Patrick Fragman

Patrick Fragman is President and Chief Executive Officer of Westinghouse Electric Company, a position he assumed in August 2019. Mr. Fragman brings more than 30 years of global power and energy services experience to Westinghouse.
Before becoming CEO, Mr. Fragman led transformation initiatives at ABB, a global technology leader in digital industries including electrification, industrial automation, motion, robotics and discrete automation, and power grids. As Senior Vice President of ABB’s Grid Integration Business, Mr. Fragman was responsible for an industry-leading portfolio that delivered leading power transmission systems, services, and software solutions globally.
Prior to joining ABB, Mr. Fragman spent 15 years at Alstom, a multinational leader in power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure. While there, he held a series of significant leadership positions in Canada, China, France, and the United States, leading teams, developing project portfolios and businesses on a regional and global scale.
Mr. Fragman has been in the energy and more specifically nuclear industry throughout his career, including various industrial and energy-focused roles within the French Government where he served as Industrial, Energy and Nuclear Safety Advisor to the Minister of Environment & Land Planning. He was also a member of the board of the Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) from 2013 to 2015, and the representative of the French State in the Board of Elf Aquitaine Production from 1995 to 1997.
Mr. Fragman received an engineering degree from École des Mines de Paris, where he was also part of the Corps des Mines, France’s foremost technical grand corps.

Brian Agnew

Brian Agnew, Framatome Canada’s director of sales and marketing, has spent the past 25 years innovating the sales leadership and business development iactivities for some of North America’s most esteemed companies. 

In his current role, Brian is instrumental in connecting Framatome’s Canadian customers to the company’s global technologies, services, and solutions being deployed at more than 350 reactors globally. This work is providing low-cost clean energy for Canadian citizens and helping develop lifesaving medical isotopes. 

In addition to his executive leadership roles, Brian is also committed to promoting equity and inclusion through spearheading many programs within indigenous communities across Canada.

Jill Baker

Jill Baker is an environmental and social assessment executive, with over 20 years of diverse leadership experience working for the Alberta and federal governments, international financial institutions, the private sector, and non-profit organizations. She has worked on projects and policy development in the Canadian energy sector including nuclear.

Jill is the past Executive Director of the International Association for Impact Assessment, a global network of assessment professionals. She was also a Vice President at the Public Policy Forum. She was a Director of Policy in the federal government with both the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE), as well as Natural Resources Canada, and started her career in Ottawa with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

David Dal Bello

David Dal Bello is responsible for many of RBC’s key relationships in the Canadian Power & Utility sector providing these clients with corporate finance, M&A, equity and debt financing advice. He also is responsible for coordinating RBC’s relationships with many of the key Canadian pension funds.
David joined RBC in 1993 and has been involved in the power and utility sector since 1996 when he joined the Canadian Debt Capital Markets team. In 2002, David moved to the Corporate Finance group with RBC, focusing on developing senior relationships with Canadian power & utility clients.
David is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario’s Business School holding an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (HBA) and also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Michelle Branigan

Michelle Branigan is the Chief Executive Officer of Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC).
Branigan is a subject matter expert when it comes to the industry and works closely with employers and industry stakeholders to address their specific labour market and HR challenges.
Originally from Ireland, Branigan holds a master’s degree in Training and Performance Management from the University of Leicester, U.K., and is a certified Project Management Professional.
Understanding the impacts of innovation and technology, Branigan is committed to developing forward thinking and cutting-edge tools, resources, and research to meet current and future workforce needs. As a champion of diversity and inclusion, she is passionate about leading real change for the advancement of women and minorities and has spearheaded many instrumental programs which have sparked a national movement for organization to become agents of change. Among these initiatives is the Leadership Accord for Diversity Equity and Inclusion- a public commitment by employers, educators, unions, and governments to build a workforce that is truly representative of Canada’s people.
She is currently an active Board Member with the Energy Council of Canada, the Irish Film Festival Ottawa, and a recipient of Women in Renewable Energy’s (WiRE) 2015 Woman of the Year award, which recognizes and celebrates professional women working in the energy sector who go above and beyond business as usual.

George Christidis

George Christidis is currently working for Ontario Power Generation promoting the interest of the company with federal stakeholders and supporting the Canadian Nuclear Association in its policy development and advocacy programs.

With over 10 years of experience working with federal, provincial, municipal and international government stakeholders, Mr.Christidis’ experience includes diverse public and private sector involvement, providing strategic advice and recommendations to senior government and corporate decision-makers.

He has previously held key positions within the Canadian government as senior advisor and former chief of staff for key ministers in the Canadian government such as Industry Canada.

