Staff
Jill Baker is an environmental and social assessment executive, with over 20 years of diverse leadership experience working for the Alberta and federal governments, international financial institutions, the private sector, and non-profit organizations. She has worked on projects and policy development in the Canadian energy sector including nuclear.
Jill is the past Executive Director of the International Association for Impact Assessment, a global network of assessment professionals. She was also a Vice President at the Public Policy Forum. She was a Director of Policy in the federal government with both the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE), as well as Natural Resources Canada, and started her career in Ottawa with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Snigdh Baunthiyal started her media career as a broadcast journalist in India where she reported on a range of topics from entertainment, and local politics to civic issues and human rights. Since she moved to Canada in 2019, Snigdh has worked as a Communications Consultant for companies in Sweden, Singapore, and the US.
George is seconded to the Canadian Nuclear Association from Ontario Power Generation. George brings over 15 years of experience in dealing with governments at the federal, provincial, and international level. He has worked in the federal Government as a senior advisor to Ministers, Senior Policy Analyst at Western Diversification before working in the private sector as Director of Government Affairs at the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association and Vice President in a senior government relations firm in Ottawa working on a number of sectors including energy and environment. George speaks English, French, Spanish and Greek. He enjoys fitness, music and spending time with family. George volunteers at the Hellenic Community of Ottawa where he is presently a board member responsible for communications.
Victoria is a seasoned policy and research professional with over 20 years of experience in the electricity/energy sector. Victoria has provided regulatory, policy and government relations advice to key public and private entities through her consulting firm; adjudicated energy regulatory applications, as a member of the Ontario Energy Board; lead key energy and environmental files as Senior Advisor at the Canadian Electricity Association; and began her career in the sector as an advisor on energy efficiency and conservation for BC Hydro’s Power Smart Program.
Victoria will apply her experience; knowledge; and problem solving, liaison and communications skills to lead CNA strategic policy and research in support of nuclear power’s role in energy transition.
John Gorman is President & CEO of Canadian Nuclear Association, past President & CEO of the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) and a Director on the board of the Energy Council of Canada (ECC). John served as Canada’s Designate to the International Energy Agency’s Executive Committee (PVPS) and was a Founder of the Canadian Council on Renewable Electricity (CanCORE). He’s using this experience to secure a leading role for nuclear energy at the heart of Canada’s energy transition.
Before joining CanSIA, he was the Senior Vice President of Empower Energies, an innovative, global integrator of energy systems. He has served as a director on the boards of numerous community and corporate organizations, including one of the nation’s largest electric utilities.
John has been recognized as one of Canada’s CLEAN50 and is the recipient of the “40 Under 40” business award for excellence in business practices. He was awarded the designation of Climate Project Ambassador by Nobel Laureate Al Gore in 2008.
Christopher Gully is a communications leader with over a decade of experience working on topics ranging from energy and climate to labour migration rights and statistics for development. He previously worked in Paris at the International Energy Agency (IEA) with roles including Executive Speechwriter and Senior Editor, and played a central role in developing and implementing the IEA’s digital modernisation and rebranding strategy in 2019.
He has also worked for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), International Labour Organization (ILO), the Simon Fraser University Centre for Dialogue, and the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR).
Accomplished, highly organized and motivated professional with over 12 years of experience in a variety of demanding and progressively more senior Executive Assistant positions. As a Certified Law Clerk in both Corporate Law and Litigation, Jeannie has extensive experience and has provided legal and administrative expertise and knowledge to Lawyers and Executive Management.
Sana Khawaja has worked as a Communications and Event professional for 6 years and has a demonstrated experience working within government and non-profits sector. She has a flair for event management, public relations and incorporates them together to create events with impact and impression. Her cross-disciplinary degree in Planning and Policy equips her with the means and methodical skills to appreciate and analyse regional governance and associations.
She enjoys community outreach projects with a strong emphasis on strategic communications, event planning, and fundraising. Her personal and professional goals are to curate programs that serve as a catalyst for growth and inspire others to reach their full potential.
Michael began his career at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited in marketing, project financing and business development, primarily associated with Canada/U.S. electricity trade opportunities. Subsequently, he accepted a policy position with Natural Resources Canada, addressing the challenges of mine closures and resource-based communities, Aboriginal economic development and mining, and public mineral geoscience. For the past decade, he was the policy lead on natural disaster risk reduction and emergency management, with a focus on seismic and space weather hazards. The bulk of Michael’s policy activities has involved the preparation of Federal Budget Proposals, Memoranda to Cabinet, and Treasury Board Submissions.
Michael has had a lengthy, parallel career in the volunteer sector, serving on a variety of Boards, including being President of a core-city, community association. Michael is fully addicted to his garden, devours books on archaeology and history, and enjoys a good sci-fi movie.
At the Canadian Nuclear Association, Michael will apply his many years of diverse experience in science-based organizations to the development of policy that advances the potential contributions of Canada’s nuclear power industry to the well-being of Canadians, and most notably, to Canada’s net-zero 2050 goals.
Laise has over twelve years of experience working in various communications and marketing roles. After working in Shanghai, China, for ten years in organizations such as the European Union Chamber of Commerce, Forestry Innovations Investments, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Laise came to Ottawa in 2016 to complete an M.A. in Sustainable Energy from Carleton University. She also has a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies specializing in communications and management from Ateneo de Manila University.