Clean Energy for Indigenous Communities
Presenting Organization: NALMA
Description
This 1.5 hour presentation will introduce you to the topics of clean and renewable energy and the opportunities and challenges this energy sector will present for Indigenous communities. We will discuss clean and renewable energy sectors, the types of clean and renewable energy, and its challenges and opportunities. The presentation will also provide information on how clean and renewable energy markets operate and important considerations. We will also have opportunities to explore the emerging opportunities for Indigenous communities to participate in the energy sector, generally, and clean and renewable energy space, specifically.
Speaker
- Ryan Dunbar, SOAR Professional Services
Speaker Bio
Ryan is President of SOAR Professional Services (SOAR). SOAR is an Indigenous owned, controlled and employed professional services delivery firm that brings both industry experience and a unique Indigenous focused perspective to planning, engineering, environmental science and management consulting. Ryan has over 18 years’ experience as a risk assessor, hydrogeologist and project manager for multiple clients and sites across Canada. Ryan previously held national roles within Dillon Consulting, resulting in a broad knowledge of working in both Federal and Provincial Regulatory environments of most regions in Canada including North of 60.
Ryan is a member of Bilijk (Kingsclear) First Nation and saw an opportunity to help pursue his interests in improvement of Indigenous infrastructure. Since that time, with the support of various technical teams he has helped support many Indigenous communities across Canada complete major infrastructure and community development projects. His understanding of community services operation has been critical in development of many innovative approaches to managing First Nation infrastructure including the development of novel technology. He leads his projects with a focus on two eyed seeing and employs all efforts to capture community perspective in the work he supports. To this end, he has supported efforts in broadening the application of solutions based upon learnings shared with us from knowledge carriers from the communities we work for. With this principle in mind, we have sought out opportunities to incorporate resilient design strategies in our projects as we continue to see the effects of climate change. All of these experiences have also provided him a unique perspective in supporting proponents with progressive views on Indigenous consultation towards more effective engagement in projects. As a technical advisor providing guidance and support for the leadership of a number of Indigenous communities in NB, Ryan has had the opportunity to support a number of energy related files ranging from hydroelectric facilities, solar and wind energy, as well as the nuclear industry (including advanced small modular reactors).