Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association announces new Chair, Vice-Chair and Board of Directors for 2023-24
OTTAWA – The Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) is pleased to announce the election of its new Chair, Vice-Chair and Board of Directors for 2023-24.
Christopher Norris, who previously served as Vice-Chair, has been elected as Chair of the Board. In a career spanning 25 years, Mr. Norris is currently Director, Business Development for the New Energy Business Unit at Siemens Energy Canada. Prior to his current role was with the Energy Business Advisory, advising utilities and municipalities on modernization strategies to achieve key objectives in the energy transition. Prior to Siemens, Mr. Norris worked at a boutique consulting firm in Toronto with clients in gas and electric distribution after working in operations strategy for one of Canada’s largest financial institutions. He began his career in the gas distribution utility industry before transitioning into detailed engineering design at one of Canada’s largest aircraft engine manufacturers. Mr. Norris has a B. Sc. from Queen’s University, an M. Eng. from McMaster University, an MBA from the Schulich School of Business and an LL.M. in energy and infrastructure from Osgoode Hall Law School. He is a licensed professional engineer.
Elected to the position of Vice-Chair is Elizabeth Buckmaster, Director of Client and Stakeholder Relations at Hatch’s global Power group, and is a recognized relationship builder with 15 years of experience in the power and clean energy industry. Beth helps businesses and markets grow through the development and management of client, stakeholder, and policy strategies that drive increased brand awareness, market access, and growth. She is passionate about creating positive change through a more diverse and inclusive clean energy sector. Beth is the Equal by 30 Champion for Hatch and is the recipient of the 2020 Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) Balance Means Business award for her advocacy in creating a more gender-balanced industry and was recognized in 2022 as one of the 100 women leading Canada’s energy transition. Alongside being the new Vice-Chair of the Canadian Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association, she currently sits on the advisory board for a women-owned small business that specializes in management consulting for the clean energy industry.
Returning board members for 2023-24 include past chairs Nicolas Pocard, Ballard Power Systems, Francois Girard, National Research Council and Robert Artibise, Unilia Canada Fuel Cell; Dr. Sam Suppiah, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL); Edward Stuart, Hydrogen Optimized; Jessica Lof, Air Products Canada; Kelly Grieves, Atura Power; Alex Savelli, Cummins; Sam McDermott, Enbridge Gas; Ethan Hugh, Loop Energy; Pierre Poulain, Powertech Labs; Jamie Humphries, Toyota Canada; David Johnston, CEM Engineering; Sabina Russell, HTEC; Sunny Minhas, Intertek; Grace Quan, Hydrogen in Motion; Mark Kirby, MHK Consulting; Dr. Agatha E. Ojilmelukwe, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology; Dr. Bruno Pollet, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and Dr. Walter Mérida, University of British Columbia.
New members joining the CHFCA board for 2023-24 include Wes Johnsen, Bruce Power; Taoufik Saidani, Air Liquide Canada; Paul MacLean, Bear Head Energy; Jeff Murphy, North Atlantic; Richard Cheng, Certarus (Superior Plus); Philip Turi, ITD Nikola; Derek Hanson, City of Edmonton; Rami El-Emam, Ontario Tech University; Rick Anderson, e4 Strategies and Bob Blattler, Cariboo Low Carbon Fuels.
“The CHFCA board is a dynamic representation of the Canadian hydrogen sector’s diversity and depth,” says Ivette Vera-Perez, President and CEO of the CHFCA. “Our directors come from various regions across the nation, offering a comprehensive perspective on clean hydrogen production pathways and the entire sector’s value chain. In 2024, a pivotal year for the Canadian hydrogen industry, I am eager to collaborate with CHFCA’s Chair, Vice Chair, and all Board Directors.”
The CHFCA would like to thank outgoing board members Ryan Laverty, TC Energy; Sylvain Labonté, Hydro-Québec; Simon Fraser, AVL Fuel Cell Canada; Trevor Swan, Bighorn Energy; Marie-France Gravelle, GHD; Friedrich Dehem-Lemelin, Hydrolux; Raveel Afzaal, Next Hydrogen; Nicolas Laroche, Permascand; Jojo Delos Reyes, Red River College and Geoff Budd, G&S Budd Consulting for their contributions and support.
About the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA)
The Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) is a national association that supports industry, academia, government agencies, financial organizations and other stakeholders focused on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and products. As the collective voice of Canada’s world-leading hydrogen and fuel cell sector, the CHFCA’s mission is to strengthen Canadian leadership, raise awareness of the benefits of the technology, and accelerate the adoption of its members’ products and services in Canada and abroad. The CHFCA currently has more than 200 members across Canada and regional affiliates in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. You can also follow CHFCA on Twitter at @PoweringNow or visit canadah2.ca for more information.
