Robert Apold (NS)
Principle |  Natural Forces

Robert Apold is Principle at Natural Forces with over 21 years of experience in developing, operating and constructing Renewable Energy project.  Robert an engineering graduate of UNB, currently leads Natural Forces, a Maritime based and owned renewable energy company which focuses on bringing clean green renewable sources of power with Indigenous and community partners to help fight the climate crisis.  He has developed projects across Canada, the United States and Europe, with a focus on Atlantic Canada where he has been a part of over 500 MW of Atlantic Canada based wind projects.  Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Robert continues to drive his passion of community lead renewable energy projects and is inspired by the impact that renewables can have not only to our environment but our communities as well.  

Emily Boucher (NS)
Executive Director | Techsploration

Emily Boucher is the Executive Director for Techsploration, an award-winning, Nova Scotia-based non-profit that encourages young women to explore careers in science, engineering, trades, and technology (SETT). Emily is a passionate advocate for Canada’s SETT sectors and driven to lead initiatives that support the advancement of underrepresented groups in these fields. She has led provincial and national initiatives alike to support the growth of both Nova Scotia and Canada’s digital sectors in previous senior-level roles with Digital Nova Scotia and the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA). Emily is a founding member of the Executive Committee for the Atlantic Chapter of Women in Communications and Technology (WCT), a member of the Canadian Coalition for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades, and Technology (CCWESTT) EDI Committee, and sits on the Program Advisory Council for Algonquin College’s Professional Writing Program.  

Michael Duggan (NB)
Project Director, ASC | Pomerleau

Michael Duggan is a native of Montreal. He graduated from Dawson College in Montreal's Civil Engineering Technology department in 1987. Michael has 36 years of in-depth knowledge in the building sector. With a background in repair and expansion projects, he has worked on numerous high-profile projects over the years in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick. He is an authority on a number of building techniques, including lump sum, design-build, and construction management. He has a lot of experience implementing projects in the research and pharmaceutical sectors, some of which had strict deadlines, particularly during the pandemic. 

Alexis Foster (NL)
CEO | Canadian Home Builders' Association

Alexis Foster joined the Canadian Home Builder’s Association of Newfoundland and Labrador(CHBA-NL) as their Executive Officer in 2021. CHBA-NL is the voice of the residential construction industry advocating on behalf of members and consumers. The CHBA-NL offers support and services to members through fostering learning, encouraging excellence, and is committed to providing affordability and choice in housing for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Alexis has extensive experience advocating on behalf or membership-based organizations and previously managed the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-operatives and the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce. She has volunteered on numerous boards and committees and has been an engaged member of her local community.

Alexis holds a degree in International Business from Memorial University of Newfoundland as well as certification from Grenoble Ecole de Management in Grenoble, France. She currently lives in Conception Bay South with her husband, son and two dogs.

Nadine Fullarton (NB)

President | Construction Association of NB, Moncton Northeast

Nadine Fullarton is the President of the Construction Association of New Brunswick – Moncton Northeast and the Mechanical Contractors Association of New Brunswick. She was previously Executive Director of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – NB and the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – NL, as well as the New Brunswick Building Officials and offered association management services through her own consulting business Nadine Boudreau Consulting Inc. Prior to that, she worked for the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies of Canada.    

With her background and extensive A/E/C industry experience, she has been recognized as a strong advocate for industry issues: fair and transparent procurement processes, long-term infrastructure planning and asset management to name a few. She is passionate about the health and development of a strong and robust construction industry in the province of New Brunswick and one that remains focused on the ever-changing business climate, adoption of new technologies and human resource challenges, while competing in an ever-growing global market.  

She currently is a Trustee on the Plumbers and Pipefitters Board of Trustees, Board Member of BuildForce Canada, Board Member of the Canadian Construction Association and advisor on the New Boots – Progressing Women in Trades Committee. She has a Bachelor of Arts (International Development Studies and French) degree from Dalhousie University.
 

Peter Gregg (NS)
President & CEO | Nova Scotia Power

Peter Gregg is President & CEO of Nova Scotia Power; a role he assumed in October 2020. In his role, Peter is focused on planning for Nova Scotia’s clean energy future while overseeing the delivery of safe, reliable electricity to customers across the province.  

