About

Don Ans received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manitoba in 1985 and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Athabasca University in 2012. He has over 34 years of experience in the operation, maintenance, and asset management of hydroelectric generating stations. During his tenure with Manitoba Hydro, Mr. Ans was responsible for carrying out and managing maintenance engineering, reliability, and commissioning functions at all of the utility’s facilities, as well as leading the corporate enterprise asset management project.

Hugh Armitage graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering Science (Civil) and earned his Master of Engineering Science in Geotechnical Engineering, both from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Hugh has a broad background in geotechnical engineering and construction experience while working for an international geotechnical engineering consultant, a national specialty contractor and a large national power utility. During his years with Southern Company, Hugh was involved with the company’s dam safety program for all of Georgia Power and Gulf Power embankment and hydroelectric dams. As supervisor and the Chief Dam Safety Engineer, he was responsible for all aspects and oversight of the company’s dam safety program in Georgia. This included inspections, remedial repairs, training, emergency action and security plans, inundation mapping and reporting to ensure compliance to FERC mandated requirements. The responsibilities also required regular interaction with the regional FERC D2SI office and liaison with the company’s senior management. Hugh has been actively involved with CEATI’s Dam Safety Interest Group since 2010.

Charles Bach received his bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Sciences & Mathematics from SUNY Albany, and his master’s degree in Meteorology from Florida State University. He worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority 36 years. He was also the Project Manager for an environmental impact statement for a fossil plant and upgrades to TVA’s aeration equipment. Mr. Bach is currently the President of Big Red Water Management Consultants, providing water management services to national and international customers. Mr. Bach has been involved with the CEATI Hydro Program since 2004, helping to lead and direct several initiatives, such as the Hydro Operations and Planning Benchmark and the Dissolved Oxygen Working Group.

Gary S. Brinkworth, (B.Eng., M.Sc., P.Eng.) has over 42 years of utility industry experience in system planning, forecasting, resource optimization and modeling. He has worked in generation, transmission and distribution teams for both investor-owned and municipal utilities on a variety of projects and planning studies. Gary has also led multiple integrated resource planning studies where he gained experience with advanced scenario analysis techniques and stakeholder engagement processes. He then transitioned into leading research and innovation teams focused on emerging technologies, resiliency, grid modernization and regional integrated systems planning.

Doug Campbell (B.Sc., B.Eng., M.Sc., P.Eng.) is a Professional Engineer with over 45 years of experience. He developed a wide range of technical skills associated with the design, construction, and start-up of new generation. He has been involved in providing expert advice on new and developing technologies to support the transformation of the electrical grid. His current work includes providing insights to the progress in these developments, especially as related to a low carbon world.

John Ciufo is a Professional Electrical Engineer with over 40 years of electric utility experience in areas such as protection engineering, smart grid, asset management, development strategies, policies, functional and design standards, regulatory compliance, and cyber security. Mr. Cuifo has been a corporate sponsor for many R&D projects.

David Curtis has been working in the electric utility industry in Ontario for over thirty-seven years. He has experience in asset management, including corporate strategy development, risk management, and asset planning. Mr. Curtis has appeared numerous times as a proponent before the Ontario Energy Board, served on the IESO’s Technical Panel, and was the Canadian member on CIGRE’s C1 System Development and Economics Study Committee. He also has been a Canadian Energy Council Board member, an Electric Power Research Institute Transmission Executive Committee Member, and a member of the Institute’s Power Deliver Unit Council.

Steve Haddock is a utility expert with over 34 years of experience maintaining and managing transmission lines and cable equipment. He began his career at one of the largest electric utilities in North America as a high voltage underground cable splicer, maintaining and splicing cables up to 230 kV. Mr. Haddock progressed through a wide range of positions with increasing levels of responsibility, leading up to becoming the Director of Business Development at a medium sized international utility consulting firm.