Rachna Clavero

Rachna Clavero was appointed President and CEO for CANDU Owners Group in December 2022. COG is funded by CANDU owners and suppliers around the world to support performance excellence through collaborative projects, research, and development.
Rachna has had a diverse career in the nuclear industry. She first joined COG in October 2015, where she developed the Strategic R&D program and helped the industry establish long term priorities for R&D. She further developed the Waste and Decommissioning program and the SMR program at COG as the Director of Nuclear Safety and Environmental Affairs.
From 2020-2022, Rachna was the Senior Director of Strategic Growth & Innovation for Kinectrics. In this role, she had oversight of the nuclear business development team, the innovation portfolio and the company’s sustainability initiatives.
Prior roles in the industry include senior positions with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), Candesco Corporation and the Ontario Ministry of Energy. During her time at the Ministry of Energy she provided strategic advice on nuclear new builds, refurbishment, radioactive waste management and emergency planning. She has consulted internationally at the IAEA and is the Chair of the SMR Task Force and Vice Chair for the committee developing Reactor Safety Standards at the Canadian Standards Association. A strong supporter of diversity in the workplace, Rachna is a mentor and coach to emerging leaders in the industry.

Catherine Cobden

Catherine Cobden is the President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Associationrepresenting Canada’s primary steel and pipe and tube industry. CSPA member companies produce 13million tonnes of steel, pipe and tube products and support over 123,000 jobs in Canada. Since joining the CSPAin January of 2019, Catherine has supported the industry during the disruptive 232 tariff period, spearheaded the development of a leadership climate strategy for the association, securedcritical changes to Canada’s trade remedy regimeand expandedthe voice of the associationto represent 100% of Canada’s steel production as well as key Pipe and Tube producers.

Catherine has over 25 years of experience in Canada’s national capital of Ottawa. Prior to taking the helm of the CSPA, Catherine ran a consultancy where sheprovided strategic advice to many private and public sector clients in the areas ofmanufacturing, mining, construction, andthe forest sector. Catherine also spent 13 years at the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) where, as Executive Vice President of FPAC, she played a key role in developing the sector’s long-term transformation strategy in response to changing market dynamics and the evolving expectations of civil society.

In 2021& 2022, Catherine was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Lobbyists by The Hill Times.She also serves on the Premier’s Council on US Trade and Industry Competitivenessin Ontario. She is on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Institute of Climate Choices, an organization dedicated to climate analysis and COREM, a world recognized innovation organization for Canada’s mining sector. She is a Chemical Engineer from the University of Toronto. Catherine lives in Ottawa with her husband and two children.

Jim Corman

Jim Corman is President and Chief Executive Officer of Orano Canada Inc. Mr. Corman, a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan’s Geological Engineering Program joined Orano’s predecessor company, COGEMA, as a Geological Engineer in 1993. Mr. Corman was actively involved in the discovery, development and operation of the McClean Lake project, which today processes all ore from the Cigar Lake uranium mine. He held a number of operational management positions at the McClean Lake operation, before moving to Paris, France in 2016 to take on the role of Vice President of Projects and Research and Development at the corporate level. In 2019, he returned to Saskatchewan to lead Orano Canada.

Julianne den Decker

As Senior Vice-President, Major Projects, Julianne den Decker is responsible for SNC’s Large Nuclear EPC Projects and New Reactors. This includes SNC’s role in the multi-billion dollar refurbishment projects at Bruce Power and OPG and new reactor design and delivery. Julianne is an executive board member of the Canadian Nuclear Association, an active member of Women in Nuclear and the Chair of SNC’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion network in Ontario.

Before joining SNC-Lavalin, Julianne was a Project Director at Aecon supporting the Candu Refurbishment Programs at OPG and Bruce Power. From 2009-2016, Julianne worked for Chicago Bridge & Iron (CB&I) as the Engineering Manager responsible for the AP1000 standard plant design for projects at VC Summer and Vogtle. Prior to that, Julianne spent 9 years with Areva/Framatome performing Steam Generator replacements at 13 different nuclear facilities in the USA and later supporting the Okiluoto EPR project from Areva’s head office in Paris.

Julianne is a licenced Professional Civil Engineer. Throughout her career she was named Engineer of the Year at Areva and graduated from many leadership development programs including Aecon’s Next Generation Leaders Program at the Ivey Business School, CB&I’s Advanced Leadership Program at Rice University and SNC’s Executive Leadership Development Program at Oxford, UK.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Princeton University.

Fred Dermarkar

Fred Dermarkar is AECL’s President and CEO. He was appointed in February 2021 for a term of three years.

Prior to joining AECL, Fred was President and CEO of the CANDU Owners Group, where he led the not-for‐profit organization to advance collaboration between CANDU nuclear reactor operators worldwide.

Fred has been working in the Canadian nuclear industry for close to 40 years. Throughout his career, he has occupied a variety of key technical and senior leadership positions at Ontario Power Generation in support of the design, commissioning, operation and refurbishment of its CANDU reactors.

Fred has received the Canadian Nuclear Association’s Ian McRae award in recognition of his substantive engineering contributions, leadership and positive influence on the Canadian nuclear industry and the advancement of nuclear energy in Canada, and the Nuclear Excellence Award from the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) in recognition of his contributions to Ontario Power Generation’s overall post-Fukushima response.

As President and CEO of AECL, Fred is leading the organization in its oversight role, seeing that the priorities of Government are delivered safely and efficiently under the Government-owned, Contractor-operated model.

