Dr. Mary Lou Lauria
Worley
2024 CHAIR
Dr. Lauria lives in Vancouver and is the VP of Operations for Worley. She is an operational leader with responsibility to build strategy, set budgets and safely deliver programs. She is an environmental consultant with over 25 years’ experience, an experienced facilitator, expert witness, external examiner and has presented technical papers at several international conferences. She specializes in the strategic development of environmental teams and the delivery of Indigenous and community communications, impact assessments, permits and approvals, compliance and monitoring programs. Working closely with Indigenous groups has been an integral part of project delivery throughout the concept stage, through to full consultation and engagement and during working group reviews. In addition, Mary Lou has been part of a team who has established 3 new Indigenous businesses in Canada, partnered with Advisian.
Mary Lou manages forecasts, establishes budgets, tracks progress and builds teams. Her current role as VP of Operations involves the delivery of P&L of a $60m business. She has identified and is driving strategic areas for growth and established plans to enable success – offshore wind and new energy are strategic initiatives. Mary Lou is a marine biologist and oceanographer, her Ph.D research was focused on phytoplankton in estuaries and shallow coastal waters focusing on biophysical interactions in a dynamic estuarine system. She was an expert witness as part of the Panel Review Process for the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 in BC.
Dr. Lauria has directed numerous environmental and social studies around the world for developments in Canada, US, UK, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Mozambique, Benin, Ukraine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Colombia, Bahamas, Suriname, Guyane and Trinidad. As well as terrestrial baseline studies, she has managed numerous offshore environmental surveys (including in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Red Sea, Mediterranean, English Channel and the North Sea). She has specific experience working under international (World Bank, IFC, Equator Principles), federal and provincial regulations.
Mohammad Ali Raza
Cox & Palmer
2024 VICE CHAIR
Mohammad Ali Raza is a corporate lawyer at Cox & Palmer with a specialty in marine and energy related matters. He has worked both in private practice and as in-house counsel in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Canada. He has been a partner in the Halifax office of Cox & Palmer since 2019.
Mohammad Ali is a thought leader on tidal and offshore wind development. He has written and spoken extensively on Nova Scotia’s Marine Renewable Energy Act and regulations governing autonomous underwater vehicles. Some of his recent articles can be found at https://coxandpalmerlaw.com/people/mohammad-ali-raza/.
His experience includes significant energy infrastructure initiatives in multiple jurisdictions. He chairs the Canadian Bar Association National Section on Environment, Energy and Resources Law. His clients include those involved in tidal and wind energy development, ocean technology, and in merger and acquisitions, equity financings and joint venture projects. He chairs the Cox & Palmer Ocean Innovation Practice Group of lawyers.
He received his LLB, Honours from the University of London in 2004 followed by a Bar Vocational Course Post-Graduate Diploma in Law from the University of the West of England in Bristol. His early career was spent working across Europe and the Middle East for companies and organizations like Pakistan Petroleum Limited and Eni S.p.A.
Mohammad Ali is vice-chair of Feed Nova Scotia, a participant in the Halifax Partnership Connector Program, and serves on the board of the Pakistani Canadian Association of Nova Scotia. He has been involved in the Immigrant Settlement Association of Nova Scotia Workplace Placement Program since 2017 and a global advisor, Nova Scotia Exporters, International Connectors Program.
Mohammad Ali lives in Halifax with his wife and two children.
Jacobus van der Lingen
Atlantic Towing
2024 TREASURER
Jacobus joined Atlantic Towing in 2021, and is currently the Director of the Offshore Business, responsible for all aspects of business development, customer and contract management, and operations for the Offshore Division.
Born in South Africa, Jacobus has lived and worked in South Africa, China, Denmark, and Canada has been involved in the marine environment his entire career beginning as a Naval Officer in 1999. He spent 5 years in the South African Navy in various roles, before moving into the transportation and logistics industry in Shanghai China. Jacobus has held various management positions across a range of maritime companies in various countries, and has strong experience in business development, operations and developing strategic initiatives. His strongest interest lies within the operations sector, as he is outcome driven and enjoys seeing ideas and strategies put into action.
