Pablo Pina

Dr.Maureen's Bio

Maureen Kolla | Solas Energy, Director of Grid Modernization & ESG
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

Maureen Kolla has over eight years of experience in the renewable and alternative energy sector, most in technology development and funding. Maureen joined Solas Energy in 2021 after leading and growing the Renewable and Alternative Energy program with Alberta Innovates.

Skilled in research, strategic planning, project funding and proposal development, technical evaluations, fostering collaborative relationships, and effective communications, she brings a diverse skillset. Maureen developed funding programs to support geothermal energy, energy storage, smart grid, and clean technologies. She has a deep understanding of the Alberta electricity framework and the electricity industry.

Maureen is the founder of the Alberta Smart Grid Consortium, which consists of the Alberta Distribution Facility Owners, the Alberta Ministry of Energy, and Alberta Innovates. Maureen holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and a Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Solas Energy

Trent's Bio

Director of Community and Indigenous Affairs | Cenovus Energy
Round Table Topic: Indigenous Housing Initiative

Trent Zacharias is Director of Community and Indigenous at Cenovus Energy. In his role with Cenovus he is responsible for leading the company’s engagement with Indigenous peoples, ranging from consultation and business development, to Indigenous housing and broader inclusion initiatives.

Trent is also responsible for leading Cenovus’s social investment team, which focuses on developing strategic partnerships with non-profit organizations such as Inside Education, and Cenovus’s employee volunteering and giving program.

Cenovus Energy

Trina's Bio

Trina Innes | Executive Director, Sustainability Services, Alberta Municipalities
Future of Energy Panel (Friday 10:30-11:30)

Trina is Executive Director of Sustainability Services at Alberta Municipalities where she leads a portfolio of climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives including the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre and Clean Energy Improvement Program. Trina was recognized by the Women in Energy Transition Series in 2022, and as a Clean16 honoree in 2020 for national leadership in sustainability. Previously she served as a Chief Sustainability Officer in higher education. Trina is a Certified Climate Change Professional (CC-P®), Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP™), and corporate director (ICD.D). 

Municipal Climate Change Action Centre

Alberta Municipalities

Lisa's Bio

Lisa Dryden | Environmental Innovation and Research Advisor, Vertex Resource Group Ltd.
Innovation Gallery (Saturday morning)

Lisa Dryden, Environmental Innovation and Research Advisor with Vertex Resource Group Ltd., holds a BSc. in Environmental and Conservation Sciences, majoring in Land Reclamation from the University of Alberta, and a Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) Designation in Alberta. She started her career as an Environmental Scientist where she consulted on remediation and reclamation projects for upstream oil and gas.

Also working in the non-profit world, she fostered relationships that promoted an industry association and the environment industry with other industry sectors and levels of government. Lisa currently works in Research and Development at Vertex Resource Group Ltd., focusing on managing and expanding projects that better the environment industry and promotes the company’s long-term success. 

Vertex