Speaker Biographies

Aaron Silver
Manager, Climate Action Transportation Initiatives
Toronto Hydro

Aaron Silver brings over a decade of experience in Canada’s public policy and energy sector to his role as Manager of Climate Action Transportation Initiatives. He is focused on ensuring a positive experience for customers electrifying their transportation infrastructure. Prior to joining the Climate Action Team, Aaron held the position of Large Customer and Key Accounts Consultant. In this role, he was responsible for building and maintaining relationships with large customers, including the City of Toronto and various large property developers. Before joining Toronto Hydro, Aaron worked in the Office of the Minister of Natural Resources Canada, the Senate of Canada and the Office of the Ontario Minister of Energy, where he held various leadership roles focused on matters related to energy and mining, issues management and public policy.

Akhilesh Ramakrishnan
Managing Energy Associate
The Brattle Group

Mr. Ramakrishnan specializes in planning and policy matters related to electrification, distributed energy resources (DERs), and the electric distribution system. He has consulted for a range of clients – including utilities, regulators, and technology companies – in efforts to evaluate the electric grid impacts of electrification and DER adoption. Mr. Ramakrishnan has worked with utilities to conduct cost-benefit analyses of electrification programs, design compensation mechanisms for customers with emerging technologies, and modernize system planning to integrate and utilize DERs. He has also assisted technology companies and developers in illustrating the value of DERs and demand flexibility to the electric system.

Mr. Ramakrishnan frequently presents at industry events and publishes on topics relating to the grid edge. He coauthored the book Electrification and the Future of Decentralized Electricity Supply, and his work has been cited by the Department of Energy, Utility Dive, and RTO Insider.

Prior to joining Brattle, Mr. Ramakrishnan developed business strategy and policy for Exelon’s electric and gas utility businesses on a range of issues, including electrification, DERs, utility regulatory models, rate design, and long-term financial planning.

Brent Wilson
NA EV Program Manager
BGIS

Brent is a highly accomplished project management expert with a diverse background in OEM, EV infrastructure, aerospace, industrial facility maintenance, and Television. He has led five national rollouts, all delivered on time and under budget. With early experience installing EV chargers before the Nissan Leaf launch, Brent was among the first in Canada to work on EV infrastructure. He has also led significant projects for Mercedes-Benz, incorporating lean manufacturing principles and delivering sustainable, high-performance solutions in construction, facility maintenance and capital planning across various industries in a Program Management Role.

Brent holds a degree in Manufacturing Engineering and leads BGIS’s EV Charging Program development across North America for BGIS.

Christopher Ralph
Director of Smart Mobility and Electrification
Norda Stelo

Christopher Ralph is the director of Smart Mobility and Electrification. With extensive knowledge and experience in fleet electrification and energy infrastructure, Christopher works towards transitioning fleets towards a zero-emissions future through electrification and optimization, while designing infrastructure solutions that work for the future Canadian economy. He has previously worked for companies such as The Lion Electric Company, Canada Post, Hydro Ottawa and Brookfield Renewable Energy. He has studied climate change policy at the University of Toronto, Urban Sustainability at the University of Lund, and Law at Carleton University.

Ed Cullinan
Senior Manager, E-Mobility & Residential Electrification
Nova Scotia Power

In Ed’s current role as Senior Manager, E-Mobility and Residential Electrification at Nova Scotia Power, he is at the forefront of the transition to electric mobility and is working to make going electric easy for Nova Scotians. He previously led customer programming in Smart Grid Nova Scotia where he worked with hundreds of electric vehicle drivers throughout the province to reduce the total cost of ownership and enhance the EV experience through the EV smart charging pilot. Ed holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Brunswick and has spent the past 14 years working in the utility sector across Alberta and Nova Scotia.

Emma Jarratt
Executive Editor
Electric Autonomy

Emma Jarratt is an award-winning journalist with a strong background in investigations, clean tech and international affairs; holding credits in television and print for some of Canada’s largest outlets. She is currently the Executive Editor of Electric Autonomy Canada.

