Dr. David Babson is an innovation leader and climate strategist working at the intersection of science, policy, and technology deployment. As Executive Vice President for Climate & Energy at XPRIZE, David leads the development of ambitious global competitions designed to accelerate breakthrough solutions for clean energy transitions, decarbonization, resource efficiency, and global climate resilience. He brings more than a decade of experience spanning government, academia, and the nonprofit sector, where he has advanced cutting-edge technology programs, shaped evidence-based public policy, and promoted sustainable investment to meet urgent climate goals.

Previously, David served as Executive Director of MIT’s Climate Grand Challenges Initiative, as a Program Director at ARPA-E, and in senior roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy, focusing on carbon management, biotechnology, and bioeconomy innovation. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Senior Fuels Engineer at the Union of Concerned Scientists and as a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. David holds a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from Rutgers University, completed postdoctoral research at the University of Minnesota and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, and earned a B.S. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He lives in Marshfield, Massachusetts, with his wife and three children.

Tim Balombin serves as the Head of U.S. Energy Investment Banking for TD Securities based in Houston, Texas.

Tim joined TD Securities’ Global Energy group as a Managing Director in March 2019. He is focused on the upstream and carbon capture sectors and he has over 18 years of investment banking experience.  Tim has advised domestic and international corporate clients and financial sponsor clients across the broader energy space and in a variety of strategic situations, including but not limited to public and private M&A, joint ventures, and capital raises.  Prior to joining TD Securities, Tim was a Managing Director on Wells Fargo’s Energy M&A team focused on the upstream sector.  Before Wells Fargo, Tim worked on RBC Capital Markets’ M&A team and he focused on the energy, power and utilities, and technology sectors.  Previous to his career in investment banking, Tim practiced as a securities and M&A defense attorney at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati for several years. 

Tim holds a Bachelor in Business Administration in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin, an MBA from Baylor University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Law School.

Roger serves as President and CEO of Addenda Capital, an investment management firm that looks after insurance, pension, private wealth, corporate and foundation assets. Addenda is majority-owned by Co-operators Group Limited, of which Roger is a member of the senior management team. Under his tenure, Addenda has launched one of Canada’s first impact fixed income funds as well as two climate transition equity funds. The firm is part of the worldwide Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiative since 2021 and is a founding participant in Climate Engagement Canada.
Roger is a board member and former Chair of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA) and sits on the boards of Finance Montréal and the Transition Accelerator. Additionally, he serves as an Advisory Board member of the Institute for Sustainable Finance at the Smith School of Business (Queen’s University). He also presented on climate-related topics and moderated panels on Indigenous economic reconciliation. In 2021, Roger was a recipient of Canada’s Clean5O and Canada’s Clean16 Awards as a leader in the Financial and Services Organizations category. In March of this year, he was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of sustainable finance. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from McGill University as well as the CFA® designation.

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Roger occupe le poste de président et chef de la direction d’Addenda Capital, une société privée de gestion de placements qui veille sur des actifs détenus par des assureurs, des régimes de retraite, des investisseurs privés, des entreprises et des fondations. La majorité des actions de la société sont détenues par le Groupe Co-operators limitée, dont Roger fait partie de l’équipe de direction. Sous sa gouverne, Addenda a lancé l’un des premiers fonds de revenu fixe d’impact au Canada ainsi que deux fonds d’actions axés sur la transition climatique. La firme fait partie de l’initiative mondiale Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) depuis 2021 et compte parmi les participantes fondatrices d’Engagement climatique Canada.
Roger est membre et ex-président du conseil d’administration de l’Association pour l’investissement responsable (AIR) et siège aux conseils d’administration de Finance Montréal et de l’Accélérateur de transition. Il est également membre du comité consultatif de l’Institut de la finance durable à la Smith School of Business (Université Queen’s). Il a prononcé plusieurs allocutions sur la finance durable et sur des questions liées au climat, en plus d’animer des panels de discussion sur la réconciliation économique avec les peuples autochtones. En 2021, Roger a reçu les prix canadiens Clean50 et Clean16 en tant que leader dans le secteur des services financiers. En mars 2025, il s’est vu décerner la médaille du couronnement du roi Charles III en reconnaissance de sa contribution à la promotion de la finance durable. Il est titulaire d’un baccalauréat en économie de l’Université McGill et a obtenu le titre d’analyste financier agréé (CFA).

Guillaume Béland studied business at Laval University in Quebec City and diplomacy at the University of Montreal. He has launched several tech companies in Quebec and Brussels. He has also worked at the Brussels Economic Development Agency and in southern Belgium as director of a digital venture fund. He currently works as a direct investment director at Zone Agtech. He is notably responsible for the development of the largest real estate project dedicated to agricultural technology companies in Canada.

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Guillaume Béland a étudié le commerce à l’Université Laval à Québec et la diplomatie à l’Université de Montréal. Il a lancé plusieurs entreprises tech au Québec et à Bruxelles. Il a également travaillé à l’agence de développement économique de Bruxelles et dans le sud de la Belgique comme directeur d’un fonds d’investissement à risque dans le digital. Il travaille actuellement comme directeur d’investissement direct à la Zone Agtech. Il s’occupe notamment au développement du plus important projet immobilier dédié aux entreprises de technologies agricoles au Canada.

Amélie Bergeron-Vachon has more than 13 years of diversified experience in clean technologies and business growth, and she has a degree in Environmental science and International Development at McGill. Since 2011, she has played a key role at Écotech Québec, where she held strategic positions as Senior Director & Partnerships, Director of Innovation and Commercialization, and Director of Outreach and Internationalization. In these roles, she contributed significantly to the structuring of partnerships and the expansion of the organization’s networks, as well as managed the various taskforces, including Financing, Skills and Talents, and Regulatory and Tax Framework.

Before joining Écotech Québec, Amélie acquired a wealth of international experience in Europe and Asia, before turning to business development in Montreal. As an administrator of EnviroCompétences since 2016, she maintains her commitment to the development of skills and talents in the clean technology sector.

Driven by a passion for initiatives that shape a more sustainable economy, Amélie is recognized for her collaborative approach and her ability to mobilize stakeholders around innovative projects, thus contributing to a cleaner and more prosperous future.

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Amélie Bergeron-Vachon cumule plus de 13 ans d’expérience diversifiée dans les technologies propres et la croissance des entreprises, et elle est diplômée de McGill en Environnement et développement international. Depuis 2011, elle joue un rôle clé chez Écotech Québec, où elle a exercé des fonctions stratégiques en tant que Directrice principale & partenariats, Directrice de l’innovation et de la commercialisation, et Directrice du rayonnement et de l’internationalisation. Dans ces rôles, elle a contribué de manière significative à la structuration de partenariats et à l’élargissement des réseaux de l’organisation, ainsi que piloté les différents chantiers, dont Financement, Compétences et talents, et Cadre règlementaire et fiscal..

Andrew Boswell is the CEO of BlueGrid, a software and data company accelerating marine electrification. Based in Nova Scotia and active across North America and Europe, BlueGrid delivers the intelligence for vessel and electric grid operators to optimize the financial and environmental benefits - from planning through operations. He brings an entrepreneurial mindset and global experience shaped by senior leadership roles in international firms, startups, and a range of volunteer roles.

Florent is a research and development executive with substantive experience in developing new technologies and business solutions that measure and reduce human impacts on our global environment. After graduating from Polytechnique (France) and completing graduate studies at Laval University (Canada), Florent worked as a System Engineer for ABB in the space industry. Holding several technical and management roles over the course of 15 years, he contributed to developing spaceborne analysers for greenhouse gas observation, weather forecast prediction and ozone measurement. He joined OPTEL group, a BCorp certified organization, in 2016 as Vice President of Engineering, where he has been participating in the expansion of the business. Currently the Chief Technology Officer, Florent drives the technology and go-to-market strategy of OPTEL group whose corporate vision is to bring visibility and transparency of the value chains. As a member of the Executive Committee, Florent collaborates with the president and Executive Committee to define the vision and set corporate strategy, goals and policies.
Father of two kids and ultramarathoner, Florent's motivation is promoting the balance between family life, active life and professional life.

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Florent Bouguin est le chef de la direction technologique du Groupe OPTEL. Il possède une expérience considérable dans le développement de nouvelles technologies et de solutions commerciales servant à mesurer et à réduire les impacts humains sur notre environnement. Après avoir obtenu son diplôme de l’École Polytechnique (Orléans, France) et avoir terminé ses études supérieures à l’Université Laval (COPL), M. Bouguin a travaillé comme ingénieur de système pour ABB. Occupant plusieurs postes techniques et de gestion pendant 15 ans, il a contribué au développement d’analyseurs spatiaux pour l’observation des gaz à effet de serre, les prévisions météorologiques et la mesure de l’ozone. Il a rejoint le Groupe OPTEL en 2016.  Aujourd’hui chef de la direction technologique, M. Bouguin pilote la stratégie technologique et de mise sur le marché du groupe OPTEL dont la vision est ‘’un monde connecté à l’aide de la chaîne d’approvisionnement intelligente d’OPTEL, apportant transparence et performance, méritant la confiance des consommateurs et encourageant la responsabilité sociale et environnementale de tous.’’
Père de deux enfants et ultramarathonien, la motivation de M. Bouguin est de promouvoir l’équilibre entre vie familiale, vie active et vie professionnelle.

Daniel Breton is President and CEO of Electric Mobility Canada, the national EV industry organization with approximately 200 members, including electricity suppliers, light, medium, heavy-duty and off-road vehicle manufacturers, cities, universities, EV charging networks, unions, technology companies, research centers, government departments, mining companies, environmental NGOs, electric vehicle owners’ associations, fleet managers, etc. 

A former Quebec Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development, Wildlife and Parks, he was the first elected official in charge of a government strategy for the electrification of transportation in Canada in 2012. He graduated in sustainable carbon management and has written hundreds of articles and several books about transportation electrification, climate change, air pollution and energy transition since 2004, namely a book, “50 myths and half-truths about electric vehicles” published in 2024 and a practical guide to electric vehicles in 2025.

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Daniel Breton est président et chef de la direction de Mobilité électrique Canada, l'organisation nationale de l'industrie des VE qui compte environ 200 membres, dont des fournisseurs d'électricité, des fabricants de véhicules légers, moyens, lourds et hors route, des villes, des universités, des réseaux de recharge de VE, des syndicats, des entreprises technologiques, des centres de recherche, des ministères, des sociétés minières, des ONG environnementales, des associations de propriétaires de véhicules électriques, des gestionnaires de parcs de véhicules, etc. 

Ancien ministre de l'Environnement, du Développement durable, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec, il a été le premier élu responsable d'une stratégie gouvernementale pour l'électrification des transports au Canada en 2012. Diplômé en gestion durable du carbone, il a écrit des centaines d'articles et plusieurs livres sur l'électrification des transports, les changements climatiques, la pollution atmosphérique et la transition énergétique depuis 2004, notamment un livre, « 50 mythes et demi-vérités sur les véhicules électriques » publié en 2024 et un guide pratique sur les véhicules électriques en 2025.

Craig Buntin is the founder and CEO of Rise, a construction innovation company focused on integrating AI, robotics, and advanced sustainable materials into the building industry. A former Olympic athlete with an MBA from McGill University, Craig has spent his career building and scaling companies that commercialize early-stage technologies to disrupt traditional industries.

As the co-founder and CEO of Sportlogiq, he helped transform the professional sports analytics industry, scaling the company into the leading analytics firm used by most teams in the NHL.

A lifelong environmental activist, Craig is deeply committed to the fight against climate change. He believes that with the right mix of science, entrepreneurship, and political will, we can solve the climate crisis within our lifetime.

Mercedes is a founding principal of Pratus Group, bringing 15 years of expertise in green building design and construction. She specializes in coordinating high-performance building projects, providing strategic guidance on energy efficiency, sustainable building best practices, and low carbon design. With deep knowledge of certification frameworks, Mercedes assists clients in achieving LEED, Fitwel, BOMA, SBTi, and the CAGBC's Net Zero Carbon goals. Known for her ability to foster collaboration, she excels in facilitating discussions and consensus-building within multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring innovative and sustainable outcomes.

For almost 35 years, Geoff Cape has been at the forefront of promoting urban innovation and environmental sustainability across diverse platforms. As CEO of Assembly Corp, Geoff has a long background in real estate and urban planning. He has been a builder, planner, operator, and a long time advocate for sustainable cities. Geoff is most well known for starting Evergreen in 1991, and the 42 acre site at Evergreen Brick Works. Selected in 2018 as a Member of the Order of Canada, and honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of “Canadians who have made outstanding and exemplary contributions to their communities or to Canada as a whole.”  In 2007, Geoff won the prestigious “Social Entrepreneur of the Year” award. Geoff was founding Chair of the Sustainability Institute, past Board member of Sustainable Development Technology Canada, and the Peter F. Drucker Foundation Selection Committee. Geoff has been a regular participant and speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Geoff is a Global Fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation. Geoff lives in the Annex neighbourhood in Toronto with his wife Valerie and three boys Toma, Ben and Sebastien, and cycles to work every day—even in blinding snow storms.

