Watts Needed? Exploiting Canada’s Lead in Net-Zero Electricity
Webinar with Theresa Dekker, Philippe Dunsky and Dr. Blake Shaffer
Sponsored by:
Clean power is having its moment globally, and Canada has a comparative advantage if it plays its cards properly. Join the C.D. Howe Institute on June 15 for a panel discussion on how we can clean Canada’s electricity supply, modernize our grid, and maximize that competitive advantage.
C.D. Howe Institute events and webinars are open to members and their guests.
Please contact Tammy Trepanier, Senior Event Planner, to register: ttrepanier@cdhowe.org.
Theresa Dekker, Vice President, Corporate Business Development & Strategy, Ontario Power Generation and Co-President, Ivy Charging Network
Theresa Dekker is the Vice President of Corporate Business Development and Strategy at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), accountable for development of OPG’s corporate strategy, as well as various elements of execution. This involves understanding how the energy industry is evolving and how OPG can continue to be a leader in that transformation to the benefit of all Ontarians. A key part of this work involves leveraging Ontario’s low-emitting electricity to drive down transportation emissions. That is why Ms. Dekker is proud to oversee OPG’s Electrification Development team and sit on the board of the Ivy Charging Network, as Co-President. Ivy is the result of a partnership between OPG and Hydro One to build and operate Ontario’s largest and most reliable EV fast charging network.
Ms. Dekker joined OPG in 2004 and has held a variety of positions throughout the company, gaining experience in Nuclear Project Management, Organizational Design, and Enterprise Risk Management. In her most recent role as Director of Corporate Strategy and Planning, Ms. Dekker led the acquisitions of Eagle Creek Renewable Energy and Cube Hydro, expanding OPG’s hydroelectric portfolio into the U.S. Ms. Dekker holds a chemical engineering degree from the University of Toronto and is a Professional Engineer.
Philippe Dunsky, President, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors
Philippe brings 25+ years of experience focused on a singular passion: helping his clients accelerate the clean energy transition. In the process, he has had the honour of leading a first-rate team of professionals, and the privilege of supporting forward-looking governments, utilities, businesses and non-profits throughout North America.
Philippe’s experience spans the full array of demand-side energy resources: from building efficiency to demand response, renewable energy, storage and clean mobility. He has designed plans and programs, developed leading-edge policies for governments and others, assessed the potential – technical, economic and achievable – of solutions across vast markets, and advised on evaluation, cost-effectiveness frameworks and a host of other issues. Among his more enjoyable endeavours: designing public policies and market strategies, brainstorming with the team on methodology, helping clients tackle complex problems, translating findings into a clear narrative, testifying at regulatory hearings, public speaking, and serving on the boards of organizations with a public purpose.
Philippe is the co-founder of both Efficiency Canada and the Montreal Climate Fund, acted as chaired Quebec’s Electrification Working Group, and worked as a member of the Canadian Task Force for a Resilient Recovery. Philippe was also recognized as one of Canada’s Clean50 for 2021.
Dr. Blake Shaffer, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and School of Public Policy, University of Calgary; Energy Policy Fellow, C.D. Howe Institute
Blake Shaffer is the Energy Policy Fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics and School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary. His work focusses on electricity markets, climate policy and energy transitions. He uses empirical methods to evaluate policy effectiveness and better understand consumer and firm behaviour.
Prior to returning to academia, Shaffer had a 15 year career in energy trading, specializing in electricity, natural gas and emissions markets. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Calgary, Master of Philosophy in economics from the University of Cambridge and a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from Queen’s University. He has recently held visiting scholar and Fulbright postdoctoral scholar positions at the Toulouse School of Economics and Stanford University.
His recent research has been published in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, Canadian Journal of Economics and the Energy Journal. His popular writing has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, Postmedia, CBC, and other media outlets. Shaffer has also served as policy advisor for the governments of Alberta, British Columbia and Canada on energy and environmental policy matters.
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