Staff
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Executive Director - Kristopher Stevens Kristopher Stevens, is a frequent speaker on sustainable energy and Community Power across North America. He is a "transformative entrepreneur" with experience on three continents in the corporate, public and non-profit sectors. He specializes in stakeholder engagement, sustainable energy policy, corporate communications and strategic planning. |
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Director, Community Power Services Group - Harry French After completing a Masters Degree in Interdisciplinary Resource Planning, University of Guelph Harry worked across Canada in various provinces planning, designing and implementing actions for the development of natural and recreational park systems. His work always involved connecting with people to plan for wise use of environmental resources. He has been an Assistant Deputy Minister of Tourism for the Province of Ontario, a partner in the national consulting firm of Marshall Macklin Monaghan (MMM Group) and a research Director at the Conference Board of Canada. He completed a 2nd graduate degree, in a programme called Human Systems Intervention at Concordia University Montreal in 2001.This programme focussed on the use of social processes in the collaborative development of organizations and community. In Feb of this year Harry joined OSEA, the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association as Director of the Community Power Services Group. |
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Coordinator, Community Power Services Group - Roberto Garcia Since 2007 Roberto has been an advocate and facilitator of community energy development in Ontario. As part of OSEA's team he has contributed to a number of projects including a grassroots campaign for Ontario's Green Energy Act, the 7th World Wind Energy Conference, and the 1st Annual Community Power Conference. Recently, Roberto conducted an assessment of the total solar capacity on residential and commercial rooftops in the town of Newmarket as part of an overall community power assessment that OSEA produced for Newmarket-Tay Hydro. Roberto holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University's John Molson School of Business with a Specialization in Management Information Systems and eCommerce. |
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Coordinator, Community Power Services Group - Craig Jackson Craig joined the Community Power Services Group as a Coordinator, specifically to work with Ontario`s First Nation and Metis communities. Craig`s home community of Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve has been his inspiration to pursue the First Nations role in harvesting sustainable energy sources. Craig graduated from the Energy Systems Technology advanced diploma program at Cambrian College. During his college experience, Craig held the position of President of the Cambrian Native Students` Association for two years. He is continuing his educational goals in attaining his Bachelors of Commerce degree. Prior to returning to post secondary education, Craig`s work background was in the construction sector. Crais also attained the rank of Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps where he was trained as a firefighter.
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Communications Manager - Jane Story Jane has been involved in environmental issues for many years, first as a reporter for NOW Magazine in the early 80’s and more recently as communications officer for Greenpeace Canada and WWF Indochina. She also has extensive experience working with indigenous people both in Canada, where she established a communication office for the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin, and overseas, working in Papua New Guinea, Lao, Vietnam, Cambodia, Palestine and the Solomon Islands where she was employed by the United Nations Development Program. Jane earned her Hon. B.A. in English from the University of Guelph and studied photography at the Polytechnic of Central London (England). |
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Membership Manager - M. Ryan Manchee Ryan has joined the OSEA team after helping briefly as a volunteer with Green Energy Act Alliance and delivering the Green Energy Act Roadshow presentation to the Collingwood Sustainability Committee. He has chosen to pursue a path in community based sustainable energy after recognizing the potential to move Ontario towards sustainable and restorative societies and economies. His study at Algonquin College, in pursuit of an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration, Materials and Operations Management has provided him with the communication skills to make him an increasingly effective team player. Upon completion of his diploma, Ryan furthered his knowledge and experience of enterprise resource programming software with the successful completion of SAP Canada’s Associate Certification in mySAP ERP, Integration of Business Processes. By utilizing database management tools and customer relations management systems, Ryan will help OSEA deliver valuable services and advocacy for OSEA members and all residents of Ontario. |
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Finance and Office Manager - Sonya De Vellis |