Phillip Caplan is a veteran business executive with a history of success in private equity, sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, real estate, and capital formation. 

Mr. Caplan is a member of the senior executive team at Sustainable Living Innovations Inc. (SLI), a building technology company revolutionizing the built environment.  SLI recently completed the world's first Net Zero Energy multifamily tower, a 15-story, 112-unit building in Seattle. SLI’s next wave of buildings will be delivered faster and at lower cost than conventionally-constructed buildings.

Mr. Caplan serves on the SLI Board of Directors, was previously Chairman of the Management Committee, and is currently its Head of Corporate Affairs, where he focuses on fundraising, investor relations, marketing, and communications. He and his team have recently raised over $125 million for the company from institutional investors, family offices and high net worth individuals.

Prior to co-founding Renova, Mr. Caplan was a Senior Vice President in the Investment Banking Group at Friedman Billings Ramsey Group (FBR) where he was responsible for capitalizing over $13 billion of structured finance and equity capital market transactions. He also served as the Managing Director and COO of Capital Crossover Partners, a hedge fund initially affiliated with FBR.

Prior to his career in finance, Mr. Caplan had a long career in government and politics, culminating in his service as Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary to President Bill Clinton. He reported directly to and had daily interaction with the President, managed information flow to and from the Oval Office and around the West Wing, was responsible for final presentation and analysis of all decision memoranda for the President, and provided counsel to the President and senior staff on a wide variety of issues.

Mr. Caplan holds a B.A. from Emory University and a J.D. from Georgetown University School of Law.

Leo Carvalho holds a degree in Mechatronics Engineering and has over 10 years of experience in agribusiness technology. He is currently the Chief Global Strategy Officer at Solinftec, where he leads global strategies, manages institutional, government, and multilateral relationships, leads fundraising rounds, and acts as the company’s spokesperson. He has also played a crucial role in the company’s international expansion, especially in the US and Canadian markets, driving its global growth.

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Leo Carvalho est diplômé en ingénierie mécatronique et possède plus de 10 ans d'expérience dans le domaine des technologies pour l'agroalimentaire. Il est actuellement directeur de la stratégie mondiale chez Solinftec, où il dirige les stratégies mondiales et gère les relations institutionnelles, les gouvernements et les organisations multilatérales, dirige les levées de fonds et agit en tant que porte-parole de Solinftec. Il a également joué un rôle crucial dans l’expansion internationale, notamment sur les marchés américain et canadien, stimulant la croissance mondiale de l’entreprise.

John Cassidy is Managing Director of Canada at SVG Ventures I THRIVE. He leads the development and implementation of the organization’s strategic plans to expand in Canada and is part of the SVG investment team which has invested in 20 Canadian tech companies.

John has over 13 years of experience in the technology & Investment industry. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer for a fintech SME in Europe. During his tenure, John led the company through its highest growth period which coincided with its first expansion into new markets. These achievements led to honors such as the ‘SME of Year Award’.

John holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Business (Finance) from the University of Limerick, Ireland. He also holds a Certificate in Technology Management from Stanford University and is a member of the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association.

Dr. Macarena Cataldo is the founder and CEO of Viridis Research Inc., a cleantech startup revolutionizing water treatment through cutting-edge electrochemical technologies. With over a decade of experience in the field, she has raised more than $2 million in funding and holds several patents and scientific publications focused on sustainable water treatment innovation.
Under her leadership, Viridis has developed industrial systems that degrade persistent organic pollutants—such as PFAS and textile dyes—while enabling on-site water reuse. These modular systems are designed to integrate seamlessly into existing infrastructure and have sparked interest from major apparel brands across Europe and North America.
Macarena’s work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the InnovateBC Sustainability Prize, Top 10 in the New Ventures BC Competition, the Spring Impact Challenge, TiE Women BC, and more. She is also a fellow of the prestigious RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator.
A passionate advocate for equity and sustainability, Macarena brings both technical depth and strategic vision to Canada’s cleantech ecosystem. As an award-winning entrepreneur, she is committed to building scalable deep-tech solutions that address the global water crisis and safeguard one of our most critical resources.

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Dr Macarena Cataldo est la fondatrice et PDG de Viridis Research Inc., une start-up de cleantech qui révolutionne le traitement de l’eau grâce à des technologies électrochimiques de pointe. Forte de plus de dix ans d’expérience dans le domaine, elle a levé plus de 2 millions de dollars en financement et détient plusieurs brevets ainsi que des publications scientifiques axées sur l’innovation durable en matière de traitement de l’eau.

Sous sa direction, Viridis a développé des systèmes industriels capables de dégrader les polluants organiques persistants — tels que les PFAS et les colorants textiles — tout en permettant la réutilisation de l’eau directement à la source. Ces systèmes modulaires sont conçus pour s’intégrer facilement dans les infrastructures existantes et ont suscité l’intérêt de grandes marques de l’habillement en Europe et en Amérique du Nord.

Le travail de Macarena a été récompensé par de nombreux prix, dont le Prix de la durabilité d’InnovateBC, le Top 10 du concours New Ventures BC, le Spring Impact Challenge, TiE Women BC, et bien d'autres. Elle fait également partie du prestigieux accélérateur RBC Women in Cleantech.

François Châteauneuf received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Laval University and his D.Sc. in Chemical Physics from University of Paris-XI in 1997. He worked as a Systems Engineer at ABB Bomem for 8 years and joined INO in 2006 where he managed the Environment Program and supervised development activities for applications in space and astronomy as well as for environmental monitoring. François is the co-founder in 2023 of OraVentis Technologies which offers industrial solutions for a better control of fugitive emissions of dust.

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François Châteauneuf a obtenu son doctorat en physico-chimie de l’Université Laval et de l’Université Paris XI en 1997. Il a travaillé pendant 8 ans en ingénierie système au sein d’ABB Bomem et a rejoint les rangs d’INO en 2006 où il a géré le programme « Environnement » visant le développement de technologies pour le suivi environnemental mais aussi pour les applications spatiales et pour l’astronomie. En 2023, François cofonde Technologies OraVentis qui offre des solutions industrielles pour un meilleur contrôle des émissions fugitives de poussières.

Benoit Charette is the Member of the National Assembly for Deux-Montagnes, representing the Coalition Avenir Québec. Since October 2022, he has served as Quebec’s Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, as well as Minister Responsible for the Laurentides region. Benoit has been a member of the board of directors of various community organizations over the years including Réseau Internet francophone Vieillir en liberté (RIFVEL), TRACE, Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi de Deux-Montagnes and SOS Jeunesse. First elected in 2008, Charette has been a key figure in advancing Quebec’s environmental policies, including marine conservation and energy transition initiatives. He holds degrees in history and public administration.

Brittany Chibe is a serial entrepreneur passionate about world-changing ideas that restore the oceans, increase food security, and protect the planet for future generations. In her role as co-founder and CEO, she leads all areas of AQUA’s growth, including sales, marketing and operations. Brittany started her career working for a global dairy company where she acquired, managed and grew businesses with the top national restaurant chains and retail grocers in the world. While pursuing her MBA, she founded a predictive analytic tech company with a DOE technology to detect and forewarn damage in civil infrastructure. After graduating from business school, she founded a grain-free snack company, profitably growing the business to an exit in six years. Brittany holds an MBA from the University of Illinois Chicago and a B.S. from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.

David is MIT’s Venture Builder for fusion & clean energy. As part of Proto Ventures, which is MIT’s venture studio, he is responsible for creating brand new businesses that leverage MIT technology for breakthrough impact in the fusion sector and related areas of clean energy. David has a decade of startup experience and holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from MIT.

Delia Cristea is one of the founding partners of Power Sustainable. She is a Partner, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel and has worked closely with the leadership team in building the firm since its inception in 2019. She is also responsible for deepening the firm’s community impact and ecosystem building activities in the sustainable finance space. Prior to Power Sustainable, Delia worked as Assistant General Counsel for Power Corporation of Canada, as well as counsel for Power Energy Corporation, the renewable energy developer in the Power Corporation group. Prior to that, she was Associate at McCarthy Tétrault LLP in the Montreal and Toronto offices in the funds and M&A groups and served as in-house counsel with BCE Inc. Delia graduated with a gold medal from McGill Faculty of Law and holds a license in law and a Masters in European law from Sorbonne University in Paris. She is the Chair of Lawyers without Borders Canada. She is passionate about supporting the growth of the sustainability ecosystem both in Canada and abroad. She is the co-founder of Women in Climate Finance, a pan-Canadian organization that empowers women as changemakers in the climate finance ecosystem and, as such, received the Clean50 Project Award for climate leadership. Additionally, she acts as board member to organizations in sustainability and climate transition space, including Sustainable Finance Montreal; Cycle Momentum and the Concordia Volt-Age (Electrifying Society) Program; and as advisor to policy-oriented initiatives such as the Green Finance Committee of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Canada2020.

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Delia Cristea est l'une des associées fondatrices de Power Sustainable. Elle occupe les fonctions d'Associée, Cheffe de l’exploitation et Cheffe de contentieux et a travaillé en étroite collaboration avec l'équipe de direction pour bâtir l'entreprise depuis sa création en 2019. Elle est également responsable de l'approfondissement des activités de développement de l'écosystème dans le domaine de la finance durable. Avant de rejoindre Power Sustainable, Delia a occupé le poste de Conseillère juridique adjointe chez Power Corporation du Canada, ainsi que celui de Conseillère juridique chez Power Energy Corporation, le développeur d'énergies renouvelables du groupe Power Corporation. Delia est diplômée de la Faculté de droit de McGill avec une médaille d’or et détient une licence en droit ainsi qu’une maîtrise en droit européen de l’Université de la Sorbonne à Paris.

Elle est Présidente d’Avocats sans frontières Canada. Elle est cofondatrice de Women in Climate Finance, une organisation pancanadienne qui encourage les femmes à être des agentes du changement dans l’écosystème de la finance climatique et, à ce titre, elle a reçu le Clean50 Project Award pour son leadership en matière de climat. Elle siège au conseil d'administration d'organisations oeuvrant dans les domaines de la durabilité et de la transition climatique, notamment Finance Durable Montréal, Cycle Momentum et le programme Volt-Age (Électrification de la société) de l'Université Concordia. Elle agit également en tant que membre du comité aviseur pour des initiatives axées sur les politiques, telles que le Comité de la finance verte de la Chambre de commerce du Canada et Canada2020.

Marilou Cyr is the Executive Director of Zone Agtech, one of Quebec’s most ambitious innovation hubs in agricultural technologies and plant-based bioproducts. Since 2019, under her leadership, the organization has built a 250-member business community, developed 5 international innovation corridors, launched 4 funding and innovation programs, accelerated nearly 200 companies, supported dozens of collaborative projects, and initiated construction of a $47M innovation complex.

With nearly 20 years of experience in clean agricultural technologies, she previously worked in business strategy and led projects in bioenergy.

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Marilou Cyr est directrice générale de la Zone Agtech, l’un des pôles d’innovation les plus ambitieux au Québec en technologies agricoles et bioproduits végétaux. Depuis 2019, sous sa gouverne, l’organisation a structuré une communauté de 250 membres, créé 5 corridors internationaux, lancé 4 programmes de financement et d’innovation, accéléré près de 200 entreprises, accompagné des dizaines de projets collaboratifs, et amorcé la construction d’un complexe d’innovation de 47 M$.

Forte de près de 20 ans d’expérience en technologies propres agricoles, elle a aussi été associée dans un cabinet de planification stratégique et a dirigé des projets en bioénergies.

Julie Daigle supports Canada’s food and beverage SMEs and startups as they scale and bring innovative products and technologies to market. With over 25 years of experience, she has worked closely with fast-growing food companies, offering mentorship and strategic marketing support to help them expand into new markets, both locally and internationally.

Her career includes extensive work in the seafood industry—both in Mexico and with Les Pêcheries Marinard—where she led international business development for high-value biotech by-products. Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Victoria and a master’s degree in fisheries management and marketing.

She has held key leadership roles as Executive Director of both the Créneau d’excellence Aliments Santé, an industrial cluster focused on food and nutrition innovation, and MYCÉLIUM, Quebec City’s flagship food incubator. Today, she continues to support the ecosystem through her work with CFIN, helping entrepreneurs access funding opportunities and marketing strategy tools.

Julie is deeply passionate about food innovation, nutrition, circular economy models, and the development of functional foods as part of climate-resilient food systems.

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Julie Daigle soutient les entreprises canadiennes du secteur alimentaire dans leur croissance et la mise en marché de produits et technologies alimentaires novateurs. Avec plus de 25 ans d’expérience, elle a accompagné de nombreuses startups et PME en leur offrant mentorat et conseils stratégiques en marketing, facilitant ainsi leur accès à de nouveaux marchés.

