May 22 + 23, 2019
Vancouver, Canada
Started working in hydrogen technologies in 2001 in Canada and Europe: it's great to see the shift happening now! My areas of focus include hydrogen production by electrolysis, H2 infrastructure, industrial hydrogen, renewable energy storage, power-to-gas and hydrogen e-mobility with fuel cells. Mechanical engineer from Polytechnique University in Montreal with B.Sc in Business from University of Quebec in Montreal.
Role: Speaker
Colin is a founder and board member of HTEC and has been Presiden & CEO for 5 years. He has been involved in hydrogen fuel supply and storage solutions for over 25 years.
Role: Speaker
Ross Bailey is the President & CEO of Greenlight Innovation as well as Chairman of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association.
Ross has over 25 years experience in hydrogen fuel cells from his previous work at Ballard Power Systems (1994-2004) and Hydrogenics Corporation (2004-2007), where he held a variety of technical and leadership roles. In 2008 Ross led the start up of Greenlight Innovation, purchasing the assets of Hydrogenics Test Systems.
Ross has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Victoria and an MBA from Simon Fraser University. He is a co-inventor on a number of patents pertaining to fuel cell manufacturing and testing.
Role: Session Chair
Session: B - Opening Plenary
Role: Session Chair
Session: D - Plenary II: HFC Snapshots + Pitch session
Andrew Bauder is an Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA) with the National Research Council - Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), Canada's premier innovation assistance program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He joined IRAP in 2007 and has been part of IRAP’s International Networks Team since 2012. Andrew formerly led IRAP’s national program with Brazil and now acts as IRAP’s national lead for bi-lateral programs with Germany, including the ZIM program with BMWi and the “2+2” program with BMBF. In addition, he coordinates IRAP International projects in the province of Ontario.
Andrew holds an MBA from McGill University (Montreal) and ESADE (Barcelona), in addition to an MSc in Oceanography and an Honours BSc in Marine Biology, both from Dalhousie University (Halifax).
Role: Topic Table
The Director of HySA Infrastructure Center of Competence, Dr Dmitri Bessarabov, was recruited for the position from Canada in 2010. He obtained his Master’s degree in Chemistry in Moscow and in 1996 his doctoral degree from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Dr Dmitri Bessarabov is an expert in the area of hydrogen and electro-catalytic membrane systems for energy applications and fuel cells. Passionate about LOHC technology for hydrogen storage, PEM fuel cells, electrolysers, membranes, MEAs and catalyst layers structures. He worked for Kvaerner Group, Ballard Power Systems and AFCC (Daimler and Ford JV) in Canada. Current responsibilities include: leadership in the national hydrogen and fuel cell programme (HySA) in South Africa. He holds SA NRF rating, current Scopus H index 19. Recently co-authored a two-volume book on PEM water electrolysis.
Role: Topic Table
Gus Block is a co-founder of Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC. Nuvera was established in 2000 to provide hydrogen and fuel cell solutions for on- and off-road motive applications. Gus handles marketing and government business for Nuvera and is the company's representative to trade associations and other organizations. He currently serves on the Governor’s Zero Emissions Vehicle Commission in Massachusetts, and is Chair of the Communications and Marketing Committee of the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, and Co-Chair of the Goods Movement, Heavy Duty, and Clean Ports Sector Action Group of the California Hydrogen Business Council. Gus has a mechanical engineering degree from the Cooper Union.
Role: Speaker
Dr. Klaus Bonhoff studied Mechanical Engineering at the RWTH in Aachen, Germany and ENSTA in Paris, France. He finalized his PhD in energy process engineering at the Jülich Research Center in Germany. He then started his professional career as assistant to the Board of Directors at the Jülich Research Center in the field of energy and materials research and later became head of Jülich’s Fuel Cell Project. Afterwards he joined Ballard Power Systems GmbH as the manager of business development in Europe before starting to works for DaimlerChrysler AG where he held various positions within DaimlerChrysler’s fuel cell activities including responsibility for strategy, communications, global demonstration projects, political programs and market development. In 2007 he received a contract with the German National Government to coordinate the German National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies (NIP).