Fred holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto and is a registered professional engineer in the Province of Ontario.

His Excellency Witold Dzielski

Witold Dzielski was born in Cracow, Poland on 21 July 1977. Before assuming (April 28, 2022) current position in Ottawa, Ambassador Dzielski was for six years Director of the Bureau of International Policy at the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland. At the time he was responsible for the foreign activities of Poland’s Head of State. 2013-2015 he served at the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Poland as Chief Specialist, covering a broad range of transatlantic political issues. 2007-2012 he was posted at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington D.C. His portfolio included EU-US relations as well as Polish-Jewish affairs.

Prior to joining the public service, Ambassador Dzielski was actively engaged in Poland’s civic society organizations. Among others, he was President and founder of the US Matters Association, Office Director at the Pro Publico Bono Foundation, public relations representative for the Oswiecim Institute of Human Rights, lecturer at the Jagiellonian University, lecturer at the School of Banking and Management, and teacher at the High School of Fine Arts in Kraków. He is a published author in the area of international relations, as well as fiction (fantasy).

In his free time, he enjoys sports (Aikido black belt, formerly long time captain of a basketball team). For his professional achievements he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2022), Commander of Makarios III (2021), Commander of the Star of Romania (2019), Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland (2017). He has a wife and a son.

Mike Ford

Mike Ford came to GE Hitachi as the Chief Financial Officer in July of 2019 with a proven track record of growing businesses and leading teams through dynamic changes. With more than 30 years of experience as a business leader in global industrial companies, Mike heads the Finance and Digital Technology functions at GE-Hitachi.
In past roles, Mike served as EVP and CFO at Orbcomm, LLC., EVP of Commercial Lending at Emigrant Savings Bank and held various CFO and Managing Director roles at both Tyco International and Ryder System, Inc.

Tim Gitzel

Tim Gitzel is president and CEO of Cameco, one of the largest global providers of uranium fuel. He was appointed in July of 2011, having joined the company in 2007 as chief operating officer. He has extensive experience in Canadian and international uranium mining activities through nearly 30 years of senior management and legal experience. Prior to joining Cameco, he was executive vice-president for the mining business unit of AREVA based in Paris, France with responsibility for global uranium, gold, exploration, and decommissioning operations in 11 countries. He also served as president and chief executive officer for AREVA’s Canadian subsidiary.
Tim was born and raised in Saskatchewan and has both a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Saskatchewan.
Tim currently serves on the boards of the World Nuclear Association, Washington based Nuclear Energy Institute, the Business Council of Canada and The Mosaic Company. He is a member of the Edwards School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council and the University of Saskatchewan College of Law Dean’s Advisory Council. He is past chair of the World Nuclear Association, past president of the Saskatchewan Mining Association, and has served on several other boards both in industry and in supporting his community. As well, Tim serves as Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan to Saskatchewan and is Co-Chair of the Kazakhstan Canada Business Council.

John Gorman

John Gorman is President & CEO of Canadian Nuclear Association, past President & CEO of the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) and a Director on the board of the Energy Council of Canada (ECC). John served as Canada’s Designate to the International Energy Agency’s Executive Committee (PVPS) and was a Founder of the Canadian Council on Renewable Electricity (CanCORE). He’s using this experience to secure a leading role for nuclear energy at the heart of Canada’s energy transition.
Before joining CanSIA, he was the Senior Vice President of Empower Energies, an innovative, global integrator of energy systems. He has served as a director on the boards of numerous community and corporate organizations, including one of the nation’s largest electric utilities.
John has been recognized as one of Canada’s CLEAN50 and is the recipient of the “40 Under 40” business award for excellence in business practices. He was awarded the designation of Climate Project Ambassador by Nobel Laureate Al Gore in 2008.

Tom Greatrex

Tom Greatrex became Chief Executive of the NIA on 1 February 2016. Formerly MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, Tom was shadow energy minister from 2011 – 2015 and the opposition’s lead spokesman on nuclear energy, electricity market reform, smart grid and metering, carbon capture and storage, interconnection and both onshore and offshore oil and gas. Leading the scrutiny of the Energy Act and the Infrastructure Act in the last Parliament, he secured a number of amendments to the proposed legislation. He also served as a member of the Energy Select Committee from 2010 and from 2007-2010 was a policy adviser in the Scotland Office, including on energy.
Since 2015, he has been an independent policy analyst working in the energy sector for a range of clients, a frequent media commentator on energy issues, and a regular columnist for Utility Week. In a varied prior career, he was Director of Corporate Affairs for the NHS in Scotland, a chief officer in local government and a GMB trade union official in England. Outside of work his main interests are family, football (Fulham) and film.

Sashen Guneratna

Sashen Guneratna is a Managing Director within the investments group and will assist the Executive Team with implementing Canada Infrastructure Bank’s investment strategy.

Sashen has more than 20 years of banking and advisory experience encompassing several sectors and jurisdictions.