Son parcours l’a également menée à travailler dans l’industrie des produits de la mer, notamment au Mexique et au sein des Pêcheries Marinard, où elle a dirigé le développement des marchés internationaux pour des coproduits biotechnologiques à valeur ajoutée.

Titulaire d’un baccalauréat en biologie marine et d’une maîtrise en gestion des pêches – marketing, Julie a dirigé le Créneau d’excellence Aliments Santé, un pôle d’innovation en alimentation et nutrition, ainsi que MYCÉLIUM, l’incubateur alimentaire de la Ville de Québec. Elle est aujourd’hui un pilier du RCIA, où elle met son expertise au service des entrepreneurs pour les aider à accéder à des financements et à des ressources clés en stratégie marketing.

Passionnée par la nutrition, les aliments fonctionnels et l’innovation durable, Julie s’engage à faire émerger des solutions concrètes pour une alimentation plus saine et résiliente face aux défis climatiques.

Phil De Luna is Chief Science and Commercial Officer at Deep Sky, a carbon removals project developer building large scale infrastructure to reverse climate change. Prior to Deep Sky, Phil led carbontech at McKinsey & Company, was the youngest-ever Director at the National Research Council of Canada, and was a finalist in the Carbon XPRIZE. He is a Governor General Gold Medal winning scientist, a Member of the College of the Royal Society of Canada, an adjunct Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto, and a Forbes Top 30 Under 30.

René Demers is a Senior Vice President at the National Bank of Canada for Commercial Banking and Private Banking. He is responsible for all Real Estate Finance teams in Canada. This group of more than 250 employees manages over $40 billion in assets from its offices across Canada with a mission to support the top players in the market for both interim construction projects and long-term financing. René completed an MBA and a Master’s Degree in International Business and has worked in the banking industry for his entire career. Over the last 13 years, he has been recognized as an expert in the field of real estate finance. René’s diverse business development endeavors and ESG focus provide unmatched insight into social, sustainable and green financing.

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Depuis 2011, René Demers œuvre dans le domaine de l’immobilier à la Banque Nationale. Il est responsable de l’ensemble des équipes en financement immobilier pour le Canada. Ce groupe de plus de 250 employés gère pour plus de $40 milliards d’actifs dans ses bureaux à travers le Canada. La mission du groupe Immobilier Canada est d’accompagner les meilleurs acteurs du secteur immobilier autant dans leurs projets de financements intérimaires de construction que dans les financements long-terme d’actifs de qualité. Reconnu pour son expertise ESG, René met l’accent sur le financement durable, écologique et social.

Frédéric Dugré is the Co-Founder and CEO of H2O Innovation, a global leader in membrane-based water treatment solutions. With over 25 years of experience in public company leadership, financing, and clean tech development, he has played a key role in scaling H2O to over 800 water plants and operations in 75+ countries. Recognized twice as a Top 25 Water Leader by WaterWorld, he is passionate about sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship in the water sector.

Purpose-driven leader looking to have the greatest possible social and environmental positive impact in this planet and its people, all while having fun. Regular exercise-doer and yoga & meditation practitioner aiming at being well and thus being able to serve others.
Trilingual (EN/FR/SP), highly organized and results oriented team player with 20 + years of professional experience in management, strategy creation, planning and operational execution in Foundations and NGOs working to achieve SDGs with a focus on water and sanitation, food security, education, innovation and gender.
Demonstrated experience in building complex and effective multi-stakeholder alliances with governments, private sector, development banks, foundations and NGOs.
Recognized for its strong interpersonal skills able to build productive working relations with different groups of internal and external stakeholders and for its outstanding personnel team-building, problem-solving and decision making skills.
Ability to lead, to work under pressure, to work in teams, to learn quickly and to adapt to new environments.

Mario is a senior energy transition executive with significant experience developing and investing in energy infrastructure projects.

Before Breakthrough Energy, Mario was with Chicora Energy, an energy transition investment platform he co-founded focusing on Latin America. Before Chicora, Mario was with Macquarie Capital, serving as a Managing Director and Head of Latin America Energy Principal Investments Origination. Before Macquarie, Mario was the CFO for Trafigura’s US$1 billion Colombia fluvial logistics project. Mario also worked for several international financial firms, including ING Capital and Syncora Guarantee.

Mario obtained a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Boston College. 

Samuel has spent all his career working in the cleantech industry. He’s a seasoned international development leader, having worked on four continents enabling innovative companies to expand their markets. Sam greatly comprehends the AgTech industry and carries a vision for a more sustainable agriculture ecosystem. He holds a B.A. in political Science from Sherbrooke University and an MBA from Laval University.

Prior to founding ChrysaLabs in 2018, Samuel held strategic positions in the development of smart cities implementation projects, electric recreational vehicles manufacturing and electric vehicle sustainable power plant solutions.

Amélie Foz-Couture is a General Partner at Diagram, where she led the venture creation team for five years and now co-leads Diagram’s ClimateTech fund. Since joining in 2019, she has contributed to the launch of over 15 companies. Previously, Amélie was Senior Director of Product Management at SSENSE and a Principal at BCG Digital Ventures. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University.

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Amélie Foz-Couture est associée principale chez Diagram, où elle a dirigé l'équipe de création d'entreprises pendant 5 ans et co-dirige maintenant le fonds ClimateTech de Diagram. Depuis son arrivée en 2019, elle a contribué au lancement de plus de 15 entreprises. Auparavant, Amélie a été directrice principale de la gestion des produits chez SSENSE et directrice chez BCG Digital Ventures. Elle est titulaire d'un MBA de la Harvard Business School et d'un baccalauréat en commerce de l'Université McGill.

Alain Gadbois a gradué en génie civil de l’École Polytechnique de Montréal en 1987. Il a obtenu une maîtrise en Sciences Appliquées de la même institution en 1990. Il a d’abord travaillé à partir de 1989 comme ingénieur en R&D puis comme chargé de projet en traitement des eaux au sein de la firme Tecsult (AECOM). Il s’est joint à Veolia Water Technologies Canada en 1996 où il occupe le poste de vice-président sénior, technologies, innovation et développement durable. À ce titre, il coordonne les activités de conception commerciale, de la recherche et développement ainsi que des liens avec les gouvernements. Monsieur Gadbois a établi plusieurs collaborations universitaires à travers le Canada. Ses équipes basées à Montréal ont déposé plusieurs brevets et ont gagné divers prix d’innovation technologique.

Veolia est une multinationale française, chef de file mondial des services collectifs. Veolia commercialise des services de gestion du cycle de l'eau, gestion et valorisation des déchets et gestion de l’énergie à une clientèle composée de collectivités locales et d'entreprises. Elle compte près de 220 000 employés pour un chiffre d’affaires de près de 45 milliards d’euros.

With a strong passion for innovation, Patrick Gagné has always strived to create social and environmental impact through technology. For 25 years, Patrick has helped create and build a wide variety of businesses in technology by focusing on growth and innovation. In 2014, he cofounded Téo Taxi, a tech company that had a deep impact in transforming the taxi industry. Since 2018, Patrick contributed to the development of the Montreal startup ecosystem in his role as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the OSMO Foundation (Notman House) and as Co-founder and Co-CEO of Startup Montréal. In September 2020 he accepted the position of CEO at Cycle Momentum, a startup accelerator in the cleantech space, backed by Cycle Capital. Patrick has won several industry awards for mobile marketing and entrepreneurship (Entrepreneur Support Award from Startup Canada, Best mobile application – AQTR, Corporate Responsibility award – Novae, Award for employment creation in Québec, Consumer Choice award, C2-MTL Emerging entrepreneurs, Les Grands Prix du Design). 

Ilan Gewurz has a passion for creating “healthy and meaningful spaces” where people feel safe, comfortable and thrive. As a part of the Proment Corporation, Ilan was involved with the design and delivery of Vistal I & II, the first LEED Gold residential towers in Quebec. 

He is currently overseeing the master planning and construction of Quartier Pointe Nord, a LEED ND Gold mixed-use neighbourhood on the riverfront on Nuns’ Island. Pointe Nord consists of 6 high-rise towers as well as mid-rises and townhouses comprising a total of over 2,000 homes and 30,000 sq ft of retail. Prior to working with Proment Corporation, Ilan was a consultant with McKinsey & Company, focusing on organizational and cultural transformation. He has designed and taught courses in negotiations and leadership development internationally.

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Ilan Gewurz se passionne pour la création d'espaces uniques et bien pensés où les gens se sentent à l'aise, en sécurité et où ils peuvent s'épanouir.  En tant que membre de l'équipe de la Corporation Proment, Ilan a participé à la conception et à la livraison du Vistal I et II, les premières tours résidentielles ayant obtenu la certification LEED Or au Québec.  

Présentement, il supervise le plan directeur et la construction du quartier Pointe-Nord, un quartier à usage mixte LEED ND Or situé en bordure du fleuve à L'Île-des-Sœurs.   Le plan d’aménagement de Pointe Nord comporte 6 tours ainsi que des immeubles mi-hauteur et des maisons de ville, pour un total de plus de 2 000 logements et 30 000 pieds carrés de commerces. 

Auparavant, Ilan était consultant chez McKinsey & Company, où il se concentrait sur la transformation organisationnelle et culturelle. Il a conçu et donné des cours sur les négociations et le développement du leadership au niveau international.

Julian is a developmental coach for mission-driven entrepreneurs seeking a next-level leadership posture and wholesome connection. He has spent over two decades at the heart and nerve center of building conscious, progressive businesses while supporting their communities.

Julian has mentored founders and stakeholders in over a hundred high-impact startups, and taught entrepreneurship through the structure of both MBA programs and grass-roots ecosystems. He has also invested in a number of other progressive food and beverage companies.

For over twenty years, Julian has been an avid student of yoga, meditation, and life philosophy. Four years ago, he pivoted his work to focus exclusively on human development, coaching leaders, training teams, and facilitating events—all in service of integral organizational health.

In addition to running his own coaching practice, Julian works with some of Canada’s leading impact accelerators as a mentor and leadership development guide. He is based in the beautiful pastoral town of Frelighsburg, southeast of his home town of Montreal, when not exploring other outer worlds near and far.

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Julian est un coach en développement pour des entreprises à impact “scale-up”, cherchant à atteindre un nouveau niveau de posture en leadership et une connexion authentique. Il a passé plus de deux décennies au cœur de l'établissement d’entreprises conscientes et progressistes, tout en soutenant leurs communautés.
Julian a mentoré des fondateurs et des parties prenantes dans plus d’une centaine de startups à fort impact et a enseigné l’entrepreneuriat dans le cadre de programmes de MBA ainsi que dans des écosystèmes de base. Il a également investi dans plusieurs entreprises progressistes du secteur de l’alimentation et des boissons.

Depuis plus de 20 ans, Julian est un étudiant passionné de yoga, de méditation et de philosophie de vie.
Il y a quatre ans, il a recentré son activité pour se consacrer exclusivement au développement humain, coachant des leaders, formant des équipes et facilitant des événements – tout cela au service de la santé organisationnelle intégrale.

En plus de gérer sa propre pratique de coaching, Julian collabore avec certains des principaux accélérateurs d’impact du Canada en tant que mentor et guide en développement du leadership. Il réside dans la charmante ville pastorale de Frelighsburg, au sud-est de sa ville natale de Montréal, lorsqu’il n’explore pas d’autres mondes, proches ou lointains.

As the Co-Managing Director of Gensler Toronto, Eric is a true advocate for Gensler's Canadian clients. Bringing to the table a deep understanding of project management best practices, consensus building techniques, and extensive knowledge of project process, Eric is a trusted advisor for clients seeking to advance both their business and sustainability goals. In his role in Gensler’s Executive Leadership Program, Eric is leading conversations on the future of the architecture and design practice, including AI and automation.  With professional experience in commercial interior architecture, notably for financial industry clients, Eric's projects have won multiple ARIDO awards, an IIDA award in the hospitality category, and a Canadian Interiors 'Best of Canada' award.

Pierre Marc Gosselin is a seasoned entrepreneur and innovation advocate, currently serving as Senior Director of the R&D Studio at Hypertec. With over 20 years of experience across operations, entrepreneurship, growth, innovation, governance, and strategic partnerships, he has co-founded ventures in the tech sector and mentored startups, SMEs, nonprofits, and public institutions. A professor, consultant, and true creative thinker, Pierre-Marc blends strategic insight with a deep passion for sustainability, food, and forward-thinking innovation.

Lori Guetre is Vice President, Commercial and Strategy at 1PointFive and has spent the past seven years scaling and commercializing Direct Air Capture, an exciting new technology that will become one of the keys to solving for Geological Net Zero.  

Lori previously spent 26 years in engineering, project management, corporate finance, strategy, and business development in the aerospace sector.  

Lori holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and a Master's in Electrical Engineering.

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Lori Guetre est Vice-Présidente Commerciale et Stratégie chez 1PointFive. Elle a passé sept années au développement et à la commercialisation de la capture directe de l'air, une nouvelle technologie prometteuse qui deviendra l'une des clés de l'objectif « zéro émission nette géologique ».

