Board Members

Chair/CEO

Chair - Accountability Profile

Peter Watson (Chair/CEO)

Biographical Snapshot:

• Deputy Minister, Executive Council, Government of Alberta. 2011-2014.
• Deputy Minister, Alberta Energy, Government of Alberta. 2008-2011.
• President, Clean Air Strategic Alliance, a multi-stakeholder alliance composed of representatives selected by industry, government and non-government organizations, to provide strategies to assess and improve air quality for Albertans, using a collaborative consensus process, 2005-2011.
• President, Alberta Water Council, a multi-stakeholder partnership with 24 Members from governments, industry, and non-government organizations. Its primary task is to monitor and steward implementation of the Alberta’s Water for Life strategy and to champion achievement of the strategy’s three goals, namely, a safe, secure drinking water supply, healthy aquatic ecosystems and reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy, 2005-2008.
• Deputy Minister, Alberta Environment, Government of Alberta. 2005-2008.
• Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Assurance Division, Alberta Environment, Government of Alberta. 2002-2005.

Professional Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• Member of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta.
• Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering
• Completed Directors Education Program through the Institute of Corporate Directors.
• Named Alberta’s Resource Person of the Year, 2011.
• B.Sc. Civil Engineering.

Vice-Chair

Vice-Chair - Accountability Profile

Lyne Mercier (Vice-Chair)

Biographical Snapshot:

• Before joining the NEB, Ms. Mercier worked at Gaz Métro for over 29 years, serving 10 years in executive positions. At Gaz Métro she was Director of the gas supply division, where she was responsible for strategic policy related to natural gas supply and, for the management of natural gas transmission, storage and supply contracts. Prior to that, she was head of the pricing division, where she was responsible for toll design and cost-of-service allocation studies.

Professional Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• Bachelor of Commerce, St. Mary’s University.
• Executive MBA from l’École des Hautes Études Commerciales.

Members

Accountability Profile

Roland George

Biographical Snapshot:

• Mr. George has worked primarily in the private energy sector for over three decades. He was Senior Principal at Purvin & Gertz, an international energy-consulting firm (1998-2006; Calgary). There Mr. George led the North American natural gas practice. He also held increasingly senior positions with: the Canadian Energy Research Institute (Vice President Electricity & Natural Gas Research; 1994-1997; Calgary), Gaz Métropolitain (Chief Economist & Executive Advisor - Strategy; Director - Marketing Programs; and other positions in gas supply, regulatory affairs, and business development; 1983-1993; Montréal), Téléglobe Canada (Advisor - Corporate & Regulatory Affairs; 1981-1983; Montréal) and Canadian Pacific Limited (Analyst - Economic & Financial Analysis; 1979-1981; Montréal).

Professional Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• Member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ (NARUC) Gas Committee and subcommittee on Pipeline Safety and was a Member of the Energy Resources and Environment Committee, the Centre for Public Utilities’ Advisory Council, and the International Association of Energy Economists.
• He was previously a member of the Executive Committee and the Chair of the Regulatory Affairs Committee of the Canadian Association of Members of the Public Utility Tribunal (CAMPUT) (now Canada’s Energy and Utility Regulators).
• Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC).
• Master’s degree in Economics (MA) from Carleton University.
• Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in Mathematics (major) and Computer Science from McGill University (1977).

Philip Davies, LLB, ICD.D

Biographical Snapshot:

• Before joining the NEB, Mr. Davies spent over 30 years of experience in acquiring, constructing and operating energy infrastructures and facilities in North America’s oil, gas and electric power industries.
• During his career, Mr. Davies has served as a member of several senior management teams - notably as Vice-President, Law and General Counsel of SaskPower; Vice-President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Encana Gas Storage; and, Associate General Counsel of Encana Midstream and Marketing.

Professional Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• Director certification from the Institute of Corporate Directors, University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management.
• Completed the Executive Development Program at the University of Western Ontario, Ivey School of Business.
• Graduate of the University of Alberta, Faculty of Law.

Shane Parrish

Biographical Snapshot:

• Mr. Parrish brings to the National Energy Board 24 years of experience in the area of community economic development in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and NE British Columbia. Over the past 18 years, Mr. Parrish has worked in consultation, indigenous business development and negotiations in the petroleum and mining industries. As a consultant in the firm he founded in 2002, he has represented First Nations clients in negotiations with major Canadian energy producers and pipeline companies, with a focus on access and benefits agreements.
• Previously, Mr. Parrish was Manager of Business Development for Canadian Petroleum Engineering Inc., where he worked with First Nations, government and industry in both Canada and Latin America. He was also the CEO of the Acho Dene Koe Corporate Group, where he oversaw the growth and development of band-owned corporations and their relationships with oil and gas companies.
• Mr. Parrish’s experience also includes five years as an Economic Development Officer with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Professional Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Calgary.
• Diploma in Social Development from the Coady International Institute - St. Francis Xavier University.
• On November 20, 2013 Member Parrish’s qualifications and competencies were reviewed by the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and was found competent to perform the duties of the position.

