October 24th to 26th, 2011—Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Speakers

Burt RutanBurt Rutan

Keynote Speaker

Entrepreneur, Virgin Galactic spacecraft designer, and founder of aerospace research firm Scaled Composites, Burt Rutan was described by Newsweek as "the man responsible for more innovations in modern aviation than any living engineer." A bold visionary with a passion for the advancement of technology, he was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Inc. magazine and one of "the world's 100 most influential people" by TIME.

Rutan designed the legendary Voyager, the first aircraft to circle the world nonstop without refuelling. SpaceShipOne, the world's first privately funded spacecraft, won the $10 million Ansari X Prize, created to spur the development of affordable space tourism. In a joint venture with Virgin’s Richard Branson, Rutan formed "The Spaceship Company" to manufacture and market spaceships for the new commercial space-flight industry. Retiring from Scaled Composites as Chief Technical Officer in April 2011, he now assumes the title of founder and Chairman Emeritus.

In 2004 The Spaceship Company launched Virgin Galactic, the world's first commercial spaceline. So far Virgin Galactic has contracted five SpaceShipTwo tourist spacecrafts and two White Knight Two motherships to the paying public, along with suborbital to provide sub-orbital space flights space science missions and orbital launches of small satellites.

Rutan believes that the best ideas come from the collaborative efforts of small, closely-knit project teams and an environment not limited by adversity to risk. He inspires audiences with his vision on creativity, innovation and managers' tasks to motivate a creative team. Rutan was profiled by 60 Minutes and featured on the covers of both LIFE and TIME.

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Todd BakerTodd Baker

Todd Baker Todd is the Forestry and Woody Plants specialist at Jiffy products and works with the top forestry and ornamental nurseries in North America to increase yields, reduce crop cycles and improve financial returns on the crop. While Todd Baker typically talks to groups about forestry and woody plant propagation systems, he also shares his personal networking philosophy along with techniques on how to more easily connect with other conference attendees. As a student of the human condition as it relates to selling, Todd is a passionate proponent of the simplicity and effectiveness of relationship building.

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BishopGordon Bishop

Gordon Bishop is founder and CEO of NetComposites, a research, consultancy and online media company specializing in composite materials. Gordon's role gives him a broad overview of the composites industry and he is often called on to advise business and government on future trends and opportunities in composite materials. He also uses this knowledge to direct NetComposites' own research and commercialization of new sustainable composite materials technologies, much of which is in biocomposite materials.

One output of NetComposites' research is Biotex, a family of flax yarns, fabrics and pre-consolidated sheets that use a unique twistless technology to provide a combination of sustainability, performance and processability and not previously seen in composites.  These materials have emerged from the research lab over the last 2 years and are now sold commercially by Composites Evolution, a spin-out from NetComposites in which Gordon is also directly involved.

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Martin BureauMartin Bureau

Martin Bureau Martin Bureau holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from École Polytechnique of Montreal (1997). His areas of expertise are fracture mechanics, fatigue and process-structure-performance relationships in polymer-based foams, composites and nanocomposites. Martin is Group leader of the Advanced Polymer Composites Group of the National Research Council of Canada and lead for the Magna-NRC Composites Centre of Excellence. He holds a faculty position as Adjunct Professor at École Polytechnique of Montreal and at McGill University. His research interests are focused on polymer composites processing, processing-structure-property relationships and design and fabrication of composites applications in automotive, ground transportation and aerospace industry.

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ChaSangmin Cha

Mr. Sangmin Cha, currently serving as the Communications Director for the Presidential Committee on Green Growth with the Korean Government, Mr. Cha has a background in Economics, starting his career as a researcher at Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP.) As CEO of Nanal Co. he brings private industry experience to his government post. Mr. Cha was also Senior Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy (Minister for Finance and Economy) and holds both BA and MA in Political Science & Economics from Sogang University, Seoul Korea.

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ChorneyDoug Chorney

President, Keystone Agricultural Producers

Doug Chorney is a producer from East Selkirk, where he lives with his wife Michelle and daughter Erin. Cereal, oilseed and forage seed crops make up most of the 1500 acres on his farm, however, Doug also grows and sells fresh vegetables right off the farm.

Doug was elected President at KAP's 2011 annual meeting and served as Vice President in 2010. He has served as chair of the Workplace and Employment Committee and the Rural Development and Land Use Committee. Doug believes that new opportunities for producers to be part of the energy economy will help drive farm profitability in the future.

Doug holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Manitoba and has worked in the resource and aerospace industries prior to coming back to the family farm full time 17 years ago.

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CrawfordCraig Crawford

President and CEO, Ontario BioAuto Council

Craig Crawford has served on numerous government and industry committees and non-profit boards that have advocated support for biobased industries in both Canada and the United States. He has acted as a consultant to the federal and Ontario governments on the bioeconomy and wrote a framework for developing biobased industries in Canada. He has been actively involved in identifying research and business opportunities in the new bioeconomy for more than a decade.

Craig is currently the President and CEO of the Ontario BioAuto Council. The Council's vision is to make Ontario a global leader in the manufacture of automobile parts, construction materials and packaging from biological feedstocks. Its mission is to unite Ontario's largest economic sectors (i.e. agriculture, forestry, oil, chemical, manufacturing and automotive), research community and government around viable strategies aimed at building a province-wide bioeconomy.