Lori a auparavant travaillé 26 ans dans l'ingénierie, la gestion de projets, la finance d'entreprise, la stratégie et le développement commercial dans le secteur aérospatial.

Lori est titulaire d'une licence en génie informatique et d'une maîtrise en génie électrique.

Alexandre is the CEO & founder of 2 Degrés, an incubator fueling the next generation of cleantech startups, innovation and systemic impact driven projects. After more than five years in finance at Desjardins and launching a successful business of his own, Alex tapped into his network and, in 2019, brought 2 Degrés to life. His mission? Drive real impact and long-lasting change in both society and the economy. Rooted in a bold vision of entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration as catalysts for meaningful progress, Alexandre’s journey reflects a deep commitment to doing business differently — with purpose. Today, as he looks ahead to the economy of tomorrow, he leads a passionate team and an engaged community of partners who together are building sustainable wealth and shaping a more prosperous, responsible future for generations to come.

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Alexandre est le directeur général et fondateur de 2 Degrés, un incubateur d'impact dédié aux startups et aux projets d'innovations en technologies propres. Après plus de cinq ans dans le secteur financier chez Desjardins et le lancement d’une entreprise florissante, il met son réseau à profit pour créer, en 2019, 2 Degrés, un incubateur pas comme les autres : un catalyseur d'impact et de changements durables. Visionnaire engagé, Alex croit fermement que l’entrepreneuriat, l’innovation et la collaboration sont des leviers puissants pour transformer notre société. Son parcours et son avenir est guidé par une ambition très claire: générer un impact réel et bâtir un avenir responsable. Aujourd'hui, aux côtés d'une équipe dévouée, d'un réseau de collaborateurs engagés et d'un solide réseau de partenaires, il pilote 2 Degrés avec une énergie tournée vers l’économie de demain. Sa mission? Créer des richesses durables et façonner un monde plus prospère pour les générations présentes et futures.

Milfred Hammerbacher is a veteran cleantech leader with 30+ years in renewable energy. As Founder and CEO of S2E Technologies, he drives innovation across smart communities, energy solutions, and sustainable transport. He also serves as Chairman of the Board at Sustainable Energy Platforms, advancing climate-focused energy strategies. Formerly President of Canadian Solar Solutions, he oversaw $2B in business and major solar deployments. His career spans global roles in solar commercialization, manufacturing, and leadership across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Sven Harmsen leads NOVA by Saint-Gobain in North and South America. NOVA is Saint-Gobain’s corporate venture arm. As director of External Ventures, Sven is responsible for driving NOVA’s engagement with the startup ecosystem through strategic partnerships, minority investments, and acceleration programs.
Sven came to Saint-Gobain NOVA from M Ventures, the global corporate venture capital unit of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, where he served as Investment Director. At M Ventures, he established and led a global investment team, focusing on building a portfolio of strategic investments in performance materials.

Prior to M Ventures, he worked at BASF Venture Capital (BVC), where he opened its first office on the East Coast. At BVC, he oversaw the investment process, from identifying relevant investment targets to serving on the Board of Directors at some of the portfolio companies.

Sven holds a Ph.D. in Natural Sciences, with a focus on chemistry, from the Julius-Maximilians-University in Wuerzburg, Germany. He completed post-doctoral work at Stanford University. He lives outside of Boston, Massachusetts.

Brian is Director of the Environmental Markets Solutions Group within RBC Capital Markets. In his role, Brian supports clients looking to operationalize their net-zero targets through bespoke renewable energy and carbon solutions. Brian joined RBC in 2013 and worked in corporate strategy before pursuing a career change to focus on sustainability. Following graduate school, Brian returned to RBC and joined the Corporate Sustainability team where he led RBC’s carbon neutrality and renewable energy strategy, environmental reporting and the development of the first-ever renewable energy power purchase agreement signed by a financial institution in Canada. Brian also previously worked in the Capital Markets Sustainable Finance Group. Brian holds a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and an Honours in Business Administration from the Ivey Business School.

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Brian est Directeur du Groupe des solutions pour les marchés environnementaux au sein de RBC Marchés des Capitaux. Dans son rôle, Brian soutient les clients cherchant à opérationnaliser leurs objectifs de neutralité carbone grâce à des solutions sur mesure en matière d'énergie renouvelable et de carbone. Brian a rejoint RBC en 2013 et a travaillé dans la stratégie d'entreprise avant de changer de carrière pour se concentrer sur la durabilité. Après ses études supérieures, Brian est retourné chez RBC et a intégré l'équipe de durabilité d'entreprise, où il a dirigé la stratégie de neutralité carbone et d'énergie renouvelable de RBC, les rapports environnementaux et le développement du tout premier contrat d'achat d'énergie renouvelable signé par une institution financière au Canada. Brian a également travaillé auparavant dans le Groupe de finance durable des marchés des capitaux. Brian est titulaire d'un Master of Science en gestion de la durabilité de l'Université Columbia et d'un diplôme avec mention en administration des affaires de Ivey Business School.

Olivia is a Managing Partner and founding partner at Spring Impact Capital, a venture fund focused on investing in Canadian innovations for a more healthy, sustainable and equitable future. Her fund is actively deploying capital into pre-seed Canadian companies in climate and health. She has more than 15 years experience in finance and was formerly a VP at Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

Grady Howell is a Program Manager working in recycling and sustainability with Vestas American Wind Technology, where he has been working since 2017. He has worked in many capacities for Vestas over the years, predominantly in engineering, and has found a home in sustainability. In late 2020 he played a critical role in the startup of the "Blade Recycling" program for Vestas. He has stayed with the program ever since and took over management of the program in early 2022. 

With over 10000 tons of turbine material recycled since 2021; Grady has high hopes for the future of composite recycling in North America. Vestas, through the Blade Recycling program and other sustainability initiatives, looks to lead the wind energy industry in setting the sustainable standard.

Suzanne Hunt is Vice President, Policy for Generate Upcycle, a leading circular economy company headquartered in North America. Generate Upcycle was launched by Generate Capital to develop, own, and operate waste-to-value infrastructure across three core segments: food waste, compost, and wastewater. Generate Capital is a Public Benefit Corporation that owns, operates and finances infrastructure solutions for clean energy, water, transportation and smart cities in the US and abroad. Suzanne is also a Co-Owner of her family farm and certified sustainable winery in the Finger Lakes, Hunt Country Vineyards.  She is a Northeast Chapter Director of Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), a member of the Board of the environmental non-profit Energy Vision and the Mobility Futures Alliance, she serves on the Advisory Council for the Center for Earth Ethics at the Union Divinity School, and she is a Trustee of the Seneca Park Zoo Society. Suzanne has served as an advisor to entities such as the Club of Madrid, Air New Zealand, Bayer Corporation, and the Carbon War Room. From 2005–2007, Suzanne directed the Worldwatch Institute’s bioenergy program where she orchestrated the landmark research initiative and resulting book, “Biofuels for Transportation: Global Potential and Implications for Energy and Agriculture.” In 2007 she founded Hunt Green LLC whose clients included a wide variety of non-profits, private equity firms, U.N. bodies, government agencies, climate tech startups, and Fortune 500 companies. Suzanne has been featured as a “Pioneer” in Science Magazine, and as an expert in her fields in national and international print media and television. She holds a BS in Environmental Science from Penn State, and MA degrees in International Affairs and Natural Resource Management from American University and the UN’s University for Peace in Costa Rica.

As President of Kevric, Sébastien leads all development, redevelopment, and investment initiatives, combining strategic oversight with hands-on involvement in design and construction. He played a key role in major projects like 600 DLG and Place Bonaventure in Montreal, and the Atlantic Complex in Toronto. Sébastien also oversees Kevric Investments and Kevric Management. Since joining Kevric in 2015, he has been central to its growth. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from McGill and an MBA from INSEAD, and is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ).

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À titre de président de Kevric, Sébastien dirige toutes les initiatives de développement, de redéveloppement et d’investissement, alliant vision stratégique et implication directe dans la conception et la construction. Il a joué un rôle clé dans les projets majeurs de 600 DLG et de Place Bonaventure à Montréal, ainsi que dans le complexe Atlantic à Toronto. Il supervise également Kevric Investments et Kevric Management. Depuis son arrivée en 2015, il contribue activement à la croissance de l’entreprise. Sébastien est diplômé en génie mécanique de McGill et titulaire d’un MBA de l’INSEAD. Il est membre de l’Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ).

Jeanette Jackson is the CEO of Foresight, the nation’s largest cleantech accelerator. Foresight works with innovators, industry, investors, government, and academia across Canada to identify, develop, and ensure the adoption of cleantech solutions.

Jeanette is an entrepreneur with broad experience across multiple industries. She founded a tech company and built it into a thriving business; has secured millions in investment dollars, project funding and revenue; led numerous cross-functional teams, and developed innovative programs for cleantech acceleration and adoption, growing Foresight into a nation-wide organization.

Recognized as a leader in cleantech, both in Canada and internationally, Jeanette is a frequent speaker, media guest, and advisor to industry and government. Her leadership and work in the fight against climate change have been recognized through multiple prestigious awards, making her a driving force in the cleantech community.

After a career as a transit advocate where he helped pass more than $25B in funding for transit in Washington State, Rob was elected to be the first councilmember from Seattle’s Council District #4 a position he held from 2015 to 2019. While on council he was proud to pass Seattle’s largest zoning changes in 40 years, a $50B expansion of our region’s light rail system, and the largest investment in public school support in Seattle’s history. Since leaving elected office he’s been in charge of Sustainability and Transportation for the Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena. Rob’s led the team that secured the arena ILFI Zero Carbon, TRUE Zero Waste, and LEED Silver Certifications, eliminated front of house single use plastics, subsidized transit passes for all publicly ticketed events, installed on site solar, and much more.

Benjamin heads BloombergNEF’s global Innovation, key stakeholders, and partnerships based in the head office in London. In his current capacity, Benjamin is responsible for BloombergNEF Innovation programs, focusing on the company’s innovation research scope and climate-tech ecosystem. He also co-chairs BloombergNEF Pioneers and oversees the company’s relationship with key clients and stakeholders.

Benjamin joined New Energy Finance in 2006 to develop and lead the Venture Capital and Private Equity research team in the early days of the fast-growing company. In January 2008, Benjamin was assigned to establish and lead the New Energy Finance(NEF) customer service department.   Bloomberg acquired NEF in 2009, and the firm has since expanded its scope to cover more expansively the transformation of our world to a low-carbon economy, including energy, transportation, industry, nature and agriculture. 

Before joining BloombergNEF, Benjamin was a strategic consultant at Nestle SA subsidiary CPW, focusing on the optimisation of resources. Before Nestle, he was a part of the integration M&A team at Axa Group and senior analyst at Switzerland-based Asset Manager, Alasia Investment SA.
Benjamin was awarded a BA HEC Montreal in International Business and an MA in Economics and Management from HEC Lausanne Business School.

He lives in London, UK, with his two sons.

Simon Lafleur is the founder and CEO of Sunbird Energy, a Montreal-based company that helps organizations tackle the very real challenges of the energy transition through intelligent energy management.

Trained in construction engineering at ÉTS (École de technologie supérieure), Simon first gained hands-on experience on construction sites before moving into energy efficiency and decarbonization consulting. Over the years, he became increasingly convinced that solving the power capacity challenge - rather than simply reducing consumption - would be key to enabling large-scale electrification in Quebec and beyond.

This idea led him to launch Sunbird Energy in 2022 with a clear mission: to help organizations make smarter use of their electrical infrastructure. Today, his team works with companies in the commercial and industrial sectors to deploy intelligent energy management systems that integrate solar power generation, energy storage, air preheating, and electric vehicle charging.
Simon brings leadership, precision, and foresight to a grounded, hands-on approach to the energy transition. A committed strategist, he ensures that every project aligns with a broader ambition: building a more resilient, efficient, and intelligent energy future.

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Simon Lafleur est le fondateur et Président-directeur général de Sunbird Énergie, une entreprise montréalaise qui accompagne les organisations dans les défis bien réels de la transition énergétique grâce à la gestion intelligente de l'énergie.

Formé en génie de la construction à l’ÉTS (École de technologie supérieure), Simon acquiert de l'expérience sur les chantiers avant de se tourner vers le conseil en efficacité énergétique et en décarbonation. Au fil des projets, une conviction s’impose : le véritable levier pour électrifier à grande échelle ne réside pas uniquement dans la réduction de la consommation, mais dans la capacité à mieux utiliser l'énergie disponible.

C’est cette idée qui le pousse à fonder Sunbird Énergie en 2022, avec une mission claire : aider les organisations à utiliser leur infrastructure électrique de façon plus intelligente. Son équipe collabore aujourd’hui avec des entreprises issues des secteurs commercial et industriel pour y déployer des systèmes de gestion intelligente de l'énergie intégrant autoproduction d'énergie solaire, stockage d'énergie, préchauffage de l'air ainsi que recharge de véhicules électriques.

