Stephen Lecce is Ontario’s current Minister of Energy and Mines and the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for King—Vaughan. Stephen Lecce was recently appointed Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, with an expanded mandate focused on accelerating resource development. In his mission to position Ontario as an energy superpower, he is massively expanding electricity generation—anchored by nuclear power—along with transmission and storage. To deliver on this urgent imperative, Stephen announced the largest public energy procurement in Canadian history, along with the plan to build the largest nuclear generator on earth. With his expanded mandate, he will work to aggressively unlock one of the largest untapped critical minerals and rare earth metals on the planet—vital to Canada’s future prosperity and security. This includes accelerating permitting to get shovels in the ground, while working to diversify export markets—from minerals to nuclear energy. Stephen's first experience in politics came in his hometown of Vaughan where he was involved in the 1999 election of the late MPP Al Palladini. Since then, he has served as Chief Spokesperson to Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper. Upon his election in 2018, he served as Deputy Government House Leader, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier, and then served as Ontario’s longest-serving Minister of Education in modern history.
Brian Jean was sworn in as the Minister of Energy and Minerals on June 9, 2023. He previously served as the Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development. Prior to his service as an elected official at the provincial level, Mr. Jean was a Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2014 where he served as the Parliamentary Secretary to 3 different Ministers of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. He has also previously dedicated 11 years to private legal practice as partner at a large Northern Alberta law firm, primarily as a litigator, and owned several successful small businesses. Mr. Jean holds a Bachelor of Laws as well as a Bachelor of Science and a Masters in Business Administration. Brian Jean was first elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Fort McMurray-Conklin May 5, 2015, and as the Member for Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche on March 16, 2022 and was re-elected on May 29, 2023.
René Legacy was first elected as MLA on September 14, 2020, in his riding of Bathurst West-Beresford and was re-elected in October 2024 in the redrawn riding of Bathurst. On November 4, 2024, he was sworn in as the Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, and Minister responsible for energy. Born and raised in the City of Bathurst, Rene Legacy built a successful career in the financial industry spanning a period of over 25 years, mostly comprised of executive roles with the Caisse populaires acadiènnes, then later named UNI Coopération Financière. Over those same years, Mr. Legacy has been an active community member in many leadership roles. Having the privilege of serving on many boards such as the Northern New Brunswick Airport Authority as president, Enterprise Chaleur as president, Conseil Canadien de la Coopération as Vice president, Conseil Économique du Nouveau Brunswick, ANBL as Audit Chair and more recently as chair of the Chaleur Regional Hospital Foundation $5M capital campaign. He was also instrumental in the revival of Bathurst Hospitality Days serving as president for many years and has been a strong advocate for early childhood literacy at a provincial level. His proudest accomplishment is having raised three successful sons, Christopher, Brandon and Stephen with his wife Brenda.
Mr. Engdahl has over a decade of exploration and project development experience, including community initiatives within the mining sector. Prior to joining NexGen in 201, he was employed by Claude Resources Inc. where he played an integral role in the initial expansion and delineation of the Santoy Gap gold deposit for what is now SSR Mining’s richest gold deposit located in Saskatchewan. As NexGen’s Vice-President Community, Mr. Engdahl played an integral role in the successful negotiation and execution of industry leading Benefit Agreements between NexGen and First Nations local to the Rook I Project. Mr. Engdahl began his career managing exploration programs for Search Minerals Inc. where, in 2011, his team was awarded the Explorer/Prospector of the Year Award for Newfoundland and Labrador, by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Newfoundland and Labrador Branch. Mr. Engdahl was born and continues to reside in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He completed his undergraduate in geology from the University of Saskatchewan.