Being a big believer in renewable energies and understand that they are our future, Jacobus sees the potential of Canadian Opportunities that exist both on land and offshore. Living in Copenhagen for eight years solidified his belief in renewable energies, having witnessed most of the infrastructure in action, and from having been involved in offshore wind projects with Vestas.
Atlantic Towing’s offshore vessels have been involved in multiple offshore wind installation projects ranging from providing transport of equipment, establishing moorings, as well as tidal energy projects, and this is only the tip of the iceberg (which is melting), of things to come.
Jacobus has two wonderful daughters aged three and seven with whom he spends his free time. Their interests are now his interests, and include hockey, drawing, and collecting bugs. Jacobus holds an MBA from Copenhagen Business School and a Masters degree in Maritime law (LLM) from London Metropolitan University.
We are on the cusp of creating whole new industries in Canada with Offshore Wind and Green Hydrogen and Ammonia production. This will enable Canada to be World leaders and not followers in this renewable market.
Peter Huttges
Atlantic Towing
2024 PAST CHAIR
Peter is Director of Ports and Coastal with Atlantic Towing Limited, responsible for all aspects of business development, customer and contract management, and operations for the Ports and Coastal Division. In his role, Peter provides expertise and support for a range of industries including marine renewable energy, offshore oil and gas, port services, aquaculture, marine construction, mining and Arctic resupply. Peter also leads Western Canadian activity for Atlantic Towing and is currently working with the Canadian Coast Guard on the Emergency Towing Vessel project to provide emergency response services to the west coast.
Working with J.D. Irving Limited now in his 19th year, Peter has held progressive management roles in the Sawmills and Woodlands Division, Pulp and Paper Division and Transportation Division where he has gained strong experience in project management, planning, operations, business development and financial management.
Over the past several years, Peter has been closely engaged in marine renewable energy development in Canada. Growing up and living on the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, he is enthusiastic about the opportunities the industry can bring the Atlantic region and Canada. Peter has first-hand experience with the challenges facing the sector, having managed Atlantic Towing’s marine operations for several tidal energy projects in the Bay of Fundy area. As a result of this experience and work in other industries, Peter has a diverse network across Canada and a strong understanding of the benefits and challenges of building Canada’s marine renewable energy sector.
Peter is a registered professional engineer and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Forest Engineering from the University of New Brunswick.
Dr. Matthew Asplin
ASL Environmental Sciences Inc.
Dr. Matthew Asplin is a Metocean and Renewables Project Manager at ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. In Victoria, B.C. he completed his B.Sc. in Physical Geography and Spatial Information Systems at Simon Fraser University, an M.Sc. in Synoptic Climatology at the University of British Columbia, and a Ph.D in Arctic Sea Ice Geophysics at the University of Manitoba. Matthew began his transition to an industry career in 2013 as an NSERC Industrial Postdoctoral fellow, before transitioning into his present-day role at ASL where he is also a meteorology and sea ice subject matter expert. Matthew very recently was elected to the ASL Board of Directors and is also responsible for senior management duties such as strategic planning, marketing, and international business development. Additionally, Matthew is the Chair of the Vancouver Island Centre of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, and is an Adjunct Professor in the Geography department at the University of Victoria where he stays engaged with the next generation in a teaching capacity. Matthew is very keen to foster multi-stakeholder partnerships (government, academic, industry, Indigenous) partnerships with the goal of building the Blue Economy in British Columbia with the development of marine renewable energy projects.
Matthew brings professional, technical, academic, and strategic knowledge to the Marine Renewables Canada board of directors with a cross-generational perspective. As a “Xennial” working in both senior management and academic roles, he feels strongly connected to older and younger generations alike.
Matthew presently works with clients in academia, industry, and Indigenous-led projects within the Coastal and Marine areas throughout Canada.
Adrienne Downey
Hexicon
Adrienne Downey (B.Eng, MSc.) is the Principal Engineer and Country Manager for pure-play floating offshore wind developer and technology provider Hexicon in the US and Canada.
Adrienne most recently was the Principal Engineer for offshore wind for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). During her tenure, Adrienne led NYSERDA’s nation-leading offshore wind program with the goal of reaching 9 gigawatts (GW) by 2035, and successfully procured an excess of 4.1 GW. Previously, Adrienne supported the establishment of wind turbine original equipment manufacturer ENERCON’s operations in North America in addition to her own energy transition consulting practice, ADaptation.