Since February 2008 he has served as managing director (chair) of Germany’s National Organization for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW GmbH).
NOW GmbH (National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology) is responsible for the coordination and management of the National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP) and the Electromobility Model Regions programme of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). In addition, NOW also supports the German Ministry of Transport in the continued development of the Mobility and Fuel Strategy (Mobilitäts- und Kraftstoffstrategie — MKS) as well as for the implementation of EU Directive 2014/94/EU on the development of alternative fuels infrastructure (CPT).
Role: Speaker
Matthias Brendel is the Vice-President for Electrification at AVL List GmbH in Graz, Austria and Director of AVL Fuel Cell Canada in Vancouver.
Before he joined AVL in 2017 he worked 22 years at General Motors. He was focusing on fuel cell and battery development programs in the US and Germany and had several leadership assignments in production programs.
He holds an engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University in Darmstadt, Germany.
Role: Session Chair
Session: G2 - Large scale fuel cell applications and their infrastructure
Dr. Brunner is a Managing Director and Co-owner of Hynergy GmbH, a Hydrogen Energy and Mobility Engineering company in Germany. Since 2016 he furthermore serves a Chinese OEM as their VP R&D to set up a hydrogen fuel cell development program.
Before co-founding Hynergy GmbH, Dr. Brunner has been serving BMW Group in various roles, most recently as head of Technology Project Hydrogen Fuel Cell. Under Dr. Brunner’s supervision several fuel cell electric vehicle prototypes and test fleets as well as novel cryogenic storage and refueling technologies have been developed and demonstrated.
Dr. Brunner has been a panel reviewer for the European Commission, the US Department of Energy as well as the Research Council of Norway. He is the author of several reference publications on hydrogen technology.
Role: Speaker
Arnab’s work is at the intersection of Markets, Technology and Policy, with a focus on the energy transition. Arnab looked at improving mobility efficiency at a systems level, developing concepts in city freight optimization in Manila and EV charging in the US. He recently kicked off work on Heavy Duty Hydrogen Mobility and is leading Shell’s activities in the sector. Arnab is a member of the Leadership Council at Cyclotron Road, and an advisor to the MAN futures accelerator. Prior to joining Shell, Arnab worked at McKinsey & Co (Calgary) and at Sofinnova Partners (Paris/San Francisco) where he deployed 70M USD into industrial biotechnology/renewable companies at series A/B level. He went on to work at two portfolio companies, notably BioAmber leading a major product development effort and was part of the team that took it to IPO.
Arnab has a DPhil in Semiconductor Chemistry from Oxford University and an MBA from INSEAD.
Role: Speaker
George Chow was sworn in as British Columbia’s Minister of State for Trade on July 18, 2017, and was elected MLA for Vancouver-Fraserview on May 9, 2017.
The Minister of State for Trade is responsible for helping execute provincial trade initiatives and the delivery of trade programs in support of the mandate for the Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology. The Minister of State’s role includes aiding in the promotion of global opportunities for B.C. businesses, unlocking new markets, creating jobs for British Columbians, and ensuring the future prosperity of B.C.’s economy. The Minister of State’s portfolio includes strengthening the provincial economy through strategic partnerships. Additional priorities include expanding export opportunities in the manufacturing, agriculture, and value-added wood sectors; capacity building for trade promotion; promoting the tourism sector on trade missions; and advocating for trade deals in softwood lumber negotiations with the United States and Mexico that protect B.C.’s interests.
Minister of State Chow was born in China and completed primary school in Hong Kong prior to settling in Vancouver in 1965. He graduated from UBC in mechanical engineering in 1975 and had a 30-year career with BC Hydro in power generation before serving two terms on Vancouver City Council from 2005 to 2011. He enjoys being very active within his community and has served on many community organizations as a volunteer.
The Minister of State is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC and a Fellow of Engineers Canada.
