MRC appoints four new members to the Board of Directors 

Marine Renewables Canada has appointed four new members to its Board of Directors. 

“As the need for clean energy grows, the marine renewable energy sector is positioned to have a significant impact on fighting climate change and building a sustainable and inclusive future,” said Marine Renewables Canada executive director Elisa Obermann.

“Marine Renewables Canada is committed to realizing that potential and to do that, we need strong leaders with diverse experience. I am pleased to announce the appointment of new directors to our board: Matthew Asplin, Ken Paul, Bob Petrie, and Jacobus van der Lingen, who all bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm that will benefit our members and the sector.” 

Dr. Matthew Asplin is a Director of Metocean and Arctic Strategic Partnerships at ASL Environmental Sciences in Victoria, British Columbia.  He has a B.Sc. in Physical Geography and Spatial Information Systems, an M.Sc. in Synoptic Climatology, and a Ph.D. in Arctic Sea Ice Geophysics.. Matthew started his transition to an industry career in 2013 as an NSERC Industrial Postdoctoral fellow, eventually transitioning to his current position at ASL, where he specializes as a meteorology and sea ice expert. Additionally, he holds a seat on the ASL Board of Directors, leads the Vancouver Island Centre of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, and serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Geography Department at the University of Victoria.

Ken Paul is the principal/owner of Pokiok Associates and also serves as the Lead Fisheries Negotiator and Research Coordinator for the Wolastoqey Nation of New Brunswick. Previously, he held positions as National Fisheries Director at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Integrated Resources Director at the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs. His federal government career included roles such as Hydrographer-in-Charge at the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) and Field Unit Superintendent at Parks Canada. Ken had also been actively involved on the boards of the Ocean Supercluster, Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS), and Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE), and currently serves on the board of Sustainable Ocean Applied Research (SOAR). Advocating for First Nations interests in fisheries, aquaculture, ocean protection, and aquatic resources at regional, national, and international levels, he continues this work as a member of the AFN National Fisheries Committee. He is also a member of the Wolastoqey Nation at Neqotkuk.

Bob Petrie is a Canadian Business Relationship Manager at Nova Innovation, a tidal energy company engaged in developing a project in Petit Passage, Nova Scotia. He works with local communities, regulators, service providers, and other stakeholders to facilitate the provision of tidal energy in ways that respect and address Indigenous, community, and environmental priorities. With a background of over 30 years in environmental and natural resource management, Bob brings experience to the marine renewables sector. Before joining Nova Innovation, he served in senior roles at the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables. He played key roles in developing and implementing environmental regulatory programs and policies, as well as overseeing strategies and service delivery.

Jacobus van der Lingen is Director of the Offshore Business at Atlantic Towing, overseeing business development, customer and contract management, and operations for the Offshore Division. His career path initially started as a Naval Officer in the South African Navy before transitioning to the transportation and logistics sector in Shanghai, China. Over the years, he has held management positions in several maritime companies across different countries, gaining valuable experience in business development, operations, and strategic initiatives.

They began their directorship terms on January 1, 2024.

A newly formed executive committee includes Dr. Mary Lou Lauria, VP of Operations at Worley, as the appointed Chair of the board. Mohammad Ali Raza of Cox and Palmer serves as the Vice Chair and Jacobus van der Lingen is appointed as Treasurer.