Agenda

Program Sponsor

Program

Registration (Open All Day)

7:00 AM - 14:00 PM

Breakfast

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Opening Remarks

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Opening Keynote Speaker

9:15 AM - 9:30 AM

Hon. Stephen Crawford

Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement

Hon. Stephen Crawford

Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement

Stephen Crawford was elected as the Member for Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Oakville in 2018, in 2022, and again in 2025. On March 19, 2025, he was appointed as Ontario’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, overseeing the delivery of vital programs and services through ServiceOntario, the implementation of consumer protection laws in the province, and the development of public policy around cyber security as well as groundbreaking technologies like AI. He also manages public sector procurement and supply chain operations, ensuring ministries, hospitals, school boards, provincial agencies and more, have access to high-quality, timely, reliable products that are also cost-effective. Prior to his latest appointment he served as Ontario’s Associate Minster of Mines and as Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministers of Finance, Energy, and Infrastructure. Before entering public service, Stephen served in senior leadership and executive roles in the financial and investment industry over the past 20 years. As a senior executive and senior equity partner at Acuity Funds Ltd, he was instrumental in growing the firm to almost $10 billion in managed assets and was acquired by AGF Management Ltd. in 2011. After Acuity, Stephen became a senior executive and helped transition and build O’Leary Funds LP before it was purchased by Canoe Financial in 2016

Panel #1 - Data Centres - The Next Strategic Market for Nuclear

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Whitney Villalobos

Managing Director, Accenture

Moderator

Whitney Villalobos

Managing Director, Accenture

As Accenture’s Data Center Industry Lead for our Infrastructure & Capital Projects practice, I partner with the world’s leading hyperscalers, colocation providers, and enterprises to plan, deliver, and scale mission-critical digital infrastructure. I lead teams that provide Owner’s Representative services across the full lifecycle of capital projects — from strategy and site selection to engineering, procurement, installation, commissioning, and operational readiness. Our focus is on protecting client interests while enabling speed, scalability, and resilience. Drawing on my background in manufacturing, modular construction, and advanced digital tools, I help clients transform how data centers are designed and built — applying AI, automation, and industrialized delivery methods to accelerate time-to-market and unlock capacity for AI, HPC, and next-generation workloads. At Accenture, we’re not just supporting construction; we’re shaping the future of data center delivery at scale, ensuring that sustainability, resilience, and innovation remain at the core of every build.

Laurent Boinot

Power & Utility Americas Leader, Microsoft

Laurent Boinot

Power & Utility Americas Leader, Microsoft

Results-driven bilingual Professional. 15 years’ experience increasing business value through consulting and cloud software. Passionate about education, innovation and entrepreneurship. I regularly consult with and coach Fortune 500 executives on digital transformation and disruptive technologies. Previous projects focused on security, financial services, enterprise solutions, education.

Ahab Abdel-Aziz

Partner & Global Director, Nuclear Power Generation, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP

Ahab Abdel-Aziz

Partner & Global Director, Nuclear Power Generation, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP

Partner and Global Director of Nuclear Power Generation at Gowlings. I have more than 30 years’ experience advising leading members of the Canadian and international nuclear energy sector and government agencies in policy and legislative development, project development and finance, licensing and compliance, and disputes. Represented clients in technically complex civil and regulatory disputes, including recent multi-billion dollar nuclear project arbitration. Chair of the Board of Directors of the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries, Director and immediately past President of the Canadian Nuclear Law Organization, and past member of the International Nuclear Law Association’s Board of Governors and Chair of its Regulatory Affairs Working Group. I am also the co-author and co-editor of the Canadian Brownfields Manual.

Jeffrey Smith

Managing Director, Hydro One Indigenous Partnerships Inc., Hydro One Networks Inc.

Jeffrey Smith

Managing Director, Hydro One Indigenous Partnerships Inc., Hydro One Networks Inc.

Jeffrey Smith has over 30 years of experience in the utility industry, including 25 years with Hydro One. He has held senior leadership roles in regulatory affairs, finance, IT, outsourcing, and transmission pursuits and partnerships, giving him a unique strategic perspective on the evolving energy landscape. In recent years, Jeffrey has focused on the large transmission customer segment, including data centres. With deep expertise in regulatory frameworks and digital infrastructure, he offers valuable insight into how the electricity and data centre industries can align to meet future energy challenges.

