Canada Focus - biographies

Tom Hughes - Executive VP, The Elementa Group

Tom Hughes has over 25 years marketing and management consulting experience having worked with many of Canada’s top 100 Corporations. Experienced in strategic planning, technology development and project management Tom brings to The Elementa Group a broad knowledge base and innovative thinking to the renewable energy sector.

John Simon - Senior Vice-President, Operations, Seaforth Energy

John is a seasoned business professional bringing hands-on operations experience in both multinational organizations and start-up businesses to Seaforth Energy. As Vice President, Operations, John is responsible for the delivery of Seaforth’s renewable energy projects and also the international sales of the Seaforth’s 50kw wind turbine, the AOC 15/50.

John was an ownership partner in an Atlantic Canadian design and construction business, which he helped grow and expand to 300% its size in less than 4 years. Past executive assignments have included technology solutions start-ups in Europe, establishing a remote development software business in North America, and consulting to businesses in a wide number of sectors including telecommunications, energy, government, logistics, and financials services. His operations background has allowed him to build and manage teams in the development and successful delivery of many complex customer solutions.

In his spare time John operates his own hobby farm and is slowly integrating renewable energy solutions into his property.

Dr Lee Thornton - Technology Development Officer, High Commission of Canada

Lee Thornton joined the Science and Technology team of the Canadian High Commission in London in September 2008 as the Technology Development Officer. His major responsibilities include the creation of technology exchange between Canadian and UK companies, universities, research institutes and associations; participating in partnering activities and promotional events to develop Canada-UK collaborations and to showcase Canadian technology and S&T infrastructure; and assisting Canadian entities in UK S&T enquiries and aiding them in their understanding of the UK science, technology and innovation landscape.

Prior to taking up this role, Lee was a Higher Scientific Officer at a major defence contractor working in the field of experimental plasma physics (2006-08), and prior to this he gained a DPhil in gas-phase spectroscopy and kinetics from the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Department at the University of Oxford in 2006. During his time in Oxford, Lee was also a College Lecturer at Trinity, St. Catherine’s and St. Peter’s colleges, teaching both physics and physical chemistry to undergraduates.

Sharolyn Vettese - CEO & Inventor, Wind Simplicity Inc

Sharolyn Vettese started Wind Simplicity Inc, with the idea that it should be possible for every house and building to have a small wind turbine that generates electricity on-site like a furnace or an air conditioner, as long as there is sufficient wind. She believed ideas have no boundaries and there are always solutions. Choosing to work with pragmatic positive people, she started with her father, Alfred Mathieu. During his lifetime, transportation changed from horseback to hybrid car. Using simplicity as a guiding principle, they designed the Windancer wind turbine that is simple but beautiful. Sharolyn has shared and individual patents-pending.

Sharolyn became an environmentalist when she left her career to become a household manager when her first son was born. Through her children she saw life's wonders. Giving back to her community, she was the volunteer community activist leader for 14 years, 12 as co-chair of a coalition of 8 ratepayer groups that participated in the tri-party "consensus planning" process that created a new downtown with the original residential neighbourhood one block away. Believing politicians and laws could best protect the environment; Sharolyn worked unsuccessfully with the traditional political parties, then as a federal and provincial Green Party candidate. She was elected as member of GPC and the GPO Council. Sharolyn is no longer active in politics. Sharolyn has authored a parenting book, and a collection of poetry.

John Woods - VP Energy Development, Minas Basin Power & Pulp

John Woods is a high energy, dynamic, entrepreneurial engineer, leader and manager and the current Vice President of Energy Development with Minas Basin Pulp and Power, located in Hantsport, Nova Scotia. Mr. Woods’ 35 years of diversified employment experience in various private, Crown and public sector organizations.

During the past decade, John has been a leader in the restructuring of the electricity industry in Nova Scotia and a Maritime Canada opinion setter; especially in helping the public understand issues around electricity supply and distribution. He was a voting member of the Electricity Marketplace Governance Committee, Market Advisory Committee, and Open Access Transmission Tariff working group.

In his current position at Minas Basin Pulp and Power, John plays a key role as chair of the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) – a non profit organization focused on the safe extraction of kinetic energy from Fundy’s tidal waters.