Role: Speaker
Mr. Al Cioffi has 36 years of management and executive leadership experience in telecommunication, reliable power, reserve energy, and alternative energy industries. He started his career in 1980 at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Throughout the following years, he held numerous engineering, operations, product management, marketing, and customer advocacy roles. He has experience at large multi-nationals such as Lucent, Marconi, Eltek, and General Electric, as well as start-up and turn-around experience at Valere Power, PECO II, and Unipower. He currently works with Plug Power to advance the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell technology in motive applications adjacent to the commercial market share Plug Power already holds.
Mr. Cioffi holds seven patents and has published numerous articles and conference papers. He holds a BSEE from Manhattan College, an MSEE from Polytechnic Institute of NY, and has studied business and finance at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton school of business.
Role: Speaker
Mr. Conrad is the CEO of the Stark Area RTA in Canton, Ohio. They will have 17 fuel cell vehicles by the end of this. This will include five fuel cell paratransit vehicles, which will be the first in the counrty.
Role: Speaker
Erin Cooke has been a Project Engineer with the New Product Development (NPD) team at the New Flyer for four years, and is currently responsible for managing battery-electric and (hydrogen) fuel cell-electric transit bus projects. She has over 15 years of experience managing new product development in the transit and specialty vehicle industries, having overseen testing and validation of New Flyer’s first 60-foot fuel cell-electric bus through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Altoona durability testing program in the U.S., and having led a design team through the commercial launch of 40-foot fuel cell-electric buses for California transit agencies (including AC Transit, OCTA and Sunline). Erin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manitoba and has completed courses in marketing, operations management, and financial accounting from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She is an accredited Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) and Project Management Professional (PMP).
Role: Speaker
Dave Earle is the President and CEO of the BC Trucking Association, a member-based, province-wide, non-partisan, non-profit motor carrier association formed solely to advance the interests of British Columbia motor carriers. He is also a member of the Canadian Trucking Alliance Executive Board, CTA Policy Development Committee, and Greater Vancouver Gateway Council.
Role: Speaker
Bill Elrick is the California Fuel Cell Partnership’s Executive Director. Previously, he held the Technical Program Director position for 7 years, bringing his active tenure in alternative fuel transportation to over 20 years. Under his leadership, CaFCP members have developed new analysis tools and detailed roll-out plans that industry, state and federal agencies reference in planning support for hydrogen stations. He works directly with industry stakeholders including automakers, station developers, medium and heavy duty fuel cell vehicle developers, and government to facilitate collaborative actions that fulfill each organization’s needs. Bill has a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Ball State University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Indiana.
Bill Elrick has over two decades of experience in bringing new technologies to market, with a focus on public-private partnerships and ZEV technology. He works directly with industry and government stakeholders to facilitate collaborative actions that fulfill each organization’s needs.
Role: Speaker
Mark joined Anglo American in 2014. He is currently the Head of Market Development in the Platinum business where he oversees the company’s efforts to grow PGM (platinum group metals) demand from the jewellery, investment and industrial demand segments. This entails undertaking a range of activities from investing in early stage R&D; to taking equity positions in startup companies through a venture capital fund set up by the company; through to engaging in policy advocacy initiatives across a number of geographies
Prior to joining Anglo American Platinum, Mark spent 6 years as a management consultant working primarily in the mining and metals space. Qualifications include a BSc in Financial Mathematics, a BScHons in Mathematical statistics and a Master’s in Business Administration
Role: Speaker
Dr. Girard is a Research Council Officer for the National Researh Council Canada. He is the technical leader for Fuel Cell and Electrochemical Systems for the Vehicle Propulsion Technologies Program as well as Canada's representative for Mission Innovation's Hydrogen Challenge. Dr. Girard is also a member of CHFCA's Board of Director and is actively involve in the promotion of the hydrogen and fuel cell sector in Canada.