Most recently, Sashen was a Partner within the Capital Projects and Infrastructure group at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with a focus on Water and Wastewater, First Nations led projects, Power and Utilities.

Prior to joining PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in 2013, Sashen worked for National Bank Financial as a Financial Advisor and Underwriter of project finance transactions.

Sashen holds an MBA and BBA from the Schulich School of Business.

Dale Hansen

Dale Hansen is the Dean in the MacPhail School of Energy at SAIT, providing leadership for its academic programs that span across the energy industry.

Prior to joining SAIT, Dale spent 25 years in the oil and gas and mineral resource sectors. Through the course of his career in oil and gas, Dale filled a wide variety of leadership roles across many functions, including time spent in field locations such as the Oil Sands near Fort McMurray. This has provided him with a well-rounded perspective on the industry and an absolute passion for energy in all of its forms. Dale is an experienced facilitator and speaker who holds a Chartered Professional Accounting (CMA) designation and a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University.

Holding a very strong belief that post-secondary education has a pivotal role to play in ensuring a supply of well educated, talented people across the energy system, Dale spends much of his effort building strong relationships with industry leaders. These relationships support SAIT’s effort to remain current in a rapidly changing environment as the industry seeks to transform itself on the path to decarbonization.

Ken Hartwick

Ken Hartwick is Ontario Power Generation’s President and CEO. Ken joined OPG in March 2016 as OPG’s Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President – Finance, where he led all operations under Finance, Business Development, Strategy, and Risk. As CFO and SVP – Finance, Ken also led the launch of Canada’s first utility green bond as well as OPG’s expansion to the U.S. through the acquisition of Eagle Creek Renewable Energy LLC.

Ken joined OPG from Wellspring Financial Corporation, where he was CFO and Treasurer. He was also interim President and CEO at Atlantic Power Corporation, a generating company that does business in Canada and the U.S. For ten years prior, Ken was the President and CEO of Just Energy Corporation, a Canadian-based energy retailer. In addition, he held the position of CFO at Hydro One between 2001 and 2004. He also held senior positions at Cap Gemini and was a partner at the accounting firm Ernst and Young.

Ken is a Chartered Professional Accountant with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration. He serves on a number of boards. Originally from Norwood, Ontario (near Peterborough), Ken now lives in Milton with his wife. He has three grown children.

Honourable Mike Holland

In his first venture into provincial politics, the Honourable Mike Holland was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in September 2018 for the riding of Albert and was re-elected in 2020 for a second term.

He was reappointed as the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development following the 2020 election. Born in Chatham (now Miramichi), New Brunswick in 1970, Mr. Holland is the son of Phil and Brenda Holland.

Farm raised in rural New Brunswick, Mr. Holland has been an avid outdoorsperson his entire life. He is co-founder of the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation, a non-profit organization that is quickly becoming the new face of conservation in Canada.

Mr. Holland has been a local entrepreneur who sold outdoor gear which he invented. As the founder of Resourceful Redneck Inc., he successfully secured a funding partnership on the CBC TV show Dragon’s Den.

Over the years, Mr. Holland has been active with many outdoors and conservation groups, serving in various capacities from volunteer to board member. Mr. Holland began gaining political experience in 2010, working as an executive assistant with cabinet ministers in five different provincial government departments. In his spare time, Mr. Holland enjoys exploring the outdoors with his three adult children and his partner Alison.

Jacquie Hoornweg

Jacquie Hoornweg is Executive Director of Ontario Tech University’s Brilliant Energy Institute (BEI). The Institute serves as a thought leader and collaboration mechanism for development and deployment of clean energy systems across Canada and globally.

Her career includes more than a decade at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), including several years on OPG’s Executive Leadership Team where she served as vice president, Corporate Relations and Communications. In 2015, she co-founded and served as President and Managing Partner of Querencia Partners Canada Ltd., working with energy sector leadership and clients on policy, strategy, thought leadership, engagement and communications. Prior to that, she spent several years as a journalist covering energy, environment and politics, including several years reporting on Canada’s bid to host the ITER fusion research facility, now being built in Cadarache, France.

In 2021, Jacquie received the Howard A. Smith Outstanding Contribution award from the Canadian Nuclear Society and Canadian Nuclear Association. She is a fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, a long-standing contributor to Nuclear Engineering International magazine, and has taught reputation management to masters students at McMaster University since 2016. She is the Ontario Tech representative on the board of the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering.

Bronwyn Hyland

Bronwyn is a Technology Development Specialist at Suncor Energy in the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction Group. In this role she is responsible for the net zero technology roadmap and developing clean energy technology options to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050. Bronwyn is the small modular reactor (SMR) Team Lead for the Pathways Alliance, and also active in the other Net Zero Technology and GHG emissions reduction groups at Pathways and COSIA.

Prior to joining Suncor in 2018, Bronwyn worked at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) first as a reactor physicist and lastly as Program Manager, Small Modular and Advanced Reactor Technologies. In the latter role, she provided leadership in support of CNL’s SMR strategic initiative and participated in a number of national and international expert groups and collaborations, including the Canadian SMR Roadmap.