Il met aujourd’hui son leadership, sa rigueur et sa capacité d’anticipation au service d’une transition énergétique concrète et ancrée dans la réalité du terrain. Stratège engagé, il veille à aligner chaque projet avec une ambition plus grande : bâtir un avenir énergétique plus résilient, plus sobre et plus intelligent.

Fred is co-founder of Deep Sky and CEO and Co-Founder of Hopper, which sells $7 billion of travel and travel financial services per year. Frederic previously co-founded Newtrade Technologies, which was acquired by Expedia in 2002.

Zach is an impact investor at SWEN Blue Ocean, an early-stage venture capital fund focused on Seed and Series A investments in companies that support ocean health and regeneration. SWEN Blue Ocean focuses on three main verticals: solutions to pollution, solutions to ocean over-exploitation, and marine solutions to climate change.

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Zach est investisseur en capital-risque chez SWEN Blue Ocean, une entreprise qui recherche des start-ups en phase Seed et Série A soutenant la régénération de l'océan. SWEN Blue Ocean se concentre sur trois domaines clés : la pollution, la surexploitation et les solutions marines au changement climatique.

Pascal Lanctot is a Partner at BDC's Climate Tech Venture Capital Fund and has over 25 years of experience spanning technology, research, and investment. Passionate about sustainability and health, Pascal worked in early-stage biotech and cleantech companies in financial and corporate development roles. Pascal also drafted patent applications and IP strategies at an IP boutique and led investments in water, agtech and mining sectors at a Cleantech granting agency. Pascal holds a Ph.D. in Life Sciences (pharmacology), an MBA in Finance, and conducted postdoctoral research on neural stem cells at the Salk Institute.

Ka-Hay sources, evaluates, and executes on investment opportunities that align with the Fund’s sustainability and sustainable agriculture sectors and leads the development of the Fund’s impact management practice.  Ka-Hay brings over nearly 15 years of impact investment experience investing in agriculture, financial inclusion and low-carbon solutions around the world. When not working, Ka-Hay can be found trying to keep up with her kids on the trails, on the ski slopes and in the forests.

Alain Lemieux is the General Director of the Vallée de la Transition Énergétique (VTE), an innovation zone uniting Bécancour, Shawinigan, and Trois-Rivières to accelerate Quebec’s energy transition. A seasoned entrepreneur, he founded Epsilia and Noovelia, leaders in digital-physical integration and smart manufacturing. At VTE, he mobilizes academia, industry, and government to drive innovation in batteries, hydrogen, and transport electrification, aiming to position the region as a global hub for decarbonization.

Étienne Lemieux is a Canadian entrepreneur and the Chief Executive Officer of BioAlert Solutions, a company specializing in real-time, automated detection of Legionella bacteria in industrial and commercial cooling systems.

Holding a Ph.D. in Cell Biology and an MBA, he founded BioAlert Solutions in 2014 with the goal of transforming a scientific innovation into a practical public health solution. He has led the company from the early stages of technology development to the successful launch of a high-impact startup, providing continuous microbiological monitoring to help prevent Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks.

Under his leadership, BioAlert Solutions has experienced sustained growth, expanding across Canada and into the United States.

Étienne Lemieux is also actively involved in Québec’s water-tech entrepreneurial ecosystem, helping to promote local innovation and support the growth of companies in the sector.

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Étienne Lemieux est un entrepreneur québécois, président-directeur général de BioAlert Solutions, une entreprise spécialisée dans la détection automatisée en temps réel de la bactérie Legionella dans les systèmes de refroidissement industriels et commerciaux.

Titulaire d’un doctorat en biologie cellulaire et d’un MBA, il a fondé BioAlert Solutions en 2014 avec la volonté de transformer une innovation scientifique en une solution concrète de santé publique. Il a mené le projet depuis les premières phases de développement technologique jusqu’à la mise en marché d’une startup à fort impact, capable de prévenir efficacement les éclosions de légionellose grâce à une surveillance continue de la qualité microbiologique des installations.

Sous sa direction, BioAlert Solutions a connu une croissance soutenue, consolidant sa présence au Canada et amorçant son expansion aux États-Unis.

Étienne Lemieux s’implique activement dans l’écosystème entrepreneurial québécois de l’eau, où il contribue à faire rayonner l’innovation technologique et à soutenir la croissance des entreprises du secteur.

Elad Levy, Co-Founder & CEO of agRE.tech, is a serial entrepreneur with a strong background in robotics. He co-founded Roboteam and temi, serving as CEO for over a decade. He led global expansion to 30+ countries and secured strategic deals with top corporations and governments. Elad holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Technion.

With over 20 years of experience in finance and philanthropy, Galith Levy has dedicated her career to creating meaningful, lasting impact. For over a decade, she served as Executive Director of JNF Quebec, where she played a pivotal role in driving initiatives that strengthened both local and international communities.

Combining her expertise and passion, Galith brought Jeff Hart’s vision for climate innovation to life. Since 2022, she has led the Climate Solutions Prize as CEO, spearheading its rapid growth and expanding its international reach. Under her leadership, the initiative continues to gain momentum, inspiring bold solutions to the global climate crisis.

Megan Lohmann has been working in the field of climate and energy for two decades, engaging with local government, industry, public and Indigenous communities on innovative, local solutions to support the transition to low-carbon communities. With a focus on high-impact initiatives, Megan has facilitated award-winning projects in the electric mobility and built environment sectors. Megan was appointed at CEO for Community Energy Association in the fall of 2024, a charitable non-profit that focuses on climate and energy solutions. She is an Ambassador with the Energy Futures Lab in Alberta and sits as Vice-Chair for Electric Mobility Canada, a Governor for the College of the Rockies and President of her local cross-country ski society. In her free time, she enjoys exploring all the Rocky Mountains have to offer from her home in Fernie, BC where she resides with her family.

Tal Malca Salhuv is an experienced entrepreneur and marketing strategist, currently Co-Founder & CEO of BOB FoodTech. With over a decade in business development and marketing, she supports startups through freelance advisory roles, including at GiftVerse AI and TMS. Tal has served as CMO at Bee-io Honey Ltd and mentors aspiring entrepreneurs at Keren-Shemesh. She holds an MBA and a BA in Communications from the College of Management Academic Studies.

With a background in ecology, combined with extensive experience in scaling businesses, Jim was drawn to the fight against climate change and the ecological disaster it’s bringing with it. In 2019 Jim co-founded The Future Forest Company - a reforestation effort with a mission to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and restore biodiversity across the UK.  

Realising that tree planting could only go so far in helping solve the climate crisis, UNDO was born to deliver large-scale carbon removal projects with a permanence of 100,000+ years. With pioneering enhanced rock weathering technology, UNDO aims to be the first company to remove one billion tonnes of CO₂. This nature-based process also improves soil fertility, food security and the health of our oceans.

When Jim is not busy creating a liveable planet for future generations, he runs competitively at ultra-distance, his favourite events being 100-mile or more mountain races. He lives in Scotland with his family.

Dr. Jenn McArthur is a  Professor in Architectural Science at TMU where she  leads the Smart Building Research Group and Smart Campus Integration & Testing Hub. Her research focuses on Digital Twins for decarbonization, building performance improvement through Smart and Ongoing Commissioning (SOCx), Smart Campus Integration, FM-enabled BIM, and urban building energy models to support retrofit planning at scale.  Prior to joining TMU in 2014, Jenn served as the Engineer of Record / Lead Mechanical Engineer for  $750M of projects including the Pan Am Games Stadia, Billy Bishop Airport expansion, Vaughan Metropolitan and York University Subway Stations, and the Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence. She has also led development projects in Asia and Africa. A mechanical engineer by training and CEM since 2012, she holds a PhD in Management from the University of Edinburgh and brings a socio-technical perspective to all her work.

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Dr. Jenn McArthur est professeure en science architecturale à Toronto Metropolitan University(TMU), où elle dirige le 'Smart Building Research Group' ainsi que le 'Smart Campus Integration & Testing Hub'. Ses recherches portent sur les jumeaux numériques pour la décarbonation, l'amélioration de la performance des bâtiments par la mise en service intelligente et continue, l'intégration intelligente des campus, le BIM pour la gestion des installations (FM-enabled BIM), et les modèles énergétiques urbains de bâtiments pour appuyer la planification à grande échelle des rénovations.

Avant de se joindre à TMU en 2014, Jenn travaillait à Arup où elle a agi à titre d’ingénieure responsable / ingénieure mécanique principale pour des projets totalisant 750 millions de dollars, incluant les stades des Jeux panaméricains, l’agrandissement de l’aéroport Billy Bishop, les stations de métro Vaughan Metropolitan et York University, ainsi que le Centre Bergeron à York University. Elle a également dirigé des projets de développement en Asie et en Afrique. Ingénieure mécanique de formation et Gestionnaire certifié en énergie depuis 2012, elle détient un doctorat en gestion de l’Université d’Édimbourg et adopte une perspective sociotechnique dans l’ensemble de ses travaux.

Na’im Merchant is the Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada. He is passionate about the potential for carbon removal to meet climate goals while driving economic and social change. He previously founded Carbon Curve, a consulting practice focused on equitably scaling up carbon removal. Na’im is an advisor to Terraset and the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative, and was previously an Elemental Impact Policy Fellow. He brings 10+ years of leadership experience in non-profits that expanded access to health innovations around the world.

Brett Miller has 30 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry and the management of high growth entrepreneurial businesses in both North America and Europe.  
 
He started his career with Canderel (1986-1992) and rejoined in February 2019 as its Chief Executive Officer, taking over from Jon Wener who remains on as Chairman. Brett Miller is responsible for setting the strategic vision of Canderel, the oversight of all operations, 3rd party service businesses and the deployment of the company’s capital in a diverse portfolio of real estate projects across North America.  
 
Prior to Canderel, Brett Miller was the CEO of JLL Canada. When he joined the company in 2012 it had a small footprint in Canada with a staff of 150. During his 6 year tenure he grew the company by a factor of 10 through organic growth, the completion of 5 acquisitions and the launch of multiple new business lines. Through his leadership JLL became a leading national competitor in the real estate services industry in Canada. He held a similar role for CBRE from 2001-2012 during which time as its EVP Eastern Canada he grew CBRE into a dominant real estate services company in the region. Prior to 2001 Brett worked in London as the General Manager of a new venture owned by News International and in Paris creating and running a start-up logistics business. 

Brett Miller received his MBA from INSEAD and his Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from McGill University. His charitable and community activities include a board position on the Douglas Hospital Foundation, BOMA Canada Advisory Board and the leadership of The Defi Canderel.

Julieta is Managing Partner of Overlay Capital Build, a consultancy and fund, that is accelerating the adoption of critical digital transformation technologies in the built environment by connecting innovative technologies with adopters.

Overlay Build addresses the gap between the increased supply of construction technologies with the unmet demand of adopters, a “missing middle” in the built environment. We specialize in advising technology adopters with significant real estate holdings like multinational corporations, contractors, and real estate developers.

Julieta is a structural engineer and architect, turned social entrepreneur, and venture capitalist investing in early-stage startups mitigating the biggest barriers in the built environment. Her unique path from technical design to VC, has led her to hyperfocus on innovation in the construction industry, and empowering entrepreneurs through catalytic partnerships for the past decade.

Her career path ranges from technical engineering to venture capital: from structural engineering at Disney and Arup, to creating an R&D team to mitigate the biggest barriers in the housing crisis, to then launching and managing a venture capital firm investing in construction technology. As a founding member and former Partner of Hometeam Ventures, Julieta launched, fundraised, and managed operations of the venture fund investing in early-stage start-ups bringing breakthrough technology to the world's largest - but least innovative - industries: construction and housing. This was a spin-off from New Story Homes (YCombinator) where she kickstarted and led as Head of R&D. New Story Homes built over 3,000 homes across Latin America, and in 2018, invested in ICON and built the world's first 3D printed housing technology; in 2022, ICON raised its Series B with a $2B valuation and has partnerships with NASA, HUD, etc.

Her passion is to pursue impact-driven projects through innovation and entrepreneurship to digitize the built environment. She has an M.S. in structural engineering from UC Berkeley, a bachelor’s in structural engineering and architecture, and a research assistant in Boston, Berkeley, and Switzerland. Her academic and industry research in AEC is focused on circular economy, virtual reality, automated drone inspection, resiliency, and sustainability. Julieta is passionate about bridging the gap between architecture, engineering, and construction through collaborative design to maximize innovation for social impact and climate change.

Sébastien Mousseau has been a valued member of AtkinsRéalis since 2006, serving as part of the company’s global Operational Leadership Group and the Canadian Senior Leadership Team. As the Chief Operating Officer, Canada and Global Market Lead - Power & Renewables, he plays a key role in overseeing AtkinsRéalis’s services in consulting, engineering and design, and project and program management for a variety of markets, including Transportation, Building and Places, Water, Industrial and Power and Renewables.