Role: Session Chair
Session: F - Plenary II: Global Cooperation Mission Innovation
Led the CNL team on the hydrail feasibility study that assessed the system integration of hydrogen in a sub-urban passenger rail application for Metrolinx in Ontario. Led the refocusing efforts for hydrogen research as a strategic initiative at CNL to focus on decarbonising the transport sector and remote communities by using hydrogen and electricity. Joined CNL as a process/modeling scientist 9 years ago. Develop mathematical/simulation models for intense analysis of processes ranging from hydrogen isotope separation, heavy water production, tritium management, hydrogen recombination, hydrogen production, hydrogen energy storage, and integrated energy and logistics for systems involved in transport and grid applications. A licensed professional engineer in Ontario. Has published over 20 original research articles. Mechanical Engineer with: Bachelor of Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, India; Master of Science, Wayne State University, the USA; and Doctor of Philosophy, University of New Brunswick, Canada.
Role: Speaker
Ulf Groos studied Chemical Engineering at the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg until 1996. The diploma thesis was written at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI in Karlsruhe, where he worked until 1997. During 1998 and 1999 he was a consultant at Rudolf Spitzmueller in Gengenbach. Beginning of 2000 he came to the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg. There, he was responsible for marketing of today’s division Hydrogen Technologies until end of 2008. Since beginning of 2008 Ulf Groos is head of the department Fuel Cell Systems. He is in charge for around 20 engineers and scientists.
Role: Speaker, Session Chair
Session: H2 - Components
Christian Hansen has been a Foreign Service Officer since 1995, serving in Ottawa, Osaka, Oslo, Vancouver, and at Canada’s Mission to the European Union. Christian has a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from University of British Columbia and a Master in Public Policy (International Relations) from Princeton. He presently serves as the Director of the Pacific Region for Global Affairs Canada.
Role: Speaker
Dr David Hart is a Director of E4tech and an expert advisor, consultant and researcher on hydrogen energy and fuel cells for 25+ years. He leads and conducts projects from research to strategy in different industry sectors for governments, corporations and investors worldwide, has sat on venture capital investment committees and clean energy company boards, is a Director of the International Association of Hydrogen Energy and chairs the Grove Fuel Cell Symposium Steering Committee. He has been an invited keynote speaker on hydrogen energy on six continents. In 2001, having built a successful research group at Imperial College London, he co-founded E4tech's London office to work on sustainable energy strategy consulting, helping clients make the best decisions in uncertain conditions. Now based in Switzerland, he is a director of E4tech and heads the hydrogen and fuel cell consulting practice, while retaining a role as a Visiting Professor at Imperial College.
Role: Speaker, Session Chair
Session: C2 - Commercial fuel cell vehicles
Dr. Patrick Hartley leads the Oil, Gas and Fuels research program at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. The program delivers applied R&D focussed on the sustainable development and processing of Australia’s petroleum resources and on the associated challenges of large scale carbon dioxide storage. In 2018, he established CSIRO’s Hydrogen Energy Systems Future Science Platform, which addresses the research challenges facing Australia’s hydrogen industry. Also in 2018, he co-led the development of CSIRO’s ‘National Hydrogen Roadmap, and, with the Chief Scientist of Australia, the briefing paper ‘Hydrogen for Australia’s Future’ for the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) Energy council.
Patrick graduated with a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, London in 1994, and was subsequently awarded a research fellowship from the Royal Society, London, which allowed him to take up full time research fellowship roles at the University of Melbourne from 1994 to 1998, when he joined CSIRO as a research scientist. Since then, he has led research teams working with national and international large corporations and SME’s to develop new technologies for applications in drug delivery, energy storage, water treatment and petrochemical recovery. He has co-authored more than 90 peer reviewed publications almost all in collaboration with university and/or other research institution partners.
