Toronto 2023

SOCO Ballroom, Delta Toronto Hotel – Thursday, November 16th

Details on the 8th annual National Energy Roundtable will be announced shortly. For questions related to the event please send your enquiry to: info@energyroundtable.org

Toronto 2022

The Hilton Toronto Ballroom – Wednesday, November 30th

The 7th annual National Energy Roundtable conference took place on Wednesday, November 30th and gathered business leaders, entrepreneurs and policy makers in Toronto for discussions on: Canada’s Energy Transition.

Canada and the world have a collective challenge – to develop our infrastructure and energy mix in a way that is affordable whilst significantly decarbonizing. Canada’s diverse landscape and energy mix presents the potential to become a global leader in transforming its energy systems. However, carbon emissions continue to rise and consensus on what the country’s energy future should look like has proven elusive.

One thing is certain: as Canada’s energy needs expand, technological innovation and energy system optimization will be crucial. At least $350 billion in power, utility and transport investments are required over the next twenty years to replace aging infrastructure and develop the next generation of energy systems.

Delegates joined the leaders who are shaping Canada energy future at the National Energy Roundtable conference to learn about the exciting strategies and technological advances that are driving Canada’s transition to a more dynamic, lower carbon economy.

Topics included:

  • Energy transition – to what, when and how?
  • Asset aggregation and grid integration
  • Optimization of non-emitting resources
  • Policy frameworks and implications for energy markets
  • Financing the energy transition
  • Canada’s role in international energy security
  • Emissions reduction in the Canadian resource sector
  • Indigeneous equity participation on projects

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Speakers

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Derek Evans

Derek Evans

President & CEO, MEG Energy
Arne Wohlschlegel

Arne Wohlschlegel

Managing Director, Siemens Energy Canada Limited
Nicolle Butcher

Nicolle Butcher

Chief Operating Officer, Ontario Power Generation
Hon. Todd Smith

Hon. Todd Smith

Minister of Energy, Government of Ontario
Hon. Mike Holland

Hon. Mike Holland

Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, Government of New Brunswick
Josée Guibord,

Josée Guibord,

Chief Executive Officer, Evolugen
Chuck Farmer

Chuck Farmer

Vice President, Planning, Conservation and Resource Adequacy, Independent Electric System Operator
Margaret Kenequanash

Margaret Kenequanash

CEO, Wataynikaneyap Power
Indrani Butany-DeSouza

Indrani Butany-DeSouza

President & CEO, Elexicon Energy
Brian Vaasjo

Brian Vaasjo

President & CEO, Capital Power
Michele Harradence

Michele Harradence

President, Gas Distribution and Storage, Enbridge
John Avdoulos

John Avdoulos

President & CEO, Essex Power Corporation
Armin Jahangiri

Armin Jahangiri

Chief Operating Officer, ARC Resources
Penny Favel

Penny Favel

Vice President, Indigenous Relations, Hydro One
Victor Swishchuk

Victor Swishchuk

Portfolio Manager, Global Equities (Energy, Utilities, Renewables, Infrastructure), Letko Brosseau & Associates
Joe McBrearty

Joe McBrearty

President & CEO, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Lance Mortlock

Lance Mortlock

Managing Partner, Energy Market Segment, EY
Chris Benedetti

Chris Benedetti

Managing Partner, Sussex
Tabatha Bull

Tabatha Bull

President & CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
Jason Langrish

Jason Langrish

President, The Energy Roundtable
Jon Norman

Jon Norman

President, Hydrostor
Bonnie Hiltz

Bonnie Hiltz

Vice President & Energy Group Practice Lead, Sussex
Richard Horrobin

Richard Horrobin

Vice President, Business Development and Energy Innovation, Bruce Power
John Casola

John Casola

Chief Investment Officer, Canada Infrastructure Bank
Madeleine Redfern

Madeleine Redfern

Chief Operating Officer, CanArctic Inuit Networks
David Lebeter

David Lebeter

Chief Operating Officer, Hydro One Networks
Olivia MacAngus

Olivia MacAngus

President & CEO, Colliers Project Leaders
Patrick O'Rourke

Patrick O'Rourke

Managing Director, Institutional Research, ATB Capital Markets
Bruce Orloff

Bruce Orloff

Partner, Energy & Utilities, IBM Canada
Aron Willis

Aron Willis

Executive Vice President, Growth, TransAlta
John Mikkelson

John Mikkelson

Director, Power and Energy Solutions, TC Energy
Kelly Ogle

Kelly Ogle

Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI)
Robert Brant

Robert Brant

Managing Partner (London), McCarthy Tetrault LLP
Shawn McCarthy

Shawn McCarthy

Senior Counsel, Sussex Strategy Group
Justin Hannah

Justin Hannah

Senior Director, Nuclear Energy and Infrastructure, Natural Resources Canada

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Programme

The Hilton Toronto Ballroom, 145 Richmond Street West – Wednesday, November 30

MC Jason Langrish, President, The Energy Roundtable
7:45 am Registration opens. Breakfast served
8:30 am Welcome remarks
8:35 am Opening presentation: Energy transition – to what, when and how?