Follivi Kloutse Ayevide
Senior Researcher
Hydro-Québec

Follivi Kloutse Ayevide is a senior researcher at Hydro-Quebec Research Institute, with a focus on electric vehicle integration to grid. Follivi’s works aim to make electric vehicle charging/discharging grid friendly for Hydro-Quebec, as well as value-added service for customers. He is involved, among others, in the development of EV charging management roadmap at Hydro-Quebec. In the last five years, he contributed, from design to implementation, to various DER – Distributed Energy Resources – integration pilot projects within Hydro-Quebec, especially EV smart charging pilots. Follivi holds a Ph.D. in energy and material sciences, with a decade of experience in green transportation including hydrogen and battery electric vehicles.

Francis Bradley
President and Chief Executive Officer
Electricity Canada

Francis Bradley is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Electricity Canada, an association which represents and advocates for the companies in the direct value chain of Canadian electricity and acts as a “national voice” for Canada’s electricity sector. The association serves its electricity industry members through its councils and committees, aided by a team of expert professionals, led by Francis, and directed by a Board of Directors made up of member CEOs.

Francis sits on the Positive Energy Advisory Council and the Steering Committee for the Electricity Sub-Sector Coordinating Council (ESCC). He was previously co-chair of the National Cross-Sector Forum, overseeing Canada’s Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure. He was a founding Board member of the Canadian Transportation Alliance, and served on the Boards of Electricity Human Resources Canada and the Energy Council of Canada (ECC). In a range of cross-border forums, and at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) Member Representatives Committee and Board of Trustees’ meetings, Francis represents Electricity Canada and advocates strongly for Canada’s critical role in ensuring the reliability and security of the North American bulk power system.  

Prior to being named CEO in June 2019, Francis managed Electricity Canada’s day-to-day activities as Chief Operating Officer since 2014. During that time, he also acted as a member of the National Advisory Committee of Canada’s Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and was a co-chair with the Standards Council of Canada of the Smart Grid Standards Advisory Committee.  

Francis has decades of service at the community grassroots level, including coaching amateur sports, teaching outdoor and wilderness skills, chairing the local Scouts Canada group, and acting as a warden at his parish church. 

In 2019 Francis created and continues to host “The Flux Capacitor” podcast, featuring discussions about the future of electricity with CEOs, regulators, political figures, and leaders from civil society.

Ilana Weitzman
VP of Strategic Development, Clean Transportation
Electric Autonomy

Ilana is an award-winning creative strategist experienced working with blue-chip brands such as Accor, Air Canada and Fidelity Investments. Her work has reached million-plus audiences across the globe and has twice been named a Webby Honoree.

Jason Scultety
Sr Key Account Manager, Fleet Electrification
BC Hydro

Jason Scultety is a Senior Key Account Manager at BC Hydro with a focus on EV Infrastructure and Fleet Electrification. Jason’s work includes supporting some of the larger customers deploying public EV chargers in the province, and supporting customers with their fleet electrification objectives. BC Hydro launched its first EV Fleet Program offers in June 2022 to assist customers with fleet electrification planning and infrastructure costs. Jason is a Professional Engineer with a background in Energy Management, Supplier Programs, and Automotive Manufacturing.

Jeff Turner
Director, Clean Mobility
Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors

Jeff’s passion for clean mobility and advanced energy technologies has led to a career at the nexus of sustainable transportation, energy storage, demand response and renewable energy. His experience – more than a decade working with vehicle manufacturers, research institutes, utilities and governments – affords him a unique, grounded perspective on what is needed to move the needle on market adoption of clean energy technologies. Jeff’s work has covered personal and commercial vehicle engineering, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, energy storage technology, vehicle-grid integration, and demand response, among others. As Dunsky’s Director of Mobility, Jeff supports our clients’ most leading edge and critical mobility projects accelerating the decarbonization of North America’s transportation sector.

Julia McNally
Director, Climate Action
Toronto Hydro

Julia McNally is the Director of Climate Action at Toronto Hydro.  In this role, Julia leads a team focused on helping Toronto Hydro’s customers to electrify their buildings and vehicles.

Julia practiced administrative law for 14 years prior to joining the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) in January 2006, where she held the role of Director of Market Transformation. With the merger of the OPA and the IESO in 2015, Julia became the Director of Strategic Engagement & Innovation in Corporate Relations, and then led the Internal Audit division where she provided regular assessments of controls through assurance, as well as consulting services to management and the Board of Directors.  Julia’s last role at the IESO was Director of Planning Projects & Sustainability, in this role Julia lead the IESO’s Pathways to Decarbonization, looking at how to make Ontario’s electricity grid zero emissions.