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Executive Assistant - Genevieve Light Email: genevieve(at)ontario-sea.org Genevieve holds an honours degree in International Studies from York University, Glendon College. She first joined OSEA in 2008 as project coordinator of the World Wind Energy Conference; initially, drawn by the opportunity to combine some practical experience to the more theoretical training she had received at University. Once the conference was over she decided to stay with OSEA; jumping at the opportunity to embrace a team that reflects her commitment to better future. Genevieve currently works as OSEA’s Executive Assistant. She supports the organization; her duties including coordinating schedules, HR, website updates, researching and internal communications. When she is not working, Genevieve enjoys being outdoors: running, swimming, camping or cross-country skiing. |
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Conference Marketing and Programming Manager - Valerie Kitchell Valerie is pursuing her Master in Environmental Studies at York University. Her research on sustainable energy has led her to Germany, Denmark, and Brussels. Back home, Valerie is also active in the field, engaging in clean tech, education, stakeholder engagement and community mobilization projects. Her interdisciplinary background includes an Honours Health Science degree from the University of Ottawa and a certificate in Business Administration from the Telfer School of Business. |
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Events & Outreach Manager - Nicole Risse |
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Feed-in Tariffs Consultant - Paul Gipe Email: pgipe(at)igc.org Website: www.wind-works.org Paul Gipe has written extensively about renewable energy for both the popular and trade press. His most recent book, Wind Power: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm, & Business, is also available in French as Le Grand Livre de l'Eolien. In 2004, Gipe served as the acting executive director of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association where he created, managed, and implemented a provincial campaign for Advanced Renewable Tariffs. Ontario’s feed law is being hailed as the most progressive renewable energy policy in North America in two decades. |
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Marion Fraser Marion, on behalf of OSEA, prepared the addendum to the report Renewables Without Limits. She is currently involved in developing the Green Energy Act for Ontario. At OSEA's 2008 annual general meeting, Marion spoke on the topic of Smartening the Grid. |
Board of Directors
Voting Members
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Robert Hellier, Chair and Director Robert Hellier is the principle developer and Coordinator of the Sustainable Energy & Building Technology program at Humber College, one of Canada’s leading polytechnic institutes. Rob’s career in Industrial Design started in Canada, but he subsequently spent 13 years in Europe working as a consultant to companies such as Nokia and ICL. He’s also held a professorship and academic management roles in Finland and the Netherlands. Robert’s sojourn in Europe fostered a deep interest in sustainable development and he continues to explore its issues and solutions, especially as they apply to energy and buildings. He is a European Fellow of the Leadership in Environment & Development (LEAD) program and is completing his MSc. in Renewable Energy & Sustainable Building Design at De Montfort University in the UK. |
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Derek Satnik, Vice-Chair and Director Derek Satnik is a member of the Canada Green Building Council's "LEED for Homes" committee, a director at Community Renewable Energy Waterloo (CREW) and at Local Initiative for Future Energy (LIFE), a member of the Net-Zero Energy Housing Coalition (NZEHC), and a member of Conestoga College's Program Advisory Committee supporting the development of a renewable energy trades program. Derek is an Electrical Engineer by trade, and has worked in the consulting industry in various roles since 1999, most notably with Stantec Consulting Ltd., Enermodal Engineering Ltd., and now Mindscape Innovations. Derek's personal experience ranges from design of power/ lighting / communications / controls systems for the ICI sectors to more general aspects of sustainable design and energy efficiency as a Sustainability Engineer and LEED Consultant. Derek currently supervises Mindscape's work in the renewable energy and housing industries. |
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William Big Bull, Director Born and raised in Piikani and member of the Blackfoot Confederacy, William Big Bull is at present employed by Walpole Island First Nation as consultant on wind energy and utility management. In 1982, he established the Peigan Public Utilities and was employed in the capacity of energy manager and negotiator. He served on the band council from 1991 to 1993, chairing the utilities and housing committees. During his term in office, he lobbied governments for wind power and spearheaded the development of a 9.9 MW wind farm, presently Cowley Ridge Wind Farm owned by Canadian Hydro. |
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David DeYoe, Director Representing a broad spectrum of partnerships and collaborations, Dr. DeYoe brings a unique Northern Ontario perspective to the board with considerable insight into rural development issues and trends. With substantial policy development experience and field work in sustainable community development, Dr. DeYoe will bring considerable capacity to the board in these areas. |
