Opportunities in the Green Economy

British Columbia’s green economy is projected to boom to $27 billion by 2020 and the number of direct and indirect full-time equivalent green jobs in the province could grow by nearly 75% to over 225,000. Now is the time to learn from an expert panel about the shift to ‘greening’ of careers and economic opportunities.

The Royal Roads University Vancouver alumni chapter invites you to the next breakfast panel featuring Dr. John Wiebe (President and CEO, Globe Foundation), Dr. Robert Falls (co-founder and Chairman, ERA Carbon Offsets), Tony Fromby (President and CEO, SunCentral Inc), Mike Walkinshaw (Managing Director and CFO, Chrysalix) and Munu Hicken-Gaberria (President and CEO, LFT Group).

Register now by phoning Cindy Goodman at 250-391-2551 or by email at cindy.goodman@royalroads.ca.   Space is limited.

Event Details:

Vancouver Club (915 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC)

February 25, 2011

Breakfast & networking: 7:15 am

Panel Discussion: 8:00 to 9:30 am

Adjourn & networking: 9:30 to 10:00 am

Cost: $40 per person (plus taxes). Breakfast included.

*All RRU alumni and guests are welcome to the event

Biographies

Dr. John Wiebe, President and CEO, Globe Foundation
Dr. Wiebe is currently the president and CEO of the Globe Foundation. His previous roles include president and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and chairman of the board of the Canadian Education Centres Network and Global Schools with operations throughout the Asia Pacific region and Latin America.

Dr. Wiebe serves as chairman of West Mountain Capital Corporation and is a member of the board of directors of Tonbridge Power Corporation, ECO Canada and the International Finance Centre. He is a member of the advisory board of SS Lootah (Canada and Dubai), a member of the United Nations Finance Initiative’s Expert Group on Responsible Investment and serves on the advisory council of the Independent Power Producers Forum in Asia.

Dr. Wiebe received degrees from the University of Manitoba (BSc) and McGill University (PhD). He has been an associate at the Banff School of Management and the East West Center in Hawaii. In 2003, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada.

Dr. Robert Falls, Co-founder and Chairman, ERA Carbon Offsets

Dr. Falls is the co-founder and chairman of ERA Carbon Offsets Ltd. He has an academic history in photosynthesis and carbon sequestration, and a business background in the energy and environment industries. He has developed renewable energy and clean tech projects in Canada, the US, and in China. During his career, Dr. Falls has served as an adjunct professor for UBC’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, and acted as a senior advisor to the GLOBE Foundation of Canada.

Tony Formby, President and CEO, SunCentral Inc.
Tony Formby, President and CEO of Sun Central Inc, is a graduate of UBC and a former special assistant to Minister of Justice, the Hon. S. Ron Basford PC QC. Tony went on and co-founded Vancouver-based Postech Corp, developer of the ground breaking Squirrel Touch-Screen POS (Point of Sale) hospitality computer system; the Squirrel system remains a major player in the hospitality POS industry after 25 years, with over $1 billion in end user system sales. Tony is also an investor in several technology and clean tech startups, including, NGRAIN, Ravenbrick, and SunCentral.

SunCentral envisions by 2020, in most commercial buildings in major cities in the world, electric lights will be turned off and buildings will be illuminated with sunlight whenever the sun shines, substantially reducing energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy security. SunCentral will achieve this vision with its innovative and patented “Core Sunlighting System,” the first proven and practical way to illuminate spaces deep within multi-storey commercial buildings with sunlight.

Mike Walkinshaw, Managing Director and CFO, Chrysalix

Mike has been with Chrysalix since 2002. Chrysalix invests in early-stage companies with exceptional teams developing products and business models that change how we use natural resources to support sustainable economic activity, while minimizing environmental impacts. Mike is a board member for H2scan, FatSpaniel, and Akermin and is actively involved in sourcing new investments for the latest fund.

For over five years, Mike was with Ballard Power Systems, the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of PEM Fuel Cells. Prior to Ballard, he spent six years with Price Waterhouse in Vancouver, obtaining his Chartered Accountant status and helping small entrepreneurial businesses grow. Mike holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the University of British Columbia.

Munu Hicken-Gaberria, President and CEO, LFT Group

Munu is the founder of LFT Group and brand owner of the Live for Tomorrow range of environmentally friendly household products. Munu established himself as a successful entrepreneur in the UK with his award-winning menswear company which he grew to a national chain of 30 outlets. Upon immigrating to Canada in 2006, Munu focused his energy in the green economy and as a result Live for Tomorrow was born. Munu has served as a member of the Port Moody City Council Economic Development Committee and is a member of the Review Panel for Seeds Business Development Centre.