Bronwyn holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in physics from the University of Guelph and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada.

Chief Wendy Jocko

Wendy-Anne Jocko was elected as Chief under the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation custom election code, on March 30, 2020 garnering 265 votes, coming from a combination of mail-in ballots, votes being cast electronically and in person at the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation Community Centre.
Wendy has been instrumental in maintaining and commemorating the relationship between the Canadian Forces and the First Nation. She inaugurated the annual Remembrance Day parade and feast, which has recurred annually since 1999. Wendy donated a cenotaph engraved “In honour of the Algonquin people who served Canada in war and peace” paired with Algonquin language translation. The monument is now part of the newly unveiled set of monuments on the Pikwakanagan cultural grounds.

Amar Jolly

Amar Jolly has global responsibility for Hatch’s Nuclear Power Business Unit. He has more than 20 years of progressive and diverse experience in the nuclear industry, including plant refurbishment projects, modifications to existing facilities, nuclear sustainability & waste management and SMR deployment engagements.

Amar has a demonstrated track record of success in the nuclear industry in tackling complex issues using technology and innovative solutions. Amar brings in-depth experience from both the owner/operator and design agency/construction management perspectives. He has first-hand knowledge of the intricacies of what is required to create success through collaboration and communication.

Amar graduated from the University of Ottawa in Electrical Engineering.

Adam Kahgee

Adam Kahgee, Director, Indigenous Relations and Business Partnerships at Bruce Power. Born and raised on Saugeen First Nation #29, Adam joined Bruce Power in 2016 as a Contract Specialist and Section Manager in Supply Chain after having worked as the Director of the Justice Sector for Chiefs of Ontario. For the past three years, Adam has been heavily involved in the indigenous relations portfolio as the Chair of the Indigenous Relations Supplier Network (IRSN), the Indigenous Procurement Lead for Supply Chain and an active member with TEEBO (Training, Education, Employment, Business Opportunities) committee. He is a great relationship-builder and looks forward to opportunities to help build indigenous awareness and understanding. Adam hold a degree in Political Science from York University and a Juris Doctorate from Osgoode Hall Law School.

John MacQuarrie

John R. MacQuarrie is President of the Nuclear Power Group segment of BWXT Technologies, Inc., (BWXT) which includes BWXT Canada Ltd., (BWXT Canada), its subsidiaries BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc., BWXT Precision Manufacturing Inc., and Intech International Inc. as well as BWXT Canada’s affiliate, BWXT Medical Ltd. (BWXT Medical). BWXT Canada and BWXT ITG are subsidiaries of BWXT. BWXT is headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia.

BWXT’s Nuclear Power Group serves the global commercial nuclear power industry with engineering, critical components, services and fuel, and it serves the nuclear medicine industry with medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. With 28 years of nuclear industry experience, Mr. MacQuarrie’s career includes over 21 years with the Company. Previously, Mr. MacQuarrie served as Vice President, Business Development & Marketing for the Company’s commercial nuclear energy operating group. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of Nuclear Services for the Company where he was responsible for global services delivery. He assumed this role after several years as the General Manager of Nuclear Services and Equipment for the Company’s Canadian operations. John holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree of applied science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto and is a licensed professional engineer in the province of Ontario. John is also the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Nuclear Association, is a board member of the Nuclear Innovation Institute and sits on an Advisory Committee for Women in Nuclear.

Joe McBrearty

Joe McBrearty is a senior executive with over 40 years of experience in the nuclear industry. Holding executive-level roles at complex nuclear installations in both the United States and Canada, Mr. McBrearty’s expertise includes nuclear reactor and high hazard nuclear facility operations, maintenance, training and oversight.
As President and CEO at CNL, Joe oversees the operations of Canada’s national nuclear laboratory complex and Vision 2030, a strategic research focus into clean energy, health and new radioisotopes, and environmental science. Joe is enacting transformational change to improve the company’s research program, safety performance, security posture, capital program, and waste management activities.

Honourable Don Morgan

Don Morgan was born, raised and educated in Saskatoon. He graduated from the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan, in 1978 and practiced law in Saskatoon from 1979 to 1988.

Between 1988 and 1992 he was Chair and CEO of the Saskatchewan Legal Aid Commission. He was appointed as King’s Counsel in 1990. From 1992 until 2007 he practiced law in Saskatoon. Mr. Morgan also served on the Saskatoon Public School Board from 1999 to 2003 including a term as Board Chair.

Mr. Morgan has always been active in his community. He has served as Chair of the Board of the Mendel Art Gallery, and also as a board member on the Mendel Art Gallery Foundation and the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. In addition, he has volunteered for numerous organizations including: Junior Achievement, the Food Bank, Alzheimer’s, the Red Cross and the United Way.

He has been active with the Retinitis Pigmentosa Research Foundation and, was the founding president of the National Ride for Sight campaign, a charity that has raised more than $1 million per year. Mr. Morgan has also participated in the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living’s “Adopt-an-MLA Program”.

