About us

Dr. Matthew Asplin is a Metocean and Renewables Project Manager at ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. In Victoria, B.C. he completed his B.Sc. in Physical Geography and Spatial Information Systems at Simon Fraser University, an M.Sc. in Synoptic Climatology at the University of British Columbia, and a Ph.D in Arctic Sea Ice Geophysics at the University of Manitoba. Matthew began his transition to an industry career in 2013 as an NSERC Industrial Postdoctoral fellow, before transitioning into his present-day role at ASL where he is also a meteorology and sea ice subject matter expert. Matthew sits on the ASL Board of Directors and is also responsible for senior management duties such as strategic planning, marketing, and international business development. Additionally, Matthew is the Chair of the Vancouver Island Centre of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, and is an Adjunct Professor in the Geography department at the University of Victoria where he stays engaged with the next generation in a teaching capacity. Matthew is very keen to foster multi-stakeholder partnerships (government, academic, industry, Indigenous) partnerships with the goal of building the Blue Economy in British Columbia with the development of marine renewable energy projects.

Matthew presently works with clients in academia, industry, and Indigenous-led projects within the Coastal and Marine areas throughout Canada.

Anne-Marie Belliveau is a leading project developer in the Marine Renewable Energy sector and has held various senior management roles within the sector for the last 10 years including Tidal Project Development Manager at Emera, and Director of Operations at the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE).

In 2020 she established Projectable Consulting, where she provides project development, project management, and strategic planning services primarily in the marine renewable energy sector. Her most recent clients include Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, where she is proving project and business development support; Blue Orca Marine, where she is the lead for Eastern Canada; DP Energy, where she was the early-stage project development lead of the Nova East Wind floating offshore wind project; and FORCE, where she provided project management support on R&D projects.

She advocates educating young women to pursue careers in the fields of engineering, technologies, trades, math and sciences, where she is a member of Engineers Nova Scotia’s Women in Engineering committee. She also mentors aspiring young and newcomer professionals through the Halifax Partnership’s Connector Program

Anne-Marie holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Dalhousie University, a Master of Science from New York University, and a certificate in Financial Management from Saint Mary’s University. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia with her husband and two sons.

Barb Bryden is the Stakeholder, Rightsholder and Community Liaison Manager at DP Energy. With over 35 years’ experience working in the public and private sectors, including resource and renewable energy, she brings extensive stakeholder engagement, environmental knowledge and strategies supporting the growth of the marine renewable sector.

Before joining DP Energy, Barb was an Environmental Engineering Technologist, Inspector Specialist, and Supervisor of the Ambient Air Monitoring Program with the Province of Nova Scotia for 27 years and also worked as an Environmental Manager in the resource sector.

Barb holds a Master of Environmental Management and Restoration, Bachelor of Technology Environmental Science, Bachelor of Environmental Studies, and Environmental Engineering Technology Diploma and is a member of TechNova. She is also a Catalyste+ volunteer with Global Affairs Canada.

Jacobus joined Atlantic Towing in 2021, and is currently the Director of the Offshore Business responsible for all aspects of business development, customer and contract management, and operations for the Offshore Division.

Born in South Africa, Jacobus has lived and worked in South Africa, China, Denmark, and Canada has been involved in the marine environment his entire career beginning as a Naval Officer in 1999. He spent 5 years in the South African Navy in various roles, before moving into the transportation and logistics industry in Shanghai China. Jacobus has held various management positions across a range of maritime companies in various countries, and has strong experience in business development, operations and developing strategic initiatives. His strongest interest lies within the operations sector, as he is outcome driven and enjoys seeing ideas and strategies put into action.

Being a big believer in renewable energies and understand that they are our future, Jacobus sees the potential of Canadian Opportunities that exist both on land and offshore. Living in Copenhagen for eight years solidified his belief in renewable energies, having witnessed most of the infrastructure in action, and from having been involved in offshore wind projects with Vestas.

Atlantic Towing’s offshore vessels have been involved in multiple offshore wind installation projects ranging from providing transport of equipment, establishing moorings, as well as tidal energy projects, and this is only the tip of the iceberg (which is melting), of things to come.

Jacobus has two wonderful daughters aged three and seven with whom he spends his free time. Their interests are now his interests, and include hockey, drawing, and collecting bugs. Jacobus holds an MBA from Copenhagen Business School and a Masters degree in Maritime law (LLM) from London Metropolitan University.

Dawn MacDonald is the Global Offshore Wind Market Sector lead for AECOM, a global infrastructure consulting firm that provides environmental, engineering and advisory services to clients around the world. She works closely with AECOM’s OSW teams and clients in Europe, Asia, Australia, the US and Latin America, providing her with a very broad view of the global offshore wind market, the key players, emerging technologies, and issues facing the industry.

An energy industry veteran with more than 20 years in the sector and a professional engineer by trade, Dawn brings an impressive portfolio of offshore wind experience, having overseen development, construction, and operations projects as part of the Maple Power joint venture in Europe. Prior to that role, she was based out of Calgary, Canada and oversaw the front-end technical development of North American energy sector megaprojects and investment opportunities.