Murray Lytle, Ph.D.

Biographical Snapshot:

• Dr. Murray Lytle has nearly 40 years’ experience in the energy and mining sectors spanning North America, South America and Asia.
• He has held a series of senior positions in the oil, gas and mining industries. Highlights include:
  • Establishing and serving as General Manager of the Lima engineering office for H.A. Simons Ltd. (now AMEC E&C) of Vancouver, BC;
  • Working as a manager and consultant on more than 30 mining projects in North and South America and Asia.
• He served as President and owner of Tessa Resource Consultants from 2001 to 2005 and Vice-President of Development for Sienna Gold Inc. from 2005 to 2009.
• In his most recent position, he served as the Divisional Manager for Snowden Mining Industry Consultants Inc., an internationally recognized mine engineering consultancy.
• He is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Professional Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• Ph.D., Mining Engineering (Corporate Social Responsibility) from the University of British Columbia.
• Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (P.Eng.).

Steven Kelly

Biographical Snapshot:

• Mr. Steven Kelly has over 30 years of practical expertise in maximizing the potential of conventional and unconventional energy resources, and brings considerable technical and commercial knowledge of North American and global energy markets.
• Most recently he served as Vice President at IHS Energy, in the firm’s Calgary office. IHS is an international provider of market, industry and technical expertise.
• Mr. Kelly worked for 15 years at Purvin & Gertz Inc., a global independent energy consultancy, before its acquisition by IHS in 2011. He worked in the firm’s Calgary and London offices, and was a Senior Vice President and Director of the firm.
• Mr. Kelly began his career in the refining and marketing division at Shell Canada Limited. He progressed through various technical and planning roles in Sarnia, Edmonton and Calgary.

Professional Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University.
• Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University.
• Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Calgary.
• Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA).

Keith Chaulk, Ph.D.

Biographical Snapshot:

• Dr. Keith Chaulk has published numerous peer reviewed articles ranging from terrestrial and marine ecology to indigenous land use.
• His northern regulatory experience includes tenures on the Voiseys Bay Environmental Management Board, the Nunatsiavut Land Use Planning Authority, the Lower Churchill Environmental Assessment Panel.
• Dr. Chaulk has held senior leadership positions in a number of different settings.
  • From 2013-2015 he was the Vice President Indigenous with the University of the Arctic. The University of the Arctic is an international consortium of over 150 of the world’s top universities sharing an interest in promoting education and research in the North. As Vice President Indigenous (VPI) Dr. Chaulk provided strategic visioning to the UArctic leadership team and was an ex-officio member of the UArctic Board of Governors.
  • From 2007-2015 Dr. Chaulk was the Director of the Labrador Institute of Memorial University and led its revitalization and transformation into a multi-disciplinary research and education institute with a focus on sustainable development.
• Early in his career Dr. Chaulk worked on the environmental mitigation program for low level military flight training in Labrador and Quebec and conducted baseline research for the Voiseys Bay Mine/Mill environmental impact statement.
• He spent over a decade working for Environment Canada in Labrador, while mainly focused on work of the conservation branch, he also conducted work for other divisions of the department including environmental protection.

Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• B.Sc., Biology, Dalhousie University, 1994
• M.Sc., Biology, Acadia University, 2001.
• PhD, Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology, Memorial University, 2006.

Temporary Members

David Hamilton

Biographical Snapshot:

• A resident of Sidney, British Columbia, Mr. Hamilton has more than 30 years of experience working in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in the development of communities through both the parliamentary and democratic processes.
• Mr. Hamilton was Deputy Minister and Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories for 20 years. He also held the appointment as Chief Electoral Officer for the Northwest Territories. Mr. Hamilton administered the first general election for Members to the Legislative Assembly in Canada's two new Territories, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, following division of the NWT in 1999. Mr. Hamilton participated in the ratification votes for the Gwich'in Land Claim Agreement, the Sahtu Settlement Agreement and the Inuit Land Claim Settlement.
• Mr. Hamilton has been involved in the electoral process in Canada for over 30 years and has extensive experience in community development at the territorial, provincial and international level.
• The Governor in Council has re-appointed Mr. Hamilton as Temporary Board Member for a three-year term ending 30 June 2018.

Professional Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• Master's degree in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University, Victoria, British Columbia.