Patrick has occupied senior research management roles in CSIRO since 2006, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He holds an Adjunct Professorship at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia
Role: Speaker
Role: Session Chair
Session: C1 - Hydrogen as an energy vector
Dr. Steven Holdcroft is a Professor of Chemistry and former Departmental Chair of Simon Fraser University (SFU). He has research programs in π-conjugated polymers, ionic polymers, electrochemistry, organic electronics and fuel cell technology. He is author/co-author of more than 250 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and patents. He has served on research advisory boards throughout North America, Europe and Asia. From 2001 to 2013, was undertook partial secondment to the NRC - Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation in Vancouver, serving in several advisory and technical capacities. In 2012, Dr. Holdcroft established a national network “Catalysis Research for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (CaRPE-FC)”. He was the Technical Program Chair of Pacifichem 2010 and Technical Program Chair and Congress Vice-Chair of Pacifichem 2015. He has chaired various NSERC committees including Strategic Project and Discovery Grant panels. More recently, he was the Group Chair of NSERC’s Evaluation Group 1504 (Chemistry) and served on the Committee for Discovery Research reporting to the Vice President, Research. He serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the journals Chemistry of Materials (ACS) and Energy and Environmental Science (RSC). He holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Electrochemical Materials. In 2018, he cofounded Ionomr Innovations Inc., an SFU spin-out commercializing electrochemical membranes for clean energy applications. For services to the community, Dr. Holdcroft was awarded the Macromolecular Science and Engin¬eering Division Award of the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) and is a recipient of the Canadian Society of Canada RioTinto Alcan Award for contributions to Inorganic chemistry or electrochemical research.
Role: Speaker
Role: Speaker
Dr. Ryan Huizing is Director of Research and Development and Fuel Cell Humidifier Business Unit Director at CORE Energy Recovery Solutions (formerly dPoint Technologies). Ryan is an internationally recognized expert in selective membranes for water vapour transport applications, hydrogen fuel cell humidification, and membrane-based building ventilation energy recovery. Products developed by Dr. Huizing are installed in over 200,000 energy efficiency buildings worldwide. Dr. Huizing has over 15 years of industrial R&D experience (DuPont, dPoint/CORE) in the fabrication, testing, manufacturing, and commercialization of polymeric membranes and membrane modules. He is an inventor on five patent families, with 7 patents granted and 15 patents pending internationally. He has co-authored 13 journal articles and conference publications on membranes and membrane-based heat and mass exchangers.
Role: Speaker
Tim Karlsson is Executive Director of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) Secretariat. The IPHE is an inter-governmental partnership of 18 countries and the European Commission, working to help facilitate the transition to clean and efficient energy and mobility systems using fuel cells and hydrogen technologies.
Previously, Mr. Karlsson held various positions including Director of Emerging Technologies, and, Director of Environmental and Clean Energy Industries in the government of Canada’s Department of Industry.
He has worked on numerous policy issues related to energy and the environment including domestic and international climate change as a member of Canada’s delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Role: Speaker, Session Chair
Session: H1 - Hydrogen Production, Storage & Infrastructure
Jorden Kemper started his career as a sales leader in the enterprise software space. He went on to Co-Found a last mile logistics company as COO & Head of Product. He worked as a Partner of a boutique strategic consulting firm in San Francisco and a member of the Cypher Development Group founding team. He is a passionate entrepreneur with a background in develping commercialization and go-to-market strategies for mission driven, growth businesses. He is currently serving as the VP of Sales & Business Development for Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine and an expert in the marine application of hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Role: Speaker
Shanna Knights, P.Eng., M.A.Sc. – Director of Research
Shanna’s fuel cell research areas since joining Ballard in 1995 include durability, reliability, performance, and operational behavior, and span several fuel cell applications, including bus, light duty automotive, materials handling, back-up power, stationary power generation and cogeneration. She is responsible for both internal research activities and significant collaboration with universities, research institutions and industry. Under her leadership, her department at Ballard conducts R&D for the fuel cell components with the objective of developing next generation products with reduced cost, and increased performance, functionality, and durability. Ms. Knights is a frequent invited keynote and plenary speaker, and is an author on numerous scientific journal publications and 3 book chapters. She holds 14 patents, with several more pending.
