BIOS

SPEAKERS
BIOS 


 

Moderator
Rebecca Saari (Assistant Professor) / Dipanjan Basu (Professor) 

Panelist
Claudio Canizares (Executive Director, WISE)

Claudio Cañizares is a University Professor and Hydro One Endowed Chair in the electrical and computer engineering (ECE) department at the University of Waterloo, where he has held various academic and administrative positions since 1993. He is also the Executive Director of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE). Professor Cañizares is the recipient of the 2017 IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) Outstanding Power Engineering Educator Award, the 2016 IEEE Canada Electric Power Medal, and multiple IEEE PES Technical Council and Committee awards and recognitions, holding leadership positions in several IEEE-PES Committees, Working Groups, and Task Forces. In 2021 and 2022, he received the Award for Excellence in Graduate Supervision from the University of Waterloo.
Panelist
Pratap Revuru (Senior Director Microgrid Solutions & strategic partnerships, Schneider Electric)

Pratap Revuru is Senior Director, Microgrid Solutions and Strategic Partnerships, Schneider Electric. A proven business leader who combines technical expertise with business knowledge to build a resilient, affordable, low-carbon energy future. Pratap’s focus areas include developing and leading Microgrid Solutions for various customers using Distributed Energy Resources. Created new strategic partners for Microgrids & Energy as a Service (EaaS) offers. More than 39 years of experience in multiple leadership roles, including in power systems engineering, marketing, services, renewable energy projects, business development, large projects management. Collaborated with Sales Teams to establish and grow a portfolio of clean energy solutions through pre-sales, account management and upselling activities. Prior to Microgrid Solutions role, Pratap was Senior Manager, IoT Solutions and Partnerships where he led an engineering team in establishing smart grid solutions. Led and managed the development of Schneider Electric Smart Grid Lab and leading the development of Smart Campus integrated Testing HUB at Toronto Metropolitan University. Microgrid Projects execution is in progress in various buildings in Canada.  

Panelist
Brad Cross (President, Cross Heating & Air Conditioning Ltd)

Started business in 1987 while going to high school. Installed his first air source heat pump in 1990 and continued to seek knowledge and experience.  Obtained his Heat/loss gain and air system design in 1994 as well as his certificate of qualification as a refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic (313A), G2 gas fitter and OBT2 Oil Burner Mechanic licences. Became accredited to design and install geothermal systems.  Through the years he has designed and installed many residential systems and trained others in all aspects of heating and cooling of homes.   Assisted NrCan with the Air Source Heat Pump Sizing and Selection guide and tool by providing input from a contractor’s perspective. Sits as a member of Conestoga College’s Program Advisory Committee for HRAC. Continues to lead a successful and progressive HVAC company today.

Panelist
Milfred Hammerbacher (Founder & CEO, s2e Technologies)

With 30 plus years of Sustainable energy and development experience, Milfred has been lucky enough to manage businesses in five countries.  As co- founder and CEO of S2E Technologies, Inc, his team built solar factories, over 800MW’s of solar projects, and are currently building sustainable communities in London, ON and Mexico.   We have recently partnered with Ainsworth to create Sustainable Energy Platforms across North America.

Panelist
Stan Marco (CEO, GeoSmart Energy)

One of the co-founders of GeoSmart Energy, Stan is among the geothermal industry’s most well-respected and highly sought after knowledge experts and educators. In 2008, he was awarded The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition’s prestigious Prize for National Leadership. Over the past thirty-five years, he has held senior leadership positions in several leading geothermal companies, and has developed expertise in all aspects of the industry including installation, distribution, manufacturing and training. His best practice approach has influenced hundreds of thousands of geothermal heat pump installations across Canada and the U.S. and has raised the bar on installation practices across Canada.


Alberto Ferradas Garcia (Director, Ecoforest)


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Moderator
Olaf Weber (Professor and University Research Chair)

Panelist

Tova Davidson (Executive Director, Sustainable Waterloo Region)

Tova leads the organization under the Board of Directors, and is responsible for developing our strategic direction, supporting team members, and building key relationships throughout Waterloo Region. She brings her experience in public relations and communications to creatively approach sustainability opportunities. Paired with her business background, Tova is uniquely qualified to collaborate with organizations in Waterloo Region to help drive change locally and provincially. A former recipient of the City of Guelph Mayor’s Award of Excellence and member of the Guelph Mercury’s Top 40 Under 40, Tova always leads by example while inspiring others to do the same.

