho Investment Corporation (TIC) is on the continuous improvement of processes used in mining, construction, engineering, and supply chain divisions; and increasing the organization’s capacity in new ventures based on low-carbon technologies and the supporting  infrastructure (including renewable energy and energy efficiency) 

Tejas started his career at Emerald Technology Ventures, Toronto analyzing technologies and companies focusing in advanced materials, water technologies and smart grids. One of the  Emerald’s portfolio companies – RuggedCom was acquired by Siemens for $382 million. Tejas also worked for the Government of the Northwest Territories as the Specialist for Mineral  Investments, and during his tenure of attracting investments to NWT mineral industry, De Beers Canada Inc. and Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. opened world’s biggest, newest diamond  mine (Gahcho Kué mine) with capital costs $970 million.  

Additionally, Tejas sits on the Board of Directors for American Chamber of Commerce – Canada  West. 

Tejas holds a Master of Business Administration from Vancouver Island University, Canada; and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, India

Terry Mah

Terry Mah has 20+ years of international, executive experience in the environmental services
sector (water, energy, waste management) commercializing and delivering a variety of
technology and services while creating growth for Veolia Environnement, the world’s largest
provider of environmental services where I was the CEO of Veolia North America and the COO
for Veolia’s global water technology/services division. After leaving Veolia, I became actively
engaged in supporting companies create growth and value leveraging my experience around
technology development & commercialization, investment and partnerships, market positioning,
strategy, and organizational development. I am also involved with two water “not-for-profit”
innovation accelerators that help entrepreneurs and start-ups position for success.

Terry Mah

Advisory Board

Dr. Terry Mah is an innovative performance-oriented leader and manager with 20+ years of international experience and a passion for water. Dr. Mah has a proven track record of technology development & commercialization, business development and transformation, profitable growth, and value creation across a diverse and challenging background of highly specialized activities and geographies.

Terry is the Co-Founder of Thales Water Advisors, Founder of The Malabar Group, and Co-Founder of TerraFin Partners whose activities are focused on innovation and strategies that bring positive impact. Prior to this, Terry spent 19 years with Veolia where he held numerous executive positions, including serving as a member of Veolia’s Management Committee, Chief Executive Officer of Veolia North America, and Chief Operating Officer of Veolia’s Global Water Technologies group.

Dr. Mah studied at the University of British Columbia where he earned a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Microbiology, and received his Ph.D. in environmental engineering

Thiago Amaral

As an enthusiastic individual, Thaigo has a solid track record of exceeding customer expectations
and delivering on departmental objectives. He applies a consultative approach to his work while
ensuring all parties are consistently updated on progress and milestones.

He is a Sales Specialist with Siemens Canada (POC LDA) and is accountable for several primary responsibilities, including managing complex accounts and sales with multiple stakeholders, leading the mining strategic position in Canada, signing the technical risks of projects, creating and implementing a company-wide industry strategy,
improved the company’s revenues through cross-selling, developed compensation models
regarding sales personnel, and built strong relationships with target customers and OEMs.

He is actively involved in sales and operational management, strategy,
leadership, and problem solving.

Thomas Partridge

Program Manager & Special Projects

Thomas is an experienced project manager with a passion for making a difference in the accelerator and cleantech space. Thomas has gained experience with startups, government, utilities, academia, environmental consulting firms, and private industry. He is excited to be working with cutting edge companies dedicated to creating a greener, more sustainable future.

Prior to Foresight, Thomas managed programs for SFU’s Venture Connection Incubator, built global educational partnerships at Transoft Solutions, delivered funding programs through InnovateBC, and developed long term resource plans for FortisBC. He has a business degree and a Project Management Professional designation. In his free time he enjoys tennis, road biking, and travelling.

Tiffany Chester

A strategic thinker with extensive experience in senior marketing roles, Tiffany Chester brings unique insight into developing lean and effective data-driven marketing. Over her 20-year career, Tiffany has had responsibility for marketing, strategic planning and business development within the highly competitive technology sector. Previous roles include VP Marketing, Wavefront (Canada’s Centre of Excellence in Wireless), Head of Sales & Marketing at Lighthouse Labs and  leading the development and execution of the first annual #BCTECH Summit.  

Tiffany co-created and delivers brand and marketing programming for founders and CEOs of  growth-stage businesses for accelerators such as W Ventures, VIATEC, Foresight and BCTech. She was part of the team that built the economic impact logic and reporting platform for the Lazaridis Institute Scale-Up program. Tiffany is known for her ability to build creative customer-centric marketing strategies. 

