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Executive Committee Members
Edouard Clement
Executive director - Energy Modelling Hub
An engineer by training, Edouard Clement holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics from Polytechnique Montréal. Formerly a Research Associate at the ETS, he also worked for the hydro division of General Electric, before joining, in 2005, Ecole Polytechnique research centre on Life Cycle Assessment (CIRAIG), where he participated and managed hundred of LCA projects. Edouard has nearly 20 years’ experience in management of organizations, as well as in data-driven strategic social and environmental responsibility consulting. He co-founded in 2009 the Canadian branch of the life cycle assessment consultancy Quantis and served as vice-president of corporate responsibility services at Groupe AGÉCO. He was also an entrepreneur-in-residence and the director of the innovation hubs at an impact start-up accelerator before cofounding in 2019 Novisto, an ESG data management software developer. He is a recognized expert in the field of life cycle assessment, GHG accounting, ESG data management and ecodesign.
Louis Beaumier
Executive director - Institut de l'énergie Trottier
Louis Beaumier is the Executive Director of the Institut de l’énergie Trottier (IET) at Polytechnique Montréal since its inception. An electrical engineer by training, he worked for almost two decades in the software industry where he has been involved in various application domains, ranging from distributed immersive simulation systems to speech recognition interfaces. The experience he has acquired over the years in his various positions – from developer to R&D director – lead him to see that a misunderstood problem, like a poorly presented solution, is often the main source of difficulties in a project. After many years in product management, where he acted on both understanding the need and presenting the solution, came the opportunity to join the IET at his alma mater, adding the sense of engagement that was missing from his previous duties. He has since been actively involved at expanding IET’s dissemination of knowledge mission stream, by organizing workshops and conferences, writing reports, or fostering partnership and collaboration.
Madeleine Mc Pherson
Assistant professor - University of Victoria
Madeleine McPherson is an Assistant Professor in the department of Civil Engineering at the University of Victoria and the principal investigator of the Sustainable Energy Systems Integration & Transitions (SESIT) Group. McPherson and her team is developing an integrated modelling framework to explore electrification and energy systems integration for deep decarbonization. As Executive Member of the Energy Modelling Initiative, she co-led efforts to convene a national dialog between modelers and stakeholders around decarbonizing Canada’s energy system. Prior to joining the University of Victoria, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) where she published numerous papers on topics related to energy systems modelling, including variable renewable energy integration, storage remuneration and policy, and demand response implementation. 
Normand Mousseau
Professor - Université de Montréal
Normand Mousseau is Professor of physics at Université de Montréal and, since 2016, Scientific director of the Institut de l’énergie Trottier (IET) at Polytechnique Montréal. Over the years, he has created a number of organisations that play a major role in science and evidence-based action. Between 2010 and 2013, Normand Mousseau has led the creation of Calcul Québec, which operates the supercomputing services and facilities for most universities in Québec as part of Compute Canada. In 2013-2014, he served as co-chair of Québec’s touring Commission sur les enjeux énergétiques du Québec that prepared the ground for Québec’s energy policy. He was co-proposer of the winning proposal that created the Canadian Institute for Climate Choice and he is a board member of this institute. He is co-founder of the Transition Accelerator and has co-led the Energy modelling initiative. These evidence-based organisations focus on engaging a wide-range of stakeholders and interested parties to advance various issues.
Blake Shaffer
Assistant professor - University of Calgary
Blake Shaffer is an Assistant Professor in the department of economics and School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary where he teaches courses on electricity markets and policy, energy transitions, and strategic environmental planning for energy organizations. Prior to academia, he had a 15 year career in energy trading, holding senior positions at Powerex (BC Hydro), Lehman Brothers, Barclays Capital, and Transalta Corporation. He has advised several provincial governments and federal agencies in matters related to energy policy. His research has been published in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Public Policy, Energy Economics, and the Energy Journal. He is a frequent contributor to public discourse, with his popular writing appearing in the Globe and Mail, CBC, Maclean’s, The Conversation, and other media outlets.
Mark Winfield
Professor- York University
Mark Winfield is a Professor of Environmental and Urban Change at York University. He is also Co-Chair of the Faculty's Sustainable Energy Initiative, and Coordinator of the Joint Master of Environmental Studies/Juris Doctor program offered in conjunction with Osgoode Hall Law School. He has published articles, book chapters and reports on a wide range of climate change, environment and energy law and policy topics. He is co-editor of Sustainable Energy Transitions in Canada (UBC Press 2023).
Team Members
Bipasa Agrawal
Modelling Specialist and Software Developper