Amir Vexler is president and chief executive officer of Centrus Energy Corp. He also serves on the company’s board of directors. Mr. Vexler has extensive experience in the nuclear fuel industry and a strong background in manufacturing, engineering services, commercial operations, and business development. Prior to joining Centrus, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Orano USA, overseeing Orano’s U.S. sales of nuclear fuel, decommissioning services, used nuclear fuel management, and medical isotopes as well as engineering and technology services for the federal government. Previously, Mr. Vexler spent 20 years at General Electric Company, where he served in a number of leadership positions, including Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Operating Officer of Global Nuclear Fuels (GNF), a joint venture of GE and Hitachi. GNF is a global provider of nuclear fuel and related services. He earned a BASc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Bryan N. Detchou is the Senior Director of Natural Resources, Environment, and Sustainability at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada’s largest and most activated business network, representing 400 chambers of commerce and boards of trade and over 200,000 businesses across the country. Prior to joining the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Bryan was a Government Relations Consultant at Crestview Strategy, one of Canada’s leading public affairs agencies. During this time, Bryan worked with multinational corporations, non-profit organizations, and grassroots advocates, providing critical insight on parliamentary affairs, public policy, and government relations, informed by many years of work experience on Parliament Hill. He also has experience working on political campaigns at the provincial and federal levels of government. While working on the Hill, Bryan occupied various positions both at the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada, including stints in the Office of the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Office of a Senator from the Independent Senators Group (ISG), and the Office of the Usher of the Black Rod. While living in Europe, Bryan also acquired significant experience in international criminal law and human rights, working as a Legal Intern at the International Criminal Court (ICC). An internationally recognized young leader, Bryan was named a 'Global Shaper' by the World Economic Forum in 2021 in recognition of his exceptional potential for future leadership roles in society and was also named to The Peak's Emerging Leaders list for 2023, which highlights young leaders shaping Canada's economy, culture, and society. Bryan holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Ottawa and a Master’s in World Politics and International Relations from l’Università degli Studi di Pavia, graduating from both institutions with honours. Born in Quebec City, Quebec, and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Bryan is fully bilingual (French and English), and also speaks Italian. Bryan now serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Club of Ottawa.
Fred Dermarkar was appointed as AECL’s President and CEO in February 2021 to lead the organization in its mission to drive nuclear innovation, to deliver clean energy technologies, and to manage Canada’s radioactive waste liabilities. Core to delivering this mandate is the building of relationships with Indigenous communities based on recognition of rights, respect, trust, and partnership. Prior to joining AECL, Fred was President and CEO of the CANDU Owners Group (COG), where for almost seven years he led the not-for‐profit organization to advance collaboration between CANDU nuclear reactor operators in seven countries worldwide. Fred has been working in the Canadian nuclear industry for more than 40 years. Prior to joining COG, he 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 Nuclear Excellence Award from the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO). 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.
Ian Ketcheson is the Vice-President of Indigenous Relations and Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) since January 2026. Ian is a seasoned Vice-President who has been with IAAC since 2019. In his previous roles as Vice-President of Indigenous Relations and Director General of Crown Consultations, he led national efforts to strengthen Indigenous partnerships and support Indigenous leadership in federal impact assessment processes, helping advance reconciliation across a broad range of priorities. He is recognized across the country for his strong leadership in consultations and Crown-Indigenous relations. Ian has a degree in Political Science from the University of Ottawa and is a graduate of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. He lives in Ottawa with his family.
As President of Westinghouse Canada, John leads the company’s strategic growth across its full suite of nuclear products and services in the Canadian market. A recognized leader in the energy sector, John previously served as President & CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA), where he was the industry’s voice both nationally and globally. Before that, he led the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) and held executive roles, including Senior Vice President at Empower Energies, a global integrator of advanced energy systems. John has served on the boards of major corporate and community organizations, including one of Canada’s largest electric utilities. He was also Canada’s Designate to the International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVSP).
Kruthika brings over two decades of experience shaping strategy, growth, and decision-making at the intersection of global energy systems, industrial development, and geopolitics. Based in London, she is the Managing Director of Resources Now, where she leads advisory work across energy markets, metals and minerals value chains, infrastructure, and energy security, supporting organisations navigating structural shifts in the global energy and resources landscape. Her expertise extends across upstream oil and gas, nuclear energy, metals and minerals, power systems, and industrial decarbonisation. Kruthika continues to lead complex advisory engagements with leading energy companies, investors, governments, and insurers on energy-transition strategies, critical resource and materials supply chains, and related economic and policy considerations, supporting executive teams and boards as they navigate geopolitical risk, long-term investment decisions, and infrastructure constraints shaping energy resilience and industrial competitiveness. Previously, Kruthika held senior leadership roles at J.S. Held, Eurasia Group, and Frost & Sullivan, where she led strategic engagements for energy supermajors, national oil companies, major and mid-tier mining companies, industrial technology firms, financial institutions, and commodity traders. Kruthika regularly moderates and speaks at global industry forums and is the co-host of Power & Purpose, a conversation series exploring the forces reshaping energy, industry, and geopolitics. In addition to her advisory work, Kruthika serves as Chair of the Women’s Energy Network Alliance, Head of Energy Transitions and Critical Minerals at Lean In Equity & Sustainability, and a member of the Policy & Research Committee at Women in Mining UK. She is a Fellow of the Energy Institute, and a member of The Worshipful Company of Fuellers.
