For nearly a decade The Right Honourable Stephen J. Harper led Canada through the world’s most complex geopolitical, economic and security challenges as the country’s 22nd Prime Minister. He created the modern Conservative Party of Canada, won three successive national elections, and was the longest serving Conservative Prime Minister since Canada’s founding Prime Minister in 1891. Since leaving office in 2016, Mr. Harper founded and is Chairman and CEO of Harper & Associates, a global consulting and strategic advisory business, and is Chairman and a founding partner of Vision One, a fundamental value-oriented investment fund based in Miami, Florida. He serves as Board Chair of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), Director of Colliers International Group Inc. and Alimentation CoucheTard Inc., and is President of the Advisory Committee of Awz Ventures, a technology focused Canadian-Israeli venture capital firm. Mr. Harper is also the author of “Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption” and a frequent speaker on geopolitical trends, populism, and business. His latest book “Flags of Canada” was published in February 2025 in association with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society commemorating the 60th anniversary of Canada’s national flag. Mr. Harper serves as Chairman of the International Democracy Union and is a member of the Global Advisory Board of India’s Observer Research Foundation. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from the University of Calgary, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from Tel Aviv University and received an honorary degree from the Jerusalem College of Technology. He is a Companion of the Order of Canada, a member of the King’s Privy Council for Canada, and is the recipient of the Alberta Order of Excellence plus numerous international recognitions including the Order of Liberty, Ukraine’s highest civilian honour. Mr. Harper resides in Alberta, Canada with his wife Laureen; they have two adult children, Benjamin and Rachel.
Honourable Jeremy Harrison Minister of Crown Investments Corporation Minister Responsible for the Public Service Commission Minister Responsible for Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan, SGI, SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskWater Mr. Harrison grew up in the Meadow Lake area. He completed an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Canadian History from the University of Alberta, a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, and a Juris Doctor (Law) Degree from the University of Saskatchewan. He was elected to Parliament in 2004, and at the age of 26 became one of the youngest Canadians ever to sit in the House of Commons. He was elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 2007. He has previously served as the Minister of Trade and Export Development, Minister of Immigration and Career Training, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Minister of Enterprise Saskatchewan, Minister of the Economy, Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, Minister responsible for the Global Transportation Hub, and government House Leader. He also served as chair of the cabinet committee on Government Operations, and as a member of the House Services Committee. Mr. Harrison and his wife Alaina have one son, MacGregor, and one daughter, Finnley.
Tony has had a long and distinguished career in politics, law, and business spanning four decades. Tony served as a Member of Parliament from 2006 to 2019 and a member of the provincial legislature in Ontario from 1995 to 2003. At the federal level, Tony held senior portfolios in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Cabinet, including Minister of Health, Minister of Industry and President of the Treasury Board. Among the many mandates given to him by the Prime Minister, he was tasked with initiating the cost reductions and business transformations that allowed for balancing the federal budget, and he negotiated the deal with Chrysler, GM, auto sector unions, and the US Government, which helped save the domestic auto sector in 2013. He also helped to fashion the first National Pandemic Plan and helped to establish the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the Mental Health Commission. As Industry Minister, he initiated Canada’s Digital Strategy and later Canada’s open data strategy as part of the worldwide Open Government Partnership. Before federal politics, Tony Clement served in the cabinets of Ontario Premiers Mike Harris and Ernie Eves, where he was Minister of Transportation, Minister of the Environment, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Since leaving elected office in 2019, Tony has engaged with several entrepreneurial projects, led IT startup companies, and served on various IT and healthcare boards while providing strategic advice to clients nationally and internationally. He also served as Pierre Polievre’s fundraising director during the 2022 leadership campaign and was subsequently appointed to the Conservative Party’s fundraising committee. Today, Tony works internationally, with strong connections in the USA, UK, Europe, South America, Asia, and India. He is a trained lawyer who enjoys analyzing and supporting clients with strategic advice from legal, geopolitical, and financial perspectives. Tony hosts the daily television program “Boom and Bust” on The News Forum, focusing on business, the economy, tech and national security. He also co-hosts his regular podcast, “And Another Thing Podcast,” and hosts a monthly radio program. Tony Clement lives in Muskoka, Ontario, with his wife Lynne, a lawyer and successful author. They have three adult children.