Carla Carmichael

Director, Ontario Energy Board

Carla Carmichael

Director, Ontario Energy Board

Ms. Carmichael is a senior leader with more than 30 years of experience in financial, commercial and strategic risk management, as well as infrastructure project planning and execution. She brings to the Board significant energy industry expertise including a strong focus on nuclear finance, rate regulation and projects, which she gained while working at Ontario Power Generation for more than 14 years. She currently serves as a council member on the Council for Clean and Reliable Energy and on the Board of Governors for Ontario Tech University.

Jordan Penic

Vice President, Sussex Strategy Group

Jordan Penic

Vice President, Sussex Strategy Group

Coffee Break AM

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Panel #2 - Nuclear Energy for Data Infrastructure

11:00AM - 12:00 AM

Jennifer Wong

National Power Generation Leader, Accenture

Moderator

Jennifer Wong

National Power Generation Leader, Accenture

Jennifer is a management consultant specializing in the nuclear, utilities, and clean technology sectors. With over 20 years of experience at one of North America's largest clean power generators, she blends a passion for innovation with deep industry expertise. Jennifer’s extensive background includes Nuclear New Build and Refurbishment Projects, Cybersecurity, Design Engineering, and Information Management. Recognized as an industry expert, Jennifer excels in tackling complex challenges in the energy sector including digitalization, cyber resilience, and the advancement of clean energy projects. Jennifer is passionate about girls’ education and mentoring the next generation of energy leaders. She currently serves on the Board of Governors at Havergal College.

Steve Fernandes

Co-founder & Director, New Nuclear, Nuclear Promise X

Steve Fernandes

Co-founder & Director, New Nuclear, Nuclear Promise X

Skilled Program Leader with experience driving engineering, construction management and commissioning projects on major nuclear power plant refurbishment campaigns. Steve is driven to innovate, challenge, and make change happen. He has managed multi-disciplinary engineering and construction projects and has the ability to lead and integrate teams with a focus on strategic execution, cost savings, risk management, and process efficiency. Steve is a mentor, teacher, and champion of dad jokes at NPX. He believes culture is bound by smiles and being there for each other.

Kirsten Saguil

Senior Manager, Strategy and Business Development, OPG

Kirsten Saguil

Senior Manager, Strategy and Business Development, OPG

Strategic-minded Associate Director with over ten years of experience in infrastructure advisory at KPMG UK and Canada. In my role, I helped my clients develop the economic, financial and strategic evidence they needed to secure funding and approval for large scale infrastructure investments that ultimately make a meaningful impact on local economic growth and wellbeing. Given the high-profile nature of the projects I’ve worked on, I am confident in my ability to lead teams and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholder groups to achieve shared objectives. The economic infrastructure projects I have worked on include public transport, highways, ports, residential and commercial development, education, innovation, and health science. This demonstrates my ability to adapt and tackle issues from first principles. I am also passionate about fostering inclusive working environments and promoting diversity in the infrastructure sector.

TBD

Lunch Break

12:00 AM - 13:00 AM

Panel #3 - Co-Location Business Models and Financing

13:00 PM - 14:00 PM

Michael Borron

Broker - Associate Vice President, Cushman & Wakefield

Moderator

Michael Borron

Broker - Associate Vice President, Cushman & Wakefield

Michael is an Associate Vice President and licensed Broker at Cushman & Wakefield, specializing in data center real estate across North America. With over 10 years within the Global Data Center Advisory Group, he has built extensive expertise in site selection, investment sales, and strategic consulting for hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise clients. Michael combines analytical rigor with deep market insight to guide clients through complex power, land, and connectivity considerations. He has led and supported major projects for Fortune 100 technology firms, institutional investors, and global infrastructure operators—spanning development site acquisitions, capital market transactions, and off-market mandates.

