John Merrett joins the Energy Futures Lab from RBC Capital Markets where he holds the position of Director, Commodities Origination. With over 20 years of experience, John brings a unique view within the energy industry, capital markets and commodities business where he’s developed a well-rounded skill set connecting various aspects of the energy transition.

John holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business and an MBA from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. John is also deeply community-minded and plays an active role supporting many local initiatives ranging from Habitat for Humanity to the Panorama Alpine Ski Team.

Erik Koskela is a Government & Sustainability Specialist at Inter Pipeline Ltd. He holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Public Administration and Political Science, a Master of Arts in Sustainable Energy Policy, and is nearing completion of his Master of Business Administration. He previously worked as a government relations consultant, and held positions at Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada, and the House of Commons.

His time spent outdoors drives his passion for sustainability and in his spare time he can be found hiking, fly fishing, cross-country skiing, or training for his next triathlon.

Nubaha Mahbub is a Regulatory Applications Manager at ENMAX Power, where she is responsible for advocating to the AUC of required changes to the regulatory framework that would enable ENMAX Power to support the energy transition for its customers. She has more than a decade of experience in Alberta’s electricity regulatory space, having started out her career at the AUC. The electricity industry will be playing a pivotal role in securing Canada’s net zero future and Nubaha is excited to be able to contribute to finding reliable and affordable solutions that will enable this transition.

Nubaha was a Fellow with the Lab in 2023 and found the experience deeply enriching. She is excited to continue working with the Lab as an Ambassador.

Mark Brostrom received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta in 1984 and worked in the private sector prior to joining the City of Edmonton in 1990. Mark worked in the area of environmental and energy policy and programs, including the development of Edmonton’s Community Energy Transition Strategy, a framework for Edmonton to become a low carbon and energy resilient city.

Since his retirement in 2021, Mark has maintained a personal interest and passion in seeing a successful energy transition in Alberta.

Bryan Helfenbaum is the Associate Vice President of Clean Energy at Alberta Innovates, where he oversees programs in Clean Technology and Advanced Hydrocarbons with key initiatives in hydrogen, CCUS, digital energy, methane emissions reduction, energy storage, grid modernization, critical minerals, and bitumen beyond combustion. Prior to joining AI, he spent 20 years in a variety of technical, business, and innovation roles in the private sector.  Bryan has been a theme lead for the Clean Resources Innovation network and a Fellow/Ambassador with the Energy Futures Lab.  Bryan’s passion for innovation extends outside the office, where he has taught courses at the University of Calgary and worked on innovative community residential development projects.  Bryan has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Waterloo and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, with a specialization in Global Energy Management & Sustainability, from the University of Calgary.

Jamie has over eighteen years of experience in researching and engaging with companies on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. At NEI he oversees the implementation of the ESG program across the NEI portfolio to support NEI’s thesis that companies can mitigate risk and take advantage of emerging business opportunities by integrating best ESG practices into their strategies and operations. This includes a focus on conducting direct, collaborative dialogues with companies and policy makers on key ESG issues. He has also authored numerous submissions and reports on topics ranging from climate change policy and environmental oversight to the duty to respect human rights. Jamie is currently a member of the board at the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA). Jamie has previously been an EFL Fellow before becoming an Ambassador.

Cole works to help utilities increase the value they provide customers and to enable the affordable, net-zero energy system the future requires of us. The focus of his work is on decarbonizing gas utilities and removing the regulatory and other barriers that currently prevent this. He holds a Professional Engineer designation, a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA.

Olivia is the Governance and Social Impact Advisor at Modern West Advisory where she works alongside organizations to help them integrate sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into their day-to-day operations. She is particularly inspired by the opportunity to bridge the gap between various perspectives about the energy transition to help propel companies forward on their path toward a decarbonized energy future. Prior to joining Modern West, Olivia was Student Energy’s Senior Director of Programs, where she spent nearly eight years with the organization. Olivia pioneered Student Energy’s Program Ecosystem to identify skills and fill knowledge gaps in youth looking to pursue careers in the energy industry. She helped the organization expand, growing from a team of two to over forty employees worldwide. Olivia was an active Fellow from 2019 – to 2021, where she worked with the team to create more intergenerational collaboration and meaningful youth inclusion within the Lab and its initiatives. When she is not at her desk, Olivia is out in the field working on the regenerative farm she and her partner co-founded in 2021 to help build a more resilient local food ecosystem.

Laura, armed with a B.Eng, M.Sc. in Eng & Technology Management and Environmental Resource Management certificate, boasts over 25 years in technology, engineering, and operations. Most recently Laura was a leader at Enbridge, where she led business-unit-wide process improvements and substantial pipeline integrity projects across North America. A member of Energy Futures Lab, Human Venture board, and Enbridge Employee Campaign Chair for United Way, Laura’s influence extends beyond work. At Grengine she directs engineering, manufacturing, and on-site system implementation, driving innovation and impact.

Liz believes in business as a force for good. A professional geologist and a rigorous optimist, Liz is on a mission to deliver positive social and environmental outcomes through resource development. Liz has led teams of purpose-driven experts to deliver sustainable critical minerals to market in partnership with Indigenous communities. She combines systems thinking and a relationship-driven approach at the Battery Metals Association of Canada, an industry association Liz co-founded to strengthen and grow Canada’s battery ecosystem. She has worked with many partners across the energy system in the Energy Futures Lab, most notably on the development and growth of BMAC. She is also a Director of Decentralized Energy Canada and a former VP of E3 Lithium. Liz was honoured to receive a 2017 Young Women in Energy (YWE) Award for challenging the status quo in energy. When she’s not championing her favourite ideas, you’ll find Liz keeping up with her young family, or hiking in a nearby forest.