We respectfully acknowledge that we predominantly live and work on the ancestral lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all nations who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta. We thank these First Peoples who have cared for the land since time immemorial and recognize that this land was never surrendered, relinquished, or handed over in any way.
Our work takes us across what is known as “Canada,” and we encourage others to learn the history and territories of the Indigenous nations upon whose land we live and work. See native-land.ca (opens in a new window) for a visual depiction of traditional territories worldwide.
A Leading Canadian Greenhouse Gas Emissions Consulting Firm
Aaron’s commitment to “leave no trace” began at an early age on his family’s mixed dairy farm in rural Saskatchewan. His career has focused on energy systems and greenhouse gas quantification, reporting, and verification. He is sought after for his expertise in devising strategies to bridge the gap between theoretical and practical implementation of methodologies focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to leading Brightspot’s growing team, Aaron is currently serving as convenor of ISO TC207/SC7/TG1, responsible for coordinating ISO’s suite of climate change mitigation standards.
When he’s not sitting at the computer, Aaron enjoys spending time outside the city with friends and family hiking, skiing, and traveling. You will find Aaron at the curling rink most weekends during the long Canadian winter.
A desire to better understand the world and make it a better place has been a driving force for much of Julie’s life. She has extensive experience interpreting climate-related policies, plans, and regulations in the Canadian and American contexts. She has expertise in greenhouse gas accounting, developing and verifying greenhouse gas emissions inventories, and providing consulting services related to market-based carbon reduction programs. More recently she has focused on helping clients understand climate risk and developing strategies to thrive.
Outside of Brightspot, Julie can be found on her bicycle, hiking with the dogs, or cheering from the sidelines at the hockey rink and soccer pitch.
Sheldon has been working on climate and sustainability issues since 2012 with a wide range of stakeholders, including industry, investors, educational institutions, scientists, start-ups, NGOs, and all levels of government. He is particularly interested in helping clients navigate through the increasingly complex web of climate and energy policy and programming in Western Canada, especially in British Columbia.
Outside of the office, Sheldon stays active by running, yoga, swimming, cycling, hiking, and skiing, with the occasional surf session.
Lydia is a proud Kanyen’kehà:ka (Mohawk) member with roots in Tyendinaga, Ontario. She currently resides on Treaty 7 territory in Calgary, Alberta.
After receiving her Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University in 2017, Lydia worked in the energy industry, focusing on onshore and offshore well drilling. In 2020, Lydia brought her knowledge and passion for energy transformation to Brightspot, where she has gained extensive experience in greenhouse gas quantifications and verifications for various offset projects, regulated facilities, and corporate inventories. Since 2023, Lydia has directed over 100 consulting and verification projects as a Project Manager and Lead Verifier.
Recognizing that Indigenous people have and continue to care for and sustain the lands we call home, Lydia’s passion outside of work often involves listening to and supporting Indigenous communities around Canada on their path to sustainability. She is also working diligently to bring this passion into her work engagements.
Before joining Brightspot, Jeanna spent over 15 years working in the energy industry, mostly as a drilling engineer on projects in the Middle East, the North Sea, and Western Canada. She served a three-year term on the Board of Directors for the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Canada, where she enjoyed engaging with members while building valuable experience in board governance.
Outside of work, Jeanna is passionate about food, be it growing, sourcing, preparing, or eating. She also enjoys active outdoor pursuits, such as wilderness canoeing and skiing. Her love of outdoor pursuits and sustainable food systems are part of what drives her interest in developing sustainable energy solutions and mitigating climate change.
After starting his professional career at an investment bank in Australia, Rowley joined an oilfield services provider, which allowed him to live and work on a few different continents. Before joining Brightspot Climate, he specialized in directional drilling oil and gas wells. He is drawn to challenges requiring innovation and problem solving.
Rowley is always up for an adventure. He also has a passion for architecture and enjoys keeping up to speed on high-efficiency design and building technology.
Sustainable development has always been the core motivation for Alex’s work and volunteering endeavours because she loves exploring nature and constantly strives to create a cleaner world. At the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), she was the greenhouse coordinator for a student-built dome greenhouse. There, she designed and built a compost heating system that utilized waste materials as fuel to passively heat the greenhouse and extend the growing season in northern BC.
Outside of work, Alex enjoys staying busy and volunteering her time with sustainability-oriented organizations. In her free time, she loves hiking, skiing, and canoeing.
Sylvie is an environmental science and chemistry student from the University of British Colombia. After growing up in California and Greece, she developed a passion for protecting the environment, and she is now gaining knowledge in environmental policy, analytical chemistry, and conservation. While at university, she worked on a conservation mapping project for Metro Vancouver Regional Parks and an oceanic conservation research project.
Away from work, Sylvie enjoys live music, the beautiful Vancouver hiking, spending time with animals, and windsurfing.
Fiona’s passion for the environment stems from her desire to inspire change and develop innovative solutions for a cleaner, greener, and brighter future.