Robert (“RJ”) Johnston is the Director of Energy and Natural Resources at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy. His work focuses on the intersection of energy, natural resources, geopolitics, policy, and markets. He is also a Professor (Teaching) at the Haskayne Business School at the University of Calgary. Previously, he was Senior Director of Research at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University. RJ was previously the founder and Managing Director of the Eurasia Group’s Energy, Climate, and Resources practice, and served as the firm’s CEO from 2013 to 2018. RJ is an independent advisor to the First Nations Climate Initiative and serves as an advisor on North American energy policy to a New York-based diversified investment management firm. Recent notable achievements include serving as a counselor for the Canada-US Trade Council and co-chairing the Open Minds Next Generation initiative on the dual energy/climate policy challenge. He also served as Project Director for the Aspen Institute Task Force on US Critical Minerals Policy. RJ is a member of the Trilateral Commission and. He was a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center from 2017 to 2021. RJ holds a doctorate in international relations from American University, a master’s degree in political science from McMaster University, and a bachelor’s degree in political studies from Bishop’s University.
Michael provides practical advice to clients on key environmental, Indigenous and strategic aspects of developing, permitting and constructing energy, infrastructure, mining and real estate projects. He guides clients in their negotiations with Indigenous peoples and regulatory agencies, especially to resolve impasses, to advance complex, multi-party negotiations and to develop strong, mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous peoples. He also provides counsel on consultation and accommodation obligations as well as the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous peoples. Michael often crafts a practical, successful resolution to disputes whether acting as counsel, mediator or facilitator. His dispute resolution practice includes approval hearings, civil litigation (especially with respect to contamination), mediation, negotiation and regulatory prosecutions and other proceedings, including with respect to the Environmental Protection Act, Ontario Water Resources Act, Pesticides Act, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, Fisheries Act and Nuclear Safety and Control Act. As part of Michael’s active transactional practice, he regularly assists buyers, sellers, lenders, borrowers, underwriters and investors through all the environmental and Indigenous aspects of transactions, from the design and coordination of deal-specific liability assessments, through the negotiation of agreements and in handling closing and post-closing details. For existing operations in a wide range of sectors, Michael provides regulatory advice on a broad range of environmental, health and safety issues, including with respect to environmental assessments and other vital permits, including for electricity generation and transmission, water, wastewater, transportation, waste, mine and remediation/closure projects inspections; investigations; liability assessments; climate change; contaminated sites; air, renewable energy, sewage and other approvals. He also advises on the transportation, import and export of dangerous goods, nuclear substances, hazardous products and wastes.
Norm, as he is known by his friends and colleagues, built his extensive knowledge base on an early technical
and regulatory foundation, leading to key C-Suite Nuclear Industry Executive roles. Norm’s distinguished
career in the energy field has included extensive experience in both the commercial operation, and the
regulation of, large Canadian nuclear generation facilities. His significant knowledge and extensive experience
have been recognized by the Government of Canada with his ‘Governor General in Council’ appointment as a
member to the National Research Council, regarded as Canada’s premier science and engineering institution.
Norm has previously served as President & Chief Executive Officer at ARC Clean Energy Canada Inc., a Small
Modular Reactor technology vendor. Before these roles, Norm served in key Nuclear Industry Leadership roles
such as the Executive Vice President & Chief Nuclear Officer at Bruce Power, which is the only privately
owned nuclear operator in Canada, and at that time, was the largest nuclear generating site in the world.
