11th Annual Ignite Talks | The Role of Energy in Canadian Society

Mark Brown serves as Chief Operating Officer of ATCO EnPower, bringing more than 25 years of leadership experience across the energy transition, engineering, procurement and construction sectors. In his role as COO, Mr. Brown oversees the non-regulated business of Canadian Utilities Limited and is responsible for the operational direction of the company’s energy storage, power generation and cleaner fuels portfolio across North America. Throughout his career, Mr. Brown has held senior roles spanning engineering, construction, project management and corporate operations. His work has taken him across North America, Europe and Asia, with a consistent focus on delivering technical excellence and operational performance in the Energy, Infrastructure and Technical Services industries. Mr. Brown is an active contributor to industry advancement. He participated in the Construction Industry Institute (CII) and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Construction Owners Association of Alberta (COAA). He currently sits on the Board of Hull Services, reflecting his commitment to community engagement. He is also Chair of ATCO´s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council. Beyond his professional responsibilities, Mr. Brown is a strong advocate for education, mental health and equity, diversity, and inclusion. He is driven by a vision of a more compassionate and innovative world and actively seeks opportunities to support meaningful change. Mr. Brown holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria and maintains his Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation in Alberta.

Chris Fralick is the EVP of Generation at TransAlta, with responsibility for global operations and asset management of 88 facilities and over 8 GW of capacity across all fuel types. He has 25 years of experience in power generation leadership in operations and business strategy in rate regulated, contracted and merchant market environments. Prior to joining TransAlta, Chris was President and CEO of Atura Power (a wholly owned subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation), with accountability for a portfolio of combined cycle natural gas facilities and low-carbon hydrogen production. Through two decades with OPG, Chris held various progressive leadership positions, including Chief Operating Officer for OPG’s Renewable Generation business, where he had accountability for operating and maintaining a 10 GW fleet of hydroelectric, thermal and solar assets. Chris holds a BASc in Environmental (Chemical) Engineering from the University of Waterloo (P.Eng), an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, and an ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Jennifer Woolfsmith is the Vice President of Sustainability for NOVA Chemicals. In her role, Woolfsmith is responsible for leading the ongoing development and execution of NOVA’s environmental strategy and corporate social responsibility reporting. Her function directly supports NOVA’s purpose of reshaping plastics to be our customers’ first and best choice. Woolfsmith joined NOVA Chemicals in 2001, at the time in the company’s Manchester, UK operations. In her career over the last twenty years, she has held progressive roles within the financial and commercial functions of the organization, across NOVA Chemicals’ European, Canadian and US offices. Most recently, Woolfsmith served as the Chief of Staff to the CEO, where she worked alongside NOVA’s senior leaders and Board of Directors. A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Project Management Professional (PMP), Woolfsmith holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from the University of New Brunswick. A results-driven advocate for change, she also is an Executive Member and Chair of the Finance Committee of the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program.

Professor Jason Donev is a tenured professor and co-director of the new Energy Science Major at the University of Calgary. He leads EnergyEducation.ca, the world’s largest and most widely used open-access energy resource for adults. Prof. Donev teaches courses on nuclear power, solar power, hydropower, thermodynamics, as well as a broad introductory course on energy systems. As a reviewer for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Prof. Donev works to help people understand nuclear power’s role in providing reliable energy without emitting greenhouse gases.

Glen Furtado is the Senior Director of Construction Innovation for the Cement Association of Canada.  His experience in consulting and leadership roles extend over 25 years in the private and public sector in USA and Canada.  He serves several industry Boards and Committees including the Boards of Concrete BC and Concrete Alberta and is currently the Vice-Chair of the Transportation Association of Canada’s Environment and Climate Change Council. In his current role with the Cement Association, Glen helps members, municipalities, designers, architects, and engineers meet their environmental sustainability goals through incorporation of lower carbon building materials in the projects they deliver for stakeholders.