Sébastien has extensive international experience and is also responsible for leading AtkinsRéalis’s global growth and strategy for the Power and Renewables market. Previously, he held the position of Senior Vice-President, Head of Operations & Capabilities, Canada, and Senior Vice-President and Managing Director, Engineering Services, Canada. He has also held various senior management positions within AtkinsRéalis and has demonstrated his expertise on several major hydropower projects in Canada, including Eastmain-1-A, Lower Churchill, and Site C Clean Energy.

Sébastien holds a doctorate in civil engineering from the Université de Sherbrooke, and is a licensed professional engineer in British Columbia, Québec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador. He serves on the board of the Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), and until recently, on the board of the Association de l'industrie électrique du Québec (AIEQ).

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Sébastien Mousseau est un membre estimé d’AtkinsRéalis depuis 2006. Il fait partie du groupe de gestion opérationnelle mondiale de l’entreprise, et de la haute direction de l’équipe canadienne. En tant que Chef des opérations, Canada et responsable mondial du marché Électricité et énergies renouvelables, il joue un rôle essentiel dans la supervision des services d’AtkinsRéalis en matière d’activités d’ingénierie-conseil, de services de conception, de gestion de projets et de programmes pour divers marchés, entre autres ceux des transports, des bâtiments et lieux, de l’eau, des installations industrielles, ainsi que de l’électricité et des énergies renouvelables.

Sébastien possède une vaste expérience internationale. Il est, en outre, responsable de diriger la croissance mondiale du marché Électricité et énergies renouvelables d’AtkinsRéalis. Il occupait précédemment les postes de vice-président principal, chef Exploitation et capacités, Canada et de vice-président principal et directeur général, services d’ingénierie, Canada. Il a également occupé divers postes de direction au sein d’AtkinsRéalis, et il a démontré son expertise dans le cadre de plusieurs grands projets hydroélectriques au Canada, notamment Eastmain-1-A, Lower Churchill et Site C Clean Energy.

Sébastien est titulaire d’un doctorat en génie civil de l’Université de Sherbrooke. Il détient un permis d’ingénieur en Colombie-Britannique, au Québec, en Nouvelle-Écosse, au Nouveau-Brunswick et à Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. Il siège au conseil d’administration du Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), et jusqu’à tout récemment, celui de l’Association de l’industrie électrique du Québec (AIEQ).

Bryce Nagels is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the AgTech industry, recognized for building impactful ventures that merge sustainability, innovation, and profitability. He is the founder of Nutritower Inc., a company pioneering indoor growing systems for education and urban environments, and Planteva Farms Inc., which operates the world’s first controlled-environment vertical farm dedicated entirely to seedling production.

Bryce has worked extensively across local and international markets, bringing practical solutions to complex agricultural challenges. His approach emphasizes systems that are not only environmentally sound but also economically viable—delivering real value to growers, consumers, and communities.

In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, Bryce served as Program Developer and Principal Advisor for Business Acceleration at Zone Agtech, Quebec’s leading innovation zone for agricultural technologies. In this role, he supported dozens of high-potential startups and growth-stage companies, helping them scale through tailored strategic guidance, technology validation, and investment readiness.

With a deep understanding of both agricultural operations and emerging technologies, Bryce continues to drive forward-thinking initiatives that bridge the gap between traditional farming and the future of food.

Elena Nikonova, VP North America and APAC, is responsible for identifying and developing large-scale Direct Air Capture projects across the Globe. With over a decade in Sales & Strategy Leadership roles at e-mobility branches of Energy Multinationals like Shell and ENGIE, she led global electrification programs for Amazon, Ford and Bridgestone. Previously ex-Chief Strategy Officer at a chargepoint operator backed by BOLT, and strategy consultant at Roland Berger. She holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from University of Dublin.

Peter Olivier is the co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Structure Climate. Structure helps climate companies access non-dilutive financing by sourcing capital from philanthropic sources. 

Prior to working on climate, Peter worked with and for early-stage startups in the U.S. and abroad for over a decade. In 2021, Peter became Head of Innovation at the carbon removal-focused The Future Forest Company, guiding its evolution into UNDO, a leading enhanced rock weathering-focused firm, where he led New Markets. While there, Peter developed financing relationships with institutional banks, leading to an industry-first securitized offtake for rock-weathering carbon removal credits. Peter is an Advisor to Cerulean Ventures and writes a newsletter about financial innovation, CDR, and climate change. Peter lives in New York with his wife and son.

Simon Olivier is a Senior Partner at Cycle Capital and leads the Cycle H2O Fund, a venture capital fund dedicated to innovative watertech companies to accelerate business growth and create a positive impact on the environment.

Simon is an executive Leader with an international track record in innovation, strategy, operations, and financial services. He has worked with Fortune 500 companies and mid-sized companies in various industries, such as renewable energy, finance, water, and food. Simon spent 20 years at GE, initially at GE Capital in financial services, then heading GE Renewable’s business in Canada and the Northeastern United States for nearly 10 years, building a multi-billion-dollar franchise. Subsequently, he spent 4 years as Executive Vice President Strategy (M&A) and Venture Capital for GE Canada.

Simon holds an engineering degree from Polytechnique Montreal and an MBA in finance from McGill University, where he is a McGill Global Leadership Council member. In 2009, he was named the young international leader of Quebec by the Arista organisation. Simon served on several boards of directors, including Aqua Action, C2 Montreal, the Canadian Wind Energy Association, and the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montréal. He supports its community through engagement and leadership with Centraide.

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Simon Olivier est associé sénior chez Cycle Capital et dirige le fonds Cycle H2O, un fonds de capital de risque dédié aux technologies innovantes du secteur de l'eau pour accélérer la croissance des entreprises, et ainsi créer un impact positif sur l'environnement.

Simon est un dirigeant d’expérience internationale en innovation, stratégie, opération et services financiers. Il a travaillé avec des sociétés Fortune 500, et des entreprises de taille moyenne dans les secteurs de l’énergie, de la finance, de l’eau et de l’alimentation. Simon a passé plus de 20 ans chez GE, d'abord chez GE Capital dans les services financiers, puis à la tête de l'entreprise GE Énergie Renouvelable au Canada et dans le Nord-Est des États-Unis pendant près de 10 ans, construisant une franchise de plusieurs milliards de dollars. Par la suite, il a passé 4 ans à titre de vice-président exécutif stratégie (F&A) et capital de risque pour GE Canada.
Simon est titulaire d’un diplôme d’ingénieur de Polytechnique Montréal et d’un MBA en finance de l’Université McGill, où il est membre du McGill Global Leadership Council. En 2009, il a été nommé jeune leader international du Québec au Concours Arista. Simon a siégé à plusieurs conseils d'administration dont Aqua Forum, C2 Montréal, l'Association canadienne de l'énergie éolienne, et la Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain. Il soutient sa

Joanna Osawe is the President & CEO of Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE). Joanna attended Western University studying Languages, graduating with an Honours BA. Joanna has used her language skills in a focused, 15+ year management career at leading renewable and energy sector companies in Canada and the United States. By carrying complex projects through many stages she has seen firsthand the vital role renewable energy and emerging technologies serve in moving the Canadian, American and global energy mix forward.

Joanna was previously appointed to the Federal Sustainable Development Advisory Council, led by Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault.

Guillaume Parenteau is Vice President of Development at the Vallée de la Transition Énergétique (VTE), an innovation zone in Quebec focused on accelerating the energy transition. Based in Bécancour, he plays a key role in advancing industrial decarbonization, clean technologies, and regional innovation. Parenteau holds a degree from Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and brings extensive experience in sustainable development and public-private collaboration.

Kevin Radford is the Deloitte National Real Estate Leader and a Partner in our Financial Advisory practice. He is based in Ottawa, bilingual, and is focused on providing real estate (RE) advisory services to public sector clients, as well as those in many private sector markets (retail, telecom, power generation, mid-market office, higher education, health, etc.). He ensures that client portfolios enable transformational change for their businesses or programs. In most market sectors, Kevin has been adept at helping Corporate Real Estate teams focus on the right target operating model to ensure their portfolio assets are optimized, and the employees within those assets have a workplace where they thrive. Prior to joining Deloitte, he was a high performing senior executive in the Government of Canada with extensive experience in large-scale, national level RE, Information Technology (IT), and Security Operations with strong program delivery credentials for purposeful business transformation and enablement, optimization, and service management. He brings significant expertise in large, complex ($B+) RE, IT, and Capital Equipment procurement, as well as in strategic project management delivering consistently outstanding results while working with very large national teams. He has strong leadership in building and focusing national teams on program optimization, business transformation service delivery excellence, client engagement, and outcomes management maintaining disciplined oversight and performance management of $25B+ of assets, including multi-billion-dollar service contracts. His selection by the Clerk of the Privy Council to lead the consolidation of all back-office IT operations for over 43 departments/agencies and lead over 5,000 new employees under a new department/structure at Shared Services Canada (SSC) and then again at PSPC to transition the Real Property Branch into a service-based organization is indicative of the confidence senior government executives have in his leadership and ability to redesign and transform business operations. Kevin has a flawless reputation and integrity to negotiate partnerships and work closely with other government departments, other nations, federal committees, and industry executives. He has established credibility as a tenacious but respectful go-to operational leader, capable of tackling extremely complex, high-risk challenges. As the former Assistant Deputy Minister of Real Estate Services for the Federal Government Office Portfolio (70M ft2 ) nationally, the largest RE portfolio in Canada, he was also charged with transitioning this ‘branch’ (3,700 employees) into a service-oriented organization. Passionate about workplace, under his leadership the ‘branch’ was converted to the Real Property Services organization leading the government’s workplace transition from the WP 2.0 standard to the new GC Workplace standard nationally, including the creation of the first ever GC coworking sites.

Tom Rand’s focus is on carbon mitigation as an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, author and speaker. He is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of ArcTern Ventures and sits on the board of a number of clean energy companies and organizations. He also developed Planet Traveler, a low-carbon hotel project in downtown Toronto. Tom’s first book Kick the Fossil Fuel Habit (2010) was winner of the 2011 Whitepine Non-Fiction award; his second - Waking the Frog - became a bestseller in Spring 2014; his third - Climate Capitalism: Economic Solutions for a Planet in Crisis was published early 2020. Tom holds a BSc in electrical engineering (U of Waterloo), an MSc in philosophy of science (University of London and LSE)  and an MA and PhD in philosophy (U of Toronto), is an Action Canada Fellow, and has been a member of a number of federal and provincial advisory boards. Tom is a regular contributor on Canada’s leading op-ed pages and television, and you will often see him on stage waving his arms as he speaks passionately about the intersection of climate risk and economics.

Akash is a seasoned business executive with 20 years experience in the Financial Services industry – in senior roles that included Partner & Canadian Head of Financial Services Advisory practice at a Fortune 200 consulting firm and institutional derivatives trading. Akash finally pivoted to the ocean-climate nexus and is focused on applying his strategy, finance and capital markets experience to propel the sector. His experience includes Strategy Advisor at Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, Head of Strategy at Canada’s Ocean Frontier Institute, co-founder of the Reykjavik Protocol, mentor at CDL – Oceans Stream, member of Canadian National Carbon Management Coalition, mentor to numerous ocean-based CDR startups and a Board member of Humber Bay Sailing Centre.

At Air Canada leads key strategic initiatives, the airline's internal consulting function, and corporate development. In part drives investment across the airline's environmental portfolio. To-date, has led Air Canada's investments into Carbon Dioxide Removal Units (Airbus-1PointFive), CDRU technology developers (Carbon Engineering), Hybrid-Electric Aircraft developers (Heart Aerospace), among other entities.

Anne-Pascale Richardson is a mission-driven leader with over a decade of experience in environmental innovation, sustainable development, and science communication. She is Program Director at AquaAction, where she leads national initiatives like AquaHacking and AquaNation. With a PhD in Biology, she previously advanced value-added botanical sectors in Africa through R&D and CSR-driven projects. Anne-Pascale also contributes her expertise through board roles and pitch competitions.

Alexander Rink is Co-Founder and CEO of CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation accelerating carbon removal through transparency and trust. As the trusted global clearinghouse for durable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) project and order data, CDR.fyi enables stakeholders to gain credibility, benchmark progress, raise financing, advocate for funding, and negotiate agreements that help scale the CDR market with integrity. Beyond CDR.fyi, Alex brings over two decades of experience as a founder, Board Director, angel investor, and strategic advisor to early-stage ventures.

Peter Rose is an architect and urban designer based in Boston, MA. He is the founding Principal of Peter Rose + Partners, an architectural and urban design practice, and also a founder of Integrated Design Cubed, which focuses on the making of buildings in a modular mass timber process to address the challenges of affordable housing and climate change. Rose received his BA and MArch from Yale University, and taught at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design for more than 20 years.

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Peter Rose est un architecte basé à Boston, Massachusetts. Il est le fondateur de Peter Rose + Partners, un cabinet d’architecture et de design urbain, ainsi que cofondateur d’Integrated Design Cubed, une initiative axée sur la construction de bâtiments en bois massif modulaire afin de répondre aux enjeux du logement abordable et du changement climatique. Rose a obtenu son BA et son MArch à l’Université Yale, et a enseigné pendant plus de vingt ans à la Graduate School of Design de Harvard.