Alison Scott

Biographical Snapshot:

• Ms. Scott retired from the Nova Scotia government in 2012.
• During her thirty years of Public Service she served in various capacities including Clerk of the Executive Counsel and Secretary to Cabinet, Deputy Minister of Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs.
• Prior to her time as a Deputy Minister, she was a litigator with the Nova Scotia Department of Justice, specializing in administrative law and constitutional law. While with the NS Department of Energy Ms. Scott oversaw the development of Nova Scotia’s energy research strategy and was instrumental in establishing ocean energy research institutions to further advance the development of Nova Scotia’s offshore petroleum, tidal energy and carbon capture and storage opportunities.
• In 2009 Ms. Scott was seconded to Environment Canada to advise the Deputy Minister in the development of Canada’s approach to climate change negotiations.
• She is a former member of: the federal government’s Energy Sector Sustainability Table, Petroleum Research Atlantic, the Oil and Gas Administration Advisory Council (established under the Canadian Oil and Gas Act), and past chair of the Canadian Bar Association Constitutional Law and Human Rights section, a former part-time member of the faculty at Dalhousie law School, and the Attorney General’s representative on Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society Bar Council.
• She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Dalhousie Law School Alumni Association.
• Ms. Scott is the co-author of seven editions of the travel guide, “Exploring Nova Scotia” (Formac Publishing, Halifax NS).

Professional Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• Graduate of Dalhousie Law School (LLB) and St FX University (BA Hons.).
• Recipient of the Premiers Award for outstanding Public Service in 2008 and 1992.
• Recipient of the Queen’s 125^th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal (1992), for significant service to her community and Canadians.

James Ballem

Biographical Snapshot:

• Mr. Ballem has been a Board Member since 2012.
• In 2007, Mr. Ballem established an energy consulting business, with an emphasis on renewable energy
• In 2004, he became Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry. While in that portfolio he was responsible for the development of a major wind farm and the creation of the Renewable Energy Act.
• In 2000, Mr. Ballem was named Minister of Health and Social Services, a post he retained until 2003 when he was named Attorney General and Minister of Environment and Energy.
• In 1996, Mr. Ballem was elected to the PEI Legislative Assembly and served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and the Environment. This committee was responsible for developing the Implementation Strategy for the “Round Table Report on Land Use”, and conducted a review of the PEI Lands Protection Act, the legislation responsible for the ownership and use of Agricultural land.
• From 1976-1993, Mr. Ballem owned and operated a dairy farm in partnership with his father.
• In 1983, Mr. Ballem was named the first Chair of the PEI Milk Marketing Board. He served in that capacity until 1987. At that time, he was appointed as Chair of the PEI Potato Commission and the PEI representative on the Sectorial Advisory Group on International trade, a position he held until 1989.

Professional Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• Degree in Business Administration, University of Prince Edward Island.

Mike Richmond

Biographical Snapshot:

• Originally from Montréal, Québec, Mr. Richmond practices law in Toronto, Ontario at McMillan LLP, where he is Co-Chair of the Energy and Power Group. As an energy lawyer, Mr. Richmond has extensive experience in electricity, renewables and utilities.
• From 2001 to 2002, Mr. Richmond served the Government of Ontario as Senior Energy Policy Advisor during the restructuring of Ontario’s electricity markets. In addition, Mr. Richmond has served on the Boards of Directors of Toronto Hydro Corporation, the Ontario Energy Association, and the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association.
• In recent years, he has served as a guest lecturer on energy policy at Queen’s University, and has spoken and written extensively on matters relating to energy policy and regulation.

Professional Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• Law degree from the University of Toronto.
• Bachelor degree of Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa.
• Member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Jacques Gauthier

Biographical Snapshot:

• Mr. Gauthier’s most recent position before joining the Board was serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of LVM Inc., which is a national firm specializing in environmental geotechnical and energy services. Throughout his career, Mr. Gauthier has contributed to the creation and development of major energy projects in Canada, the United States and Europe. In addition, he has held the position of President and CEO of Boralex Inc., one of Canada’s largest private renewable energy producers.
• He is currently the Chairman of the Board of the Québec Wildlife Foundation.
• He has served on a wide variety of boards of directors and committees, including the Organizing Committee of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on the Public Service.
• Between 2008-2010, Mr. Gauthier was the President of the Advisory Committee on Official Languages for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.
• Mr. Gauthier is passionate about Official Languages, a guest speaker at numerous Quebec business and energy industry forums.

Professional Affiliations, Degrees and Distinctions:

• Bachelor of Law degree from the Université de Sherbrooke.
• Member of the Bar of the Province of Québec.
• In 2012 Mr. Gauthier received the Québec Mercuriades Award in recognition of excellence in Occupational Health and Safety.