Mr. Wouters brings nearly 40 years of distinguished public service at the highest levels, serving Prime Ministers from both governing parties. He served as Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet from 2009-2014. In this capacity, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Canada’s professional public service and acted as Deputy Minister to Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper. From 2004-2009, Mr. Wouters served as Secretary to the Treasury Board, acting as principal administrator of government programming and expenditure management. Previously, he served as Deputy Minister in several other departments across the public service. On the advice of the Prime Minister, Mr. Wouters was appointed by the Governor General as a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada in 2014 and appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2017. Mr. Wouters is a sought-after advisor to executives and businesses across Canada. He is a Strategic and Policy Advisor at McCarthy Tétrault LLP and holds directorships at BlackBerry Limited, Canadian Utilities Limited, and Foran Mining Corporation.
With over four decades of experience in the nuclear energy industry, Rumina is a senior leader
and strategic advisor to investors, project proponents, and technology developers worldwide, as
well as governments, international organizations, and regulatory agencies.
Rumina is sought after by organizations around the world for her strategic and operating advice
on matters ranging from safety, compliance, and regulatory issues, leadership, to investment
due diligence, strategic transactions, and innovative nuclear projects, including small modular
reactor projects.
Over the course of her career Rumina, worked in various capacities as a senior executive at
Ontario Hydro and Ontario Power Generation. She most recently served as President and CEO
of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, a role she held for five years after previously
serving as a Commission member for seven years. Rumina is currently on the Board of
Directors of SaskPower and Hydro Ottawa. She is also a cofounder and principal of a startup
nuclear energy company, ZettaJoule,in Japan and Strategic Advisor at Torys LLP.
Rumina also holds numerous positions with international nuclear organizations, including:
- Member, International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group to the Director General of the
International Atomic Energy Agency;
- Chair, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency High Level Group on Stakeholder Engagement
and Trust; and
- International Expert Advisor to Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority.
- Recognition and Awards
- In November 2023, Rumina was presented the “Icon of Nuclear” award by the
International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation in recognition for her global
leadership as a nuclear regulator, the vision she has demonstrated as an agent of
change and the mentoring she has provided to people around the world, especially
women in the nuclear sector.
- Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Nuclear Energy Policy initiative, May
2024
- Distinguished Fellow at Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
Dustin Davidson currently serves as the Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy (C&E), where he leads initiatives to drive sustainable energy solutions and manage natural resources effectively across the state. Appointed in 2025 by Governor Jeff Landry, Secretary Davidson is the youngest person to ever serve in this role. In this position, Secretary Davidson leads the state in advancing Louisiana’s energy strategy, promoting environmental stewardship, and overseeing the regulatory frameworks that ensure resource efficiency, safety and resilience. Before joining the department, Dustin advocated for an advanced inland waterways and ports system at the Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI). His career in public service includes his work as a professional staff member on the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, addressing critical energy and environmental issues. Secretary Davidson also served as a legislative assistant to Congressman Garret Graves, contributing to significant legislation in energy revenue-sharing, conservation, and ecosystem protection. During his tenure with C&E, Secretary Davidson has also helped author, write and lead legislative efforts to deliver and coordinate statewide business solutions to meet the needs of the workforce, the state economy, and regions of Louisiana.
Aida Cipolla is OPG’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Aida and her team are responsible for providing OPG with strategic leadership and strategy for Finance, Human Resource, Information Technology including the Digital Strategy, Real Estate, and Corporate Business Development. Aida joined OPG in March 2022 as Chief Financial Officer and SVP Finance from Toronto Hydro, where she had worked since 2008 as Executive Vice President and CFO. Prior to joining Toronto Hydro, Aida worked for KPMG LLP in Toronto and Dublin, Ireland, leading audit and advisory engagements. Aida is a fellow chartered professional accountant (FCPA, FCA), has received the Institute of Corporate Directors’ designation (ICD.D) and holds an Honors Bachelor of Commerce diploma with a minor in economics from McMaster University, Michael G. Degroote School of Business. She was recognized as a 2026 Best Executive from the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business, as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2020 and as an Honouree in Canada's Top 40 Under 40 in 2019. Aida sits on the Board of Directors of Women’s College Hospital as Vice Chair and is the Chair of the Quality, Academic, & Equity Committee of the Board. She is also a Board of Director of Laurentis Energy Partners.