As a software developer with a Bachelor of Computer Science from the University of Victoria, Bipasa brings a specialized focus on energy system modeling to her projects at SESIT and EMH. Her technical expertise encompasses Python, SQL, Docker, and cloud technologies, which she leverages to enhance the functionality and efficiency of models. She has developed Python-based tools for visualizing energy networks, optimizing energy flows, and enhancing analytical capabilities. Her work includes significant contributions to the CODERS database and refinements to the SILVER model, where she implemented changes that significantly boosted its efficiency and performance. Her experience with containerization has enabled her to deploy scalable and efficient solutions on cloud platforms using Docker, and she manages workflows with Kubernetes to maintain the robust performance of the SILVER model.
Ahnaf Ahmed
Lead Backend Engineer
Ahnaf graduated from the University of Victoria in 2022 with a Bachelor's in Software Engineering and specialization in Data Mining and AI/ML. While attending, he was a member of the Engineering Student Society serving as Director of IT for a year. He represented UVic in the programming division at the Western Engineering Competition in 2020, achieving first place. Through the Engineering department's co-op program Ahnaf has worked on various projects from low level hardware to cloud systems. Ahnaf is currently a member of the Sustainable Energy Systems Integration & Transition group (SESIT). Ahnaf is currently the lead developer of the CODERS database and API.
Alexandre Augustin
Modelling Specialist
Alexandre Augustin holds a master's degree in Industrial Engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, specializing in optimization and data science. His thesis focused on creating an optimization model for planning maintenance activities of mobile equipment in underground mines. This work solidified his expertise in mathematical modeling and statistics. His skills extend to operations research, integer linear programming, constraint programming, graph theory, and network flow optimization. Proficient in CPLEX Optimization Studio, Alexandre is also skilled in SQL data manipulation tools and techniques. His programming abilities include Python and Matlab. Additionally, he is knowledgeable in optimizing production and maintenance processes. Alexandre also has a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, which provided him with a solid foundation in the field.
Dr. Muhammad Awais
Research Analyst - SESIT
Muhammad Awais is a Research Analyst, leading the development of the Canadian Integrated Assessment Model (MESSAGEix-Canada). He is also affiliated with the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) as a Research Scholar in the Energy, Climate, and Environment program, where he has contributed for the past five years. Awais has played a key role in large-scale projects focused on developing integrated multi-sectoral scenario across various scales( global, regional, and national). His research interests include understanding optimal pathways for the energy, water, and land sectors, with a particular focus on climate action and its associated impacts. His work emphasizes the development of integrated assessment models that answers 'what-if' questions for the future. In addition to his research, Awais has actively participated in multiple stakeholder events, where he has trained stakeholders and policymakers, helping them understand complex models and transform them into actionable, impactful policies. Awais obtained his Doctorate in Civil Engineering from the University of Victoria, with a focus on climate adaptation scenarios in the energy, water, and land domains. He possesses a Master of Science degree in Hydro Science & Engineering from the Technical University Dresden, Germany, and a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences, Pakistan.
Deven Azevedo
Project Director - Open Insights
Deven is Project Director of the Open Insights project, a collaboration between SESIT and partnering organizations focused on developing open-source energy-economy datasets, models and visualization tools for the Canadian modelling and climate policy community. Prior to SESIT, Deven worked in environmental economic consulting in the United Kingdom, where he led model development teams focusing on climate & nature transition and physical risk modelling for financial institutions. Deven received his Master's in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and Bachelor's in Economics from Simon Fraser University. Through his academic work, Deven has publications on climate science as well as environmental economics topics. In his spare time, Deven can be found trail running, road cycling, kiteboarding or being made fun of by his friends for still calling his apartment his “flat”.
Evan Dungate
Software developer - SESIT
Evan graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor's in Software Engineering in 2022. While there he served as the Vice President of Academics for the Engineering Student Society and was the president of the UVic Surf Club. Through the engineering department's co-op program, he has acquired extensive experience with massive datasets, energy system models, and requirements engineering. Currently, he is interested in creating illustrative data visualizations of complex energy systems, full-stack development, and facilitating teamwork within software projects. Outside of work, Evan loves the outdoors and the preservation of our natural habitats here in BC. You can find him organizing a beach cleanup, hiking, biking, diving, fishing, or surfing at least one day of the week.
Cristiano Fernandes
Software Developer - SESIT