Shanna Knights is a board member of the Canadian Urban Transit Research Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), and guides Canadian and international academic, government, and industrial fuel cell research through service on numerous advisory boards and steering committees. In 2017, she received the Association of Engineering BC’s highest honour, the R. A. McLachlan Memorial Award, for significant technical contributions and professional leadership, in combination with professional and community service. In 2018, she was a YWCA Research & the Sciences Woman of Distinction nominee.
Role: Session Chair
Session: G1 - News from the Canadian-German Science Sector
Anders Levermann is a professor of Dynamics of the Climate System at the Institute of Physics and Astrophysics of Potsdam University & Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany, Head of the research domain Complexity Science at the Potsdam Institute and Adjunct Senior Research Scientist at the Columbia University in New York. He was a lead author of the sea-level chapter in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-AR5, IPCC-AR6).
His research focuses on the tipping of systems, i.e. abrupt large-scale changes with potentially strong impacts on nature and society. Developing a dynamic model of economic damage propagation for the global production- and supply network, he is scientific coordinator of zeean (www.zeean.net), a data portal to collect, harmonize and provide information on the vulnerability and adaption of the global economic supply network.
Professor Levermann has published more than 100 scientific articles, and also advises government representatives, members of parliament, political parties as well as economic stakeholders and journalists pertaining to climate change.
Role: Speaker
Role: Session Chair
Session: BW - Transitioning to Fuel Cell Electric Buses
Randy MacEwen has served as the President & CEO and a member of the board of directors of Ballard Power Systems since 2014. Mr. MacEwen also serves as a member of the board of directors of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association and the International Hydrogen Industry Association and represents Ballard in its role as a supporting member of the Hydrogen Council. Mr. MacEwen has held various executive roles in clean energy companies for almost 20 years, including in hydrogen, fuel cell and solar companies. He previously served as CEO of Solar Integrated Technologies, a commercial solar company, from 2005 to 2009. In his earlier career, he was a lawyer specializing in M&A and corporate finance. Mr. MacEwen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Law degree.
Role: Speaker
Role: Speaker
Role: Speaker
Role: Speaker
Role: Speaker
Jim Petrecky is Director of Hydrogen Energy for North America, Europe, & Oceania for PDC Machines. He is responsible for expansion of hydrogen compression and infrastructure business as well as commercialization of the SimpleFuel hydrogen station. Jim has 15 years of experience in the hydrogen industry, previously as VP of Business Development at Plug Power, an alternative energy technology company focused on the design, development, commercialization and manufacture of hydrogen fuel cell systems for the material handling and on-road commercial transport markets. Jim holds an MBA from Union Graduate College (now part of Clarkson University) and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Role: Speaker
Josipa Petrunic is the Executive Director & CEO of CUTRIC. She is leading the formulation of several national transportation technology trials related to zero-emissions transportation and “smart vehicles” innovation, including the Pan-Canadian Electric Bus Demonstration & Integration Trial, the Pan-Canadian Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstration & Integration Trial, and the National Smart Vehicle Demonstration Project. Dr. Petrunic has built up CUTRIC’s consortium to include more than 100 private and public sector companies and organizations across Canada. Previously, she served as the lead researcher in electric vehicle policy studies at McMaster University, and as a senior research fellow in the history and philosophy of mathematics at University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom in Science and Technology Studies. Dr. Petrunic continues to lecture in Globalization Studies at McMaster University. She currently sits on the Board of the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) Foundation and InnovÉÉ, an electrical vehicle R&D funding body in Quebec. In 2018, she was named as one of Canada's a Top 40 Under 40 by Bloomberg News.
Role: Speaker
Role: Speaker
Role: Speaker, Session Chair
Session: E - Plenary: Hydrogen Council worldwide activities
Role: Speaker
Bruce Ralston was sworn in as B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology on July 18, 2017 after winning re-election as MLA for Surrey-Whalley on May 9 of that year. He was first elected as an MLA in 2005 and re-elected in 2009, 2013 and 2017.
The minister’s focus is on building a strong, sustainable economy that puts people first and creates good jobs and opportunity in every corner of the province.