Alena Thouin is a seasoned public and private sector executive with more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience in financial services, strategy, operations, and public finance. She brings a strong track record of building high-performing teams, leading complex initiatives, and driving organizational transformation. Prior to joining Building Ontario Fund, Alena served as Chief Operating Officer at the Ontario Financing Authority (OFA), where she provided executive oversight for corporate affairs, strategic project financing, indigenous financing, information technology, and risk management of the provincial borrowing program. As Executive Lead of Building Ontario Fund Secretariat at the OFA, she also played a foundational role in shaping the vision and operational framework of BOF. Alena is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and holds an LL.B. from the University of Windsor. She has also completed executive education at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Wharton Business School Executive Education, and the Rotman School of Management’s Director Education Program. A passionate advocate for inclusive leadership and mentorship, Alena actively supports initiatives focused on housing, social services, healthcare, and gender equality. Her leadership style is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and a deep belief in the power of diverse perspectives to drive better outcomes.
Andrew Swart is the Deloitte Global Energy, Resources & Industrials (ER&I) leader, responsible for setting the strategic direction and go-to-market approach for the ER&I practices across the Deloitte network. In addition to his global role, Andrew serves as the Canadian member firm’s ER&I Managing Partner and previously led Deloitte’s global Mining & Metals practice. With more than 30 years of industry and consulting experience, Andrew is passionate about client service and has worked across all four sectors – Energy & Chemicals, Mining & Metals, Industrial Products & Construction and Power & Utilities. He has served clients in 17 countries around the world including Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Andy Forsyth is a distinguished leader in the Canadian industrial sector, currently serving as the Vice President of Business Development for the Millwright Regional Council. In this capacity, Andy represents the professional interests of over 10,000 highly skilled millwrights across Canada, ensuring the trade remains at the forefront of the nation’s infrastructure and industrial growth. With a career rooted in the complexities of the energy sector, Andy previously served as a Construction Director for a major Canadian utility. His extensive experience managing large-scale capital investments provides him with a deep, "owner-side" understanding of the logistical and strategic requirements necessary to drive successful mega-projects to completion. Today, Andy bridges the gap between workforce supply and industrial demand. His recent appointment to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Nuclear Association will bring expertise in the industry from both a labour and owners' perspective. He works intimately with facility owners and contractors across all sectors to deploy qualified, safety-conscious talent. A staunch advocate for modern labor relations, Andy’s leadership philosophy is built on the pillars of collaboration and strategic partnership. He is a frequent voice on the importance of building unified goals between labor and management to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Canadian economy.
Ash Miller is the Senior Political and Economic Relations Officer for the Consulate General of Canada in Atlanta, GA. He has been in this position for eleven years and focuses, primarily, on congressional and state affairs; security & defence; and energy. Prior to his time at the Consulate, Ash worked for two U.S. Senators – Saxby Chambliss and Zell Miller, both from the state of Georgia. He worked as a regional representative, military academy coordinator and Director of Constituent Services, during his tenure with Senators Chambliss and Miller. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Valdosta State University and his Masters in International Relations from Georgia State University. Ash is an active marathoner and lives with his wife, Christie, and their son, Asher, in Acworth, GA.
Babatunde Olateju is the Director of Sustainability at Signal49 Research. He leads a multidisciplinary research team that informs Canada’s transition to a net-zero, circular, and inclusive economy, while bolstering resilience to evolving climate risks. Tunde has advised clients across the private and public sector on multifaceted issues in nuclear energy - including technology, innovation, sustainable finance, and regulation. He served on the Federal Government’s Small Modular Reactor Roadmap Committee as well as the Economic and Finance Working Group. Tunde has also served on the Energy and Environment Committee at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. He is a two-time nominee for Canada’s Clean 50 Award, and he has also been a Mentor for the University of Alberta’s Energy Pathways Career Program. His latest publication is titled Time to Build: Nuclear Energy Regulatory Efficiency in Canada, United States, and France. He holds a PhD in Engineering Management from the University of Alberta, and Masters of Mechanical Engineering from Brunel University, England.