Carl Marcotte

SVP Marketing & Business Development, Candu Energy Inc., an AtkinsRéalis Company

Carl Marcotte

SVP Marketing & Business Development, Candu Energy Inc., an AtkinsRéalis Company

As Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Business Development, Carl Marcotte is responsible for business growth and sales of the Canadian-developed CANDU® nuclear reactor. Before joining Atkins Réalis in 2020, Carl Marcotte was President & CEO of Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) in Ottawa. While there, he led a team of international contracting and risk management professionals who reported to Parliament through the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. He was responsible for developing new business opportunities for Canadian exporters selling to foreign governments while providing assurance of Canadian capabilities and acting as the prime contractor to close major opportunities. Previously, Carl spent 24 years at Export Development Canada and Nortel Networks managing teams of financing professionals. He also held similar business development roles within SNC-Lavalin Nuclear, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL). Other Experience and Education: Carl is a retired Canadian Armed Forces Reserve Intelligence Officer. He has been a speaker for Historica Canada for over 20 years, educating students about Canada's Military history. He has sat on multiple boards, including Forum for International Trade Training (FITT), Wavefront, Heritage College Foundation and was Chair for three years of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. He is a project financing professional by training and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University and an MBA from McGill University.

Benoit Parent

Chief Security Officer & Vice President, Power Generation Business and Nuclear Operations, Cummins Inc.

Benoit Parent

Chief Security Officer & Vice President, Power Generation Business and Nuclear Operations, Cummins Inc.

Jay Surina

Managing Director, Pelican Energy Partners

Jay Surina

Managing Director, Pelican Energy Partners

TBD

Coffee Break PM

14:00 AM - 14:20 AM

Panel #4 - Building Alliances—Nuclear and Tech Industry Collaboration

14:20 PM - 15:20 AM

Josh Rusak

Managing Director, Accenture

Moderator

Josh Rusak

Managing Director, Accenture

As a Managing Director at Accenture Canada, based in Toronto, I’ve spent the past two decades working at the intersection of transit infrastructure and technology—helping clients rethink how we deliver large-scale capital projects in ways that are more transparent, predictable, and sustainable. My background is in leading complex technology programs, particularly in the transit space. My current focus is on infrastructure delivery and I bring a practical, systems-oriented mindset to the work—grounded in logic, and shaped by years of experience navigating the realities of public and private sector collaboration. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I know how to bring the right people together to solve the right problems. I’m especially interested in how we can make better decisions about what we build and how we build it—using digital tools not for the sake of innovation, but to address real-world constraints like aging assets, labour shortages, and climate resilience. We need to be smart about how we allocate funds and design infrastructure that works in practice—not just in theory. Outside of work, I’m interested in how cities function and evolve. I care about transit, cycling, and sustainability—not because they’re buzzwords, but because they’re part of what makes urban life more livable. I’m also an avid concertgoer and music enthusiast, always on the lookout for a great live show in a great city! If you’re working at the intersection of infrastructure and innovation—whether that’s capital project delivery, transit systems, or digital tooling—I’d be glad to connect and exchange ideas

Ivette Vera-Perez

President & CEO, OCNI

Ivette Vera-Perez

President & CEO, OCNI

Ivette Vera-Perez is a recognized leader with over 20 years of experience in energy, cleantech, and sustainability. Her background includes strategic planning, business development, and advancing low-carbon solutions through cross-sector collaboration. She holds a Master of Applied Science from UBC and an MBA from McGill University. Before joining the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI), Ivette served as President and CEO of the Canadian Hydrogen Association, where she led the rebranding the organization, expanded its national footprint and more than doubled its membership base. She worked closely with the federal government to advance Canada’s Hydrogen Strategy. Earlier, she led the national industry team at Mitacs and managed over $275 million in GHG reduction programs at the Ontario Centres of Innovation. Ivette has served on the boards of Canada Cleantech Alliance and the Atlantic Hydrogen Alliance, is a founding Director of the Ontario Clean Technology Industry Association (OCTIA) and currently sits on the NRC’s Clean Energy Innovation Research Centre Advisory Board.