Currently, Julia is a member of the Board of Directors of Toronto District 2030, is a member of Steering Committee of the Building Decarbonization Alliance’s and is a co-director of the Energy and Infrastructure LLM program at Osgood Hall Law School.

Mx. McNally has an MSc from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, an LLB from the University of Toronto, and an LLM from Cambridge University.

Kapil Shah
Senior Manager, Electrification Infrastructure
Purolator

Kapil Shah is a leader in the energy and electrification space with more than 14 years of experience driving complex infrastructure projects in the electric vehicle (EV) charging, renewable energy, and power distribution sectors. As Senior Manager, Electrification Infrastructure at Purolator, he leads the strategy for the national rollout of EV charging systems across Canada.

Kapil plays a critical role in the electrical infrastructure for EV charging as part of Purolator’s goal to electrify 60 per cent of its last-mile fleet by 2030, an initiative involving approximately 3,500 electric delivery vehicles and the electrification of more than 60 terminals. This investment is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80,000 tonnes of CO₂e by 2030, aiming to position Purolator as the greenest courier in Canada.

Previously, Kapil served as Project Manager at Anvil Crawler Development Corp., (Skyline Group) where he led Canada’s largest multi-residential EV charging deployment—installing more than 900 Level 2 chargers at 208 sites for Skyline Apartment REIT across seven provinces. The project became a national benchmark for utility coordination, load assessment, and scalable EV infrastructure implementation. 

Kapil brings deep-rooted experience across the electrical power value chain, having held the progressive roles in construction estimating, business development, contract and project management within the high-voltage equipment manufacturing sector, multinational conglomerates engaged in Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Projects. This diverse background equips him with the expertise to navigate complex stakeholder ecosystems and deliver scalable, future-ready energy solutions.

Kapil holds an impressive portfolio of professional credentials including a diploma in Electrical Engineering, Certified Technician (OACETT), Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, Licensed Electrician, and Master Electrician. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Sustainability and Innovation, reinforcing his commitment to future-ready, environment, social and governance (ESG) aligned infrastructure. 

He actively contributes to industry advancement through organizations such as Electric Mobility Canada (EMC), Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians & Technologists (OACETT), and Project Management Institute (PMI), sharing insights on megawatt-scale grid connections, fleet electrification strategy, and ESG-aligned infrastructure.

Kyle Mersky
Director, Growth
Hydro One

President of AUX Energy, a subsidiary of Hydro One, leading the development and execution of AUX’s overall strategy. Before joining AUX Energy, he was one of the founding members of Ivy Charging Network, one of Ontario’s largest EV charging networks, and prior to that worked as a litigation attorney in New York.

Louise Levesque
Senior Policy Director
Electric Mobility Canada

Louise focuses on policy development and issues management in collaboration with members and committees, and supports political meetings, government consultations, reports, and position papers on a number of electromobility issues. She leads the Government Relations Committee, and the Battery Working Group among others, and supports EMC’s campaign communications.

She has vast experience as a communications, marketing, and public relations consultant, specializing in the commercial, cooperative, and environmental sectors, and especially on EVs and charging. She has planned and executed electric vehicle test drive events, as well as educational and awareness campaigns, and has contributed to the development of communication plans, stakeholder relations, strategies and event logistics.

Maddy Ewing
Senior Consultant
Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors

Maddy Ewing serves as the lead for Dunsky’s fleet electrification service area. Since joining the firm in March 2022, she has led the development of over a dozen fleet electrification roadmaps, and has supported a wide range of clients in assessing opportunities and barriers associated with the transition to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Prior to joining Dunsky, Maddy worked for the Pembina Institute, a clean energy think tank, where she was focused on identifying policy options to support commercial vehicle decarbonization. She holds a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto and a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Queen’s University.

Moe Kabbara
Executive Vice President
The Transition Accelerator

Moe Kabbara is an experienced energy and climate professional with a decade of experience working at the intersection of technology, policy, and markets. Moe brings expertise in the areas of transportation electrification, renewable energy, energy storage, and energy efficiency. He is also a sought-after voice on zero-emission vehicle supply chain issues and has spearheaded the establishment of Accelerate, Canada’s zero-emission vehicle supply chain alliance, bringing together private and public sector players to leverage Canada’s opportunity in global ZEV manufacturing. Prior to joining the Accelerator, Moe was a Managing Consultant at Dunsky Energy + Climate. He was also a Senior Investment Officer at the Department of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada. Moe also was the co-founder and CEO of a thermal energy storage start-up in Atlantic Canada.

