Haukur “Hawk” Asgeirsson

Haukur (Hawk) Asgeirsson is the Manager of Power Systems Technologies at DTE Energy Company. In his current position, he is responsible for integrating Distributed Energy Resources (such as solar, wind and batteries) into the T&D planning and operating process, managing grants related to plug-in electric vehicles, energy storage and the effect of distributed resources interconnecting to the grid.

Hawk is the Principal Investigator of a DOE Office of Electricity Smart Grid Demonstration Grant on the use of Community Energy Storage for Grid Support using Li-ion batteries and repurposed EV batteries.

Mr. Asgeirsson is a member of US DRIVE, a DOE-industry partnership focused on advancing automotive and related infrastructure technology research and development. Hawk is also involved with GM, Ford and Chrysler in various activities related to the electrification of the automobile and their interaction to the electric grid.

Mr. Asgeirsson received his bachelor and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan. He is a member of the board of directors of DTE Engineering Services, Inc., the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute Advisory Board, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and is a registered professional engineer in Michigan.

Ron Dizy

Ron is the Managing Director of the Advanced Energy Institute at MaRS, focusing on two priorities. Frist, by fostering the adoption of innovative energy technologies in Ontario and Canada, the Advanced Energy Centre is helping our energy systems become more cost effective, more reliable and more resilient to change and opportunity. The second priority is to leverage and share those successes and experiences into global markets to drive international opportunities for Ontario and Canadian energy innovators.

He was previously the President and CEO of ENBALA Power Networks, a smart grid technology company that offers grid optimization services to utilities and system operators to increase the overall efficiency and reliability of the power system.

Ron is viewed as a thought-leader on innovation opportunities that lie within the evolution of the modern power system. Based on his well-respected perspective on the smart grid, he was recruited to the executive committee of the board for the Ontario Energy Association and the Association for Demand Response and Smart Grid. He was also elected chair of the Corporate Partners Committee of the Ontario Smart Grid Forum.

His entire career has been focused on bringing new technologies to evolving markets, including spending nearly ten years as a venture capitalist (both as a direct investor and as a pension fund manager), co-founding a company specializing in artificial intelligence and gathering experience in major consulting firms. Ron holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto.

Elena Yampolsky

Elena Yampolsky is the Manager of Strategic Support and Planning with PowerStream Inc, the local distribution company serving more than 355,000 customers in York Region and Simcoe County. PowerStream is owned by the Cities of Vaughan, Markham and Barrie. As a Manager of Strategic Support and Planning Elena is responsible for the financial support of PowerStream’s strategic initiatives and business development and participates in the development of corporate strategies.
Prior to the current role, Elena worked in the Rates and Regulatory area and developed an extensive expertise in rates applications. In over nine years of utility experience, she has held varied positions of increased responsibility in the rates and finance areas.

Elena has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Economics degree from University of Tel Aviv. She holds a CPA CMA designation.

Raed Abdullah

Raed Abdullah, has over 25-years of experience in the renewable energy, energy management and utility sphere. As the Strategic Planning Engineer at Hydro Ottawa on the Operations, Asset Planning team, his responsibilities for the past eight years include: undertaking the generation portfolio performing interconnection studies and advancing policy, process and standards; advising on smart grid technologies; advising on electrified transportation. He is an active member of the Ontario Smart Grid Forum Working Group, Centre for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation’s (CEATI) Smart Grid Forum, Hydro One Networks-Local Distribution Company Distributed Generation Working Group, and Electric Mobility Canada’s Working Group on Plug-in EV Readiness, to name a few. He also advised on the Standards Council of Canada’s Smart Grid Task Force during its mandated period. Raed Abdullah is a professional engineer registered in the province of Ontario, and an active member of the IEEE.

Rebecca Craft

Rebecca Craft is Director of Energy Efficiency and Demand Management at Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., where she is responsible for the development, implementation, and management of energy-efficiency, demand-response and peak demand management programs for the Company’s electric and gas systems. Ms. Craft also manages the Company’s account executives and market research.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Craft was Assistant to the Chairman of Consolidated Edison and prior to that, Director of the Energy Markets Policy Group (where she developed the company’s policies regarding the wholesale electric and gas markets).

Before joining Con Edison, Ms. Craft spent more than 11 years at Prudential Financial in a variety of positions in international managed assets, retirement services; corporate strategy and assistant general counsel, Law Department.

Ms. Craft serves on the Department of Energy’s State Energy Efficiency Action Network, the New York Investment Fund CleanTech Advisory Committee, and the board of Green Light New York. She earned a JD from Indiana University in Bloomington and a BA in Economics from Wellesley College. Ms. Craft is a resident of New York City.

Allan Van Damme

Allan Van Damme, P.Eng., CPA, CMA is presently Director of Operations and Distribution Technology at London Hydro where his responsibilities include the oversight of the operating Control Centre, protection and controls, the Geographic Information System (GIS), smart grid projects, development of corporate policy and underground operations crews.

Allan has actively contributed within the electric distribution utility sector for the past 20 years and is a member of IEEE's Power Engineering society. Allan has completed the successful installation of several photovoltaic energy systems which are owned by London Hydro with a total installed capacity of 430 kW and is working on projects involving electric car chargers which are integrated with lithium ion batteries.

David Whitehouse

David Whitehouse has over 30 years’ experience in the Electric and Water Utility Industry with Scarborough Utilities, Toronto Hydro and for the past 16 years with Peterborough Utilities Group as the Director of Customer/Corporate Services and Conservation Officer.

David’s experience in customer service both in Field and back office has provided a solid knowledge of customers’ needs and wants in the conservation space. David has worked with many government agencies to develop and administer new conservation programs for the Province of Ontario.

David has participated and currently sits on many conservation and regulatory working groups and is currently sits the Chair of the Residential Working Group responsible for managing and the development of conservation programs under the new "Conservation First" Framework.

Richard Ford