Nathan comes to the QUEST Canada team with a wide background of life experiences. Working in theatre, different not-for-profits, the service industry, and marketing, has brought him to the four corners of New Brunswick.

With a passion for sustainable energy and helping people reach their goals, Nathan has been involved with different groups promoting green solutions for local communities since graduating college, and this has developed into one of his core values.

Omar has a B.Sc. in Petroleum and Energy Engineering and continued on to a Master’s degree in Sustainable Environmental Management (MSEM) at the University of Saskatchewan. Omar had the chance to work with Indigenous communities across Saskatchewan to help them with implementing renewable and energy efficiency projects. He believes that the way to a sustainable future is found by optimizing energy usage and utilizing energy resources to their best use. Omar hopes to make a positive impact by supporting communities across Canada on their quest to an energy secure future.

More than anything, Cristian wants to personally contribute to a global economic shift away from mass consumption towards a more equitable, environmentally benign, and harmonious future. Having worked in the climate action space since 2016, his experience spans for- and non-profit organizations focused on green buildings and infrastructure, green energy, and climate action.

Cristian’s foray into the world of sustainability began with installing solar systems across Ontario. After a year of this, he entered the Master of Environmental Studies program at York University, where he studied sustainable energy systems and policies, sustainability accounting and business approaches, and environmental/climate policies and frameworks. His education at York was rounded out by a Diploma in Business & Environment from Schulich School of Business and a semester at Aalborg University in Denmark studying Sustainable Energy Planning and Management.

During his graduate studies, Cristian worked at several climate-focused organizations, including Sierra Club Canada Foundation, Green Infrastructure Foundation, Rethink Sustainability Initiatives, and Canada’s Clean50 Organization. Upon graduating, Cristian interned at QUEST Canada before joining Mantle Developments where he developed and implemented climate resilience strategies, managed net-zero construction initiatives, and led sustainability reporting for some of the largest developers, REITs, and charities in Canada. After Mantle, Cristian worked at Alectra Utilities, where he led stakeholder engagement initiatives and designed programs tackling the challenge of low-carbon mobility.

Now back at QUEST Canada, Cristian is leading business development efforts to enable the organization to deliver greater positive impact to Canadian communities.

Aaliyah holds a B. Sc. in Microbiology and Immunology, Sustainability, and a certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment from Dalhousie University.

From a young age, the intersection of technology and environmental science has always fascinated her. This passion led her to pursue a career at the crossroads of climate justice and innovation.

In the non-profit sector, Aaliyah has worked on several research projects and committees addressing community development through interdisciplinary collaboration, to reveal interwoven perspectives and experiences within the intersections of environmental, social and economic systems.

Seth Leon is the Manager of Programs and Projects at QUEST Canada, focusing on the Net-Zero Communities Accelerator. He brings over a decade of experience planning and initiating local economic development projects across Alberta, with expertise in renewable energy, local financing, and business succession. Since 2017 he has worked to advance community energy development by leading workshops and project incubators that have connected municipalities, industry, Indigenous communities, and co-operatives to advance local energy goals. Seth has been active in the not-for-profit and grassroots sector in Calgary, as the former Board Chair of the CommunityWise Resource Centre. He holds a Masters of Development Economics from Dalhousie University (2008). 

Andrei is an environment and energy policy expert, and brings to QUEST a Master’s in Economics, Master’s Certificate in Project Management and over 23 years of experience including, perhaps most notably, the responsibility for the customer choice/retail electricity competition aspect of policy reformation for the electricity industry in Alberta in the late 1990’s.

This work included extensive community, industry and utility engagement and managing multiple perspectives and opinions.

Readily admitting that policy reformation rarely is able to accomplish immediately all it sets out to, the experience of that process is incredibly valuable to QUESTS’s Energy Transition Policy Program (ETPP).

Formerly the Director of Energy Efficiency and Conservation at the Government of Alberta and trained in arbitration and mediation, Andy is incredibly well-respected and known across the Canadian energy industry.

Naureen Othi is currently pursuing a degree in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology at the University of Calgary. Throughout her undergraduate degree, Naureen has developed a passion for sustainability and innovation through projects, extracurriculars, and research on sustainable plastics, methane capture, and renewable energy, all targeting the climate crisis. This led Naureen to QUEST Canada, where she provides support to the Net-Zero Communities Accelerator program and the Motivating Net Zero Action in Rural and Remote Communities research project.

