PROGRAM

Laura Lynch, Master of Ceremonies

Award winning journalist, speaker and podcast host. Creator and founding host of "What on Earth" - CBC

Colonel Melanie Lake, Director Joint General Engineer Support, Canadian Joint Forces Command, Canadian Armed Forces

Energy is operational capability. Colonel Lake will open the Forum by defining the engineering, infrastructure and workforce challenges that determine whether forces can deploy, endure and respond under pressure—and challenging industry to deliver resilient energy solutions for increasingly complex operating environments.

Pauline Baudu, Programme Director, Resilience and Sustainable Defence, CDA Institute

Connecting climate risk to operational energy requirements and why decentralised energy is essential infrastructure for readiness, community resilience and Canadian sovereignty.

Alfred Lee and Dan Schwartz, Managers, Business Development, Climate Finance, Vancity Community Investment Bank

A fireside chat with Laura Lynch exploring how infrastructure, supply chains and partnerships can strengthen energy sovereignty in Canada’s Arctic. How can values-driven capital accelerate these projects while supporting stronger communities, greater resilience and economic security.

Hayley Knowles, Hybrid Power and Energy Storage Engineer, Hatch
Tyler Willson, Principal Investigator, SAIT
Simon Kerkhof, Research Analyst, Northern Energy Innovation YRC, Yukon University
Panel Moderator: Pauline Baudu, CDA Institute

Northern and remote communities need energy systems that are technically reliable, financially viable and designed around local priorities. Two case studies from the North will frame a discussion about the pathway from hybrid-system design and successful demonstrations to community capacity, and appropriate ownership. How do we access the patient capital required to move projects beyond the pilot stage?

Refreshments and networking

Lisa Lambert, Vice-President, Global Strategy, IonQ
Ana Sotirova, Solutions Engineer, IonQ
Marie-Claude Messier, Directrice-Generale, PINQ²
Sébastien Lussier, Head of Information Systems and High Performance Computing, Hydro-Québec
Ryan Kresevic, Manager, Corporate Engagement, Quantum City
Terry Cronin, VP Business Development and Marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems
Jason Cameron, Program Manager, City of Calgary

Three Case Studies followed by Panel Discussion.

Artificial intelligence and quantum technologies could transform how energy systems are planned, optimised and protected. This session explores emerging applications in utility operations, high-performance computing and quantum-safe communications—and what utilities, technology providers and municipalities should do now to prepare critical infrastructure for the quantum era.

Lunch and Networking

First four finalists.

Announcing Pitch Finalists Soon!

Heather Stephens, Chief Operating Officer, Emissions Reduction Alberta

How strategic investment can reduce emissions, strengthen a region's competitiveness and accelerate promising technologies from demonstration to commercial deployment.

Refreshments

Brent Lakeman, Executive Director, Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub
Captain Besmir Shurdha, Directorate Army Experimentation and Innovation, Canadian Armed Forces
Scott Hagen, Manager Commercialisation, Ayrton Energy
Cameron Doepker, CEO, Gradient Thermal
Moderator: Jason Hamilton, CEO, CETAC

Hydrogen could strengthen Canada’s energy sovereignty by connecting domestic production with secure storage, transportation and practical applications. This session examines how coordinated supply chains and mission-ready technologies can serve industry, military operations, remote communities, emergency response and critical infrastructure without creating new foreign dependencies.

Structured speed networking connecting technology providers, utilities, communities, investors, government and project partners.

An evening of drinks and light food.

Breakfast Buffet

Laura Lynch recaps day 1 highlights

Colonel (Ret.) Paul E. Roege, P.E., Partner, Creative Erg, LLC; former Chief of the US Army Operational Energy Office

How energy availability determines operational freedom, endurance and mission success. The presentation connects resilient installations, microgrids and contested logistics with lessons for civilian critical infrastructure and communities.

Kay Aiken, CEO, Dynamic Grid
Tanner Behrend, Vice President, Strategic Growth, Edgecom Energy
Brent Harris, Chief Technology Officer, Eguana Technologies
Lindsey Rogers, Senior Project Manager, Distribution Operations and Planning, EPRI
Moderator: Jeff Shaw, CAO, Town of Cardston

Four technology leaders demonstrate how energy storage, artificial intelligence, distributed-energy controls and hosting-capacity analysis are moving from pilots into practical grid applications. The session explores how utilities and energy users can coordinate flexible assets, reduce costs, strengthen resilience, accommodate new generation and defer unnecessary infrastructure upgrades.

Glen Fillmore, Vice President Strategic Growth, Saint John Energy
Brad Nickel, Business Opportunity Specialist, EQUS REA
TBD

Three Utility Showcases

Practical examples of how co-operative, municipal and community-rooted utilities are modernising infrastructure, financing local energy systems and creating lasting value for customers.

Brunch with Pizzazz - Caesar, Bloody Mary, Mimosa

Last Four Pitch Finalists

Pitch Competition Finalists Announcement Soon!

Taban Sabih, Chief Executive Officer, Splice N Connect

A Pitch Competition alumni spotlight on the technical, commercial and partnership lessons that helped Splice N Connect raise $1.75 million and advance towards its first utility pilot.

Anneke Olvera, Director Programs Standardisation Services, Standards Council of Canada;
Andrew McKinnon, Interim CEO, Accelerate;
Chris Doornbos, CEO, E3 Lithium

Canada’s battery ambitions require more than critical minerals and manufacturing. Unpack how industrial policy, standards, interoperability and trusted certification can strengthen domestic supply chains, accelerate market adoption and reduce dependence on foreign technologies and materials.

Refreshments and Networking

Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Eaton, British Army Training Unit Suffield
Daniela Valencia, Electricity Human Resources Canada;
Guy Lonechild, First Nations Power Authority

Energy security depends on trained personnel, reliable infrastructure and secure domestic supply chains. Drawing on military, workforce and Indigenous perspectives, this session examines how skills, ownership, procurement, partnerships and engineering capacity can strengthen operational readiness, critical infrastructure, community prosperity and national resilience.

Janice Warkentin Steeves, President, Deep Tech Canada

Explore how Canada's deep technological capability builds trusted global infrastructure while retaining strategic value, intellectual property and domestic capacity.

Shona Reilly, Calgary Economic Development
Cinthia Heanna, Cowater International
Stewart Cramer, Chief Program Officer, NGen Canadal
Moderator: Janice Warkentin Steeves, Deep Tech Canada

Leveraging development funding, demonstrations, standards, local partnerships and economic-development networks to help Canadian energy companies enter new markets, address genuine development needs and scale internationally without creating new dependencies.

Laura Lynch, Award winning journalist, speaker and podcast host. Creator and founding host of "What on Earth" - CBC

Canada’s energy sovereignty cannot be built through isolation. Discover the ways that domestic technological capacity, trusted international partnerships, diversified supply chains and effective institutions can strengthen resilience while advancing shared security, economic stability and cooperation in an increasingly fragmented world.

Anouk Kendall, President, Decentralised Energy Canada

Presentation of the $10,000 cash prize and additional awards, followed by closing remarks.