As Senior Vice President of Global Business Development and Deputy Chief Commercial Officer of X-energy, Dr. Reinke acts as the head of corporate-wide business development activities. He is responsible for all commercial reactor business development and sales – strategy and marketing, analytics, organizational management, customer relationship development, contract negotiations, capture management, and early-phase project management. In this capacity, he also serves as principal deputy to the Chief Commercial Officer of X-energy in the management and oversight of key functions within DevCo., including Global Business Development, Project Management, Supply Chain/Strategic Sourcing, and Project Finance. Dr. Reinke provides strategic direction to the functions to enable X-energy’s end-to-end project deployment model, from customer origination through project delivery. Dr. Reinke originally joined X-energy as the Senior Director for Corporate Strategy and Advisor to the CEO, leading long-term strategic planning for the company and supporting key functions ranging from business planning to business development, and strategic partnerships to strategic supplier relations. He later assumed the role of Vice President for Global Business Development. Dr. Reinke is an energy executive with expertise in science and innovation, clean energy technology development, nuclear systems, critical minerals and materials, space science and technology, and the nexus of energy security and national security. His leadership, management, business development, and policy experiences span the private sector, both the legislative and executive branches, and academia. Dr. Reinke holds his Ph.D. and M.S. in nuclear engineering, as well as his B.S. in physics and French from the Ohio State University, where he was a NASA Space Technology Research Fellow and a Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fellow.
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.
Colin was appointed Vice-President Regulatory Affairs Branch and Chief Communications Officer in June 2024. With over 20 years of progressively senior and diverse positions in the organization, Colin was most recently Director General of the Information Management and Technology Directorate and Chief Information Officer from 2020 to 2024. In this role, he was accountable for the implementation of the CNSC’s Digital Strategy, enabling a modern, trusted, agile digitally enabled regulatory body. Previously, Colin was Director General of the Directorate of Nuclear Substance Regulation, where he was responsible for the delivery of the CNSC's nuclear substance regulatory program. Earlier roles in the CNSC include Executive Advisor in the Office of the President, as well as experience in regulatory policy, nuclear facility regulation and engineering assessment. Colin holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from McMaster University.
Daniel Sax is the Founder & CEO of the CSMC, a space and defence company developing micro nuclear reactors for remote and mission critical applications. He is a visionary entrepreneur and angel investor, with a deep background in real estate investment, finance, and development, and a strong acumen in both private and public capital markets. He is responsible for overseeing CSMC's vision, strategy, academic and strategic partnerships, legal, hiring, capital raising, government relations, and communications. He has actively participated in over $4B of real estate deals across Canada, the USA, and Germany. Daniel has a passion for bleeding edge industries with high degrees of uncertainty. He has significant experience working with interdisciplinary teams on complex large scale mixed-use projects. He is a Director of Bordeaux Properties. He has a Masters Degree in Real Estate from Cornell University, and a BA in Economics from Dalhousie.
David M. Brock is Vice President, Nuclear Development, SaskPower. Reporting to the CEO, he is the utility executive responsible for the development and deployment of nuclear energy for the provincial electricity grid. Previously, David was Vice President, Energy Security at Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan, and before that Assistant Deputy Minister for Climate Change with the provincial Ministry of Environment. David is Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, affiliated with the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy; he holds the ICD.D designation, having completed the Directors Education Program at the University of Toronto. From 2023-2025, David was co-chair of the national Nuclear Energy Leadership Table. David now serves on the board of directors of the Canadian Nuclear Association and is President of the Regina branch of the Canadian International Council.
David James has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the energy, technology, and public sectors. He is responsible for advancing Alberta’s electricity system, including the implementation of the Restructured Electricity Market and the exploration of nuclear energy opportunities. David has played a key role in shaping Alberta’s long-term energy strategy, contributing to the development of the province’s Natural Gas Vision and Strategy and leading cross-government efforts to ensure reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy systems that support economic growth. Prior to his current role, David served as deputy minister of Technology and Innovation and deputy minister of Service Alberta where he led major initiatives, including the Alberta Broadband Strategy and the modernization of government services through digital transformation and implementation of the 1GX enterprise system. Known for his collaborative values-driven leadership style, David builds teams that excel in complex environments. Prior to government, he spent 20 years as an Army Signals officer with the Canadian Forces and is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada.