Electrical engineer with a specialization in digital and embedded systems. Passionate about engineering problems and problem solving, I have mainly worked in the energy research field, applying operations research and mathematical programming skills to model the energy sector in Canada. When spending time on my own, or with friends, I usually like to play the piano, read, or practice a sport.
Zach Gould
Post-doctoral fellow - SESIT
Leveraging lessons from nature, Zachary strives to instill the intelligence of ecosystems into modern built environments. Since receiving his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University, Zachary has lived and worked in New York, Brazil, Germany, Portugal, Myanmar, and Tanzania on a variety of bio-inspired, sustainable development and renewable energy projects. He recently completed his PhD in Environmental Design and Planning from Virginia Tech as part of the BioBuild Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program. His academic ambitions encompass the research and teaching of themes related to ecological networks, energy infrastructure, machine learning, blockchain, horticulture, and regenerative community development.
Jonas Kraasch
Software Developer - SESIT
Jonas Kraasch, a skilled software engineer and deep learning. With a diverse background, he is passionate about AI and climate crisis research, volunteers with 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations, and excels in interdisciplinary projects. He is currently the lead developer of the IDEA platform.
Yalda Saedi
Modelling Specialist
Yalda Saedi, holding a Master of Applied Science in Sustainable Energy Engineering from Simon Fraser University, Canada, has collaborated on diverse energy system modelling projects. She has also conducted capacity development workshops aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, fostering partnerships between academia and governments. She developed Python-based tools that enhance open-source Climate, Land, Energy, and Water systems modelling by seamlessly incorporating high-resolution geospatial data while maintaining computational efficiency. Yalda was appointed as the energy system modelling trainer for the Energy Modeling Platform (EMP) for Latin America and the Caribbean (2022-2023), and EMP for Africa (2023). In addition to her sustainable energy expertise, with a Master of Science in Geo-information and Earth Observation from the University of Twente, Netherlands, She brings years of work and research experience in geospatial engineering and GIS, utilizing machine learning methods and cutting-edge technologies in remote sensing, photogrammetry, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Dr. Madeleine Seatle
Research Analyst - SESIT
Madeleine Seatle is an energy systems modeller with an expertise is developing linkages between models. She currently is the model linkage lead in the Open Insights project, a collaboration between SESIT, EMH, and the Clean Prosperity Foundation. She competed her B.Eng. in Civil Engineering (2019) from McMaster University and her Ph.D. (2023) in the SESIT Group at the University of Victoria. Her thesis research focused on modelling decarbonization pathways at the city-scale, with a focus on large-scale renewable energy integration and electrification. She has experience working with energy system models, such as a production cost model (SILVER) and a capacity model (COPPER), as well as demand-side models, such as a transportation model (TASHA) and a building model (EnergyPlus). Through linking demand-side models to energy system models, demand response programs were able to be explored as a means of providing flexibility to the grid.
Advisory board
The EMH can count on a dedicated Advisory Board, composed of high-level stakeholders from academia, governmental agencies and the private sector. The Advisory Board defines the strategic position of EMH, establishes its general direction, and adopts consequent yearly work plans to be executed by the EMH staff.
Hanane Dagdougui
Associate Professor,
Polytechnique Montréal 
David Foord
Associate Professor,
University of New Brunswick
Heidi Ertl
Director, Energy Statistics Program,
Statistics Canada
Sara Hastings-Simon
Assistant Professor,
University of Calgary
Pascal Lesage
Senior Program Engineer,
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Brad Little
Deputy Director, Electricity Policy
Natural Resources Canada
Alisdair McLean
Executive Director,
Net Zero Atlantic
Andrew Rowe
Professor,
University of Victoria
Alison Bailie
Senior Research Associate
Canadian Climate Institute
Kathleen Vaillancourt
President,
ESMIA Consultants
Bryce VanSluys
Director,
Canada Energy Regulator
Technical Advisory Committees - TAC
The Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) at the Energy Modelling Hub are established to provide expert advice, share best practices, and serve as a sounding board in the field of energy and electricity modelling. They are instrumental in guiding the EMH's mission to support evidence-based policymaking towards a net-zero economy, leveraging their expertise to inform and shape key initiatives.
Knowledge Exchange, Training, and Policy Impact
This committee is at the forefront of facilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise within the energy modelling community. It concentrates on the creation and implementation of effective training programs, the dissemination of best practices, and the establishment of connections with policy influencers and decision-makers. Its overarching objective is to convert complex modelling insights into clear, actionable policy recommendations, thereby significantly enhancing the influence of energy modelling on policy formulation and implementation.
Members