  • Michele Harradence, President, Gas Distribution and Storage, Enbridge
8:55 am Net Zero in Electricity

  • Victor Swishchuk, Portfolio Manager, Global Equities (Energy, Utilities, Renewables, Infrastructure), Letko Brosseau & Associates
9:15 am Panel discussion: Asset aggregation and grid integration
Electricity provides a tremendous potential competitive advantage in a world focused on carbon reduction. Canada has abundant capacity to create and distribute electricity, but remains a patchwork of technologies, production and distribution systems that have been developed over time, often with disparate outcomes. Initiatives to spur generation have been effective, but greater aggregation and use of these resources at the distribution level is required, including to serve bulk energy needs. Provinces typically focus on energy self-sufficiency and there is little interprovincial and cross border trade to take advantage of strengths and weaknesses, and no comprehensive strategies in this area of provincial jurisdiction. The panel will examine how grid integration and asset aggregation strategies can be the basis for turning what is a vulnerability into a competitive advantage.

  • Nicolle Butcher, Chief Operating Officer, Ontario Power Generation
  • Indrani Butany-DeSouza, President & CEO, Elexicon Energy
  • David Lebeter, Chief Operating Officer, Hydro One Networks
  • John Casola, Chief Investment Officer, Canada Infrastructure Bank

Session chair: Bruce Orloff, Partner, Energy & Utilities, IBM Canada

10:00 am Networking break
10:20 am Panel discussion: Optimization of non-emitting resources
Discussions on energy transition are often framed around what we need to cut in the decades ahead—oil production, carbon pollution. Equally important is the conversation around what we need to build and how we can best utilize these assets. And build we must. The federal government has committed to have 90 per cent of Canada’s electricity coming from non-emitting sources by 2030, up from 80 per cent now. The panel will examine how we can best optimize our non-emitting sources of electricity to ensure meaningful transformation in the energy sector.

  • Arne Wohlschlegel, Managing Director, Siemens Energy Canada
  • Richard Horrobin, Vice President, Business Development & Energy Innovation, Bruce Power
  • Aron Willis, Executive Vice President, Growth, TransAlta
  • John Mikkelsen, Director, Power & Energy Solutions, TC Energy

Session chair: Bonnie Hiltz, Vice President & Energy Group Practice Lead, Sussex

11:05 am The Annual Planning Outlook

  • Chuck Farmer, Vice President, Planning, Conservation and Resource Adequacy, Independent Electric System Operator (IESO)
11:30 am Energy Minister panel discussion 
A discussion on energy trends, challenges and opportunities from a provincial energy minister perspective.

  • Hon. Todd Smith, Minister of Energy, Government of Ontario
  • Hon. Mike Holland, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, Government of New Brunswick

Session chair: Chris Benedetti, Managing Partner, Sussex Strategy Group

12:15 pm Networking luncheon present by Hydro One
1:15 pm President & Chief Executive panel discussion 
A discussion on energy trends, challenges and opportunities from a president and chief executive perspective.

  • Brian Vaasjo, President, & CEO, Capital Power
  • Josée Guibord, Chief Executive Officer, Evolugen
  • Jon Norman, President, Hydrostor
  • John Avdoulos, President & CEO, Essex Power Corporation

Session chair: Lance Mortlock, Managing Partner, Energy Market Segment, EY

2:05 pm Fireside chat: Canadian energy’s role in a net zero world

  • Derek Evans, President & CEO, MEG Energy

In discussion with: Patrick O’Rourke, Managing Director, Institutional Research, ATB Capital Markets

2:25 pm Fireside chat: The natural gas (r)evolution
Natural gas markets are globalizing, as countries seek to diversify supply and displace coal fired power generation. Traditionally, natural gas was purchased around the world using rigid contracts based on what current oil prices were. However, a “spot market” has developed, in which gas that is delivered immediately is priced according to supply and demand. The LNG market has helped globalize the market, satisfying energy demand and providing cleaner energy for the fastest-growing areas for natural gas use, including where it must compete against lower cost coal. The discussion will explore how Canadian gas is positioned in an increasingly globally connected market and the attributes that allow for increased energy and less carbon.

  • Armin Jahangiri, Chief Operating Officer, ARC Resources

Discussion led by: Jason Langrish, President, The Energy Roundtable

2:45 pm
Networking break
3:00 pm Geopolitics of energy security: what is Canada’s role?
The panel will explores the intersection of energy, security, and international politics.

  • Joe McBrearty, President & CEO, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
  • Kelly Ogle, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI)
  • Madeleine Redfern, Chief Operating Officer, CanArctic Inuit Networks
  • Justin Hannah, Senior Director, Nuclear Energy and Infrastructure, Natural Resources Canada

Session chair: Shawn McCarthy, Senior Counsel, Sussex Strategy Group

3:45 pm Panel discussion: Indigenous equity participation on projects
Over the past two decades, resource exploration and development activities have pushed further into every region of Canada, bringing significant opportunities in the form of jobs, business opportunities and revenue streams to the doorstep of indigenous communities. Not all indigenous groups agree with the existence, direction or pace of current and proposed natural resource development projects. However, it is abundantly clear that – where consensus can be reached – the viability and long-term success of these opportunities increasingly depend on indigenous communities and industry working together. Panelists will discuss Increasing the participation of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in major projects as equity partners, entrepreneurs and workers as a means to helping close the socio-economic gaps between indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians.

  • Margaret Kenequanash, CEO, Wataynikaneyap Power
  • Tabatha Bull, President & CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
  • Penny Favel, Vice President, Indigenous Relations, Hydro One
  • Olivia MacAngus, President & CEO, Colliers Project Leaders

Session chair: Robert Brant, Managing Partner (London), McCarthy Tetrault LLP

4:30 pm

4:35 pm

Close by Jason Langrish, President, The Energy Roundtable

Networking reception present by Sussex Strategy Group

*Programme is subject to change

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Conference Photo Gallery

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Click here for the programme for the 2019 National Energy Roundtable