Richard Morykot is an accomplished Professional Engineer based in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, with more than 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. He earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia (Dalhousie) and has built a career working on complex infrastructure and environmental projects.

Richard started his career in consulting engineering in 1992 before joining the Nova Scotia Public Service in 2000, where he played a key management role in the remediation of the Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens sites—one of Canada’s largest and most challenging environmental cleanup projects.

In 2007, he joined CBCL Limited, where he led a diverse group of engineering professionals in the Sydney office and provided strategic support to multidisciplinary technical design teams and clients across Atlantic Canada. During his 16 years at CBCL, Richard contributed to many large marine infrastructure projects that included work within the emerging offshore wind (OSW) sector.

In 2023, Richard assumed the position of Vice President of Strategic Development and Execution with the Atlantic Canada Bulk Terminal (ACBT) located in Sydney, NS. Exploration of opportunities in the OSW industry led to marshaling components at the ACBT for OSW projects in the Northeast US. This work gave Richard direct experience in the OSW industry and exposure to a wide range of industry stakeholders across North America and Europe.

Deeply dedicated to growing the renewable energy industry in Atlantic Canada, Richard looks forward to continued collaboration with Marine Renewables Canada and its members.

Ken Paul is a member of the Wolastoqey First Nation at Neqotkuk, located in the community of Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick.

For 9 years, Ken has held the positions as National Fisheries Director with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Integrated Resources Director with the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs. Ken has advocated for First Nations regionally, nationally and internationally on all aspects relating to fisheries, aquaculture, ocean protection and aquatic resources as they relate to inherent aboriginal and treaty-protected rights, legislation, and policy. This includes Indigenous Knowledge Systems, economic prosperity, community engagement, shipping, renewable energy and resource management. Ken continues this work as a member of the AFN National Fisheries Committee.

Previous to this, he had worked for 10 years in with the Canadian Hydrographic Service as and Hydrographic Engineer and Hydrographer-in-Charge of field-based ocean mapping and 10 years with Parks Canada as a Senior Policy Advisor in Atlantic Canada and the Field Unit Superintendent in the Northwest Territories.

Ken was a recent corporate board member of the Ocean Supercluster, the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS), and a past board member of the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) on tidal energy. He is currently involved with initiates on offshore wind, ocean research, kelp aquaculture, Indigenous marine protected areas, fisheries mentorship for Inuit in Nunavut, and private partnerships.

He has also been active on the international front in Indigenous advocacy with the Post 2020 framework of the Convention of Biological Diversity, the Ocean Working Group for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the Expert Working Group with Ocean Decade Unit of the UN IOC, and the Indigenous Peoples’ Unit at the UN FAO.

Ken has been an invited speaker and moderator at numerous conferences and gatherings, as well as a guest lecturer at several universities.

Ken has an MBA with St Mary’s University and a BSc from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has extensive training in leadership, policy development, mediation, labour relations, First Nations governance and traditional teachings.

Among his other initiatives, Ken is the principal/owner of Pokiok Associates and serves as the Lead Fisheries Negotiator and Research Coordinator for the Wolastoqey Nation of New Brunswick.

Bob joined the team at Nova Innovation in 2023 as their Canadian Business Relationship Manager. He works with local communities, regulators, service providers and other stakeholders to facilitate the provision of tidal energy in ways that respect and address indigenous, community, and environmental priorities.

Bob brings over 30 years of experience in environmental and natural resource management to the marine renewables sector. As the Regional Director for Western Nova Scotia with NS Department of Environment, he led the development and implementation of environmental regulatory programs and policy, overseeing strategies and service delivery while coordinating between government, the public and industry.

As the Director of Wildlife with the NS Department of Natural Resources and Renewables he led provincial policy and programming for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. He has chaired organizations such as the NS Habitat Conservation Fund, Biodiversity Council, and the Canadian Wildlife Directors Committee, also working with the North American Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and serving on various federal/provincial/territorial committees.

A key focus in these roles has been coordinating and communicating with leaders in the public and private sector to resolve competing interests and problems, often across departments and jurisdictions. In doing so, he developed and maintained relationships with stakeholders and the public to advance programs and strategies.

Bob looks forward to supporting Nova Innovation as it scales up and develops a productive sector and strong supply chain in Canada, providing local communities with predictable and sustainable energy.

Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Acadia University and a Master of Science in Environmental Management from the University of London, Imperial College.

Cynthia Pyć is an environmental scientist and energy sector leader with 30 years of experience across North American renewable and conventional sectors, and equally divided between Canada and the United States. Having lived and worked in the Northwest Territories, Alberta, and British Columbia, while supporting projects in the Beaufort Sea and offshore Nova Scotia, she brings a uniquely national perspective to marine energy development.