Since 2015, Norma has been a strong advocate for sustainable and affordable renewable energy that will transform Canada into a global leader in the energy transition movement.

During her tenure at QUEST Canada, Norma has held the position of Business Development Lead which focused on identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities, cultivating relationships with potential partners, drive revenue growth and maintaining relationships with current partners. Recently, Norma has transitioned her focus to project delivery, which includes being the point of contact for communities in the Net-Zero Communities Accelerator Program, facilitating virtual working groups, and collaborating and supporting team members in a number of initiatives.

Prior to joining QUEST Canada, Norma worked at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) as the Membership and Business Development Specialist as well as being the Member Program Specialist at the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA).

Helda is an environmental enthusiast, holding a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering from Indonesia, Master of Science from Taiwan and Master of Environmental Science at the University of Toronto. Helda has extensive experience in diverse fields including environmental assessments in the mining industry and compliance audits in the geothermal industry in Indonesia. In addition, Helda is also an expert in sustainability and conducted research where she was successfully able to accomplish Phosphorus to evaporate into a vapour through the development of an enhanced energy-efficient method of extracting Phosphorus from Steel Slags during her Masters in Taiwan.

Melissa is a writer, communicator, and change-maker with eleven years of progressive work experience in the not-for-profit sector. Coupled with years of related volunteer experience, she’s had the fortunate privilege of funding, planning and advancing several projects and programs relating to international development, emergency response, migration, youth empowerment, local health care, affordable housing, and most recently, sustainability. 

As the Senior Lead of Communications, Melissa oversees the development, management, and delivery of QUEST Canada’s communications and marketing strategy. Her expertise includes communications, marketing, stakeholder relations, community engagement, and sustainability. 

Melissa holds a bachelor of arts degree in English and Women’s Studies from McMaster University and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto. 

Dale Beugin is the Vice President of Research and Analysis at the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices. An expert in environmental economics, policy and technical communications, he now leads the Institute’s work in developing rigorous analysis and practical climate policy advice for governments across the country. Dale was former Executive Director and Research Director of Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission, and has previously worked as an independent consultant. Notably, he worked with the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy as policy advisor and has provided analysis and advice to governments and organizations across Canada and internationally. He holds a Masters Degree in resource and environmental management with a specialization in energy-economy modelling, and an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering.

Ron Clark is a partner at Aird & Berlis LLP law firm based in Toronto, Ontario. Specializing in intersections amongst corporate, commercial, energy and municipal law, he has guided numerous clients through the historical and institutional development of the energy market in Ontario. His corporate and commercial practice includes advising corporations, financial institutions, municipalities and individuals on commercial agreements, asset and share purchase transactions, mergers and acquisitions, private placements and secured lending transactions. The energy side of his practice involves guiding clients through transactions, as well as counselling stakeholder groups, retailers, distributors and generators on legislative and policy matters relating to electricity markets. Ron is deeply interested in the intersection of law and public policy, and enjoys meeting the unique challenges of the evolving energy market.

Ron has a background in public international law and previously served as a diplomat with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa and Brussels. He is listed as a “Leading Lawyer” in Energy: Power by The Legal 500 Canada and in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in the area of Energy (Electricity). He was also recommended by Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a top practitioner in Energy, Power (Transactional) (Canada), and is recognized by Who’s Who Legal: Government Contracts. He has served as an Instructor of the Professional Master of Laws program in Energy and Infrastructure Law at Osgoode Hall Law School. Ron holds a BA in Political Science from Carleton University, a LL.B. from Osgood Hall Law School and a LL.M. from New York University.

Karen Farbridge is President & Urban Connector of Karen Farbridge & Associates where she works with business, governments and organizations to build healthy and prosperous communities.

She is well-connected in the community energy sector in Canada, and has over 25 years of experience leading community innovation. Karen has a diverse background managing complex multi-stakeholder environments to enable change. Her experience includes 17 years in municipal politics, 11 of which were as the mayor of Guelph, Ontario where she gained a reputation for sustainability leadership. She advises federal, provincial and municipal policy makers and industry leaders on building sustainable and resilient communities, with an emphasis on community energy.

Karen is a thoughtful change agent who effectively challenges status quo thinking to encourage new conversations and inspire innovation. In addition to QUEST, she currently serves as the Chair of the Board for Meridian Credit Union and motusbank as well as on the Board of Silence. She is also a member of the Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI) at York University where she is adjunct faculty, and a partner with the Community Energy Knowledge and Action Partnership (CEKAP).