Neetika Sathe
Vice President of Product Management
Alectra Utilities

Neetika is an established thought leader in areas of clean technology, sustainability, and energy transition. Under her leadership, the Alectra GRE&T Centre has launched many innovative initiatives, such as a cloud-based transactive energy platform, North America’s first distribution-level local electricity market, and a successful electricity pricing pilot that laid the foundation for Ontario’s recently-announced ultra-low (ULO) electricity rate.

Previously, Neetika was the Chief Marketing Manager for Nissan LEAF and Cross-Overs in Canada, responsible for sales and profitability for her portfolio, including the launch of the all-electric, zero emissions Nissan LEAF in Canada.

In 2022, Neetika received Canada’s Clean50 individual award in the category ‘Traditional Energy and Generation’. Previously, she was presented with the Champion Award by Energy Storage North America for her leadership in advancing energy storage technology.

Neetika serves on the board of several organizations. She is the current Chair of Electric Mobility Canada and a board member of Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and Rhythmos Inc. She is the past Chair of National Electricity Roundtable (NER) Canada and NSERC Energy Storage Technology Network (NESTnet).

Neetika holds a Master’s degree in Physics from Panjab University, an MBA from McMaster University, and the Chartered Director (C. Dir.) designation from The Directors College, an Executive Program offered by the DeGroote School of Business – McMaster University.

Neetu Garcha
Project Lead, Grid Innovation
Alectra

Neetu Garcha is the Project Lead of Grid Innovation at Alectra’s Green Energy & Technology Centre. She holds a Master’s of Science in Sustainability Management from the University of Toronto, is a Certified Project Management Professional, and was nominated for the 2025 Clean50 Emerging Leader award. In the past 5 years, she has been dedicated to developing strategy and leading  groundbreaking innovation pilot projects that bring new distributed energy technologies and concepts into practice, with a focus on e-mobility initiatives such as AlectraDrive @Home, AlectraDrive @Work, and Vehicle-to-Grid experiments. These innovative projects have touched thousands of customers and have been recognized from various leading industry associations such as the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), Peak Load Management Alliance (PLMA), and Electricity Canada.

Nino Di Cara
Founder & President
Electric Autonomy

Passionate believer in electrification and the benefits that technology will bring to our future mobility. Ten years leadership roles with corporate marketing agencies and seven years executive board director for B2B industry publisher. Past President of the National Media Awards Foundation. Recipient of the EV Society’s 2020 Howard Hutt Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Electric Transportation.

Ryan Gooch
Senior Director Utility Partnerships
Optiwatt

Ryan is a member of the utility partnerships team at Optiwatt, the leading residential electric vehicle (EV) managed charging platform in North America with a direct-to-consumer model and deep experience providing EV managed charging and load management solutions for utilities. He has spent over 17 years driving clean energy market transformation and working directly with leading utilities to design, implement and scale electric transportation, load management, customer engagement, and energy efficiency programs. In his early career as Energy Policy Director for the State of Tennessee, he was responsible for building the first utility scale solar farm in the US Southeast in partnership with the US Department of Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Shatha Qaqish-Clavering
Executive Director, Climate Positive Energy Initiative
University of Toronto

Shatha is a strategic leader who brings over a decade of experience working on climate issues, sustainability, clean technology, and innovation. She has experience managing large scale projects including an $85 million government grant program to drive innovative climate change related technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As the Executive Director of Climate Positive Energy, Shatha develops strategies to position the multidisciplinary climate research at the University of Toronto in support of the energy transition. Through her leadership, Climate Positive Energy has mobilized over $40M in government and industry partnerships to address the climate issues related to technology, policy and community in addition to establishing first of its kind in Canada; Grid Modernization Centre. Shatha has been nominated for Clean50 Award and represented the University of Toronto at COP28. She is also a mentor at various start-up incubators and accelerators including Cherie Blair Foundation, Women4Climate, and Futurepreneur. She is an active panelist and speaker at climate and industry events. Shatha is fluent in English, French and Arabic and has a PhD in Chemistry.