1st Annual OPIS Canadian Carbon and Biofuels Forum
May 20-21, 2025
The DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1st Annual OPIS Canadian Carbon and Biofuels Forum
May 20-21, 2025
The DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Jordan Godwin, Director – Renewable Fuels, OPIS, A Dow Jones Company
Whether you’re a newcomer to the industry or a seasoned veteran, this 101-style refresher course on the ins and outs of compliance under Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) is essential. Our expert speaker will also touch on British Columbia’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and other provincial programs for a comprehensive look into Canada’s compliance markets that you won’t want to miss.
Anna Ringsred, Senior Manager, Energy Compliance Services — Weaver
2025 is shaping up to be an unprecedented year of change for Canadian and U.S. fuels industries, with abundant question marks surrounding policy, market dynamics and trade. Our keynote speaker will share their thoughts on the history and milestones that brought us to this juncture and perspective and insights on what to expect in the coming months and years.
Don Roberts, CEO — Nawitka Capital Advisors
Let’s just air it all out — treat yourself to an engaging dialogue between industry representatives with varying perspectives on fuels policy. Our panel of experts will hit numerous key talking points, including, the political landscape, short and long-term challenges and a wide variety of other pressing topics.
Fred Ghatala, President — Advanced Biofuels Canada
David Schick, VP – Western Canada, Innovation and Regulatory — Canadian Fuels Association
Dan Pfeffer, Consultant — Renewable Industries Canada
Sean LeRoy, Executive Director, Low Carbon Fuels Branch, B.C Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions in Victoria
Moderator: Jordan Godwin, Director – Renewable Fuels, OPIS, A Dow Jones Company
Take a deep dive into all of the possible trade scenarios that could fundamentally shift the landscape in the year ahead. The U.S. ethanol industry posted record exports in 2024, thanks in large part to its biggest buyer, Canada. Will new U.S. trade policies under President Trump put a damper on biofuels markets in the upcoming years or will the two countries find compromises to build upon the success that each have enjoyed in recent years?
Ian Thomson, Past President — Advanced Biofuels Canada
Chris Highsmith, Regulatory Compliance Trader — Harvestone Commodities
Chris Vervaet, Executive Director — Canadian Oilseeds Processors Association
Moderator: Jordan Godwin, Director – Renewable Fuels, OPIS, A Dow Jones Company
The renewable diesel revolution that turned fuels markets upside down in California in recent years is spreading to Canada, but what other fuels have strong prospects for growth in 2025? Whether it’s sustainable aviation fuel, renewable natural gas, increased biofuel blends in the marine and rail sectors or some other emerging innovation, low-carbon fuel standards like the CFR are designed to incentivize these advances in technology and changing behaviors in the fuels markets.
Johannes Dunn, Head of Commercial and Compliance — Greenergy
Sally Taylor, Director of Strategic Development — EcoEngineers
Devin O’Grady, Director of Fuels — Canadian Fuels Association
Alex Ripley, Manager, Government Affairs – Canada, Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
Moderator: Jordan Godwin, Director – Renewable Fuels, OPIS, A Dow Jones Company
Many refiners have had an interesting journey through CFR compliance since the program’s inception, and some have now become major credit generators through new production of low-carbon fuels. A major Canadian Refiner will share details surrounding their journey and updates on how they’re continuing and expanding their decarbonization efforts.
Rob Pinchuk, Strategy & Planning Director — Parkland
Take a deep dive into CFR credit pricing trends and what you can expect from values in the year(s) ahead. CFR and BC LCFS prices were in a depressed pricing environment for much of 2024, but is there a path for a price recovery in 2025 or will easily achievable compliance continue to dilute incentives for low-carbon fuels?
Michael Rensing, Consultant, Advisory – Energy Compliance Services — Weaver
Don O’Connor, Owner — S&T Squared Consultants
Garrett Richardson, Senior Carbon Trader — Targray
Moderator: Jordan Godwin, Director – Renewable Fuels, OPIS, A Dow Jones Company
Stephen Donofrio, Head of Carbon Markets Intelligence – OPIS, A Dow Jones Company
Newcomers and seasoned veterans are all welcome to this 101-style refresher course on national and provincial Canada existing and proposed compliance carbon taxes and trading markets. Topics to be covered include the national carbon tax, Quebec’s Cap-and-Trade Program and the Western Climate Initiative, Alberta TIER and all other provincial output based pricing systems (OBPS), as well as the proposed oil and gas sector GHG emissions cap. This session will lay the groundwork for the remainder of the day with a discussion around the future of these policies and programs as a result of the election.
Chelsea Bryant, MD & Head, Carbon Advisory – BMO Capital Markets
Joseph Pallant, Director of Carbon Strategy – Veritree
Dana Wong, Senior Manager, Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Strategy, FortisBC
Moderator: Kate Haerizedeh, Analyst, Carbon Markets Intelligence – OPIS, A Dow Jones Company
With the 2025 federal election behind us and a new government led by Mark Carney taking office, Canada’s carbon pricing landscape is poised for transformation! Carney has positioned himself as a firm supporter of industrial carbon pricing and market-based climate policy. This panel explores what’s next for federal and provincial programs, including which policies may be expanded, restructured, or phased out. What changes should emitters anticipate under Carney’s leadership? What policy signals will shape compliance and investment strategies? And how might prices respond in this shifting regulatory environment?
Mike Kierstead, Founder/President – Kestrel Commodities Ltd
David Stevenson, Director of Canadian Operations – Finite Carbon
Andrew Hall, Managing Director, Carbon Markets Advisory – TD Securities
Moderator: Kate Haerizedeh, Analyst, Carbon Markets Intelligence – OPIS, A Dow Jones Company
This discussion will focus on how Canada has worked across borders to implement GHG targets over the years (e.g., Quebec’s Cap-and-Trade and the Western Climate Initiative), as well as new approaches that are in play such as a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and the Paris Agreement.
Katie Sullivan, Managing Director – IETA
Maral Sotoudehnia, Executive Director, Climate Action Secretariat – BC Government, Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions
Beth Valiaho, President – RETI Data Centers
Moderator: Stephen Donofrio, Head of Carbon Markets Intelligence – OPIS, A Dow Jones Company
This roundtable of experts will discuss the nuances of project-based compliance carbon offsets – increasingly being referred to as verified carbon credits. This conversation will cover supply, demand, prices, and policy for credits originating domestically as well as externally (e.g., WCI), from federal – such as Canadian Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations and the Federal DACCS Draft Offsets Protocol, to provincial policies, and also future potential for GHG reductions and removals under CORSIA and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Jackson Hegland, President & CEO – Modern West Advisory
Hazel Saffery, Partner – Dentons Canada LLP
Moderator: Stephen Donofrio, Head of Carbon Markets Intelligence – OPIS, A Dow Jones Company