Asim Haldar received master’s and doctoral degrees in Engineering from Memorial University. He has published over 50 papers and reports on line design and asset management, including on the topics of conductor dynamics, reliability-based optimization, cascade prevention, and conditionbased asset management. Dr. Haldar is an active member of CIGRE Study Committee B2, Overhead Lines.

Raymond Lings has over 35 years of experience in the global power industry performing both research and leading teams of researchers and laboratories. This includes some 12 years at a Utility lab, 9 years at a global research consortium and 14 years leading key laboratories across Canada. His experience spans all aspects of Transmission, Substation and Distribution technology including leading the publication of a globally recognized handbook on Overhead Transmission Lines (200kV and above). He is the author or co-author of more than 20 publications in the field of transmission, substation and distribution, with the majority of his publications covering electronic residential (smart) metering. Raymond is a U.S. member on IEC Working Groups dealing with Smart Meters and is the appointed Technical Advisor between ANSI & USNC and IEC metering. Raymond is a senior member of the IEEE and CIGRE and holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, an MBA and a Bachelors in Economics & Econometrics.

Lisa Moller brings 35 years of utility experience spent between Alliant Energy and American Transmission Company, with the last 24 years spent in managing physical security and the protection of assets. Her broad band of experience covers the development of implementing an Integrated Security Operation Center, contract guard services, theft prevention and asset protection through a variety of technologies, controlled access programs, background investigations and PRA's and NERC CIP protection of assets. Lisa has held leadership roles in EEI working groups as well as ASIS Chapters. Lisa holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and a CPP certification through ASIS.

Gil Mourant, P. Eng., is a consulting civil engineer with over 40 years’ experience in transmission line design, inspection, construction and testing, in Canada and internationally. He recently retired as VP Engineering and Special Projects with Valard Construction. Previously served as Transmission Line consultant for Teshmont Consultants. In his roles, he provided engineering leadership with senior management skills and technical insight on design and construction, ensuring projects achieved their goals of technical competency, quality, budget, schedule and risk mitigation. He continues to provide consulting services in a technical advisory capacity to CEATI.

Bruce Muller graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University and earned his Master of Science in Civil Engineering/Water Resource Management from Colorado State University. He has a broad background in water resources engineering and management, including being a member of the US government’s Senior Executive Service and working as a design engineer and project manager at Reclamation. Bruce was responsible for a variety of Reclamation's risk management programs including Dam Safety, Safety and Occupational Health, Security, Law Enforcement and Emergency Planning and Operations. He worked closely with the Department of the Interior and Reclamation's Regional Directors to implement risk reduction and public protection actions at Reclamation facilities. He also worked closely with industry partners to implement risk management techniques for dam safety both nationally and internationally.

Shawn Otal is a Professional Engineer with over 35 years of experience in the power sector. His work experience includes management consulting, infrastructure investment planning, utility mergers and acquisitions, R&D, policy development and power system planning, design, and construction supervision. He has worked extensively on consulting assignments aimed at improving the financial and operating performance of electricity delivery systems around the world. He has authored 16 major R&D publications on behalf of CEATI.

Jean C. Pellerin graduated from the University of Ottawa with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He has over 36 years of experience in the operation, maintenance, and development of renewable energies, with a focus in hydro generation. During his career with Brookfield Renewable Energy, he was Director of areas such as Technical Services, Asset Optimization, and Engineering Development, and contributed to the company’s growth through acquisitions and greenfield developments. He currently provides technical and strategic advice to several engineering firms.

Marcel Paul Raymond holds a master’s degree in Computer Science and Operations Research from the University of Montreal and has 32 years of experience at Hydro-Québec. He has been actively involved in planning the operations of the utility’s system of generation, transmission, and interconnection. He has gained international recognition by managing projects in Brazil, USA, Poland, and Russia. After his retirement from Hydro-Québec in 2009, Mr. Raymond became an energy consultant. His services as an expert have been used in many documents presented before the Quebec Energy Board. In addition, he has been consulted on matters related to the hydroelectric projects of Lower Churchill in Labrador and Three Gorges in China.