Kamyar Amirmoeini, HEC Montreal/GERAD

Christine Chen, The University of British Columbia

Evamy Hill Geoffrey, Bow Valley College

Conrad Fox, EPE

Peter Johnston, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Pierre-Marie Manach, Artelys

Julia McNally, Toronto Hydro

Glasha Obrekht, ECCC

Paisley Sim, Transition Accelerator

William Scott, Simon Fraser University

John St-Laurent O’Connor, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Isabel Taylor, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors

Jason Wang, Pembina Institute

Open Data Governance and Quality Assurance
This TAC is dedicated to crafting and maintaining robust governance structures for managing open data. It plays a pivotal role in ensuring the quality, reliability, and accessibility of data sources. The committee's work includes overseeing data sourcing, verification, and standardization practices. Its primary goal is to cultivate a reliable and transparent open data environment, fundamental for accurate and effective energy modelling.
Members

Rene Beaudoin, Statistics Canada (CCEI)

Michael Bourque, University of New Brunswick

Richard Hendriks, University of Toronto

Chris Krasowski, Natural Resources Canada

Stephane Leblanc, Natural Resources Canada

Christopher McNevin, CanmetENERGY Ottawa

Mohamed Osman, Sustainability Solutions Group (SSG)

Mehrdad Pirnia, University of Waterloo

Shaddy Shokralla, Ontario Power Generation

Geordie Sinclaire, AESO

Johanne Whitmore, HEC Montréal | Chair in Energy Sector Management

Open-Source Modelling Platform
The key responsibility of this TAC is the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of an integrated, open-source platform for energy system modelling. It deals with the critical technical aspects such as platform functionality, user experience, and models interoperability. This committee is also tasked with integrating new models and datasets, striving to build a comprehensive, intuitive, and versatile modelling environment that caters to the needs of researchers, policymakers, and industry experts alike.
Members

Mohammed Alkatheri, Net Zero Atlantic

Daniel Broid Krauze, BC Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions

Sébastien Debia, Natural Resources Canada

Bissan Ghaddar, Ivey Business School

Brett Kerrigan, Building Decarbonization Alliance

Elizaveta Kuznetsova, ESMIA

Jean-Sébastien Landry, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Hao Liu, AltaLink

Ata Malfuzi, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)

Charles Marois, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors

William Marcus, SSG

Sean McCoy, University of Calgary

Taco Niet, SFU Sustainable Energy Engineering

Mehrdad Pirnia, UWaterloo

Luis Ricardez-Sandoval, University of Waterloo

Dominic Rivest, Hydro-Québec

Cameron Wade, Sutubra

Steven Wong, CanmetENERGY in Varennes