Board of Directors

Akira Yamamoto has worked for TransAlta Corporation since 2016. He is currently in the role of manager of regulatory and market policy with responsibility over Alberta, Canada and US. He is responsible for market policy advocacy and engagement activities and has extensive experience in the Alberta electricity industry including with regulated utilities and the electricity market.

Akira has over seventeen years of experience in the electricity industry and over ten years in areas focused on regulatory matters, compliance, business development and environmental portfolio analytics in power generation. Mr. Yamamoto has worked on a number of regulatory proceedings before the Alberta Utilities Commission including facility applications for a number of new power generation facilities and industrial system designations, performance based rate regulation, generic cost of capital and stranded assets, regulated rate option and distribution and transmission tariffs, water rates design, and capacity market design.

Akira has also worked for seven years in financial industry in equity market research, financial analysis and performance modelling. He graduated form the University of Calgary with a bachelors of commerce and science degrees and a graduate diploma in business administration. He is also a certified general accountant, chartered professional accountant, certified internal auditor and energy risk professional.

Jennifer brings over 15 years of experience across the energy and electricity value chain, covering policy and regulatory advocacy, electricity markets, energy transition and carbon markets, regulatory compliance and environmental assessments. As the Director of Regulatory, Sustainability and Government Affairs for ATCO EnPower, Jennifer leads the government affairs, regulatory, carbon markets, environment and sustainability files for EnPower’s operating and growth businesses, and dedicates her time towards developing advocacy positions on key government policy matters critical to the electricity sector and other energy transition markets. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Calgary.

Wendell Klassen is the Director of Commercial Asset Management at TC Energy, where he oversees the optimization and strategic management of energy assets to maximize operational efficiency and profitability. With over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, Wendell combines his expertise in market analysis and asset management to drive growth and innovation. He holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Regina and an Executive MBA from Queen’s University and is committed to advancing sustainable energy practices.

Mark McGillivray is the Director of Public Policy and Government Relations at ENMAX Corporation, where he plays a key role in shaping the company’s strategic engagement with government and stakeholders. For over 17 years, Mark McGillivray has worked at ENMAX and has held various leadership roles in Energy Trading, Marketing, Customer Management, Compliance and Government Relations. He holds an MBA in Natural Resources and Energy from the University of Alberta and is passionate about fostering collaborative relationships between the public and private sectors.

Surendra Singh is the Director of Energy & Technology at Alberta Newsprint Company, where he oversees initiatives aimed at optimizing energy use and integrating innovative technologies in production processes. Having held various senior positions, he is a highly experienced professional in Energy usage, procurement and cost optimization, an expert in water use reduction in Pulp & Paper and has a strong background in process optimization and simplification with a focus on automation & process control for improved efficiency. With over 25 years of experience with Alberta Newsprint, Surendra is dedicated to promoting sustainability and efficiency within the company. He holds a Master’s degree in Forestry/Paper Science and a Ph.D in Chemical Engineering.

As President and CEO of the URICA group of companies which provide independent commercial services for generators and consumers in the electricity industry, Jason has a wealth of knowledge in energy portfolio management, energy trading, facility dispatch, commercial optimization, and business development. Expertise in all forms of generation, from thermal through to renewable and now leading energy storage platforms, his complete end-to-end understanding of the unique aspects of the Alberta electricity market is reputed in the industry. Jason holds a B.Comm from the University of Alberta and a MBA from the University of Calgary.

Ian Sanchez has 30 years of experience in the energy sector and a broad background in power project finance, acquisitions and development. While at BowMont, Ian has advised clients on multiple acquisition, divestiture and project financing transactions, advised on several strategic advisory mandates and led multiple successful project developments. Prior to co-founding BowMont in 2010, Ian was Vice President of Corporate Development at Maxim Power Corp. for 9 years. Prior to that, Ian held various roles with TransAlta Corporation and was responsible for developing and acquiring independent power projects throughout North America and abroad.

Ian has a Master of Business Administration degree from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary.

Ian is a member of the board of directors of the Independent Power Producers Society of Alberta (IPPSA).

BowMont Capital and Advisory website.

Horst Klinkenborg has over 20 years of experience in the electricity industry, he currently oversees all regulatory matters related to the electricity market at Suncor, a role he has held for 7 years. Previously, he worked in analytics and forecasting within the sector, using his analytical expertise to enhance Alberta’s electricity market rules and design.

Horst has prior experience in the financial sector as a quantitative analyst, having earned his *Diplom der Mathematik from Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg in Germany.

^*similar to a master’s degree in mathematics

Grant is the Director, Power Markets for Cenovus Energy and leads a team that is responsible for all commercial aspects of electricity in Alberta, Saskatchewan, PJM and Wisconsin including trading, regulatory/policy, self-retail billing, and managing the relationship with all electric utility’s.  Grant was also part of the team that developed the ESG targets for Cenovus and has led the renewable PPA transactions for the company.  Grant has over 20 years of experience in power markets and prior to his time at Cenovus held management positions at ENMAX and Valeo Power.  In addition, Grant leads the carbon trading portfolio for Cenovus.

Duane Reid-Carlson is the President of EDC Associates Ltd., where he leads a team dedicated to delivering innovative solutions in economic and financial analytics and strategic planning. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Duane has a proven track record of forecasting Alberta electric energy market fundamentals. Duane holds a combined B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and MBA from the University of Alberta and is passionate about leveraging data-driven analytics to create efficient, resilient and lasting energy economic decisions.