Archived events

April 2, 2024 @ Vancouver, BC

Meet the panelists

Mark is a professor since 1986 at Simon Fraser University, interrupted in 1992-97 while he served as Chair and CEO of the British Columbia Utilities Commission. His PhD is in energy economics from the University of Grenoble, and his research focus is the design and application of energy- economy models for assessing climate policies. Internationally, Mark has served on the IPCC, the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, and the Global Energy Assessment, and domestically on the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy and the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the CD Howe Institute, and in 2009 was named British Columbia Academic of the Year. He is one of eight professors at Simon Fraser University awarded the title, Distinguished Professor, and currently directs the School of Resource and Environmental Management.
He has published over 100 academic papers. In 2006, his Sustainable Fossil Fuels won the Donner Prize for top policy book in Canada. His latest book is The Citizen’s Guide for Climate Success.

Mr. Slater joined the FortisBC family in 2010 and has led various parts of the business, including labour and employee relations, disability management, pensions, FortisBC Alternative Energy Services Inc. and regulatory affairs. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Victoria, a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from UBC and is a Registered Professional Forester, a Chartered Professional Accountant as well as a Certified Human Resources Professional.

Karen has had a long and successful career as a policy expert and advocate for energy and climate matters, nature conservation and responsible forestry.
Between 2015 - 2022, Karen worked at the Pembina Institute, first as the the Director of Buildings and Urban Solutions Program, then as the Regional Director for B.C. During this time, she led advances in program strategy, policy research, and government relations. Karen served as a member of the BC Climate Solutions Council between 2017 - 2024.
Currently, as an independent consultant, Karen supports clients to advance climate and nature conservation goals. She helps organizations and decision makers understand best practices in progressive climate and energy policy, designs communications and engagement strategies, and facilitates solutions-oriented dialogue. Karen was recently appointed to the board of B.C. Hydro and is an inaugural board member of the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre.
For her work, Karen was named one of Business in Vancouver's most influential business leaders in B.C. and a Georgia Straight Trailblazer. She is also a recipient of the Foresight Industry Impact Award.

Barry Penner, KC is a practicing lawyer with extensive political and international experience. As of December 2023, Mr. Penner is also Chair of BC Energy Futures Institute.
Previously, Mr. Penner served as BC’s Minister of Environment, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Attorney General during his four terms representing Chilliwack and the eastern Fraser Valley in the BC Legislature (1996-2012). During this time, he also served as both President and Vice President for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER). As Minister of Environment, Penner introduced BC’s first climate action plan which included North America’s first revenue-neutral carbon tax in 2008.