Adrienne holds a degree in Chemical Engineer from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and a Masters in Sustainable Environmental Systems from the Pratt Institute in New York City.
Richard MacLellan
Horizon Maritime
An Atlantic Canadian government and marine business leader. Richard’s life is tied to the ocean. He grew up in a coastal community, went to university near the ocean in Halifax and Sackville, NB, led coastal municipal governments and works with a marine services company in the waters throughout Atlantic Canada and around the world.
Richard is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Horizon Maritime, a growing organization dedicated to the development and support of the offshore industry from our local Canadian waters to locations across the globe. Richard is also the Managing Director of Miawpukek Horizon, a partnership between Horizon Maritimes and Miawpukek First Nation focused on advancing Indigenous participation in the ocean economy.
Richard also understands government relations having held senior positions in the municipal governments of Halifax (Manager of Environment and Sustainability) and Region of Queens and Bridgewater (Chief Administrative Officer).
Richard’s skills leading governance and policy discussions around environmental sustainability, Indigenous relationships and business performance is a rare combination in Atlantic Canada. He is widely recognized as a thought leader and more importantly, a practical doer.
He has also demonstrated that working with local Indigenous partners can lead to commercial success in areas that traditionally excluded both local suppliers and indigenous peoples.
As a business, government and environmental leader, Richard’s perspectives is well suited to the exciting work ahead for the Marine Renewables Board.
Ken Paul
Pokiok Associates
Ken Paul is a member of the Wolastoqey First Nation at Neqotkuk, located in the community of Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick.
For 9 years, Ken has held the positions as National Fisheries Director with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Integrated Resources Director with the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs. Ken has advocated for First Nations regionally, nationally and internationally on all aspects relating to fisheries, aquaculture, ocean protection and aquatic resources as they relate to inherent aboriginal and treaty-protected rights, legislation, and policy. This includes Indigenous Knowledge Systems, economic prosperity, community engagement, shipping, renewable energy and resource management. Ken continues this work as a member of the AFN National Fisheries Committee.
Previous to this, he had worked for 10 years in with the Canadian Hydrographic Service as and Hydrographic Engineer and Hydrographer-in-Charge of field-based ocean mapping and 10 years with Parks Canada as a Senior Policy Advisor in Atlantic Canada and the Field Unit Superintendent in the Northwest Territories.
Ken was a recent corporate board member of the Ocean Supercluster, the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS), and a past board member of the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) on tidal energy. He is currently involved with initiates on offshore wind, ocean research, kelp aquaculture, Indigenous marine protected areas, fisheries mentorship for Inuit in Nunavut, and private partnerships.
He has also been active on the international front in Indigenous advocacy with the Post 2020 framework of the Convention of Biological Diversity, the Ocean Working Group for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the Expert Working Group with Ocean Decade Unit of the UN IOC, and the Indigenous Peoples’ Unit at the UN FAO.
Ken has been an invited speaker and moderator at numerous conferences and gatherings, as well as a guest lecturer at several universities.
Ken has an MBA with St Mary’s University and a BSc from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has extensive training in leadership, policy development, mediation, labour relations, First Nations governance and traditional teachings.
Among his other initiatives, Ken is the principal/owner of Pokiok Associates and serves as the Lead Fisheries Negotiator and Research Coordinator for the Wolastoqey Nation of New Brunswick.
Bob Petrie
Nova Innovation
Bob joined the team at Nova Innovation in 2023 as their Canadian Business Relationship Manager. He works with local communities, regulators, service providers and other stakeholders to facilitate the provision of tidal energy in ways that respect and address indigenous, community, and environmental priorities.
Bob brings over 30 years of experience in environmental and natural resource management to the marine renewables sector. As the Regional Director for Western Nova Scotia with NS Department of Environment, he led the development and implementation of environmental regulatory programs and policy, overseeing strategies and service delivery while coordinating between government, the public and industry.