Titilope Bukunmi-Omidiran

Titilope is an Environmental and Sustainability professional with over 8 years’ experience around environmental science, environmental toxicology, sustainability management, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, spatial and temporal analysis, and applications of technology to environmental health. She has experience teaching environmental science and related topics at university level in North America.

She has a background in Mathematical Science, MSc in Information Systems Management from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, and a PhD in Environmental Toxicology from the Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, USA. She has continued to successfully apply her education, skills, and experiences to protect and enhance a sustainable environment and supporting a green economy.

Tom Hawkett

Tom is a high performance business development leader with a track record of selling over $20 million of software, training and business services across his career. He works with businesses to creatively problem solve, innovate & strategize to grow revenue. As a business development specialist, he does direct selling, develop partnerships and marketing campaigns for mostly b2b SaaS software platforms for businesses. His goal is to raise revenues, performance, customer and employee engagement, while adding value to stakeholders. Overall he helps buyers to buy better and vendors to sell more effectively.

He has been Involved in developing use cases for solutions utilizing IoT devices networks, software, AI and business analytics for Smart Buildings, water damage mitigation, healthcare, hospitality, restaurants, by optimizing occupancy, safety & risk mitigation.

He is skilled at identifying and developing profitable partnerships with clients and other vendors. As a team leader by doing and as a sales coach, he raises performance thru talent development.

Tom provides a wealth of knowledge and experience working with senior management to solve problems, innovate and enable growth strategies by leveraging integrated ERP, CRM, talent development and data analytics. Tom works directly with organizations, as well as working with strategic partnerships to work with senior management teams to ensure their financial and IT systems are optimized for transformation.

Tony Dhaliwal

Program Manager

Tony has a demonstrated history of working in the renewables and environment industry. Skilled in consulting firm Operations Management, Project Management, Sustainable Marketing and Education. Tony is a strong community and social services professional having dealt with a cross-section of individuals and ethnicities. He previously worked for G-Pak Technology as a Sustainability Project Manager and at RecycleSmart Solutions as an Operations Manager.

Tony began his educational journey at the University of Calgary where he was on scholarship for the Dinos Men’s Basketball team. He completed his BA Geography and Minor in Sociology at the University of Fraser Valley (UFV). Tony’s Master’s research assessed the City of Abbotsford’s waste management program through the lens of intergenerational Sikh families at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC).

Trevor Stuthridge

Dr. Trevor Stuthridge brings extensive international executive and governance experience in innovation and technology commercialization organizations in the forestry, bioeconomy and clean technologies sectors. Trevor recently served as Executive Vice President for FPInnovations – the world’s largest not-for-profit forestry sector research organization – where he led R&D operations and staff across 3 campuses and was responsible for business development, organizational strategy, and executive level engagement with industry, federal and provincial governments, academia and indigenous communities.

In addition to his operational duties, Trevor also led change programs to improve inter-disciplinary collaboration and established Centres of Excellence to drive innovation. Trevor also worked to harmonize internal business management and research delivery systems and re-invigorated the ideation-to commercialization innovation pipeline, including a customized stage-gating system, entrepreneurship program, and an online open innovation platform.

Trevor Westerlund

Let’s evolve and grow your business

Trevor connects with potential clients to understand their business needs and objectives. With over 20 years of strategic relationship building and digital strategy experience, Trevor has helped clients such as HBO, Delta Controls, NHL, PostMedia, Madison Square Garden, DKNY, NBA, MLS, Rogers, TELUS, Apple, RIM, the BC Government as well as start/scale-ups to retain and keep their users happy. A dedicated business development professional, his approach to impactful digital transformation has lead to successful and profitable outcomes for a very diverse group of clients.

Tyler Klinkhammer

Content Manager

Tyler Klinkhammer is a communications specialist with a background in community journalism as a reporter and editor, giving him a wide variety of experience. Tyler brings a passion for storytelling, environmentalism and keen curiosity about the cleantech industry to his role as a Content Manager at Foresight Canada.

Tyler Maksymiw

Community Manager

Tyler is a sustainability professional interested in leadership development. His experience working in consulting and start-ups has led him to develop his skills in project management, organizational transformation, and leadership.

Tyler holds a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from the University of Toronto, where he studied the effects of leadership models on employee commitment to sustainability.