Karen is a respected speaker who has delivered hundreds of talks both locally and internationally on matters of current urban interest, including sustainability, engagement and community energy. She has a doctorate from the University of Guelph and a Chartered Directors designation from McMaster University.

Morgan McDonald works on high performance buildings and process innovation with Ledcor Construction. He leads Ledcor Renew, which supports commercial and institutional building owners in understanding the financial and technical feasibility of high performance projects for both new construction and retrofit. He also heads up Ledcor Construction’s Innovation Lab. Morgan has a background in renewable energy, carbon finance, and sustainability education. In addition to QUEST, he also volunteers with Living Future Vancouver and the Canada Green Building Council. Morgan has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University.

A Professional Engineer with over 45 years of experience as an executive and entrepreneur in the private and public sectors. David Morton combines a strong business, engineering and accounting background with experience in utility regulation and thorough knowledge of energy policy. As Commissioner and later Chair and CEO of the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for over ten years, he developed expert-level understanding of the intersection of traditional and renewable energy, infrastructure, and public policy.

At the BCUC, David participated in numerous decisions on a wide variety of utility applications. He initiated and led several formal Inquiries into key areas of energy policy, including: the regulation of EV charging infrastructure; the regulation of the emerging hydrogen for fuel industry in BC; the definition of renewable natural gas and how it can be delivered; and, the jurisdiction of municipalities in the regulation of municipal corporations that own and operate energy infrastructure.

Since departing from BCUC in 2023, David remains actively engaged in national and international energy and regulatory associations as the Chair of the International Confederation of Energy Regulators. He is the past Chair of the Canadian Association of Utility Commissioners (CAMPUT) and Co-Chair of its International Affairs Committee, and past Vice Chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners’ (NARUC) Committee on International Relations.

David is a featured speaker, author, and consulting expert to industry and governments around the world. He has presented to agencies in 20 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

David is also an Executive in Residence with the University of Ottawa’s Positive Energy program that brings together academic researchers and senior decision-makers from industry, government, Indigenous communities, local communities and environmental organizations to determine how to strengthen public confidence in energy decision-making.

Prior to joining the BCUC, David owned a software development and IT service company. He holds an engineering degree from the University of Toronto and the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. David has served extensively on not-for-profit boards in the arts in Vancouver.

Dr. Shahrzad Rahbar is President of the Industrial Gas Users Association (IGUA). Dr. Rahbar brings 20 years of progressively senior experience from the gas industry.

Prior to joining IGUA, she served as Senior Vice-President with the Canadian Gas Association for over a decade, and has been an active contributor to the development of energy, technology and regulatory policy in Canada. Dr. Rahbar served on the Executive Committee of the International Gas Union and on the Board of Natural Gas Technology Centre as Vice-Chair. She is also founding director of QUEST and a director on Eastern Breeze, a community-based art initiative.

Dr. Shahrzad Rahbar has a PhD in mechanical engineering from the UK and two patents to her name.

Karen White is the Vice President at NATIONAL Public Relations. She brings a can-do attitude and more than 20 years of communications experience to every project. Her deep understanding of the energy sector and energy efficiency stems from more than a decade in public service, in a range of departments from Conserve Nova Scotia, Environment, to Energy. Since joining the team at NATIONAL, Karen has worked with electric utility and renewable energy companies on a wide range of stakeholder, regulatory, and customer initiatives.

Her collaborative approach to communications has encouraged responsible development of energy initiatives among government departments, industry, advocates, and communities. She led communications to support public consultation regarding demand side management programs and legislative changes to establish EfficiencyOne. Working with energy partners and stakeholders, Karen has provided advice for complex and high profile regulatory, policy, and public affairs files in the energy sector. She encourages energy sector development through effective community and public engagement and communications planning.

Her passion for the energy sector extends outside the office where she is the Past Board Chair of the Maritimes Energy Association, and a Board Director with Net Zero Atlantic. She holds a Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University.

Of note, Karen is both public engagement and crisis management certified, leveraging her International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) and Incident Command System (ICS) certifications to provide crisis communications counsel to many organizations.

Geoff Wright is the Vice President of Market Research at Brookfield Renewable where he contributes to global market and commercial strategies for renewable and distributed generation businesses at the utility scale. In this role, Geoff has been actively involved in underwriting multi-billion dollar transactions in numerous countries. Geoff is keenly interested in understanding how local energy systems need to evolve in the face of an increasingly carbon constrained world and finding cost-effective solutions to enable this transition.