As the Director of Wildlife with the NS Department of Natural Resources and Renewables he led provincial policy and programming for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. He has chaired organizations such as the NS Habitat Conservation Fund, Biodiversity Council, and the Canadian Wildlife Directors Committee, also working with the North American Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and serving on various federal/provincial/territorial committees.
A key focus in these roles has been coordinating and communicating with leaders in the public and private sector to resolve competing interests and problems, often across departments and jurisdictions. In doing so, he developed and maintained relationships with stakeholders and the public to advance programs and strategies.
Bob looks forward to supporting Nova Innovation as it scales up and develops a productive sector and strong supply chain in Canada, providing local communities with predictable and sustainable energy.
Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Acadia University and a Master of Science in Environmental Management from the University of London, Imperial College.
Sarah Thomas
DP Energy
Sarah began her career in the US Navy, serving as an officer on a ship homeported in Japan. She transitioned to the shipbuilding industry after her time in the Navy, working for the US government ship procurement office, first as a systems engineer before becoming the Deputy Technical Director of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. After working on the LCS program for 5 years, Sarah emigrated to Canada and worked at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, NS on two of their National Procurement Strategy programs.
With a strong interest in renewable energy and a desire to leave the world in a better place for her nieces and nephews, Sarah transitioned to the Renewable Energy Sector in 2017. She worked for OpenHydro overseeing the technical aspects of their turbine preparations prior to its 2018 deployment. She is currently the project manager for DP Energy’s Uisce Tapa Project in Canada, preparing for the project’s first turbine installation in the coming years.
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and is a fully qualified Project Management Professional (PMP) with the Project Management Institute. She also holds a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University.
David Trask
Simply Blue Group
ADVISORY SEAT
Simply Blue Group, headquartered in Ireland, is a leading renewable energy and sustainable fuel project developer, focused on replacing fossil fuels with clean energy. Offshore wind is one of the largest market segments in Simply Blue Group’s portfolio, and this offers a fantastic opportunity to harness renewable energy at scale to be used to power large scale sustainable fuel production plants. Simple Blue’s Canadian base is in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an increasingly growing headcount.
David is the Project Manager for Simply Blue’s offshore wind projects in Canada and is based in the Halifax office. With a strong interest in renewable energy, David is very excited about the incredible offshore wind resource in Atlantic Canada and the economic benefits this could bring to the region. Previously, David has over 25 years’ experience working in the offshore environment for both the oil and gas and subsea fiber-optic cable industries. He has been involved in the full life cycle of projects, from early development through to decommissioning phases. The majority of David’s career has been working in offshore Nova Scotia and he has also worked on projects in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Guyana.
David Timm
Northland Power
ADVISORY SEAT
David is Northland’s Global Head of Public Affairs. Based in Toronto, he leads a diverse team, spread across Northland’s active markets, that is working to build strong relationships with decision makers and key influencers within government, regulators and agencies and advocate for effective policy, legislative and regulatory frameworks that ensure the continued growth of Northland’s interests around the globe.
With more than 25 years of experience in the sector, David has a demonstrated history of designing and executing successful advocacy campaigns to help grow the businesses that he supports. He currently serves on the Board of the World Forum Offshore Wind and is a former Director of Offshore Wind California and Board Chair of the Canadian Wind Energy Association.
David Thornton
EDF Renewables
ADVISORY SEAT
David Thornton is the Director, Regulatory and Public Affairs for EDF Renewables Canada Inc.
David brings to EDF Renewables Canada’s development team over a decade of public policy development and stakeholder relations experience in the renewable energy industry.
David communicates corporate positions on government legislation, regulation, and procurement policy in targeted electricity markets across Canada. David offers strategic advice based on EDF Renewables over 30-year experience developing, constructing, and operating renewable energy facilities across North America to government and industry leaders, including commentary on power system planning, transmission, interconnection and electricity market design. David also works to expand EDF Renewables Canada’s corporate leadership positions within public policy and stakeholder engagements, and external communication activities.
David works closely with renewable energy industry associations across Canada and in North East United States. Currently, David is an elected member to CanREA’s Federal, Alberta, and Ontario Steering Committee’s. David is also a current Board member for Energy Storage Canada, and a Board member of the Maritime Energy Association.