Peter Huttges
Atlantic Towing
2023 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. Mary Lou Lauria
Advisian (part of Worley Group)
2023 VICE CHAIR
Dr. Lauria lives in Vancouver and leads Advisian’s (consulting arm of Worley) Environmental & Water group across North America. 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.
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.
Marty Gaulin
AtlanticXL Inc.
Marty brings over 35 years of experience in engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and operations management in the energy sector. He started his career with Texaco Canada and Imperial Oil where he spent 10 years executing engineering and project management of upstream oil and gas projects from concept through to start up and operations. Marty then joined Colt Engineering/Worley and spent over 25 year leading teams in the execution of EPC projects for energy and resource companies in upstream oil and gas, downstream refining, offshore oil and gas, mining and power industries. His customers included Imperial Oil, PanCanadian, Talisman Energy, Suncor, Shell, ExxonMobil, Husky Energy, Nalcor Power, Nova Scotia Power and Vale. He recently executed, on schedule and on budget, the 8 year $6B ExxonMobil Hebron Topsides Project in offshore Newfoundland and Labrador as the project director and business manager and took the project from the FEED stage through to commissioning and turnover to Operations.
When not working Marty loves to spend time with his wife Dawn, their four kids and three grandchildren. In addition to his family time, Marty also coaches Novice hockey and volunteers on two boards including the Oilfield Technical Society and the Nor’easter Golf Classic. His past volunteer and board experience also included Stella Burry, Kids Eat Smart and the United Way.
Jason Hayman
Sustainable Marine
Jason Hayman is the CEO of Sustainable Marine), which he founded in 2012.
Jason is a qualified Naval Architect and has worked in the marine sector since 1996. He has extensive experience in the design, build and refit of vessels, from small rescue craft to high-performance composite racing yachts, ferries, offshore vessels, and the development of lifting and handling systems for the offshore renewable energy sector. Jason has successfully developed and demonstrated several engineering solutions for performing complex tasks in challenging marine environments and has a wealth of operational experience. He successfully delivered a tidal turbine installation system for Voith Hydro’s first-generation, bottom-mounted tidal turbine, in Korea, in 2010. Since then he has been dedicated to the mission of developing and delivering a simple, cost-effective, tidal energy system that is easy to install and maintain.
As an entrepreneur, Jason has successfully navigated his way through the start-up labyrinth; starting his journey with an engineering consultancy, and evolving it into a technology development company that won a number of funding competitions and gained the support of a strong network of investors and partners, including propulsion experts SCHOTTEL. This enabled him to build a team and develop the PLAT-I floating tidal energy platform, which was successfully installed and demonstrated for the first time, in Scotland, in 2017.
Building on this success, Jason led the merger of SCHOTTEL’s tidal energy business units in Germany and Canada with Sustainable Marine in 2018. The PLAT-I demonstrator was installed at Grand Passage, Nova Scotia, and Jason now leads a growing team located in Germany, Scotland and Nova Scotia that is delivering the world’s first floating tidal array at the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE).
Jason holds a Bachelor of Engineering (First Class Hons in Marine Technology) from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, and an MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development at the University of Cambridge, where he also conducted post-graduate research on the economics of marine renewable energy with the Electricity Policy Research Group at Cambridge’s Faculty of Economics.
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.
Mohammad Ali Raza
Cox & Palmer
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.
The Honourable Michel P. Samson
Cox & Palmer
2023 PAST CHAIR
Michel Samson is Counsel to the regional law firm of Cox & Palmer. A bilingual graduate of Dalhousie Law School, Michel began his law practice in Cape Breton before spending 19 years as a Member of the Nova Scotia Legislature. Michel’s cabinet assignments included acting Minister of Justice, Attorney General & Deputy Premier, Minister of Energy, Trade & Acadian Affairs and Francophonie, Minister of Economic and Rural Development & Tourism, Minister of Environment and Government House Leader. Michel was a senior Minister in the government of Premier Stephen McNeil (2013-2017).
As Counsel in the Halifax office, Michel’s experience in energy, fishery, aboriginal affairs and trade matters is an asset for our clients doing business in Atlantic Canada and beyond. Michel provides strategic advice on government relations and community consultation. He is a registered lobbyist with the Province of Nova Scotia and Government of Canada and provides assistance to our clients needing guidance in government relations.
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.
John Wright
Northland Power
Northland Power Inc. (Northland) is a Canadian based clean and renewable energy company with a 30(+) year focus on successfully developing, building, owning and operating sustainable electricity generating assets across Canada and globally. Northland is a publicly traded company with an approximate market capitalization of $8.8 billion. Along with biomass, solar and onshore wind assets, Northland has over 1000 megawatts of offshore wind in operation and 1000 megawatts in development.
John Wright has been with Northland Power since 2007 working in business development. John has been focussed on grid scale energy storage development and been supporting Northland’s offshore wind development interests in Canada and the US. He served as a board member of Energy Storage Canada from 2012 – 2019 and has been supporting MRC’s offshore wind activities since its marine renewable energy mandate expanded to include offshore wind. While supporting all marine renewable energy technologies, John’s focus as and MRC board member will be on helping to build a roadmap for offshore wind development in Canada.
Mark Savory
EverWind Fuels
ADVISORY SEAT
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.
Gregory Bliss
Simply Blue Group
ADVISORY SEAT
Abby Watson
Mainstream Renewable Power, Inc.
ADVISORY SEAT
Abby L. Watson, Senior Executive New Markets Strategy, North America Offshore
Abby Watson leads business development and strategic activities for new offshore wind markets in North America on behalf of Mainstream Renewable Power. Over the past 15 years Abby has worked with almost every type of renewable energy from several angles – development, construction, risk management, project management, manufacturing, sales, and policy. Prior to joining Mainstream in 2021, Abby served as the Head of Government Affairs for Siemens Gamesa’s operations in North America. During her 11 years with Siemens Gamesa, she moved from managing landowner relationships during development, to the sale of spare parts in support of its non-warranty fleet, and finally spent six years leading government affairs for the region. As the Senior Executive for New Markets Strategy at Mainstream, Abby facilitates constant dialogue across functions to identify and execute a strategic plan for new market entry – from building regulatory frameworks and supply chain capacity to technology innovation and strategic partnerships. She has also held leadership roles on the Boards of the American Council on Renewable Energy and RENEW Northeast, as well as in committees of the American Clean Power Association. Abby is proud to be the Founder and Past President of the Philadelphia chapter of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) and is an enthusiastic mentor and advocate for women in the renewable energy industry. Abby studied Geology with dual concentrations in Environmental Studies and Geoarchaeology at Bryn Mawr College, received a BA in Energy and Sustainability Policy from Penn State University, and graduated #1 in her class from Villanova University’s Executive MBA program in 2021.