Mr. Morgan was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly in 2003 and was re-elected in the 2007, 2011, and 2016 provincial elections. Since 2007, Mr. Morgan has held several different cabinet positions. Mr. Morgan has served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of Advanced Education, Minister responsible for SaskTel, Minister of Education and Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety. In 2016, he was appointed Deputy Premier and served in the role until 2018.

Mr. Morgan has served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, Minister responsible for SaskTel and Minister responsible for the Global Transportation Hub.

On November 9, 2020, Premier Scott Moe appointed Don as the Minister of Crown Investments Corporation and Minister responsible for all major crown corporations, including SaskEnergy, SGI, SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskGaming and SaskWater.

Mr. Morgan and his wife Sandy reside in the Rosewood neighborhood of Saskatoon.

Dr. Steven Murphy

Dr. Steven Murphy is the fourth President and Vice-Chancellor of Ontario Tech University. His bold approach is represented by a youthful and energetic new university brand, the championing of student-led initiatives to increase engagement on campus and advancing the University’s mission of inclusivity and accessibility.
Dr. Murphy recognized the breadth of expertise at Ontario Tech around energy, which allowed him to create the Brilliant Energy Institute, a multidisciplinary research centre that works with all Canadian energy sectors around the science and trade-offs involved in a clean energy transition. Current work includes leading a multi-university, pan-Canadian research roadmap for micro and modular reactors and supporting communities with their climate change and sustainable energy plans through the development of smart micro grids, metrics, tracking, analysis and reporting.
Dr. Murphy is renowned for his organizational and human behaviour expertise across business and industry and brings this experience to guide his leadership strategy. He completed his Doctorate in Management, Organizational Behaviour, at Carleton University and serves the broader community of academics and research at a provincial and national level as a board member of the National Research Council (NRC), Chair of Talent, Co-Chair of eCampus Ontario, Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee for the Council of Ontario Universities, and Chair of Ontario University Athletics, amongst other board obligations.

Samuel Myers

Sam Meyers is a Senior Vice President at Brookfield Asset Management, responsible for conducting due diligence on new investment opportunities and overseeing portfolio companies acquired by Brookfield.

Mr. Meyers joined Brookfield in 2016. Prior to joining Brookfield, he worked as an investment banker at both Morgan Stanley and Lazard.

Mr. Meyers holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Columbia University.

Rory O’Sullivan

Rory O’Sullivan is the Chief Executive Officer at Moltex. In 2018, he spearheaded the company’s expansion into North America, with the aim of deploying an advanced small modular reactor in New Brunswick. Rory’s leadership at Moltex draws on his experience in co-founding Energy Process Developments Ltd, leading a feasibility study on the development of a molten salt reactor, and participating in the International Atomic Energy Agency’s advisory committee on molten salt reactors. He obtained 1st-class honours in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from Trinity College Dublin and a degree in Mechanical Design Engineering from the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon in France.

Rupen Pandya

Rupen Pandya became the President and Chief Executive Officer of SaskPower in 2022.
Before joining SaskPower, Mr. Pandya was the Deputy Minister of Finance and Secretary to Treasury Board for the Government of Saskatchewan.
He has 25 years of public service experience in Saskatchewan, including previous positions as the President and Chief Executive Officer of SaskBuilds, and Assistant Deputy Minister roles with the Ministry of the Economy and the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration.
He holds Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Regina.

Jessica Perritt

Jessica Perritt is a proud Anishinaabe-kwe from Neyaashiingmiing First Nation located within the Saugeen Ojibway Nation traditional territory on the shores of the Georgian Bay in Southern Ontario. She is a mother, wife, daughter, granddaughter, auntie and niece. Jessica brings over 15 years experience of Indigenizing organizational culture, implementing reconciliation within corporate policy and engaging with Indigenous communities.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Alberta. As the Director of Indigenous Innovation at Turtle Island Institute, she hopes to  amplify the sophistication of Indigenous knowledge in programming that is grounded in relationship, ceremony and centred in spiritual learning. 

She joins the Turtle Island Institute team on a 13-moon leave from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).  Jessica contributes to the field of systems change by leaning into the richness of Indigenous knowledge and leverages the principles of respect, reciprocity and relationship in practical ways to influence institutions, policy and organizations.

Sonia Qureshi

As Director of Joint Projects and Services at the CANDU Owner’s Group (COG), Sonia is responsible for the line of business that develops solutions to problems and common issues in the CANDU community through innovative new approaches for longer more robust plant life. The group also provides auditing and inspection qualification services towards ensuring quality and reliability of CANDU systems and components. Sonia is responsible for interfacing with potential clients, member partners and executives both domestically and internationally.