Valerie Henderson

Valerie is well known in Vancouver for a successful consulting practice established in 1994 to provide senior HR services to small and medium sized companies. She has worked with dozens of companies in a variety of industries to establish best Human Resources practices, manage organizational change and instill corporate values within the team. Her track record includes:

• Providing start-up infrastructure for well-known Vancouver hi-tech companies and leading HR function through to recruitment of in-house HR teams
• Participating on transition teams on both sides of transactions
• Coaching technical leads in people management skills to assist their growth to senior management positions
• Providing communications and interpersonal professional development to employees
• Ensuring companies follow current HR Best Practices

Vigen Nazarian

Vigen Nazarian is the President of NuBinary Ventures, a full-service venture and product
development company providing advisory services to early-stage startups, SMEs and
educational institutions.

A serial entrepreneur and cofounder in three companies with successful exits (1X public),
Vigen has diverse experience in technology development ventures as well as expertise and
resources that help partnering individuals and organizations to navigate risk through all
stages of growth.

In the past 20 years, Vigen has mentored over 1000 entrepreneurs. He is currently engaged
with several Canadian incubator and accelerator hubs from coast to coast. He is also a
board member on several public and private organizations such as McMaster Innovation
Park, University of Toronto ICUBE, Protagenic Therapeutics and an EIR at Ryerson
University, Innovate Calgary, City of Mississauga and a mentor at Next AI Montreal.

Walter Thorson

With over 25 years’ experience in senior corporate innovation and technology R&D roles, Wally brings fresh insights and practical solutions to the organizational, cultural, and business prioritization challenges facing today’s corporate leaders and innovation champions.

Yasmine Roulleau

Yasmine mobilizes capital for social impact and scales companies from  inception to exit. With over 18 years experience, Yasmine is a serial  entrepreneur: acting as a technology co-founder, fund advisor and executive  strategy leader—she has an unparalleled ability to bring the right stakeholders  to the table to make critical decisions and bring visionary ideas to life. With the  unique lens as an entrepreneur and deeply compassionate organization leader,  and deep experience working with pre-seed, early stage and public  companies, Yasmine brings the unique ability to not only identify and connect  major investments, achieve financial and social returns but provide the  strategic and operational expertise to companies across major inflexion points. 

Currently she advises investment portfolios for family offices, VCs and major  government-backed funds, generating deal flows and investments between $15 – $100M. This  includes an in-depth expertise in advising on social impact measurements, metrics and alignment  with the funding strategy across a wide variety of complex stakeholders. 

Yasmine is a master of influence. She has the ability to formulate strategy and establish a coalition  of individuals across business units, functions, and geographies to improve the execution of all types  of innovation. As an executive strategy advisor, she not only has grown the Striven Consulting brand  to quadruple revenue, but also advises major Fortune 500 and technology clients including Deloitte,  Ericsson, Ritchie Brothers and Raymond James as well as federal and provincial governments in  North America. She is also a strategic advisor with Get Fresh Ventures where she connects strategy  with financing and investment readiness. In the mining and gaming industries, Yasmine is recognized  for establishing cutting-edge social impact ventures that have catalyzed impact investments and  industry standards across North America. 

As a technology co-founder, Yasmine has straddled the gaming, healthcare, and real-estate space,  including cofounding ventures such as Reta, GameSecure, mPLOY, V4D, DevTest, a number of which  she has exited and structured into international joint ventures. Yasmine has the unique ability to work  with early-stage entrepreneurs and help scale their networks, product development and talent. She  brings hands-on startup technology and clinical experience, strategic leadership and financing  expertise to her advisory and board roles at Tonit, Arbutus Medical, Maitri Health, Seecure, Blinc,  Alexis, and serves as an ambassador at International Deal Gateway, the Praxis Spinal Cord Institute,  and the Founders Institute. 

Yasmine is committed to supporting a number of volunteer initiatives through her expertise. She  serves on the Aga Khan Grants and Review Board as a National Board Member leading Special  Projects across Canada. She previously served on the board of the Portland Hotel Society in the  Downtown Eastside in Vancouver and served as Chair of the St Paul’s Youth Leadership Board. 

Yasmine is credited as a visionary for the growth and evolution of the healthcare industry in Canada  as evidenced by high-ranking accolades from the Healthcare Leaders of Canada and the Certified  Health Executives (CHE). She also holds an Executive MBA from Sauder Business School.