Kim Osborne Rodriguez

Senior Manager, Digital Strategy, OPG

Kim Osborne Rodriguez

Senior Manager, Digital Strategy, OPG

I’m a connector, facilitator, and catalyst - someone who thrives at the intersection of people, strategy, and impact. With a background in engineering and a strong business sense, I bring structure to ambiguity and momentum to complex, high-stakes work. I’m known for helping teams get unstuck - whether by reframing a challenge, translating complex ideas for executive audiences, or guiding groups toward clear, confident decisions. At Ontario Power Generation, I lead enterprise-wide digital strategy across a regulated, multi-stakeholder environment. My work helps shape long-term investment, operational transformation, and technology integration at scale. I’m often called on to support sensitive, cross-functional initiatives spanning technology, business, executive and Board stakeholders - trusted to bring the right tone, ask the right questions, and get to the heart of what matters. What drives me is helping people see the value in their work and how it connects to a bigger picture. I lead with clarity and purpose, and I’m at my best when I’m working across diverse teams, balancing big-picture thinking with grounded, actionable progress. Where I add the most value: • Facilitating alignment across functions, at both the working and executive level, to deliver impact • Helping senior leaders articulate and communicate their strategy effectively • Supporting teams through transition, uncertainty, or organizational change • Creating strong, values-driven teams and collaborative cultures • Building trust in politically sensitive environments - without losing focus or momentum I believe strong strategy lifts everyone. And while I care deeply about outcomes, I care just as much about how we get there.

Stellina Williams

Stellina Williams

Stellina has worked for the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII) since its inception in 2019 – beginning as its first Executive Director -responsible for setting up the organizations structures and operations including all polices, processes and procedures. Stellina continues to provide strategic leadership within the organization and, is responsible for the overall management of the not-for-profit member-based organization. Stellina has over two decades of experience providing sound policy, program development and operational advice, guidance, support, expertise and recommendations to leaders in the public, private and not for profit sectors on: sector/ industry economic development including nuclear, agriculture, immigration, and automotive; rural and regional economic development; industry innovation programs and policies; not for profit governance, and in-career training and development. She has led numerous multi-faceted, multi-stakeholder projects throughout her career, including developing multi-million-dollar funding programs, private-public partnerships, government and not for profit sector policies, strategies, and not for profit entities, while managing all aspects from consultation to development to execution and evaluation. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from Queen’s University and an undergraduate honours degree in Political Science and is currently a Ward 1 Councillor for the Municipality of Kincardine

Kathleen Kauth

Chief Operating Officer, Mantle Climate

Kathleen Kauth

Chief Operating Officer, Mantle Climate

Kathleen is a clean technology and climate strategy professional. As Mantle’s COO, Kathleen’s overarching goal is to empower her teammates and clients to improve climate performance and reduce climate risk. Kathleen leads Mantle’s work in the data center industry. She is a member of the iMasons Climate Accord Power Working Group and a founding member of the iMasons Canada Chapter. She loves working in digital infrastructure because, while it faces many sustainability challenges, many of the people within it are willing to face them. Prior to Mantle, Kathleen worked for almost 15 years across cleantech start-ups focused on solar project development, battery optimization and demand response. Before committing her career to the fight against climate change, Kathleen’s professional journey began in athletics, having won an Olympic medal in Torino, Italy, and two World Championship medals in women’s ice hockey. She has an undergraduate degree from Brown University in Biology/ Pre-Medicine, as well as a master’s degree in International Public Health from Boston University. A life-long learner, she has completed the three CFA exams, and is continually taking online courses in various subjects, from accounting to history.

Martin Green, Ph.D.

Director, Boltzmann Institute

Martin Green, Ph.D.

Director, Boltzmann Institute

Martin is a theoretical physicist with a passion for conceptual understanding. For many years he was a senior research scientist at the Ontario Hydro Research Division, with projects spanning transmission, distribution, generation, and IT. This included experimental and analytical studies of nuclear fuel channels and primary heat transfer following a pressure tube rupture at Pickering NGS Unit 2 in 1983. Having architected, developed, and supported an integrated computing and networking environment for research, Martin transitioned to work on information security, operations risk management, governance, and enterprise architecture in financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications. He retired early to return to research on the foundations of space, time, matter, quantum physics, cosmology, and consciousness. This included publications on anomalous galaxy rotation, gravitational waves, and elimination of problematic infinities in elementary particle theory. More recently his focus shifted to climate change; he co-founded the Boltzmann Institute (bi-ib.ca) in 2022 to help obtain government funding and has spent the past three years studying how to most reliably achieve building decarbonization by 2050.

Closing Remarks

15:20 PM - 15:30 PM

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