The minister’s portfolio includes economic development, immigration, international and national trade relations, international business development, small business, technology and innovation, and attraction of strategic investment throughout B.C. He also has responsibility for the Consular Corps and BC Stats.
Minister Ralston was born in Victoria and grew up in Vancouver. He has degrees in history and law from the University of British Columbia and a degree in history from the University of Cambridge in England.
Role: Speaker
Christine Rigby has worked in the air quality and climate change field for 18 years, the last 14 of which have been spent leading air programs for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority in Vancouver, Canada. At the port authority, Christine develops and implements emission reduction programs and leads special studies and assessments. In fulfilling this role, she emphasizes collaboration and flexibility using a results-based approach. Prior to joining the port authority, Christine spent four years working for the British Columbia Ministry of Environment on air quality related issues in the northwest part of the province. She holds a Master of Science degree in Atmospheric Science from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Brock University, both in Ontario, Canada.
Role: Speaker
Sabina holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of British Columbia, and an Executive Certificate in Strategy & Innovation from MIT Sloan. She has over twenty years experience working in the clean energy sector spanning a range of roles from technology and product development, to product management and corporate development.
Sabina specializes in helping clients where combined technical knowledge and hands-on commercial experience are an asset. Sabina leads Zen’s project management branch, with a focus on consortium based projects deploying clean and zero emission technologies. She also enjoys working with small companies developing new cleantech products, where her extensive product development and new market development expertise help clients mature and commercialize their technology.
Prior to joining Zen, Sabina was with Ballard Power Systems where she held a range of technical and commercial roles, including Director of Product Engineering, where she led an organization of over 95 engineers and scientists.
As a mother of two daughters, Sabina thinks a lot about the legacy we leave to our children, and is passionate about playing a role in both developing and deploying technologies that will lead to a more sustainable future.
Role: Speaker
Started at PowerCell 2016 as Director of Product Development and is Acting COO since 2018. Previously employed at Volvo Cars for twenty years working primarily within R&D. Univeristy sudied within Mechanical enginnering in both Sweden and france.
Role: Speaker
Sunita Satyapal is the Director for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Office within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. She has been responsible for roughly $100 million per year in hydrogen and fuel cell research and development activities and has over two and a half decades of experience across academia, industry and government, including at United Technologies and as a visiting professor at Vassar College. She joined DOE in 2003 serving first as hydrogen storage lead and then chief engineer, and has been the Director since 2010. She has numerous publications, including in Scientific American, 10 patents, and a number of recognitions including a Presidential Rank Award. She received her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Columbia University and did her postdoctoral work in Applied and Engineering Physics at Cornell University.
Role: Speaker
Jeff Serfass is the Executive Director of the California Hydrogen Business Council and President of Technology Transition Corporation (TTC). TTC provides management services to the CHBC and several other clean energy associations including the Hydrogen Education Foundation.
TTC is a 33-year old company that catalyzes change in the clean decarbonized technology space, helping industries develop through collaborative self-action to create appropriate state and federal policies, remove market barriers and promote market opportunities. In addition to the CHBC and HEF, TTC manages the American Biogas Council, Biomass Thermal Energy Council, the Clean Energy and Research Foundation and the Mid-Atlantic Bioenergy Council. In 2010, Mr. Serfass ended 22 years as President of the National Hydrogen Association.
Mr. Serfass previously held positions at the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Research and Development Administration, and Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Mr. Serfass holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University.
Role: Speaker
Cory's personal mission is to bring people and businesses together globally, around renewable hydrogen and fuel cells. He currently works as a project coordinator for the California Hydrogen Business Council and is also an independent consultant for the hydrogen and fuel cells industry. In 2014, Cory founded Electric Beach Cruisers LLC with the idea that electric bicycles can be fun, stylish, and affordable. He previously served as a chief electrical engineer with Vision Motor Corporation.
Cory is a recent graduate of the LMU MBA Program where he focused on entrepreneurship and international business. He also has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from California State University, Long Beach. Cory serves on the Events Committee of the LMU MBA Alumni Board.
