Strategic Advisory Board

  • Brad Anderson – Executive Director, Alberta Chamber of Resources – Chairman of Board

    Brad Anderson – Executive Director, Alberta Chamber of Resources – Chairman of Board

    Brad Anderson is the Executive Director of both the Alberta Chamber of Resources and the Construction Owners Association of Alberta. In addition to ensuring that the ACR comprehensively advocates on behalf of its 187 member companies for the orderly and responsible development of our natural resources, Brad has overseen the work of ACR’s Task Force on Resource Development and the Economy (September 2009 – March 2010), and the subsequent engagement of members and stakeholders around the Task Force’s findings. Prior to his role with ACR, Brad brings a background in …Read More »
  • Stan Blade – Dean, Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta

    Stan Blade – Dean, Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta

    Dr. Stan Blade served as the CEO of Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions, where he was responsibility for all aspects of the organization’s activities to support the agriculture, food and forestry sectors in Alberta (innovation coordination, foresighting, technology scouting, research investment/monitoring and industry engagement). He previously served as Executive Director of the Alberta Agricultural Research Institute (in the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology) and as the Deputy Director General (Research) for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). His expertise has been recognized through his invitations to …Read More »
  • David Bressler – Executive Director, Biorefining Conversions Network – NON-VOTING, EX-OFFICIO MEMBER

    David Bressler – Executive Director, Biorefining Conversions Network – NON-VOTING, EX-OFFICIO MEMBER

    David Bressler earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Cell Biotechnology from the University of Alberta. Dr. Bressler is jointly appointed with the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences where he is an Associate Professor, and the Bio-Industrial Technologies Division of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. Dr. Bressler’s general area of research is the industrial application of thermal, chemical, and biological processes for catalytic conversion of conventional agricultural products to platform chemicals, fuels, and value-added commodities. The development and optimization of novel mechanisms and biochemical pathways are of particular interest. …Read More »
  • Ken Chapman – Executive Director, Oil Sands Developers Group

    Ken Chapman – Executive Director, Oil Sands Developers Group

    Joining OSDG in June 2011, Ken is focused on improving the quality of life in the Wood Buffalo region, ensuring proper environmental stewardship and responsible and sustainable oil sands development.  He works to engage directly with public policy designers and decision makers in all orders of government, local stakeholders, a wide range of industry sectors, environmentalists, scientists, Aboriginal groups and community leaders.  Named one of Alberta Venture Magazine’s 50 Most Influential People of 2010, Ken is a lawyer, founder of Cambridge Strategies Inc., and a former Chair of the Board …Read More »
  • Chris Dambrowitz – Associate VP, Research & Innovation, NAIT

    Chris Dambrowitz – Associate VP, Research & Innovation, NAIT

    Chris Dambrowitz is the Associate Vice-President of Research & Innovation at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). He previously worked at the BCN where he helped principal investigators and collaborators to enhance the Network’s research and industrial connectivity through innovative alliances among research institutions, industrial partners and regional stakeholders. Chris acted as a liaison between BCN and the nanoAccelerator partnership (including NINT and the Faculties of Engineering, Science, ALES and Medicine) in developing innovative initiatives focused on novel bioproducts and bioprocesses. He also coordinated an initiative to establish an …Read More »
  • Norm Dreger – Head, Business Development, Syngenta Crop Production Canada

    Norm Dreger – Head, Business Development, Syngenta Crop Production Canada

    I grew up on a family farm in Southern Manitoba, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management from the University of Manitoba (’83). I later earned an Executive MBA from the University of Alberta/University of Calgary (2003). I’ve been with Syngenta and its predecessors for my entire career (30 yrs), holding positions in sales, marketing and product development across Canada (living in MB, SK, Ont, AB), as well as internationally.  International assignments, included a global product management role in the United Kingdom and country manager for Zeneca’s …Read More »
  • Eddy Isaacs – Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Innovates Energy and Environment

    Eddy Isaacs – Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Innovates Energy and Environment

