Marine Renewables Canada appoints three new board directors

Canada’s national association for offshore renewable energies Marine Renewables Canada has welcomed three new members with marine renewable energy backgrounds to its board of directors.

The newly appointed board directors, whose directorship terms began on January 1, 2022, include Jason Hayman, Mary Lou Lauria, and Sarah Thomas.

Hayman is the CEO of Sustainable Marine, a company which installed an innovative floating tidal energy platform called PLAT-I, in Nova Scotia’s Grand Passage in 2018.

His team has now successfully installed its second platform in Canadian waters and are ramping up to deliver the world’s first floating tidal array at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE).

Mary Lou Lauria is a marine biologist and oceanographer, leading Advisian’s Environmental & Water group across North America. Lauria specializes in the strategic development of environmental teams and the delivery of Indigenous and community communications, impact assessments, regulatory approvals, compliance and monitoring programs.

With the background in U.S. Navy and shipbuilding, Sarah Thomas began began working for tidal technology developer OpenHydro in 2017 and is now currently the project manager for DP Energy’s Uisce Tapa Project in Canada, preparing for the project’s first turbine installation in the coming years.

Also, a new executive committee has also been established within Marine Renewables Canada, with Peter Huttges of Atlantic Towing appointed as chairman of the board and John Wright of Northland Power appointed to the role of vice chair.

Elisa Obermann, director at the association, said: “Canada’s marine renewable energy resources have enormous potential to deliver on economic recovery and net-zero targets, but there is still a lot of work to be done to address challenges and advance the sector.

“We are committed to building and supporting this new industry and to do that we need leadership that is diverse, skilled, and dedicated to the mission. That’s why I am pleased to announce the appointment of new directors to our board – their capabilities and experience will benefit the association and the sector”.