Nate Salpeter is a Ph.D. Mechanical Engineer with over 15 years experience researching and designing next generation nuclear reactors at industry-leading companies and National Laboratories.  He co-founded Sweet Farm Foundation with his wife Anna Sweet to be a place of education, inspiration, and innovation through animal rescue, plant based agriculture, and cutting edge climate technology acceleration to scale change globally.  Nate is also a co-founder and general partner of SNØCAP, an early stage deep tech venture fund investing in technologies that significantly remove pollution while dramatically reducing costs in the world’s largest industrial sectors.

Carolina Sánchez Badini is an Associate at Cycle H2O, an early-stage water tech venture capital fund managed by Cycle Capital and H2O Innovation. She brings over five years of experience in environmental consulting, research, and impact investing. Most recently, Carolina was an Impact Investment Fellow at CapShift and contributed to the climate deal team of the Yale SOM Meng Impact Investment Fund. Prior to that, she worked as an Environmental Specialist at Hatfield Consultants, where she monitored and assessed the aquatic environmental impacts of industrial and municipal projects. Carolina holds an MBA and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Ecology from the University of British Columbia.

Naysan Saran is the co-founder and CEO of CANN Forecast (CANN), a company that helps municipalities transition towards a proactive approach to water management. CANN was founded by the winning team of the 2016 AquaHacking challenge, and is now collaborating with more than 45 utilities across Canada, California and France. Prior to founding CANN, Naysan worked as a scientific programmer at Environment Canada. Naysan has a background in both Computer Engineering and Mathematics, and is passionate about using AI to help solve environmental challenges.

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Naysan Saran est la co-fondatrice et PDG de CANN Forecast (CANN), une entreprise qui aide les municipalités à faire la transition vers une approche proactive de la gestion de l'eau. CANN a été fondée par l'équipe gagnante du défi AquaHacking 2016, et collabore aujourd'hui avec plus de 45 municipalités au Canada, en Californie et en France. Avant de fonder CANN, Naysan a travaillé comme programmeuse scientifique à Environnement Canada. Naysan a une formation en génie informatique et en mathématiques, et elle est passionnée par l'utilisation de l'IA pour aider à résoudre les problèmes environnementaux.

Kyle is the Managing Partner of Emmertech. Prior to this role, Kyle was a Vice President, Private Equity with Clairvest Group Inc. where he led the firm's agriculture investment strategy and an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company where he led projects in private equity due diligence, and strategy and operations serving clients across North America and internationally.

Kyle holds an HBA and MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario.

Mitch leads Shopify’s Sustainability Fund, which has committed over $100 million since 2020 to entrepreneurs developing breakthrough climate technologies—with a particular focus on carbon removal. He holds a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from the University of Toronto.

I love people and I believe that creativity and innovation can make dreams happen. This has guided me to continue to strive for the progress of people and the environment, making a stronger, healthier and better future for all of us.
I have expertise is taking a strategic vision and building great companies & organizations in order to accomplish these visions.
Over the past 15 years, I have continued to lead in this fashion, doing it from a variety of leadership roles in the business, social and commercial spheres.
I love a challenge and especially love making impossible missions become a reality!

Shaima Sharif is a seasoned innovation leader at Amazon, with over 21 years of industry experience driving transformative solutions for the Energy and Climate tech sectors. As the Global Innovation Programs Lead for Worldwide Sustainability at Amazon, and Co-founder of the AWS Clean Energy Accelerator, she specializes in building and scaling global innovation ecosystems that accelerate clean energy piloting and adoption at scale. Shaima is a pioneer in client venturing, forging strategic partnerships between the world’s largest energy companies and cutting-edge startups to bring innovative solutions to market. Her expertise lies in accelerating breakthrough technologies that drive sustainable energy transitions, advance decarbonization initiatives, optimize resource efficiency, and enhance global climate resilience across industries.

Her professional experience also included working for the government sector, being a special aid to the Governor of the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) on strategic initiatives to build Dubai’s offerings as a global financial center. She worked as head of global partnerships for the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai’s sole provider for power and utilities, and launched advanced technology initiatives to improve service offerings, launch new products and lead all international startup ecosystem engagements. She also worked in consumer goods at Unilever across the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia, worked in banking with HSBC and consulting at KPMG.

She is passionate about regenerative ranching and its ability to sequester carbon, reverse desertification and restore ecosystems. She took a sabbatical year to gain boots on the ground experience living and working on Regenerative ranches to witness first-hand the restorative impact of regenerative land practices across the Southern United States and Chihuahua Mexico. She held board member roles and was a mentor to startups. She holds an MBA from London Business School and Bachelors in Economics from Arizona State University.

François Shink is Vice President of Energère, a division of Ainsworth specialising in integrated energy efficiency, decarbonisation and building intelligence solutions. A mechanical engineer by training, he has over 25 years of experience in the energy and sustainable construction sector, where he has led complex projects in institutional, municipal, federal and private environments.

As head of Energère's strategic and operational activities, he plays a central role in integrating emerging technologies—including smart energy management systems—to optimise infrastructure performance while accelerating GHG emissions reductions. Guided by an impact-driven approach, he mobilises technological, financial and human resources to deliver scalable projects with high transformative potential. François firmly believes that the success of the energy transition depends on strategic partnerships between engineering, innovation and public policy.

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François Shink est vice-président d’Énergère, une division d’Ainsworth spécialisée dans les solutions intégrées en efficacité énergétique, en décarbonation et en intelligence du bâtiment. Ingénieur mécanique de formation, il possède plus de 25 ans d’expérience dans le secteur de l’énergie et de la construction durable, où il a piloté des projets complexes dans les milieux institutionnel, municipal, fédéral et privé.

À la tête des activités stratégiques et opérationnelles d’Énergère, il joue un rôle central dans l’intégration de technologies émergentes — dont les systèmes de gestion intelligente de l’énergie — afin d’optimiser la performance des infrastructures tout en accélérant la réduction des émissions de GES. Guidé par une approche axée sur l’impact, il mobilise les leviers technologiques, financiers et humains pour concrétiser des projets évolutifs, à fort potentiel de transformation. François croit fermement que la réussite de la transition énergétique repose sur des partenariats stratégiques entre ingénierie, innovation et politique publique.

Hadas Sharon is the Senior Presale Manager at IDE Technologies, a global leader, specializing in advanced desalination and water treatment solutions for both industrial and municipal clients. In this role, Hadas manages technical and commercial project development strategies and collaborates closely with customers, partners, governments and investors worldwide to shape end-to-end sustainable water treatment solutions, as part of the projects development activity which includes financing, ownership, and operation, including P3 and Water-Sale models.
With over a decade in the water and environmental sector, she held key roles at Ludan Environmental Technologies and Dor Group, managing complex projects related to groundwater and soil rehabilitation, water treatment, and large-scale infrastructure across diverse industries while collaborating closely with regulatory agencies. 
Hadas combines technical expertise with strategic insight to deliver sustainable, high-impact solutions. She holds a B.Sc. in Environmental Engineering from The Technion.

Michael W. Sonnenfeldt is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, best known as the founder of TIGER 21, the premier peer network for high-net-worth wealth creators and preservers. Today, Michael leads TIGER 21 as Chairman of its global network of 1,600 members who collectively manage over $200 billion in investable assets across 46 cities in 9 countries, including recent expansions to Milan, Singapore, Dubai, and Mumbai.

He is also the founder and Chairman of MUUS & Company, and its climate-focused investment division, MUUS Climate Partners, which backs companies addressing decarbonization and industrial efficiency.

Earlier in his career, Sonnenfeldt led one of the world’s largest commercial renovations—transforming Jersey City’s Harborside Financial Center. He also founded real estate investment firm Emmes & Company which managed over $1 billion in assets, and served as Chairman of Carmanah Technologies, a leading manufacturer of solar signaling and lighting systems, including the navigation lights used on many marine buoys.
Sonnenfeldt earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in management from MIT, and has spent decades involved in nonprofit leadership focused on climate, national security, and international development. The Goldman-Sonnenfeldt Foundation has underwritten major academic initiatives in environmental sustainability including the Goldman Sonnenfeldt Environmental Protection Clinic at Yale Law School and the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben Gurion University. Sonnenfeldt also co-chairs the Jewish Climate Trust, sits on the board of the Center for a New American Security, and is co-founder of the national Japanese craft award hosted by JapanCraft21. A designer and collector, he owns the MUUS Collection, a leading archive of historical photography. Mr. Sonnenfeldt is usually found wearing clothes of his own design, and when able he prefers to be sailing.

Anthony is a Senior Licensing & Ventures Manager at Oxford University Innovation, where he drives the commercialisation of cutting-edge research from the University of Oxford. Specialising in clean tech, Anthony works closely with academic innovators to translate breakthrough science into impactful, scalable solutions for a sustainable future. With a background in chemistry and a decade in industrial R&D, he brings both technical insight and strategic vision to the development of technologies tackling the climate crisis.

Marius joined the Circular Innovation Fund (CIF) as an Associate in 2023. The fund is jointly managed by Cycle Capital (Canada) and Demeter (France) and focuses on global investments in circular economy projects.

Prior to joining CIF, he worked at a fund focused on venture debt financing for fintechs.

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Marius a rejoint le Circular Innovation Fund (CIF)  en tant que chargé d'affaires en 2023. Le fonds est cogéré par Cycle Capital (Canada) et Demeter (France) investissant a l'international dans des projets liés à l’économie circulaire.

Avant de rejoindre le CIF, il a travaillé dans un fonds spécialisé dans le financement en venture dette pour les fintechs.

Joël Thibert was appointed Vice President – Energy Planning and Strategy in 2024. In this role, he is responsible for the expertise center in energy and economic transition along with our activities related to integrated energy planning, as well as the development of corporate strategies. He is also called upon to work closely with the government on issues related to energy transition.
Mr. Thibert has extensive international experience in the energy and raw materials sectors, gained at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, which he joined in 2013 and where he was a director since 2017 before joining Hydro-Québec. He previously worked in project management for the Quartier international de Montréal and as a lecturer at McGill University. His professional background has allowed Mr. Thibert to acquire expertise in the fields of operational transformation, lean management, asset management, capital allocation, and strategic planning.

Joël Thibert holds a Bachelor of Arts in environment and a master's degree in urban planning, both from McGill University, as well as a Ph.D. in Public Affairs from Princeton University. He is a member of the Order of Urban Planners and holds a certification in Operational and Organizational Excellence from the Shingo Institute.

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Joël Thibert a été nommé vice-président – Planification énergétique et stratégie en 2024. À ce titre, il est responsable à la fois du pôle d’expertise en matière de transition énergétique et économique ainsi que de nos activités liées à la planification énergétique et intégrée en plus de l’élaboration des stratégies d’entreprise. Il est ainsi appelé à collaborer étroitement avec le gouvernement dans le cadre des dossiers touchant la transition énergétique.

M. Thibert possède une solide expérience à l’international dans les secteurs de l’énergie et des matières premières, acquise au sein du cabinet de consultation McKinsey & Company, auquel il s’est joint en 2013 et dont il était directeur depuis 2017 avant son arrivée à Hydro-Québec. Il avait auparavant travaillé en gestion de projets pour le Quartier international de Montréal et comme chargé de cours à l’Université McGill. Son parcours professionnel a permis à M. Thibert d’acquérir une expertise dans les domaines de de la transformation opérationnelle, de la gestion Lean, de la gestion des actifs, de l’allocation du capital et de la planification stratégique.

Joël Thibert est titulaire d’un baccalauréat ès arts en environnement et d’une maîtrise en urbanisme de l’Université McGill et d’un doctorat en affaires publiques de l’Université Princeton. Il est membre de l’Ordre des urbanistes et détient une certification en Excellence opérationnelle et organisationnelle de l’Institut Shingo.

Anouk Trudel is a dynamic, bilingual executive and strategic visionary with an accomplished career. Based in Montreal, she is an Administrator for the Fonds de solidarité FTQ Bioénergie. Recently she served as Country Director and Chief Executive OƯicer of Veolia North America’s (VNA) operations in Canada, responsible for all of Canada’s energy and industrial activities, including hazardous waste and used oil. In that role she led the merger with Suez’s Canadian activities, combining 4 disparate Canadian business units and reigniting client relationships and employee engagement while exceeding the savings and synergies. From 2020 to 2022, Anouk was the Vice President of VNA's Québec Energy Division, overseeing building management for clients such as Hydro-Québec, Desjardins and the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), one of the largest hospitals in North America, where she also served as VNA’s Site Director. In that role, she led a multidisciplinary team responsible for the CHUM's operating services, such as energy and utility management, maintenance services, IT technology services, the help desk and security services. Earlier in her career, she held a variety of senior roles across multiple departments with Desjardins, building on her 15 years as a consultant with Accenture experience managing transformational and strategic projects across many industries, including healthcare/pharmaceuticals, financial services, technology, natural resources and telecommunications. Anouk earned a Master of Business Administration from the McGill-HEC Montréal program and a Bachelor of Business Administration from HEC.