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Graham Findlay, Director Mr. Findlay began his career as a river control engineer with Ontario Hydro working on hydroelectric power dam operations. He traveled extensively through the province on assignments on the major controlled rivers. After leaving the power utility industry in the early 1980’s, he earned an MBA and worked in corporate lending with the Mercantile Bank of Canada. His customers were mostly large commercial property developers. In the mid-1980’s he switched from banking to property development and spent 15 years focusing on office building construction, property management and office leasing. During this period he kept an eye open for opportunities for independent power producers. In the 2000’s he saw a looming explosion in the renewable energy industry as a result of deregulation of Ontario’s power industry, and got in early. Mr. Findlay was a founder and chief operating officer of Vector Wind Energy Inc for 4 years as of its inception in 2002. Under his direction the company started wind farm projects in all but two Canadian provinces, and he successfully built projects in Nova Scotia and won competitive tenders in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. As of 2008, there is a total of 100 MW of wind energy projects under construction originating from his efforts. Currently Mr Findlay is active as a consulting energy project developer and asset manager, working for institutional and First Nation clients. He is also a proponent of an innovative concrete wind turbine tower project that is expected to be constructed in 2009. Mr. Findlay holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Civil Engineering) degree from Queen's University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Toronto. |
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Paul Finley, Director Paul has been employed in the field of business, community and economic development for twenty-five years, the past ten as a business consultant and international trade advisor with the City of Greater Sudbury. In this capacity, he has worked with entrepreneurs, foreign trade delegations and senior government agencies in the development of trade and investment attraction initiatives and the identification of international business opportunities for northern Ontario companies. This has been further complemented by training in Business Retention and Expansion enabling him to assist companies with their diversification and expansion plans. As a member of the Greater Sudbury Business Development Team, he has been involved in economic policy development and creation of the City’s Economic Development Strategy. He is also the City’s point-person for eco-industrial and renewable energy initiatives. Through his years of experience, he has developed a sound understanding of the workings of industry and government and the ability to draw upon the resources of various Ministries and agencies. As a mentor to other professionals and a committed “team player”, he strongly believes in the four C’s of Communication, Cooperation, Collaboration & Coordination as the foundation of successful relationships, organizations and business opportunities. In his personal life, Paul is a strong advocate for a healthy and fit lifestyle and a passionate supporter of environmental initiatives. He is also a third term Councillor in the Municipality of West Nipissing and Chair of its Environment Committee. He and his wife, Carol reside in the rural hamlet of Kipling on Deer Lake. |
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Jim Fonger, Treasurer and Director Jim Fonger, an entrepreneurial executive now leading The GEBOC Group, has 30 years of professional experience in business expansions and start-ups. The GEBOC Group (GEBOC is an acronym for Green Economy Business Opportunity Consultants) specializes in helping organizations discover, develop and finance profitable new green economy initiatives. Jim is also the recent past president of H2Green Energy Corporation, a company that was developing a megawatt scale grid interface and controller for large scale energy storage applications. He also helped the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA) form its new Community Power Services Group, an internal business unit of OSEA that now helps community groups build local community energy projects. Prior to re-focusing his career and investment initiatives into the sustainable energy sector in the fall of 2006, Jim invested in and operated businesses in the high-tech and telecommunications fields and was co-founder of Telmetrics Inc. With a degree in Economics from York University, and a Certified Business Coach designation from Australia’s Action International, Jim also provides services as a director for SMEs and is currently a director, and the treasurer, for OSEA. |
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Judith Lipp, Director Judith Lipp has qualifications that make her an excellent candidate for an OSEA Director, both in terms of her education, skills, experience and day to day industry involvement. Judith is the Executive Director of TREC, a position she has held for the last 18 months. In this time she has overseen the development and growth of four new programs at TREC, namely: Our Power -TREC’s residential solar program; a Green Collar Careers pilot program for high school students; the Kids’ World of Energy Education program for grades 5, 6, 7 and 9 students; and TREC’s annual Kids’ World of Energy Festival. She has also involved in the management of the Lakewind Energy project, the SolarShare project, Windshares new turbines project and she led TREC in defining a five-year strategic plan and budget. She also played a supporting role to the Green Energy Act Alliance in its campaign to introduce a Green Energy Act for Ontario. Prior to joining TREC Judith completed her PhD at Dalhousie University in 2008 where she examined the role of public policy in promoting renewable electricity, drawing lessons from other jurisdictions for the Canadian context. She has more than nine years research and consulting experience in sustainable energy issues, spanning four continents. She has served as a consultant on both energy demand and supply-side issues. Since returning to Canada in 2003 she has helped prepare several energy-related studies at the national, regional and provincial levels, including work on community-based renewable energy development. |