    Eddy Isaacs is the CEO of Alberta Innovates – Energy & Environment Solutions (AI-EES) with responsibility for Alberta’s strategic directions and investments in energy technologies, renewable and emerging resources, environmental management and water resources. He has been instrumental in promoting innovation in energy and environment across Canada and has served as co-Chair of the Energy Technology Working Group of the Canadian Council of Energy Ministers. Eddy holds a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta and a B.Sc. from McGill University. He has over 70 publications and 6 patents in the …Read More »
  • David Layzell – Professor, Department of Biological Sciences and ISEEE

    David Layzell – Professor, Department of Biological Sciences and ISEEE

    Education PDF, Cornell University PhD, University of Western Australia MSc, University of Guelph BSc, University of Waterloo Research Areas / Keywords Bioenergy, biosphere; atmosphere gas exchange and energy systems analysis. Biography David Layzell came to lead the UofC’s  ISEEE in 2008 after a distinguished, 27-year career as a Queen’s University Professor, with appointments in Biology, Environmental Studies and Policy Studies. Between 1998 and 2008, Dr. Layzell established and led BIOCAP Canada, a national university research foundation focused on developing biology-based solutions to climate change and energy security. He is also …Read More »
  • Ray Miller – Chief Business Officer, Verdezyne Inc.

    Ray Miller – Chief Business Officer, Verdezyne Inc.

    Mr. Miller joined DuPont after earning his Chemical Engineering degree with highest honors from The Georgia Institute of Technology in 1972. After assignments in DuPont Polyester Intermediates, Acrylic Fibers, Chlorine Operations, and Agrochemicals, Mr. Miller assumed responsibility for Corporate Chemical Engineering Consulting and Research at DuPont. In 1987, Mr. Miller was appointed Americas R&D Manager for the Engineering Polymers, Automotive and Fluoropolymers businesses, and in 1990 he was named Technology Manager, DuPont Nylon Enterprise. In 1995, Mr. Miller was appointed New Business Development Manager, Nylon Enterprise, and launched the “3GT …Read More »
  • Steve Price – Executive Director, Advancing the Bioeconomy, Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions – NON-VOTING, EX-OFFICIO MEMBER

    Steve Price – Executive Director, Advancing the Bioeconomy, Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions – NON-VOTING, EX-OFFICIO MEMBER

    Steve Price is the Executive Director of the Advancing the Bioeconomy sector of AI Bio Solutions. He looks for opportunities to enhance the economy of Alberta through the agriculture and forestry sectors. In this position, he often offers assistance to entrepreneurs and researchers. Steve is a graduate of the University of Toronto. He commenced his career in Saskatchewan with the Department of Natural Resources, Forestry Branch. He held numerous positions with the Saskatchewan Government, including: Manager of Forestry Inventory and Manager of Silviculture. In 1983, Steve joined Forestry Canada as …Read More »
  • Jack Saddler – FPB Bioenergy, University of British Columbia

    Jack Saddler – FPB Bioenergy, University of British Columbia

    Jack’s research interests range from the technical issues surrounding bioconversion of wood to fuels and chemicals, through to the political, environmental and economic ramifications that these technologies will have as they develop. He is Co-Director of the NSERC Bioconversion Network and Leader of the International Energy Agency’s Bioenergy Task 39 ‘Liquid Biofuels’.  A former Dean of the Faculty of Forestry (2000 to 2010), he’s received several awards for his contribution to the fields of bioenergy and climate change, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.Read More »
  • Donald Smith – James McGill Professor and Director of BioFuelNet

    Donald Smith – James McGill Professor and Director of BioFuelNet

    Born: February 23, 1953 – Regina, Saskatchewan Education: B.Sc. – Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, 1975 M.Sc. – Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, 1979 Ph.D. – University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, 1984 Employment history: NSERC Post Doctoral Fellow – Agriculture Canada, 1984 to 1985 Assistant Professor – Plant Science Department, McGill University, 1985 to 1990 Associate Professor – Plant Science Department, McGill University, 1990 to 1995 Professor – Plant Science Department, McGill University, 1995- New Sun Professor – 2000 – 2005 Chair, Plant Science Department – 2004 – 2009 James …Read More »