Sonia has over 25 years of experience in the nuclear industry. Prior to COG, she worked at Candu Energy, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, with her last position being the Director of Marketing & Strategy. She also worked at Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd, both as a process engineer and a senior cost engineer with extensive experience in developing proposals and cost models for various large scale nuclear projects and new builds.
Sonia holds a Chemical Engineering honours degree from the University of Toronto and is a licensed Professional Engineer with the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO). Sonia is also very active with Women in Nuclear (WiN) Canada and is currently the Chair for the Golden Horseshoe West (GHW) Chapter, a member of the WiN Canada Board of Directors, leads the WiN Canada Speakers Clearinghouse initiative, supports the newly launched WiN Canada Leadership Development Training program and has a passion for mentorship.

Mike Rencheck

Michael W. Rencheck is President and Chief Executive Officer of Bruce Power. Mike has served in a number of senior roles over his 35-year career and prior to joining Bruce Power in 2016, he served as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for AREVA Group overseeing its extensive global capital portfolio of nuclear and renewable projects.

Mike has been recognized by the National Safety Council for his leadership demonstrating a personal commitment to worker safety and health and was
designated by the US Department of Energy as a STEM ambassador. In 2020, he was named the CEO of the Year by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce as part of the Ontario Business Achievement Awards. He also has demonstrated a commitment to many organizations that make a difference in people’s lives including Habitat for Humanity and United Way. Mike is a Professional Engineer and certified senior reactor operator and currently serves on the Board of
Directors for the Electric Power Research Institute and on advisory councils for several small modular reactor companies.

Honourable Todd Smith

For over 25 years, Todd Smith has been a trusted voice in the Quinte region. Born and raised in Riverview, N.B., he has lived in the Belleville area since the early 1990s.

A graduate of Loyalist College, he embarked on a 16-year career in radio news broadcasting, rising to the news director of Quinte Broadcasting. In 2011, Smithwas nominated to run as the Progressive Conservative candidate provincially. As a first-time candidate, he unseated a well-tenured Liberal cabinet minister.

While in opposition, Smith served the Prince Edward-Hastings riding for seven years. He served as the PC critic on several files, including small business and red tape reduction, Pan and Parapan American Games, the Hydro One sale, natural resources and forestry, and energy.

Also during that time, he put forward Private Members’ bills dealing with tax fairness for realtors, market access for craft beverage producers, and mobile soccer net safety. He also was an instrumental supporter of several important projects in his riding, including advocating for the protection of Prince Edward County’s natural south shore, the ongoing operations of Belleville’s Sagonaska Demonstration School, and the continued funding and sustainability of small and rural hospitals.

He has always had an open ear for the interests of business and a willingness to find common sense solutions that reduce red tape and barriers to success.

In June 2018, Smith was elected in the new Bay of Quinte riding as part of a Progressive Conservative majority government. Premier Doug Ford named him Government House Leader and Minister of Government and Consumer Services in June. In November, he was named Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade while remaining Government House Leader. From June 20, 2019 to June 18, 2021, he sat as Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. Currently, Smith is Ontario’s Minister of Energy.

Beyond politics, Smith has been active with numerous charitable and community causes. He is a past chair of Operation Red Nose Quinte and he has served as volunteer hockey coach for several years.

Amid all of his commitments, Smith’s family remains his most important priority. He enjoys spending time with his wife Tawnya, a local high school teacher, and his daughters Payton and Reagan.

Laurie Swami

Ms. Laurie Swami is the President and CEO of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). She was appointed to the role in 2016 and is responsible for implementing Canada’s plan for the long- term management of used nuclear fuel.

Prior to joining the NWMO, Ms. Swami spent 30 years, primarily in nuclear operations, at Ontario Power Generation. She served as Senior Vice-President of Decommissioning and Nuclear Waste Management, overseeing the operation of nuclear waste management facilities and planning for the
decommissioning of a nuclear generating facility.

Ms. Swami has extensive experience leading Environmental Assessment projects, including nuclear refurbishments. She has appeared before Joint Panel Reviews (CEA and CNSC) for the Darlington New Nuclear Project and OPG’s Deep Geologic Repository Project.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Chemistry from Queen’s University and a Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business.

She is an ardent supporter of and advocate for the advancement of women to leadership positions. In recognition of this contribution, she received the Women in Nuclear Canada Leadership Award in 2016.

Rumina Velshi

Rumina Velshi was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in August 2018, and has extensive technical, regulatory and adjudication expertise in the energy industry.

Key priorities for Ms. Velshi include ensuring that the CNSC and other nuclear regulators are ready to respond to innovation and accelerating technological change, are collaborating with a view to eventually harmonize regulatory reviews and are continuing to find ways to gain and enhance public trust. In February 2020, Ms. Velshi was appointed Chairperson of the Commission on Safety Standards (CSS), established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for a four-year term. Ms. Velshi very actively promotes careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), especially for young women.

Ms. Velshi holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in civil engineering, a Master of Engineering degree in chemical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration, all from the University of Toronto.

Ivette Vera-Perez

Ivette Vera-Perez has over 15 years of experience in the cleantech and environmental technologies sector. Her expertise spans from business development to site engineering, operations, and financing. She holds a Master of Applied Science from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from McGill University.
Before joining the CHFCA, Ms. Vera-Perez was the National Team Lead for Mitacs’s Account Management group and directed a multidisciplinary group of account managers across Canada with the mandate of helping industry secure top talent to advance innovation.  She also previously served as the Manager for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction programs at the Ontario Centres of Innovation, where she managed over $275 million in program funding. Ivette also serves on the board of the Ontario Clean Technologies Industry Association (OCTIA).