During her chemical engineering undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia, Fiona developed a renewable battery powered car, hosted entrepreneurship events on energy and sustainability, and designed and simulated a novel carbon capture and storage technology. Before joining Brighstspot, she led and developed an environmental and economical optimization program for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions at an oil and gas refinery.
Fiona is a professional violinist and performs at events in the Vancouver area.
Katja holds a BSc in civil engineering with an environmental specialization and a MSc in environmental assessment from Concordia University in Montréal, Québec. Her career began by conducting Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments. She has experience analyzing and evaluating environmental regulatory requirements. She has conducted and published studies analyzing climate change mitigation within the framework of impact assessments, including the role of greenhouse gas programmes.
Katja is always dreaming about her next vacation: the sights she will see, the food she will discover, and the people she will meet.
Vincent began his career as a Red Seal welder for oil & gas facility construction, pipelines, structural fabrication, and pipe fabrication. His desire to positively impact sustainability and climate change landed him back in school, where he received a Diploma in Alternative Energy Technology. He has since worked in renewable energy, gaining technical competency in wind, solar, and other renewable-energy technologies.
Outside of Brightspot, Vincent adventures with his family in the mountains or around the globe. He may also be found behind his drum set, practicing or playing gigs.
Duran holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from Lakehead University in Ontario. He is an experienced environmental consultant and verifier and has worked under greenhouse gas programs in multiple jurisdictions across Canada and in California and Oregon. Duran is passionate about future energies, such as hydrogen and biofuels.
Away from work, Duran enjoys hiking, kayaking, snowboarding, and reading.
Before joining Brightspot, Lorena spent over 15 years working as an engineer in the energy sector. She supervised drilling rigs in Northeast BC, completed wells and optimized petroleum production across Alberta, and managed pipeline and facility construction projects in environmentally sensitive areas in Southern Saskatchewan. She enjoys supporting and collaborating with organizations in emission reduction and has helped organizations improve their Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance strategies.
In the winter, Lorena enjoys curling and community volunteering. Her summer vacations are spent camping with family and friends.
With a background in accounting and business administration and retail management experience in France, Maïna brings strong problem-solving skills and a proactive mindset to her work. Passionate about environmental protection and social causes, she is committed to applying her skills to meaningful projects that align with her values. Versatile and adaptable, she is always ready to take on new challenges.
Outside of work, Maïna enjoys hiking, running, skiing, and exploring art.
Nicole has specific interest and experience in equity, diversity, and inclusion research, and community wellness work. She holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and a Master of Arts in critical and creative writing.
She never expected her eclectic background to align with any opportunity as well as it does with her role at Brightspot. She is excited to use her writing aptitude with her civil engineering training to promote sustainability and community care.
Outside of work, Nicole spends her time kickboxing, designing and sewing her own clothing, perfecting the art of homemade dumplings, writing, and wandering the wilderness with her partner.
Growing up in Calgary, Daichi was largely unaware of the detrimental effects that harmful emissions have on the stability of our ecological habitat. When this reality started to sink in, he knew he had to try to do his part in the global efforts to curb the effects of the climate crisis.
Daichi studied chemical and biological engineering at the University of British Columbia. Before joining Brightspot, he supported research in converting woody biomass into biofuels and useful biomaterials and improving the utility and sustainability of everyday materials.
Daichi played competitive water polo for five years and still enjoys playing recreationally.
Keith has worked in the renewable energy industry since 2007, building and supporting renewable energy projects throughout Canada. He has expertise in renewable energy project planning; technical capacity in wind, solar, and other renewable energy technologies; and experience in greenhouse gas quantification. He has supported market entry and feasibility assessments for several organizations and technologies, and navigated regulatory and technical hurdles for projects at varying levels of complexity and stages of maturity.
Outside of Brightspot, Keith hikes or runs meandering mountain trails with his partner. He also sings with a local a cappella group and enjoys cuddling up with a good book in front of the fire.
Mark has an economics degree from Simon Fraser University. Before joining Brightspot, he worked as a business development advisor, specializing in agriculture and forestry decarbonization opportunities, including developing biomass, nature-based solutions, and hydrogen projects. He also spent a number of years as a business development representative in the commercial forestry, wood-based biomass, and biodiesel industries.
In his spare time, Mark practices Judo martial arts and enjoys the outdoors with his wife and dog.
Deepika’s experiences growing up led her down a path of seeking to understand the disparaging and often disproportionate effects of climate change on our world and striving to be a part of the solution. She has a B.ASc. in chemical engineering from the University of Toronto, and she enjoys finding synergies between her engineering education and artistic tendencies. Deepika has spent close to a decade in climate consulting, with extensive experience in greenhouse gas accounting and verification.
Outside of work, Deepika is a seasoned multi-lingual artist and singer-songwriter who has performed for over a decade on stages big and small all over North America and internationally. She also spends her time vocal coaching, dancing, and browsing social media for exciting climate-focused and artistic content collaborations.
Growing up in a semi-arid northeastern province of Kenya, with zero access to electricity during his elementary education, inspired Suleiman’s interest in the energy sector. He created a lighting system from recycled battery cells to prepare for his exams and provide lighting for his family.