John Sabiston (B.Sc., P.Eng.) has over 35 years of power utility experience at Ontario Hydro/ Hydro One. He specializes in the area of transmission system planning and has been responsible for developing plans and gaining approvals for over $2 billion worth of work over his career. He has participated in the Northeast Power Coordinating Council for 25 years.

Paul Silba is a Cyber Security and IT Systems Professional with 23 years of experience in cyber security program management. He worked as Director of Cyber Security for NY Power Authority, managing a staff of over a dozen cyber specialists in the areas of vulnerability prevention, cyber awareness, and computer forensics. He also worked with the Power Operations Team to maintain NERC-CIP compliance and develop/maintain auditable defense of standards compliance.

Joe Siracusa has a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He joined OPG in an engineering capacity and during his 41 years of employment, Mr. Siracusa worked at all the major coal fired plants in Ontario, as well as the corporate office. Mr. Siracusa held numerous senior positions in Plant Management, Production, Engineering, and Business, and was a member of the Executive Team. He was also on the advisory board of two CCGT facilities in Ontario. Mr. Siracusa also served on the EPRI Generation Council, helping to assess the power industry’s direction and extending guidance for future research.

Dr. Ali Syed is a professional engineer (P.Eng.) with technical, project management, and R&D experience in utility standards, community energy benchmarking, building energy demand management, and renewable energy integration. In addition, Dr. Syed has extensive experience in designing advanced clean energy systems, greenhouse gas emission reduction, energy storage, electrification, low-carbon fuels, and energy conversion devices for the commercial, residential, and industrial sectors to promote safety, comfort, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and net-zero emissions. Dr. Syed is actively involved in teaching and training industry professionals in engineering and energy management courses. In addition, he has given presentations at more than 50 conferences and symposia and published extensively in journals, books, and news media to educate public and private groups.

Ed Watson received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama and his Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University. He recently retired from Georgia Power, an operating unit of Southern Company, after 42 years of service primarily in the Power Delivery organization. During his tenure at Georgia Power, Ed held field, support and management roles in both Distribution and Transmission. He also held positions in marketing, project management and budgeting. Most recently, he was responsible for the development and implementation of the transmission line inspection and maintenance program as well as near and long-term capital replacement project development. This role included development and support of asset management applications to maintain facility records and facilitate and track program effectiveness. Ed also represented Southern Company in the industry by participating and leading working groups within several research organizations including CEATI. Since retirement, Ed continues to study and guide industry development by providing consulting services focused on transmission line asset management.

Steve Wenke is recently retired as Senior Manager of Generation Strategy and Planning for Avista. His 40 year career has involved design, management, and operation of generating assets. This has included new plant developments, major overhauls and upgrades, structural remediation projects, dam safety projects, and plant control and automation programs. He has also worked on numerous business initiatives including NERC Compliance Programs, labor management and negotiations, corporate merger teams, product development, and Asset Management and planning. He has led a team to develop a corporate Human Performance safety strategy and implementation plan and has worked with an internal group on Distributed Generating Resources. For 15 years he served as a mentor for Avista’s Aspiring Leader Program, charged with helping develop the next generation of utility leaders. He currently is President of the Hydropower Foundation. Prior to his retirement he served as Secretary for the DHS Dam Sector Coordinating Council, served as Vice Chair of the NERC GADS Work Group and NERC’s Performance Analysis Subcommittee and Electric Gas Work Group and a member of several other industry groups. He served three terms on the Board of Directors for the National Hydropower Association and continues to stay active in the organization. He has been active in R&D including serving as peer review for US DOE programs, industry advisory boards, and other efforts.

John Williamson is a Professional Engineer with 36 years of experience in the electrical utility industry at New Brunswick Power. He specializes in lightning protection and grounding system design. He received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1974 from the University of New Brunswick. Mr. Williamson instigated the creation of the GLP in 2009.