Cynthia currently leads IBN Environmental & Geomatics, an independent consultancy specializing in environmental and social impact assessment, permitting, and non-technical risk-management. Previously, she served as Director of Permitting & Environment for RWE Offshore Wind Holdings, where she built and led the U.S. permitting, environmental affairs, and Indigenous relations team. Before RWE, she was Director of Environment and Senior Manager Environmental Affairs at Avangrid and Vineyard Wind, providing oversight for environmental science and permitting, and regulatory compliance for many of North America’s first large-scale offshore wind developments.

Her conventional energy work includes 15 years with BP Exploration and Production in Canada and the U.S. Cynthia’s roles at BP included Global Subject Matter Expert – Marine Biology, and Regulatory & HSSE Team Lead for North American Arctic Exploration. As the Environmental Authority for BP Canada, she led the permitting and environmental efforts for exploration projects offshore Nova Scotia and represented BP on the East Coast and Northern Environmental Studies Research Fund committees.

A published scientist, Cynthia has chaired environmental committees for American Clean Power and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. Cynthia’s knowledge and experience reflect a lifelong commitment to advancing responsible energy development that respects the environment, meaningfully includes Indigenous communities, and strengthens the economy. She holds an M.Sc. in Resources and the Environment and a B.Sc. in Zoology from the University of Calgary.

Mohammad Ali Raza is a corporate lawyer at Cox & Palmer with a specialty in marine and energy related matters. He has worked both in private practice and as in-house counsel in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Canada. He has been a partner in the Halifax office of Cox & Palmer since 2019.

Mohammad Ali is a thought leader on tidal and offshore wind development. He has written and spoken extensively on Nova Scotia’s Marine Renewable Energy Act and regulations governing autonomous underwater vehicles. Some of his recent articles can be found at https://coxandpalmerlaw.com/people/mohammad-ali-raza/.

His experience includes significant energy infrastructure initiatives in multiple jurisdictions. He chairs the Canadian Bar Association National Section on Environment, Energy and Resources Law. His clients include those involved in tidal and wind energy development, ocean technology, and in merger and acquisitions, equity financings and joint venture projects. He chairs the Cox & Palmer Ocean Innovation Practice Group of lawyers.

He received his LLB, Honours from the University of London in 2004 followed by a Bar Vocational Course Post-Graduate Diploma in Law from the University of the West of England in Bristol. His early career was spent working across Europe and the Middle East for companies and organizations like Pakistan Petroleum Limited and Eni S.p.A.

Mohammad Ali is vice-chair of Feed Nova Scotia, a participant in the Halifax Partnership Connector Program, and serves on the board of the Pakistani Canadian Association of Nova Scotia. He has been involved in the Immigrant Settlement Association of Nova Scotia Workplace Placement Program since 2017 and a global advisor, Nova Scotia Exporters, International Connectors Program.

Mohammad Ali lives in Halifax with his wife and two children.

David is the Project Manager for Simply Blue’s offshore wind projects in Canada and is based in the Halifax office. With a strong interest in renewable energy, David is very excited about the incredible offshore wind resource in Atlantic Canada and the economic benefits this could bring to the region. Previously, David has over 25 years’ experience working in the offshore environment for both the oil and gas and subsea fiber-optic cable industries. He has been involved in the full life cycle of projects, from early development through to decommissioning phases. The majority of David’s career has been working in offshore Nova Scotia and he has also worked on projects in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Guyana.

Sean McDermott is Northland’s Director of Commercial Development. Sean is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, where he completed a degree in International Relations with an emphasis on China. In 2000, he moved to Shanghai and worked first with the Canada China Business Council and later with the Economist Intelligence Unit, the business intelligence arm of The Economist Group. In 2008, Sean returned to Canada to pursue a Juris Doctorate at Dalhousie University, where he graduated with a specialization in Environmental Law.

Upon graduation in 2011, Sean began working in Toronto as a lawyer at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, one of Canada’s leading corporate law firms, where his practice focused on construction law and renewable energy project finance. In March 2016, Sean joined Northland Power Inc., one of Canada’s largest green energy project developers, and thereafter relocated to Taiwan to develop the 1,044 MW Hai Long Offshore Wind projects and the Taiwan Round 3 projects, with emphasis on securing and negotiating Corporate Power Purchase Agreements.

Sean and his family relocated to his hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia in August, 2024, from which he continues to provide local and global support for the development of early stage offshore wind projects.

David Thornton is the Director, Regulatory and Public Affairs for EDF Renewables Canada Inc.
David brings to EDF Renewables Canada’s development team over a decade of public policy development and stakeholder relations experience in the renewable energy industry.

David communicates corporate positions on government legislation, regulation, and procurement policy in targeted electricity markets across Canada. David offers strategic advice based on EDF Renewables over 30-year experience developing, constructing, and operating renewable energy facilities across North America to government and industry leaders, including commentary on power system planning, transmission, interconnection and electricity market design. David also works to expand EDF Renewables Canada’s corporate leadership positions within public policy and stakeholder engagements, and external communication activities.

David works closely with renewable energy industry associations across Canada and in North East United States. Currently, David is an elected member to CanREA’s Federal, Alberta, and Ontario Steering Committee’s. David is also a current Board member for Energy Storage Canada, and a Board member of the Maritime Energy Association.