Marine Renewables Canada Makes New Board Appointments

Marine Renewables Canada has appointed four new members to its board of directors. 

“Producing clean energy from tides, waves, rivers and offshore wind across the country and internationally poses significant opportunities for Canada,” said Marine Renewables Canada executive director Elisa Obermann. “We have a goal to help build and support this new industry and to do that we need leadership that is enthusiastic about tackling the challenges and pursuing the opportunities. That’s why I am pleased to announce the appointment of new directors to our board: Jason Clarkson, Peter Huttges, Kim MacNeil, and Dragan Tutić – their engagement will benefit the association and the sector.”

Jason Clarkson is President of Operational Excellence Consulting and is currently managing a project for Sustainable Marine Energy Canada (SMEC). In this role, he is focused on supporting SMEC’s Grand Passage tidal energy project as well as the development slated in the Minas Passage at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE). Clarkson has been providing expertise and services to the tidal energy industry in Nova Scotia since 2014, working with industry including FORCE and Cape Sharp Tidal. He is also responsible for the “Lessons Learned – Minas Passage” report outlining the challenges and experiences that have been faced by tidal developers while operating in the conditions unique to the FORCE site.

Peter Huttges is Coastal Business Manager with Atlantic Towing, responsible for all aspects of business development and customer and contract management, for the Coastal Division. In his role, Huttges provides expertise and support for a range of industries including marine renewable energy, offshore oil and gas, aquaculture, marine construction, mining and Arctic resupply. Over the past several years, Peter has been closely engaged in marine renewable energy development in Canada, having managed Atlantic Towing’s marine operations for a number of tidal energy projects in the Bay of Fundy.

Kim MacNeil is president and owner of Aviso East Consulting and is currently Head of North American Development with Nova Innovation. Nova is working to install a turbine in Petit Passage, Digby County, Nova Scotia. He brings knowledge and expertise in environmental regulation and policy, having worked in the environmental department of two mining companies and in a variety of positions with the Province of Nova Scotia. More recently he served as Acting Deputy Minister of Environment and then as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries & Aquaculture.

Dragan Tutić is co-founder and CEO of Oneka Technologies, a company based in Quebec that developed a wave-powered desalination technology that directly converts the motion of waves into drinking water for coastal communities. As he has been developing this technology, he has established experience in addressing technical challenges, raising capital, and navigating logistics and permitting requirements.

Their directorship terms begin on January 1, 2020.

A new executive committee has also been established, with the Michel P. Samson, currently counsel at Cox & Palmer, appointed as chairman of the board and Peter Huttges of Atlantic Towing appointed to the role of vice chair and treasurer.