Panelist
Mary Jane Patterson (Executive Director, Reep Green Solutions)

A community leader in environmental sustainability with a strong belief in citizen action; An effective, engaging and diplomatic communicator; instinctively entrepreneurial in spirit and approach; successful fundraiser, securing multiple local, provincial and federal grants Masters in Environmental Studies; Certificate in Senior Leadership & Non-Profit Management. Former Board Chair, Green Communities Canada Network of community-based environmental non-profit organizations across Canada. Board Member, CTxGreen Non-profit organization promoting sustainable livelihoods through renewable energy and community consultation, based in Kitchener, Ontario and currently working in India and Kenya.


Panelist
Amelia Clarke (Professor)
 

Dr. Amelia Clarke has been working on environment and sustainability issues since 1989, including as President of Sierra Club Canada (2003-2006) and as the first Director of the University of Waterloo’s Master of Environment & Business degree (2009-2018). She is now the Associate Dean Research in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo. Her main research projects focuses are on implementing community sustainability and climate plans, and on youth & innovation. She also has a long history of working for climate and sustainability action on university campuses, including co-authoring these classic publications on campus environmental management and student-led climate actions. She is a strong believer in youth-led change and on implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Panelist
Mohammad Araji (Associate Professor, Director of Architectural Engineering, Associate Director, Research)

Dr. Mohamad T. Araji is the Director of Architectural Engineering Program at the University of Waterloo. As a building scientist and expert in the field of environmental modeling, he has contributed to international landmark projects that range from the Chicago De-Carbonization Plan to the world’s tallest building and the world’s first large-scale positive energy building.At Waterloo, Dr. Araji is leading the Symbiosis Lab, an interdisciplinary group that specializes in developing innovative building systems, design and planning workflows, and new metrics to evaluate the environmental performance of buildings.

Panelist
Matthew Day (Community Energy Program Manager, WR Community Energy)

Matthew Day is the Community Energy Program Manager for WR Community Energy (WRCE), a strategic partnership between the urban municipalities and utilities in Waterloo Region.  WRCE was designed to coordinate a local, clean, and equitable energy transition. His work focuses on local energy use and generation, land-use policies, energy literacy, and special community-scale projects. Previously, Matthew spent a decade managing a voluntary corporate GHG reporting program with Sustainable Waterloo Region. Matthew holds M.A in Urban and Economic Geography from the University of Toronto. He now lives on the same downtown Kitchener streets he once roamed as a punk kid in the 90’s.

 

Claudio Canizares pic.jpgModerator
Claudio Canizares (Executive Director, WISE & University Professor) 
Panelist
Clarence Woudsma (Professor)

Dr. Woudsma is currently Director of the University of Waterloo’s School of Planning.  He has broad research and teaching experience in transportation policy and planning issues. He has previously published on subjects including climate change policy and freight impacts, land valuation in transport, urban freight planning, freight emissions forecasting, distribution centre location analysis, and freight sprawl.  Clarence has served on a number of industry and government advisory committees over the past 20 years and is currently serving on the ACUPP executive. Dr. Woudsma has degrees from McMaster (Ph.D.), Wilfrid Laurier (M.A.) and Laurentian (Hon. B.A.) Universities.

Panelist
Roydon Fraser (Professor)

Roydon Fraser is the Teaching Chair and a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. He is also an investigator in the Green Intelligent Transportation Systems Group at the University of Waterloo. His research interests focus on energy conversion systems. He has expertise in turbulent combustion and non-intrusive combustion diagnostics as applied to internal combustion engines, in alternative fuel vehicle development. He places a particular emphasis on natural gas, ethanol and hydrogen (fuel cells) fuels and hybrid vehicles.  


Panelist
Mark Coughlan (Founder, Waterloo Region Electric Vehicle Association)

Panelist
Paul Parker (Professor, SEED)

Professor Paul Parkers research focuses on building sustainable communities by creating win-win opportunities for the environment and economy. He is particularly concerned with how local economic development strategies can achieve a sustainable future. Sustainable energy systems are an essential starting point, so he looks first at conservation and improving energy efficiency, then at renewable energy sources and smart grid networks as integral parts of community energy plans. Paul's research interests include sustainable energy policy, sustainable community development and the green economy, residential retrofits and low-carbon futures.


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