Peter is an experienced leader in the Canadian energy sector. Prior to his role at NS Power, Peter most recently served as the President & CEO of the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), where he oversaw the operation of Ontario’s bulk electricity system. He was also President and CEO of Enersource from 2014 to 2016, where he was integral in the merger of four of Ontario’s largest local distribution companies to create Alectra Inc., the second largest municipally owned utility in North America. Peter served as COO at Hydro One Networks, overseeing energy transmission and distribution across Ontario.  

Throughout his career, Peter has been recognized for his leadership abilities and in 2015 and 2016 received the Ontario Energy Association’s Leader of the Year Award.  

Peter is a member of the Board of Directors for the Electricity Canada.  

Peter received a Master of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at University of Western Ontario and holds the Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D (Certified Director) designation.

Alex Halef (NS)
President & CEO | BANC Group

Alex Halef, an Industrial Engineer (graduate of Daltech, Dalhousie formerly TUNS) is President and CEO of BANC Group.  BANC’s business is the acquisition, design, construction and management of purpose built mixed use high-rise concrete multi-family apartment and commercial developments.  Predominantly an urban developer, but with land interests in the suburbs, Alex and the BANC team are constantly focused on striving to maintain the precedent of producing buildings of the highest standard possible, but as cost effective as possible to achievable a livable project for the broadest demographic.  Alex has also sat on the boards of various organizations and is an active member of his community and is married with four beautiful children.

Nancy Hart (NL)
Senior Manager, Commercial | NL Hydro

Nancy Hart joined Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro in 2003.  She is presently the Senior Manager of Commercial and leads many of Hydro's commercial negotiations with Hydro's largest customers and independent power producers.  Nancy is also actively involved in developing the relationships and agreements necessary to progress the integration of renewable energy into isolated diesel communities.  In previous roles, Nancy has led the business development team for Nalcor Energy and was the General Manager for Bull Arm Fabrication, the largest industrial fabrication site in Atlantic Canada.  Nancy has over 20 years of experience in project management, field operations and business development roles.    
 
Nancy holds an engineering degree from the University of New Brunswick and an MBA from Memorial University. Nancy and her husband have two daughters, and live in Conception Bay South, just outside St. John's, NL. 

Ted Lomond (NL)
President | North Atlantic

Ted Lomond is President of North Atlantic. Prior to this, he served as a Deputy Minister in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in the Departments of Municipal and Provincial Affairs; Natural Resources; and Tourism, Culture and Rural Development. He was also Executive Director of econext (formerly the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association).  Ted currently serves as Director of the Canadian Fuels Association and has served on the Board of the Oil & Gas Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Atlantic Advisory Committee of the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council, as well as a lecturer in the Faculty of Business Administration of Memorial University.  Ted holds a Master of Business Administration, Master of Philosophy (Humanities), Graduate Diploma in Arts (Interdisciplinary), Master Certificate in Project Management, Diploma in Applied Ethics (Environmental), Diploma in Credit Management, and a Bachelor of General Studies in Arts and Sciences.  He is a Fellow of the School of Graduate Studies, Memorial University. 

Jim Richardson (NB)
Councillor & Economic Development Officer  |  Pabineau First Nation

A member of the Mi´kmaq reserve of Pabineau, New Brunswick, Jim has served as a senior officer with the Canadian Armed Forces and he has a variety of experience at the senior level in Government and the private sector. The first Aboriginal graduate in Queen’s MBA in residence program, Jim has experience as a CEO, a chief financial officer, a lender with a bank, in cash management including hedging in multiple currencies and spot market transactions, auditing, marketing, project management, program delivery and operations, strategic planning and all aspects of financial and human resources management. 

Until recently, Jim was living and doing volunteer work in the Amazon basin in Peru. He assumed the role of economic development officer in January 2020 and after the April 2020 Pabineau First Nation election he was elected Councillor with the ongoing responsibility for economic development. He was a member of the Government sponsored Task Force on Aboriginal Development Financing where he chaired the Regulatory Issues Sub-Committee, he served on a number of ad hoc committees at the National level and he was a frequent guest lecturer at the Banff Centre for Management in their Aboriginal Financial Management Program. Jim is married to Rossana and has four children Deborah, Scott, Robbie and Guanluca.