Heather Exner-Pirot is a Senior Fellow and Director of Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. She serves as a Special Advisor to the Business Council of Canada, and Managing Editor of the Arctic Yearbook. She is an internationally recognized scholar and policy expert whose work focuses on natural resource development, energy security, critical minerals, Arctic governance, Indigenous economic participation, and Canadian competitiveness. Dr. Exner-Pirot has held board and fellowship appointments with Indigenous, Canadian and international institutions and is a frequent contributor to public policy discussions on resource development, trade, energy, and northern affairs. Her research emphasizes practical approaches to strengthening Canada's economic prosperity, resilience, and strategic position through responsible development of its natural resources.
Jason K. Cameron is Director – Nuclear Sector at ParadigmForge AI, where he leads NuclearPro, an AI-powered regulatory intelligence platform, and the firm’s Managed Regulatory Intelligence (MRI) service for the nuclear sector. ParadigmForge AI’s objective is to apply advanced artificial intelligence and graph native regulatory intelligence tools to complex regulatory environments, helping organizations navigate requirements more efficiently, reduce administrative burden, and strengthen decision-making. In the nuclear sector, NuclearPro and MRI enable licensees, vendors, and regulators to access timely, structured regulatory intelligence—supporting faster licensing pathways, improved compliance oversight, and more effective engagement with evolving national and international frameworks. He brings more than three decades of senior leadership experience in Canada’s nuclear regulatory, policy, and stakeholder landscape. From 2021 to early 2026 he served as Vice-President, Indigenous and Stakeholder Relations at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), where he advanced meaningful Indigenous engagement, reconciliation commitments, and multi-party relationship-building in support of nuclear science and technology priorities. Prior to that, from 2013 to 2021, he was Vice-President, Regulatory Affairs and Chief Communications Officer at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), overseeing regulatory policy, framework development, and public communications during a period of significant sector evolution. Earlier in his career he worked on international safeguards implementation, nuclear security, and strategic planning within the federal nuclear regulator. He holds a Master of Arts in International Relations/Strategic Military Studies from the University of Calgary (thesis focused on IAEA safeguards). He is married with two children and loves golfing and reading stoic philosophy in his spare time.
Jake Kincer develops and manages ClearPath’s nuclear policy portfolio to advance the U.S. role as a global nuclear energy leader. In this capacity, he leads the development of ClearPath’s work on nuclear in export policy, development finance and energy markets. He also works on federal policy to support emerging fusion technology.
Joanne Jacyk is the Director, Site Selection ILW at the NWMO, bringing more than 25 years of experience in environmental monitoring, impact assessment, and participatory design and decision-making. Since joining the NWMO in 2009, she has progressed through roles including Senior Environmental Scientist, Manager – Environment Program, and Siting Director – Ignace, building on earlier consulting work across the mining, waste management, and nuclear sectors. She helped lead the NWMO’s northwest engagement team through the final years of the site selection process, culminating in a national siting decision. Joanne holds a degree in Biosystems Engineering and a Masters in Environmental Science and is both a Professional Engineer and Certified Professional Facilitator. The granddaughter of Polish and Ukrainian immigrants, she continues her Reconciliation journey by learning more about historic and modern treaties while reconnecting with her own cultural traditions. She also enjoys coaching her kids’ sports and contributing to her community—while staying a loyal prairie raised Jets fan.
Jun Tang is the vice president of Marketing & Sales for BWXT’s Commercial Operations, which serves the global commercial nuclear power industry with engineering, critical components, services and fuel, and it serves the nuclear medicine industry with medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. Mr. Tang’s 30-year career with BWXT includes 18 years leading marketing and sales for Commercial Operations’ nuclear equipment and service business. He first joined BWXT in Canada as a design engineer and has held progressively responsible positions, including project manager and manager of Marketing and Sales. As the vice president of Marketing & Sales, Mr. Tang leads the company’s product and service sales activities in both Canadian and international markets. He served on the board of directors of the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries from 2008 to 2018, where he helped strengthen the nuclear supply chain and promote a robust nuclear energy sector in Canada. Mr. Tang holds a Bachelor Degree of Engineering from Tongji University, a Master Degree of Engineering from McGill University and a Master of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. He also completed the Ivey Executive Development Program at Western University.