James (Jim) P. Ward

Mr. Ward has a substantial background in business operations, business planning, community development and consulting. One of his key responsibilities is to provide leadership as General Manager to the North Shore Micmac District Council and also the Anqotum AAROM (Aboriginal Aquatic Resource & Ocean Management).
Jim is a motivated individual with 30 years’ experience in project management, business administration, governmental lobbying and has demonstrated an ability to see major activities and associated timeframes to completion on budget and on time.
Jim is a highly motivated individual, with a strong work ethic and excellent communication skills. He has attained substantial experience in general administration and management of non-profit organizations, project management, technical service delivery, and the general management of people and resources. He takes pride in delivering an innovative, results-based management style and has a proven record of accomplishments to back this up. The team of professionals at NSMDC are very proficient in the development and implementation of comprehensive technical service delivery strategies for our member First Nation communities.
As the General Manager for NSMDC, he would like to continue to utilize and apply his expertise and skills in his current work environment to continue to promote and encourage staff co-operation and teamwork.
As the General Manager, his primary goal is to create and maintain an effective, healthy, vibrant workplace for all employees. In the First Nation communities, NSMDC faces unique challenges in our mandate as a Tribal Council organization, such as developing skills and capacity, bridging current skills gaps, providing effective training and orientation opportunities, addressing shortfalls in technical service delivery, and, and working towards the future prosperity of the communities.
As a graduate of the University of New Brunswick Management Development “Professional Development Certificate” Program, the extensive course components were invaluable in expanding his expertise and further strengthening his abilities to carrying out of his job duties. With all the completed course work and course delivery it enhances the extensive work experience and enables him to be more effective as a leader to guide the organization that better reflects the needs of our First Nation communities. It also provided Jim with focused, practical information on how to improve and enhance the effectiveness of his management and leadership style.
Currently, Jim and a team of NSMDC key employees are undertaking and developing opportunities in the Clean Energy Sector here in New Brunswick, the team has just recently completed the “Energy Fundamentals for Leaders”, a University of New Brunswick Saint John Energy Certificate Program. Jim is currently a member of the Indigenous Resource Council for the SMR Action Plan, and also a member of the SMR Action Plan Leadership Table. He is also a member of Atlantic Clean Energy Alliance. The NSMDC Energy Team is pursuing opportunities with private sector vendors, government officials, and other key stakeholders to ensure NSMDC member communities play a key role in the development and opportunities of the Clean Energy Sector.

Chief Emeritus Emily Whetung

Chief Emily Whetung grew up in Curve Lake First Nation and left for just long enough to pursue a higher education at Trent University and Osgoode Hall Law School. She married a Mohawk from Wahta and convinced him to build a life on the Chemong side of Curve Lake. She practiced Real Estate Law in Peterborough for a decade while she started to work on the next generation of Whetungs, raising two lovely little boys.

Elected as Chief of Curve Lake in 2019, Chief Emily is passionate about the rights of First Nations people. She works to ensure that her community has every opportunity to thrive and protect the environment for all future generations. She is dedicated to the protection of Treaty Rights, finding ways to ensure economic advancements occur in sustainable manners, and building healthy relationships between First Nations and Canadians.

Eight months after taking office, Chief Emily was faced with dealing with the global pandemic. Shifting the community to online work, finding ways to support families in staying home, working on developing agricultural lands to ensure food security, and ensuring First Nations had access to vaccinations on the manufacturer’s recommended dosage schedule, Chief Emily pivoted to deal with the issues facing her community. In the summer of 2021, she seconded the nomination of the woman who would become the first female National Chief at the Assembly of First Nations.

Building on 40 years of advocating for access to clean drinking water for Curve Lake, Chief Emily took on the task to be one of the representative plaintiffs that settled a national class action with the Government of Canada to provide 8 billion dollars to end long term water advisories on First Nations across Canada before 2030.

Chief Emily has recently been elected to the Anishinabek Nation Leadership Council and appointed the vice-chair to the Indigenous Advisory Council for Small Modular (Nuclear) Reactor Action Plan. She continues to sit on many committees and working groups with the Mississauga Nation Chiefs, the Chief’s of Ontario and the Anishinabek Nation. She continues to use her expertise and knowledge to ensure that that voices of Indigenous people are heard and respected.

Kreshka Young

Kreshka Young is Dow’s North America Business Director for Energy & Climate. In this role she is responsible for developing and implementing competitive and reliable energy and climate change strategies for Dow’s manufacturing sites across North America, and for implementing strategic investments and business models to preserve Dow’s competitiveness through the energy transition. In addition, she leads Dow’s effort to implement a small modular nuclear reactor project at a USGC facility by approximately 2030.

Kreshka holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alberta and an MBA from the University of Calgary.