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Roger Peltier, Director Roger has over 18 years of experience working in the field of economic development. Currently, he is the energy planner for the Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation on Manitoulin where he was born and raised. Formerly, he was the chief executive officer for the Anishnabek Nation Management Group, a for-profit organization that generates revenue of the Union of Ontario Indians. As the economic development officer for the Wikwemikong Development Commission, Roger was involved in a wide range of economic activities. He also served as band councilor for two terms. More recently, he was instrumental in establishing the First Nation Energy Alliance and now is an active member of its working group. Roger also has extensive experience working with different government agencies, including as a development consultant with Industry Canada and as a business development officer with the Native Community Branch of the Ontario government. At present, Roger owns and operates an aquaculture business on Manitoulin raising rainbow trout. Roger sees a great economic opportunity for his community in developing wind power, but his keen interest in renewable energy stems from his deep concern about global warming. |
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Associate Members
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Karim Saleh, Secretary and Director Karim is the President and CEO of SKON Technologies Inc., a wind power development company. Previously he held a number of management positions at IBM where he worked as a business transformation consultant for Global Services and later managed client accounts. He has over 18 years of experience in developing and executing successful business strategies for startups and multinationals in the industrial and technology markets. Karim is the President of the Boston University Alumni Association of Canada in Ontario. He holds an MBA from the University of Western Ontario and a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Boston University. |
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Paul Charbonneau, Director Paul Charbonneau’s involvement in the solar industry began in 1970, when as a member of Canada’s armed forces he took part in an experimental application of solar technology in Canada’s very far north – north of the Arctic Circle. By “solar industry” Paul’s view is that the wind, waves and all other forms of sustainable energies are caused by the sun. To keep it simple, he refers to solar industries as what we understand to be the sustainable industries. Since then much has changed in the solar industry, and, for the past decade Paul has been specializing in solar PV application for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional uses. “Solar PV is a particular solution to urban energy problems both on the ecological and economical fronts. To fully understand this technology, not only do we need solar panels on our homes but on our schools and institutions as well.” Paul has also been involved politically working with policy makers and the industry at creating the best possible framework to support the solar industry and it’s members. For the past 5 years he has been touring Ontario meeting with a variety of government, social, private and community organizations, educating them on the great advances in technology and providing solutions to their budgetary restraints. Many of the programs and policies Paul has designed are being used successfully by Ontario schools and Boards in particular. “My focus is to educate and thus empower the community. It’s not lack of funds that may prevent us from doing the right thing. It’s lack of will that would fail us.” “Our strengths are the ability to design the right system for the client, and sometimes more importantly, the ability to find funding for the client. Unique approaches to both facets of what is needed to make it work to produce energy and economy.” Paul Charbonneau lives in Toronto and is President of EnergyAdvocate.ca: a consultancy firm focused on providing solutions for the solar industry. |
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Tom Heintzman, Advisor to the Board for Households Tom Heintzman brings a distinguished record of service to environmental causes along with proven executive leadership experience to his role as president of Bullfrog Power Inc. Tom co-founded Bullfrog Power in 2004 and it now has operations in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia with almost 10,000 customers. In 2008, Tom was named the Ontario Electricity Association’s Leader of the Year. Prior to founding Bullfrog Power, Tom spent more than 13 years in the private and NGO sectors, most recently with Zenon Environmental where he led their global M&A initiatives as director of corporate development. Earlier in his career, as Engagement Manager with McKinsey & Company, Tom provided consulting services to many of the world's largest corporations in the energy, manufacturing, financial services and telecommunications sectors. From 1996 to 1998, Tom was instrumental in establishing the Sierra Legal Defence Fund's Ontario office, where he led several precedent-setting litigation, public advocacy and lobbying campaigns associated with the environmental consequences of the oil refining, mining, forestry, fishing and automobile industries. Tom began his career practicing law with Goodmans, a leading Canadian law firm. |