An Albertan through and through, Justin Riemer has dedicated his career to strengthening the province he loves. As Chief Executive Officer of Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), Justin leads one of Canada’s most impactful clean technology innovation organizations—driving investment into transformative technologies that improve environmental performance and accelerate industrial competitiveness. Justin is widely recognized for his ability to operate at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and public policy. He has built a reputation as a strategic leader and ecosystem builder—connecting industry, startups, investors, and governments to unlock new opportunities for growth and commercialization. His work has helped catalyze billions of dollars in investment, support high-impact ventures, and scale solutions that deliver both economic and environmental returns. With more than 25 years of senior executive experience, Justin has delivered results across regional economic development, industry expansion, investment attraction, and innovation system development. Before joining ERA, Justin led the Alberta Region of Prairies Economic Development Canada in the federal government to support economic development across the province. Prior to that, he held several senior positions focused on innovation and investment attraction at the Government of Alberta and briefly at Alberta Health Services. Justin also contributes his expertise through board leadership and advisory roles at Glenrose Hospital Foundation and Edmonton Unlimited.
Kathryn is the Lead Energy & Climate analyst at WP Intelligence, anchoring our coverage and live convenings on the critical issues surrounding the future of energy. Kathryn brings a unique background to WP Intelligence, having been a policy analyst in the energy, transportation and science fields for the past 25 years. She has served in senior roles in several trade associations, has taught at the University of Michigan and has a PhD in physics. Her specialty over the course of her career has been to translate complex policy and legislative issues for executive and membership audiences across the energy, climate and transportation industries. Kathryn has held top leadership roles at professional associations in the transportation, energy infrastructure, natural gas and sustainable mobility sectors. Most recently, she led her own consultancy and designed original coursework for the University of Michigan to introduce undergraduates to the technical, regulatory and societal barriers to achieving a net-zero carbon energy economy, challenging students to develop innovative solutions. Early in her career, Kathryn worked on Capitol Hill for energy and science committees in both the House and Senate and worked on the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Kevin Bosch is the Chair of the Advisory Board of the Canadian Association of Small Modular Reactors (CASMR). The Canadian Association of Small Modular Reactors (CASMR) is a organization dedicated to advocating and promoting SMRs as a transformative wave of nuclear energy innovation that meets Canada’s environmental, economic, and social objectives. The mission of CASMR is to accelerate the development and deployment of SMRs to fulfill Canada’s net-zero ambitions. Kevin is also a managing partner and co-founder of Sandstone Group. Kevin was named one of the Top 100 lobbyists in Canada in a ranking compiled by the Hill Times in 2021. He has a vision and a commitment to helping clients. After over four years as Vice President of Hill and Knowlton he co-founded Sandstone Group to continue delivering outstanding government relations support to clients. He is a seasoned government relations and communications professional who has helped clients achieve success across a wide range of industries including technology, health, finance, environment, infrastructure manufacturing, energy, defence, transportation, telecommunications and the charitable sector. Prior to his work as a consultant, over a period of nineteen years, Kevin held senior roles in successive Liberal governments and opposition leaders’ offices including for Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin, Bill Graham, Stéphane Dion, Michael Ignatieff, Bob Rae and Justin Trudeau. From 2015- 2017, Kevin was deputy director of the Liberal Research Bureau. He has worked on countless political campaigns and was part of the rapid response and research teams in the national Liberal Party of Canada campaign headquarters for six consecutive elections from 2000-2015. Kevin previously worked in the offices of the federal Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Human Resources Development. Originally from Calgary, Kevin worked for the Alberta Liberal Caucus at the Alberta Legislature from 1993-1998 In 2019, Kevin was elected by his peers to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Government Relations Institute of Canada and currently serves as Chair of its Legislative Affairs Committee. He is bilingual in both official languages.