Role: Session Chair
Session: PW - CHBC & CHFCA Ports Workshop
Bjorn Simonsen joined NEL Hydrogen September 2014, and has since January 2015 been with NEL ASA. He has experience from the hydrogen sector since 2008, and began as a research engineer at Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), followed by key positions in the HyNor-project, The Norwegian Hydrogen Council and Norwegian Hydrogen Forum. He holds a MSc in Energy and Environmental Science from NTNU.
Role: Speaker
Role: Speaker
Role: Speaker
Dr. Andreas Truckenbrodt is the President and CEO for the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association. He is the former Chief Executive Officer for the Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC), a Joint Venture of Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company, based in Vancouver/Canada.
From 2005 through 2007, he was leading Daimler’s and Chrysler’s Hybrid Development Centre in Troy/Michigan, in cooperation with General Motors and BMW AG. Before that, he was responsible for DaimlerChrysler’s Center for Fuel Cell and Alternative Powertrain Vehicles and had worked with fuel cell supplier Ballard Power Systems.
Previously, Dr. Truckenbrodt held various positions in the automotive and aeroengine industry, among others with BMW, BMW Rolls-Royce, Daewoo and DaimlerChrysler.
Dr. Truckenbrodt holds a degree in Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and received his PhD in Mechanics and Control Systems in 1981.
Role: Speaker, Session Chair
Session: A - Welcome Notes
Dionisis Tsimis is a Project Officer for the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
Dionisis has been working on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells for the last 4 years where he has been managing a portfolio of 14 projects on solid oxide technologies for heat and power production as well as hydrogen.
Dionisis has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cardiff University and a Masters in Renewable Energy from Loughborough University. His first introduction to hydrogen and fuel cells was through his Master Thesis on the Hydrogen Economy back in 2008.
Role: Speaker
mechanical engineer, clean and smart energy business and innovation since 1997
Role: Topic Table
Role: Speaker
Since 15.3.2010, Theresia Vogel – together with Ingmar Höbarth – works as managing director for Climate- and Energy Funds. Before, Theresia Vogel managed the department for structural programs at FFG where a team of 40 experts manages specific scholarships with a focus on the elimination of structural barriers for industrial research and technology development. The most popular program is the competence centre program COMET. Theresia Vogel completed a degree at the Technical University Vienna and graduated with honors. At that time, she worked as a research fellow for research and development at the university.
Later in her career, Theresia Vogel invented the area of “sustainability and environmental management” at the FH Wiener Neustadt and developed research in this areas.
Role: Speaker
Role: Speaker
Role: Speaker
Role: Speaker
Dr. Maik Ziegler spent most of his professional career in the commercial vehicle manufacturing industry. Over the last 15 years, he has been in charge of the Commercial Vehicle Advanced Engineering Departments on three continents. In his current position at Hyundai Commercial Vehicles in Seoul, Korea, he is responsible for R&D Strategy & Advanced Engineering. For Freightliner/DTNA in Portland, Oregon, he was responsible for the Advanced Engineering Center. At Mercedes-Benz Trucks in Stuttgart, Germany, he led the Entire Vehicle Concepts Department.
At Hyundai Commercial Vehicles, he initialized the industry-leading Fuel Cell Electric Heavy Duty Truck project, that was first unveiled at the 2018 IAA Motor Show in Hanover, Germany.
His extensive knowledge of advanced technologies led to the great success of the $115 million 2015 SuperTruck project at Freightliner (partially funded by the US DoE) that he oversaw. An overall 115% freight efficiency improvement has been achieved.
In Germany, he was the project coordinator of the Mercedes-Benz Urban eTruck, the world's first all-electric heavy-duty truck in his position of Head of Entire Vehicle Concept Dept. within Advanced Engineering, Daimler Trucks.
Dr. Ziegler received his doctorate degree at Fraunhofer ICT in Pfinztal, Germany. He has been a lecturer for New Materials, Innovation and Patent Rights at the DHBW Cooperative State University Karlsruhe and for Commercial Vehicle Technology at the University of Berlin.
Role: Speaker