To further his expertise in renewable energy, sustainability, and innovation, Suleiman holds a Bachelor in Applied Science in Sustainable Energy Engineering from Simon Fraser University, obtained through the SFU WUSC sponsorship program. During his degree, Suleiman designed a methodology document intended to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions of office buildings, using a Vancouver office building as a case study.
In his free time, Suleiman enjoys playing soccer and field hockey.
Roberta has a background in business administration, specializing in project and marketing management. She has strong analytical skills and has experience with quality-management systems, continuous improvement projects, and internal auditing. At Brightspot, she uses these skills to develop proposals and reports and provide bookkeeping and administrative support.
Roberta is fluent in Portuguese and English. She enjoys gardening and yoga.
Growing up in Western Africa, Kafayat fondly remembers her father’s tales of abundant harvests and predictable seasons. Unfortunately, for her generation, the rainy season was either too brief, excessively prolonged, or sometimes absent altogether. As she became more informed and educated about the impact of climate change, she made a commitment to play her part in seeking solutions.
Kafayat has an MSc in Energy and Environment from the University of Calgary, where she focused on managing emissions reduction in energy systems. She also has work experience in process engineering.
Outside of work, she loves gardening, hosting gatherings, and visiting friends and family.
Growing up in Windsor, Ontario, Brendan recalls several days each summer when smog warnings would instruct people to remain inside. As he grew older, he realized that industries don’t need to put a large strain on the environment. He made it his goal to positively impact the global industrial footprint.
Brendan holds a degree in biological and chemical engineering from the University of British Columbia. There, he furthered research on using agricultural materials for biofuel production. In industry, he worked on projects to convert organic waste into clean natural gas to be economically blended into existing natural gas infrastructure.
In his spare time, Brendan takes advantage of Vancouver’s beautiful landscape, often hiking around the community or cycling around the seawall. He also plays volleyball, soccer, and basketball.
Platon holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering from the University of British Columbia. During his studies, he gained knowledge in greenhouse gas quantification and life cycle assessment, which led to a vested interest in climate policy. Before joining Brightspot, he worked in a research lab in the concrete industry and as a technical writer.
During his leisure time, Platon likes to hike, lift weights, and play classical guitar.
Siba studied chemical and biological engineering at the University of British Columbia to build a career in solving modern sustainability challenges. During her degree, Siba pursued community-focused initiatives, such as implementing a community-engaged learning project to estimate regional greenhouse gas emissions and volunteering in various roles at UBC Women in Engineering. She also designed a bioprocess to utilize captured carbon dioxide through microalgae cultivation.
In her free time, Siba enjoys rock climbing on sunny days and crocheting on rainy days.
Ali has always had a profound interest in energy, environment, and sustainability. He holds a Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering with specialization in Energy and Environment from the University of Calgary, where he was involved in life cycle assessment and carbon dioxide quantification projects. Before joining Brightspot, he worked on environmental regulation and by-product management projects in the bioethanol production industry.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Ali enjoys spending quality time with friends and family and engaging in invigorating activities, such as tennis, cycling, and hiking.
Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in green process engineering from the University of Western Ontario. Before joining Brightspot, she worked in air-related environmental consulting, contributing to the success of verification projects across both public and private sectors. She has experience in developing environmental impact assessments, implementing decarbonization plans, performing life cycle assessments of embodied carbon, and writing industry-funded research papers on various environmental sustainability topics.
In her free time, Rachel enjoys rock climbing and backcountry camping in the summer and skiing and backcountry touring in the winter.
Andria’s perspective on sustainability profoundly changed when she became a mother, instilling in her a deep desire to ensure that her children grow up in a habitable world. A born and raised Calgarian, she unsurprisingly found herself employed in the energy industry after graduating from the University of Calgary. Andria has over 20 years of experience in legal and regulatory compliance, operations audits, risk management, emergency management, and management systems development.
When she’s not busy with work or family, Andria loves being outdoors walking her golden retriever Joules, or in the mountains hiking, fishing, and golfing.
Michelle grew up on a dairy farm in central Saskatchewan and achieved her lifelong goal of becoming the Saskatchewan Dairy Princess at the age of 19. She loves everything black and white and the industries responsible for primary food production. She has worked with producers, farmers, and ranchers in many different capacities in sales and service, consulting, research and verification, as well as in feed manufacturing and food processing.
Outside of work, Michelle coaches her kids’ curling teams and cheers them on at hockey, Ukrainian dance, and soccer.
Navaldeep loves to use technology to provide sustainable solutions for business problems. He has worked as a data analyst, data engineer, and database administrator in the entertainment and retail sectors, developing complete source-to-sink data pipelines. At Brightspot, he works on technology projects, including migrating on-premises internal data and solutions to the cloud, improving cyber-security of current infrastructure, and automating manual tasks using python.
Navaldeep enjoys playing badminton and watching football, cricket, lawn tennis, and movies.