Luiza Savage is Editorial Director at WP Intelligence, a premium service for decision-makers navigating the intersection of business, technology and geopolitics. She oversees a suite of analytical research reports, forward-looking newsletters, live briefings, and convenings for exclusive membership Councils, delivering actionable intelligence on global security, energy, health care and emerging technologies. An entrepreneurial media leader with a global outlook, Luiza draws on more than 20 years of experience in journalism to build a trusted space where leaders gain clarity on fast-moving policy and industry shifts shaping the world. Previously, Luiza was executive editor for growth at Politico, where she launched new editorial products and oversaw podcasts, video, and live events and summits, and was the driving force behind the creation of Politico Canada. Earlier in her career, Luiza was the Washington, D.C., bureau chief for Maclean’s magazine and a newspaper reporter focused on politics, policy and legal affairs. She produced and hosted two television documentaries on Canada-U.S. relations. She holds an economics degree from Harvard University and a master’s degree from Yale Law School earned as a Knight Foundation Journalism Fellow. She was a Jefferson Fellow of the East-West Center and is a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. She is a frequent speaker at global events and conferences.
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.
With more than 40 years in the nuclear industry, Milt Caplan specializes in advising governments and utilities on how to increase confidence and reduce risk for large energy projects with a focus on managing projects for success. He is currently providing independent oversight of the Darlington Refurbishment Program, the Darlington New Nuclear Project (BWRX-300 SMR) and the Pickering Refurbishment Project to the Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines and is the technical advisor to the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) on the Bruce refurbishment program. He has recently completed studies related to developing the skilled nuclear workforce of the future as well as feasibility studies for both SMRs and Large nuclear. Milt is the co-chair of the World Nuclear Association (WNA) Economics and Law Working Group and lectures on nuclear economics and nuclear plant structuring and financing for the World Nuclear University (WNU).
Mitch brings more than a decade of experience in provincial politics as a leading thinker on public policy issues across the country, seen through his authorship of The Policy Shop Substack. Mitch previously served as Chief of Staff of a provincial regulatory agency from 2022 to 2025, providing a level of expertise on Ontario’s regulatory complexities and the inner workings of the civil service. Mitch previously served as the Director of Special Projects in the Ontario Cabinet Office where he was responsible for authoring both the 2024 and 2025 mandate letters for the Ontario government, giving him a behind the scenes understanding of the Ontario government’s priorities and decision-making process. Prior to that, Mitch serves as Executive Director of an Ontario based policy think tank, authored two recent Ontario PC Party Platforms, and served as head of policy for the Ontario PC’s for five years, including as Executive Director of Policy to the current Premier of Ontario, giving him a thorough understanding of energy policy and the politics around it. Mitch also serves as a lecturer at the University of Waterloo's Master of Public Service Program, is a former Global Fellow at the Wilson Center's Canada Institute and is a Member of the Board of Directors for the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie. Mitch hails from Oro-Medonte, Ontario and holds a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master of Arts in political science from the University of Western Ontario.
Mike Blanchfield is POLITICO’s Canada policy reporter. He leads coverage on Canada’s relations with the Trump administration, including the implications of the president’s tariffs, and the response by Ottawa and the provinces. He is a veteran of Parliament Hill who has reported on a wide range of issues including trade, defense, energy, the environment, legal affairs. Mike has covered international affairs extensively for the past three decades for major Canadian news organizations, traveling with prime ministers and covering innumerable multilateral summits. He has led coverage of major trade negotiations, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, CETA and CPTPP. He has reported from across the globe — including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — and from Washington for The Canadian Press and Southam News (now Postmedia), anchoring the newspaper chain’s coverage during September 2001. Mike is a fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and the past winner of the R. James Travers Foreign Corresponding Fellowship. He is the co-author of the award-winning book,The Two Michaels: Innocent Canadian Captives and High Stakes Espionage in the US-China Cyber War and the author of Swingback: Getting Along in the World With Harper and Trudeau.
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.
Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and the lead author of Canada Playbook. From 2021 until 2025, he anchored Ottawa Playbook, the must-read morning newsletter on Parliament Hill. He has spent most of his career obsessed with the Canada-U.S. conversation. He spends his days with the people behind all the politics: senior politicians, seasoned campaigners, ambitious lobbyists, parliamentary geeks, curious diplomats and the political aides who clock the most hours. For more than 15 years in journalism, he has built massive spreadsheets, filed hundreds of access-to-information requests and interviewed key players in politics and policy — all in pursuit figuring out what's about to happen next on the Hill and what makes governments tick. He's on a mission to tell insiders what they need to know as they roll out of bed. Nick comes to POLITICO from Maclean’s magazine, and has bounced between Toronto and Ottawa for his entire adult life. He once interviewed a federal cabinet minister on an airplane (they were both passengers in coach, and a deadline loomed). He’s so far managed to visit 49 states (not that he’s counting). He also served a three-year stint as president of the Canadian Association of Journalists from 2015-2018. He lives in Ottawa with his wife.
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.
Robert Nicholson is a Managing Director and Canadian Head of the Power, Utilities and Infrastructure Group at RBC Capital Markets. He is responsible for providing solutions for Corporate clients’ capital raising needs. This can include both public and private equity, investment and non-investment grade debt and either in the public or private markets. He also provides strategic advice to his utility, power generation and clean technology clients having advised on over $30 billion of company sales and acquisitions. Rob has been based in both the US and Canada in his 30 year banking career with the last 20 years at RBC in Canada. Robert holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley and B.A.Sc. (Civil Engineering) from the University of Waterloo
Rudy Cuzzetto is the Parliamentary Assistant to the Hon. Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines. Rudy is a lifelong resident and passionate advocate for the lakefront communities of Mississauga-Lakeshore, where his family’s roots run four generations deep. Before his election as a Member of Provincial Parliament in 2018, he worked at Ford Motor Company for 31 years, most recently as a vehicle auditor. Together with his wife Marie and sons Michael and Joey, Rudy lives in Lorne Park, where he has served on the local ratepayer’s association, parent councils, and as a Board member and property manager at the Mississauga Canoe Club. Previously, Rudy served as the Parliamentary Assistant to the President of the Treasury Board, with responsibility for the Ontario Internal Audit Division, from 2019 to 2024. He has also served on the Standing Committees on Agencies, Estimates, Finance and Economic Affairs, Public Accounts, and the Interior.
Stephen de Boer has had a distinguished career in the Government of Canada, with senior roles across Canada’s trade, foreign policy and climate policy agendas. Most recently, Mr. de Boer served as Deputy Minister and Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister from 2023 to 2025. Previously, Mr. de Boer served for five years as Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization, representing Canada in global trade negotiations and dispute settlement. From 2015 to 2016, he represented Canada as Ambassador to Poland and Ambassador to Belarus. Earlier in his public service career, Mr. de Boer held senior roles across Global Affairs Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, including Assistant Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s International Affairs Branch. He also served as Director General of the Trade Controls Bureau; Director of the Oceans and Environmental Law Division; Lead Counsel for Canada’s international climate change negotiations; Deputy Chief Negotiator for climate change; and Director General responsible for Canada’s international climate change partnerships.
Todd Josifovski is Senior Vice President, Nuclear Development at the New York Power Authority (NYPA), where he is building NYPA’s Nuclear Development organization and leading the development strategy for approximately 1 GW of new nuclear capacity in New York State. His responsibilities span nuclear development strategy, reactor technology and site assessment, commercial and delivery models, stakeholder engagement, and strategic partnerships. Todd brings more than 20 years of experience advancing nuclear and energy infrastructure across Canada and the United States, with expertise spanning SMRs, Generation III+ and Generation IV technologies, commercial structuring, engineering, contracting, and major capital program delivery. Prior to NYPA, Todd held senior development and leadership roles across the nuclear, renewable energy, energy storage, and flexible generation sectors. Earlier in his career with Ontario Power Generation, he served as Project Director on the $13 billion Darlington Nuclear Refurbishment Program, where he led multidisciplinary teams and major project execution and negotiated more than $1 billion in EPC, equipment supply, engineering, and specialized technical services contracts. Over his career, Todd has contributed to the development and delivery of more than 7 GW of nuclear and clean energy infrastructure. He holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, a Bachelor of Engineering, and is a Professional Engineer in Ontario.
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.