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Cadre dynamique et bilingue, visionnaire stratégique, elle a mené une brillante carrière. Basée à Montréal, elle est Administratrice pour le Fonds de solidarité FTQ Bioénergie. Elle était jusqu’à tout récemment Directrice Pays et Présidente-directrice générale de Veolia Amérique du Nord (VNA) au Canada, responsable de toutes les activités énergétiques et industrielles du Canada, y compris les déchets dangereux et les huiles usées. Dans ce rôle elle a dirigé la fusion canadienne de Veolia et Suez, regroupement de 4 unités d’aƯaires canadiennes disparates, ce qui a eu pour eƯet de relancer les relations avec la clientèle et de stimuler l’engagement des employé.es. dépassée les objectifs budgétaires et relancer les relations avec la clientèle et stimuler l’engagement des employé.es. De 2020 à 2022, Anouk a été Vice-présidente de la division Énergie de VNA au Québec, supervisant la gestion de bâtiments pour des clients tels qu'HydroQuébec, Desjardins et le Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), l'un des plus grands hôpitaux d'Amérique du Nord, où elle a également occupé le poste de Directrice de site de VNA. À ce titre, elle a dirigé une équipe multidisciplinaire responsable des services d'exploitation du CHUM, tels que la gestion de l'énergie et des services publics, les services d'entretien, les services de technologie de l'information, le service d'assistance et les services de sécurité. Plus tôt dans sa carrière, elle a occupé divers postes de direction au sein de plusieurs services de Desjardins, en s'appuyant sur ses 15 années en tant que consultante chez Accenture dans la gestion de projets transformationnels et stratégiques dans de nombreuses industries, notamment les soins de santé/pharmaceutiques, les services financiers, la technologie, les ressources naturelles et les télécommunications. Anouk a obtenu une Maîtrise en Administration des aƯaires du programme McGill HEC Montréal et un Baccalauréat en Administration des aƯaires de l'Université de Montréal.

Natalie Voland has been reinventing the real estate development process for over 25 years. Her roots as a social worker allow her to have a unique and purpose-driven design-centered outlook on development that prioritizes historical protection of civic assets while being forward-thinking to use buildings to unite communities and push environmental advocacy. 
 
She is an award-winning, socially driven developer and a leader of the Quebec B Corp. Movement. Her companies contribute to protecting the environment and fostering social inclusion while making market-driven profits to further Montreal's economic development. Natalie manages 1.5 million square feet, supports over 500 entrepreneurs, and is an active expert, public speaker, and mentor. Her newest venture, Quo Vadis Capital, invests in carbon-mitigated accessible housing to address inclusion and climate change in real estate.
 
Natalie sits on several Boards and think tanks associated with her passion for being a leader in ESG development. Natalie is an active master planner and partners with universities to use her assets as teaching and prototype tools to evolve concepts on what kind of city we want to build as citizens and corporate leaders. Natalie is a PhD candidate and member of the Concordia Chair of Excellence in Research on Smart and Resilient Cities and the Next Generation Cities Institute, specializing in the bridge of market business practices that drive sustainability on the built environment.

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Depuis plus de 25 ans, Natalie Voland réinvente le processus du développement immobilier, son expérience en tant que travailleuse sociale lui permettant d’avoir une vision du développement unique et axée sur des buts concrets. Son approche vise à unir les communautés à travers la protection et la conservation historiques des bâtiments et de l’environnement. 

Natalie est une chef de file du mouvement B Corp. du Québec où ses entreprises contribuent à la protection de l’environnement et favorisent l’inclusion sociale tout en réalisant des profits axés sur le marché afin de contribuer au développement économique de Montréal. Natalie gère 1,5 million de pieds carrés, soutient plus de 500 entrepreneurs et est une conférencière active, ainsi qu’une mentore. Sa nouvelle entreprise « Quo Vadis Capital » investit dans le logement abordable à faible émission de carbone pour mettre l’emphase sur l’inclusion et le changement climatique en immobilier.

Natalie siège sur plusieurs conseils d'administration et groupes de réflexion associés à sa passion d’être leader en développement ESG. De plus, elle collabore avec plusieurs universités pour utiliser ses connaissances en tant qu’outil d’enseignement et de création de prototype afin de promouvoir le type d’espace urbain que nous souhaitons construire en tant que citoyens. Natalie est candidate au doctorat à l’université Concordia, membre de la Chaire d'excellence Concordia en recherche sur les villes intelligentes et résilientes ainsi que du Next Generation Cities Institute, spécialisée dans le rapprochement des pratiques commerciales du marché qui favorisent la durabilité de l'environnement bâti.

Rachel Walsh is the Head of Carbon Strategy within BMO Capital Markets, focusing on market fundamentals for multiple environmental commodities to help clients optimize their portfolios and manage risk. Previously, Rachel worked in BMO’s Equity Research group, publishing in-depth work on compliance and voluntary carbon markets, along with energy transition related topics.

Ed has worked to advance climate and energy policy—including for carbon removal—for two decades. He is the host of Canada’s most popular climate-themed podcast, Energy vs Climate, and a new podcast series on carbon removal called Scrubbing the Sky. Previously he served as the CEO of the Pembina Institute, a director of the Alberta Energy Regulator, and a member of the World Economic Forum's global agenda council.

Casey has over three and half decades of experience in the information, communication and technology industry working in and serving markets throughout North America including real-estate. Electrical engineer by training, Casey has worked in R&D, product development, sales, executive management and has introduced countless of digital strategies, services and technologies for AT&T, Motorola, through private investments and more recently RYCOM Corporation. Founder of RYCOM, Casey is an entrepreneur, leader, investor, builder, frequent contributor to various industry thought leadership discussions and panels. The most important personal asset we have is our time and experience, Casey serves on a number of industry boards and with RYCOM supports a variety of academic collaborations to develop the next generation workforce. Most importantly Casey is a husband and dad who cares about human values and needs. Through the creation of LEAN ON ME, RYCOM serve’s and gives back to our communities corporately and individually.

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Casey possède plus de trois décennies et demie d'expérience dans le secteur de l'information, de la communication et des technologies, travaillant et desservant des marchés partout en Amérique du Nord, notamment celui de l'immobilier. Ingénieur électricien de formation, Casey a travaillé en R&D, développement de produits, ventes et direction générale. Il a mis en place d'innombrables stratégies, services et technologies numériques pour AT&T, Motorola, par le biais d'investissements privés et, plus récemment, RYCOM Corporation. Fondateur de RYCOM, Casey est un entrepreneur, un leader, un investisseur, un bâtisseur et contribue régulièrement à divers débats et panels de réflexion sur le secteur. Notre plus grand atout personnel est notre temps et notre expérience. Casey siège à de nombreux conseils d'administration et, avec RYCOM, il soutient diverses collaborations universitaires afin de former la prochaine génération de travailleurs. Plus important encore, Casey est un mari et un père soucieux des valeurs et des besoins humains. Grâce à la création de LEAN ON ME, RYCOM sert et redonne à ses communautés, tant au niveau individuel qu'au niveau collectif.

Ben is the co-Founding Partner of MUUS Climate Partners, the climate-focused investing arm of the Goldman-Sonnenfeldt family office. He is responsible for sourcing, due diligence, deal execution, and ongoing support of portfolio companies. Since 2016, Ben has worked to assemble MUUS’s portfolio of over 30 early- and growth-stage companies driving the transition to a zero-emissions economy.

Ben's entire professional history has focused on making the business case for sustainability. Prior to MUUS, Ben's experience as a commercial solar developer afforded him a front-row seat to the challenges that growing clean energy companies face, such as hurdles to financing, switching costs, policy navigation, and customer education requirements. This created a foundational perspective on the economic value proposition for eliminating emissions and attracting capital to sustainable solutions.

Ben holds a BA from Brown University and MBA from MIT. When he isn't working, he’s an avid piano player, occasionally performing at bars and jazz clubs. He lives in New York City with his wife, son, and dog.

Mayuran leads IX Labs, the venture capital arm of Index Exchange, which invests in early-stage startups using technology to solve everyday problems.

As the founding CTO of Index Exchange, Mayuran shaped the company’s technical direction and played a pivotal role in establishing its technology foundation. He led the development of Index’s core platforms and scaled the engineering team from inception to over 170 people.

Mayuran holds a degree from the University of Toronto and serves on two boards.

Karim Zaghib is a world-renowned scientist specializing in electrochemistry, rechargeable batteries (lithium-ion and solid-state), carbon, energy transition and transportation electrification. His landmark scientific publications in these fields have influenced generations of researchers. He is regularly invited to participate in international conferences as an expert speaker to address issues and share his vision concerning energy storage and new battery technologies. Following a 28-year career at Hydro-Québec, he has been Professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering at Concordia University, the CEO of the CFREF funded initiative of Volt-Age, and Director of the Collaborating Centres on Energy and Energy Transition.

As General Manager of materials development research for lithium-ion batteries at Hydro-Québec, he helped make the company the first in the world to use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) in cathodes and to develop natural graphite and nanotitanate anodes, technologies used by Tesla, Ford, Mercedes, BMW, Bolloré, CAT and BYD etc. Prof. Zaghib pioneered the first dual-electrode photobattery and high MWh energy storage based on LFP/graphite, in a joint venture with Sony and Hydro-Québec.  Prof. Zaghib has also made significant contributions to electrothermics, ionic liquids and molten salts. His team's most recent advances, made in collaboration with universities, research centers and companies, are paving the way for the next generation of electric vehicle batteries and energy storage solutions, a field in which Québec and Canada are well placed to play a leading role.  

Prof. Zaghib co-author of 450 publications, 970 patents and 62 licenses. His H-index is 89 with 27488 citations. He is a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society (2011), the Canadian Academy of Engineering (2017), the Royal Society of Canada (2021), and the Royal Society of Chemistry (2023). He is the only person ever to have received both the Research Award (2010) and the Technology Award (2017) of the International Battery Association. Among his many other honours, he is the recipient of the Prix du Québec Lionel-Boulet (2019), the highest distinction for industrial and applied research and development awarded by the Government of Québec, and the Kalev-Pugi Award of the Society of Chemical Industry Canada (2022). He was named Personality of the Year for 2023 by L’Actualité Magazine.

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Karim Zaghib est un scientifique de renommée mondiale qui se spécialise dans l'électrochimie, les batteries rechargeables (lithium-ion et à l'état solide), le carbone, la transition énergétique et l'électrification des transports. Ses publications scientifiques de référence dans ces domaines ont influencé des générations de chercheurs. Il est régulièrement invité à participer à des conférences internationales en tant que conférencier expert pour aborder des questions et partager sa vision concernant le stockage de l'énergie et les nouvelles technologies de batteries. Depuis 2022, il est professeur de génie chimique et des matériaux à l'Université Concordia et directeur des Centres de collaboration sur l'énergie et sa transition, après une carrière de 28 ans à Hydro-Québec.  

En tant que directeur général de la recherche sur le développement de matériaux pour les batteries lithium-ion à Hydro-Québec, il a contribué à faire de l'entreprise la première au monde à utiliser le phosphate de fer-lithium (LFP) dans les cathodes et à développer des anodes en graphite naturel et en nanotitanate, Ces technologies sont utilisées par Tesla, Ford, Mercedes, BMW, Bolloré, CAT et BYD etc. Dr. Zaghib a été l'un des pionniers de la première photobatterie à deux électrodes et du stockage d'énergie à haute capacité en MWh basé sur le LFP/graphite, dans le cadre d'une coentreprise avec Sony et Hydro-Québec. Dr. Zaghib a également apporté d'importantes contributions à l'électrothermie, aux liquides ioniques et aux sels fondus. Les plus récentes avancées de l'équipe, réalisées en collaboration avec des universités, des centres de recherche et des entreprises, ouvrent la voie à la prochaine génération de batteries pour véhicules électriques et de solutions de stockage d'énergie, un domaine dans lequel le Québec et le Canada sont bien placés pour jouer un rôle de premier plan.  

Professeur Zaghib est co-auteur de 450 publications, 970 brevets et 62 licences. Son index H est de 89 avec 27488 citations. Il est membre de l'Electrochemical Society (2011), de l'Académie canadienne d'ingénierie (2017), de la Société royale du Canada (2021) et de la Société royale de chimie (2023). Il est la seule personne à avoir reçu à la fois le prix de la recherche (2010) et le prix de la technologie (2017) de l'International Battery Association. Parmi ses nombreuses autres distinctions, il a reçu le Prix du Québec Lionel-Boulet (2019), la plus haute distinction pour la recherche et le développement industriels et appliqués décernée par le gouvernement du Québec, et le Prix Kalev-Pugi de la Société canadienne de l'industrie chimique (2022). Il a été nommé personnalité de l'année 2023 par le magazine L'Actualité.