Leadership

Philip Hughes – Chairman

A leader in Canada’s energy sector for the past 25 years, Philip Hughes has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of five energy companies across Canada. He has extensive North American and international experience in electrical generation, transmission and distribution, oil and gas and natural gas transmission, distribution and processing. Currently, he serves as Chairman of Oceanic Wind Energy Inc. and is also on the Board of Instream Energy.

Philip was a senior executive with the Fortis Inc. group of companies where he was responsible for various acquisitions (including the successful acquisition and integration of Aquila Networks Canada) and led the operations as President and CEO of several of the Fortis Inc. subsidiaries.

Philip is a past Officer of the World Energy Council (WEC), former Chair of the Canadian Electrical Association (CEA) and former Chair of the Energy Council of Canada (ECC). He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.Economics) from Lancaster University, England and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta and a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.

Tim Calibaba – Director

Tim was the founder, President and CEO of TWC Financial Corporation, an independent mutual fund distributor licensed in Canada with approximately 400 financial advisors and over $4 billion in assets under administration. In 2003, the TWC Group of Companies was acquired by the Berkshire Group to form a mutual fund and securities dealership with more than 1,000 financial advisors and $10 billion in assets under administration. Tim served as a Board Director of the newly amalgamated firm until January 2008 when Manulife Securities Inc acquired the firm.

Tim received the designation ICD.cd from the prestigious Institute of Corporate Directors, Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto in 2009. Currently Tim is serving on four boards – Chairman, Saskatchewan Pension Plan, Director, Stone Investment Group, Director, Wordjack Media Inc. and Director, Kineticor Renewables Inc.

James P. Baker – Director

Mr. Baker is President of JP Baker Management Inc. He has over 30 years experience in the oil and gas industry, as a senior officer of three different oil and natural gas companies and more recently as a director of several public companies. During that time he also ran a private consulting business specializing in oil and gas related issues particularly in the business development area.

Jim has served on numerous industry boards and also sits on the Board of SaskEnergy. In addition, he has been active in CAPP (Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers) and SEPAC (Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada) and was past Chairman of the IPAC (CAPP predecessor) Saskatchewan Committee.

Simon Moody – Director

Portfolio Manager, OPTrust Private Markets Group

Simon Moody joined OPTrust in 2011 and is responsible for sourcing, executing, and managing private market investment opportunities. Prior to OPTrust, Mr. Moody worked at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto focusing on capital market activities and mergers & acquisitions.

David Rutledge – Director

Portfolio Manager, OPTrust Private Markets Group
David Rutledge joined OPTrust in 2013 and is responsible for sourcing, executing, and managing private market investment opportunities.  Prior to joining OPTrust, Mr. Rutledge worked in the mergers & acquisitions advisory group at Greenhill & Co. in Toronto.

Andrew Plaunt – President & CEO

Andrew has extensive experience in the successful origination, development, operation, and ultimate sale of multiple companies across Western Canada. Most recently, Andrew was the founder and CEO of Kineticor Renewables, a Wind Energy Development company established in 2009 focused on developing mid-sized power generation assets across the Prairies.

Andrew led the financing, development, negotiations and management of Kineticor which led to Kineticor successfully securing multiple Power Purchase Agreements with SaskPower. In 2011, Andrew led the sale of the all of Kineticor Renewables assets to Algonquin Power.

Andrew is a graduate of Mount Royal College where he obtained his degree in Entrepreneurship.

Michael Funk, CPA, CA – CFO

Michael has over 10 years of financial management and business development experience. Michael has been responsible for the oversight, development and implementation of finance strategies; and played a critical role in completing significant financing of numerous companies in the oil and gas and real estate industries.

Michael’s experience consists of varying roles within the finance and accounting industry; including roles as a finance specialist working in commercial banking at RBC prior to transitioning to BDO Canada to work in both audit and tax functions for both private enterprise and public entities.

Most recently, Michael spent 4 years developing a financial consulting practice in Western Canada, which focused on real estate developments in Western Canada and Northwestern USA. His consulting practice specialized in organizing debt facilities and management structure; including the development and establishment of joint ventures. He is a Chartered Accountant and earned his degree from the University of Alabama.