Additionally, Norm served in senior leadership roles at the Hydro Quebec Gentilly-2 nuclear generating station
and at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Early in his career, Norm fulfilled several key roles at the
New Brunswick Point Lepreau Generating Station, including holding a license to operate the nuclear facility.
Internationally, Norm spent time assisting the World Association of Nuclear Operators.
Norm’s distinguished career in the energy field has included significant experience in both the commercial
operation, and the regulation of, large Canadian nuclear generation facilities, as well as supporting several
Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMNR) technology and deployment approaches and reviews, including
industrial SMNR integration strategies for large energy corporations.
Currently, through ION Nuclear Consulting Limited, Norm provides Canadian and International clients with
extensive knowledge and experience to support the design, development and successful implementation of
various proven strategies and approaches to enhance performance, support business opportunities and assist
Investors, Banks and Executive Teams with critical decision making.
Richard Ma is an Executive Director in the Energy, Infrastructure and Transition investment banking group at CIBC Capital Markets. Richard provides strategic, M&A and financing advice to clients in the power and utilities industries. Since joining CIBC in 2016, Richard has advised on 25 completed M&A transactions with over $40 billion of combined value. Richard holds a Bachelor of Mathematics degree (with Distinction, Dean’s Honours List) from the University of Waterloo.
Scott Melbye is a 42-year veteran of the nuclear energy industry having held key leadership positions in major global uranium mining companies and various industry organizations. Scott is the Executive Vice President of Texas-based, Uranium Energy Corp (UEC). UEC has become one of the world’s fastest growing uranium companies, and is now America’s largest, with licensed uranium operations and development projects in South Texas, the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Saskatchewan Canada. Scott is also Chief Executive Officer of Uranium Royalty Corp, the only pure-play royalty and streaming company in the uranium industry, providing development capital for new mine development (Nasdaq-listed – UROY). He has served as Vice President Commercial of the Uranium Participation Corporation (now Sprott Physical Uranium Trust) managing a publicly traded fund, which allows investors to buy and hold physical uranium. He also completed an advisory role to the CEO of the Kazakhstan national atomic company, Kazatomprom (the world’s largest uranium producer). Through June 2014, Scott was Executive Vice President, Marketing for Uranium One, responsible for global sales activities. At the time, Uranium One was among the world’s top four uranium producers from its mines in the U.S. and Kazakhstan and has since become the wholly-owned mining subsidiary of the Russian nuclear energy company Rosatom. Prior to this, Scott spent 22 years with the Cameco Group of companies, both in the Saskatchewan head office, and their U.S. subsidiaries. He most recently served as President of Cameco Inc., the subsidiary responsible for managing the company’s world-wide uranium marketing and trading activities (annual sales exceeding 30 million pounds U3O8 through established relationships with most global nuclear utilities). Previous experience includes uranium brokerage and trading at Nukem Inc. in New York, and nuclear fuel procurement at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona. He has served as Chair of the Board of Governors of the World Nuclear Fuel Market (WNFM), and is the current President of the Uranium Producers of America (UPA). He currently serves in an advisory role to the nuclear engineering graduate program at the Colorado School of Mines. Scott is a frequent speaker at international nuclear energy conferences and has testified on uranium matters before the International Trade Commission, U.S. Senate Energy & Natural Resources, and U.S. House Oversight Committees. He has represented the U.S. and Canadian Nuclear Energy Industries in various global trade missions, including India, China, Mexico, Japan, Czechia and the United Arab Emirates. Scott received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with degree specialization in International Business from Arizona State University in 1984.
Tracy has been breaking glass ceilings and blazing new trails in the nuclear industry for thirty-five years. As a corporate director she brings this experience with her as a current member of the boards of Ontario Power Generation, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, University of Waterloo, the United College Board of Governors, and the Ingenium Board of Trustees. She is also the Founder and Principal of Agile Bear where she consults extensively with uranium mining companies. She is a proud Anishnabekwe from the Nipissing First Nation and strives to use the Seven Grandfather Teachings in her leadership.
Vivan Sorab conducts research on electricity and power, nuclear energy, and natural resources across oil and gas and minerals for RBC Thought Leadership. His background includes upstream oil and gas with a global supermajor and more recently climate technology research with a US-based climate investor group. He attended the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, where he was an Institute Silver Medalist, and Yale University.
