Volt-Age Workshop on Community Partnership for Decarbonization

Workshop Objective

To support Principal Investigators (PI’s) with the seed round of Volt-age as they implement projects to advance partnerships with community/business organizations for community decarbonization.

Expected outcomes

• Better understand how to build relationships with communities as collaborative and co-creative research partners
• Understand the importance of decarbonization for Indigenous communities, and innovative approaches to decarbonization
• Connect as a Volt-Age research community

Agenda

10 to 10:05 a.m.
Seating and Informal Welcome

10:05 to 10:15 a.m.
Welcome & Territorial Acknowledgements, Aphrodite Salas, Volt-Age co-leader of Theme 3, Concordia

10:15 to 11:00 a.m.
Decarbonizing Canada: Through Partnerships Between Communities & Research. Presentation by Chris Henderson

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Table discussions: Research Leads and Partners  

12:45 to 1:00 p.m.
Innavik Documentary, Aphrodite Salas

1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Pituvik Landholding Corporation, Renewable Energy for the Arctic with the Innavik Project, Tommy Palliser, Sarah-Lisa Kasudluak  

2:35 to 3:20 p.m.
Advancing Marine Renewable Energy Projects with Indigenous Communities & Lac-Megantic Microgrid Innovation, Fabienne Joly

3:20 p.m. to 3:55 p.m.
Indigenous Clean Energy Entrepreneurship & Research with Industry, Troy Jerome

3:55 p.m.
Closing, Karim Zaghib

Speakers and their bios

Karim Zaghib
CEO Volt-Age and Professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering at Concordia University

Karim Zaghib is a world-renowned scientist specializing in electrochemistry, rechargeable batteries, energy transition and transportation electrification. His landmark scientific publications in these fields have influenced generations of researchers. He is regularly invited to participate in international conferences as an expert speaker to address issues and share his vision concerning energy storage and new battery technologies.

Following a 28-year career at Hydro-Québec, he has been professor of chemical and materials engineering at Concordia University, the CEO of the CFREF funded initiative of Volt-Age, and director of the Collaborating Centres on Energy and Energy Transition. His team's most recent advances, made in collaboration with universities, research centers and companies, are paving the way for the next generation of electric vehicle batteries and energy storage solutions, a field in which Québec and Canada are well placed to play a leading role.

Aphrodite Salas
Veteran journalist and Associate Professor at Concordia University

Aphrodite Salas is a journalist and professor at Concordia, where her research focuses on mobile journalism, collaborative journalism with Indigenous communities and more specifically, the decolonization of journalism education. Salas is co-leader on the planning and governance theme of Volt-age.

Her most recent work created exclusively with mobile journalism is called Arctic Shift to Clean Energy. The multimedia project shares a story of Inuit climate leadership and was screened at both the UN Climate Conference COP 27 and the UN Biodiversity Conference COP 15 alongside Indigenous partners. Salas is also a research partner of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Chris Henderson
Founding Executive Director of Indigenous Clean Energy

Chris Henderson is a Canadian clean energy thought leader and eco-entrepreneur. For 35 years, he has been at the forefront of ground-breaking enterprises and social and ecological initiatives with large-scale Canadian and global impact. Chris is a trusted commentator on sustainable development issues that respect the planet and generate enduring outcomes for communities.

His first professional focus is advising and equipping Indigenous Nations and Peoples with means to develop and own clean energy projects, catalyzing social and economic development opportunities that combat climate change. Secondly, he aims to provide strategic advice on accelerating energy transition to a low-carbon, abundant energy future.

Sarah-Lisa Kasudluak
Vice President of the Pituvik Landholding Corporation

Sarah-Lisa Kasudluak, was the first female president of the Pituvik Landholding Corporation. She is now the organization’s vice president and plays a pivotal role in guiding her community towards a future that respects its heritage while embracing contemporary opportunities. The corporation, providing logistic and administrative support to various projects, contributes significantly to the development and enhancement of the Inukjuak community.

With a profound commitment to cultural preservation, Kasudluak leads initiatives that bridge heritage with innovation. Her vision of establishing a Healing Center, deeply rooted in traditional values, underscores her determination to address intergenerational wounds and revive cultural identity.

Tommy Palliser
Executive Director of the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board

Tommy Palliser, originally from Inukjuak, has pursued higher education at John Abbott College, obtaining a Social Sciences Diploma, and later at Concordia University, earning a Bachelor of Commerce Degree. He began his professional career in Economic Development with the Kativik Regional Government.

As one of the founders of the Unaaq Men’s Association of Inukjuak, established in 2006, he focuses on mentoring young men in traditional skills, working closely with elders and experienced hunters.

As executive director of the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board, he manages marine wildlife and resources in line with the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement. He also serves as the President of the Pituvik Landholding Corporation, leading sustainable energy projects for Inukjuak while ensuring community-driven initiatives yield maximum benefit for residents.

Fabienne Joly
Director of Development at Ocean Renewable Power Company Canada (ORPC)

With a background in economic development, community engagement, and energy transition project development, Fabienne Joly brings interdisciplinary expertise to her role at ORPC Canada as director of development. Fabienne’s journey into renewable energy began with an early commitment to environmental stewardship and innovative technologies.

She started her career in supporting project development in one of the world’s most innovative ecosystems, nestled amidst the mountains of Grenoble Alps, France. Driven by this “innovation for the environment” ethos, she moved to Lac-Megantic, QC, to contribute to the reconstruction following a devastating fuel explosion that destroyed the city centre.

She played a pivotal role in coordinating Hydro-Quebec’s first community-scale microgrid project in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, for the municipality. This experience inspired Fabienne’s passion for sustainable energy solutions design and laid the foundation for her subsequent work in the renewable energy sector.

Troy Jerome
President and CEO SEN’Ti Environment & Indigenous Services

Troy Jerome is a citizen of the Mi’gmaq Nation, residing at Listuguj, Quebec. Troy began his career in 1989 serving the Mi’gmaq Nation in the Chiefs office with the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government (LMG). He served as Director of Operations, LMG, from 1995 to 2004. From 2004 on, Troy began to monitor the development of the Wind Energy industry taking hold in Gespe’gewa’gi. Elected to the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Council from 1999 to 2004, he served to assist the Nation in its efforts to raise awareness of the Mi’gmaq rights to natural resources.

As leaders of the seventh generation of Aboriginal people, Troy believes there needs to be a focus on the implementation of our inherent and treaty rights. He believes a Nation Building approach to increasing our capacity to make our own decision is needed; there are clear steps to follow, and we will do so with the involvement of our people and our communities.