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Daryl DomitrukDaryl Domitruk

Director, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

Daryl is the Director of the Agri-Food Innovation and Adaptation Knowledge Centre for Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives. He is based in Morden, Manitoba where he directs province-wide activities in science and innovation. His group includes the Agri-Energy Office, the Canada-Manitoba Crop Diversification Centres and industry development programs in functional foods, bioproducts and biotechnology. Daryl is a graduate of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Agriculture and holds a Ph.D. in Crop Science from the University of Saskatchewan. He has worked in the crop protection industry and for the zero-tillage farmer association prior to joining government.

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Fred Dzida

Fred Dzida

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Stephane GauthierStephane Gauthier

Stephane Gauthier, CEO of Prairie Bio-Energy Inc. started in the biomass industry in 2004. As the co-founder of Prairie Bio-Energy Inc., his interests are focused in the biomass conversion technologies including densification and combustion systems. Stephane has centered his education in mechanical engineering and project management. His main goals are to look at developing new innovative higher value products derived from biomass-based feedstocks with a strong focus on agricultural crop residues. His new challenge is to educate and inform the industry partners of new emerging biomass technologies and opportunities.

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GoodfellowRandy Goodfellow

Randy Goodfellow Mr. Goodfellow joined Ensyn on January 1st, 2008, but is no stranger to the company, as Ensyn was a long standing client of the consulting firm that he sold at the end of 2007. In his current capacity he oversees the company's public affairs, government relations, and communications activities. In 17 years as a consultant he advised senior executives from the private, public, and academic sectors on policy and communications issues related to the bio-based energy, chemicals and materials that can be generated from renewable natural resources. Randal was the founding President of BioProducts Canada. Randy has a B.Sc. (Agr.) from McGill University.

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Mikko KanteroMikko Kantero

Mikko Kantero is an entrepreneur and a professional in the cleantech business, especially in biowaste and biomass refining. He is a co-founder and board member of Preseco Oy, a pioneering environmental technology company in Finland. In addition he is the owner the companies of FirstGreen biofuels and GreenSound; the first one being in the business of refining biowaste materials into biofuels and the latter focusing on developing technology integrated business concepts in the field of cleantech. In his career Mr. Kantero has gathered experience in developing and taking novel technologies to the market, creating new business concepts and selling them internationally.

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Joe Kurian, Ph.D.

KurianIndustrial BioSciences, Sorona® Polymer DuPont Experimental Station E302/209

Dr. Joe Kurian joined DuPont, in 1990, as a Polymer Research Chemist in the Nylon business at Seaford, Delaware. At DuPont, he worked in a variety of roles including polymer and fibre research, new product development, process optimization, manufacturing and new business development. In 1995, he started pioneering research work in 3GT developing polymer grade 1,3-propanediol, polymerization technologies, fibre technologies and applications know-how. He created and led a highly successful 3GT polymer team and then worked as the R&D Manager for the Sorona® and Cerenol® Polyol projects. He is an innovator with over 60 filed US patents (40 granted) and 50 journal publications, including a book chapter on Sorona®.

Joe has received several awards and recognition for his Sorona® polymer, process and renewably sourced materials work, including the Corporate Marketing & Sales Excellence Award in 2010, the Bolton-Carothers Innovative Science Award in 2008, and the DuPont Corporate Sustainability Award in 2005. Joe has coordinated renewably sourced materials technologies across various DuPont Business Units, including EP and P&IP. Joe and his research group played a vital role in the development and commercialization of Sorona® polymer into various markets, including the filing of over 170 patents in polymer and application related technologies. Joe’s previous work experience includes GE Plastics (USA), Apollo Tires (India), CIPET (India) and The Rubber Research Institute of India. He is an active member of several professional and engineering societies and organized several symposiums in the area of renewably sourced materials. Currently Joe is serving on the editorial board of Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy. In 2007, he was nominated for the Design Magazine’s “Engineer of the Year” Award. He is a passionate supporter of science activities for students, including the Science Olympiad and Science Fair. Joe and his family reside in Hockessin, Delaware.

Joe received a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from the University of Akron in Ohio, USA, working under the guidance of Professor Joseph P. Kennedy. He has a B.Sc. in Chemistry and a B.Tech in Polymer Science & Engineering (1st Rank with distinction) from the University of Cochin, India.

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KuxhausMichele E. Kuxhaus, MBA

Michele E. Kuxhaus, MBA, is a Senior Analyst researching consumer attitudes and behaviours toward food and beverage products domestically and globally with the Global Analysis Division of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). Over the past eleven years with AAFC she has worked with numerous associations and small to medium sized companies within the agriculture biotechnology, medicinal herbs, hemp, nutraceutical, functional food, and food processing sectors delivering programs under the Agri-Food Trade Service. In 1999 Michele completed a Master of Business Administration from the University of Saskatchewan with an emphasis on marketing in agri-business which included a Japan study tour. Family, travel, camping and water sports are a few of her passions.

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Dr. Ellen LeeDr. Ellen C. Lee, Ph.D.

Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI

Dr. Ellen Lee is a Technical Expert in Plastics Research and at Ford Motor Company. Since joining Ford in 1998, Ellen has worked in composite material development and processing, including nanocomposites and microcellular injection foaming.

Of particular interest are sustainable materials, including bio-based resins from renewable resources, bio-based chemicals and precursors from biomass, and natural fibre reinforcement for both conventional and bio-based thermoplastics and thermoset composites. Ellen led the implementation of the industry first application of wheat straw reinforced composite in the 2010 Ford Flex interior bin and is currently migrating the technology to additional applications and vehicles. Ellen and her colleagues hold over 10 patents in these subjects.

Outside of Ford, Ellen is also passionate about the environment and living sustainably. A dedicated locavore, she is a member of two CSA (community supported agriculture) farms and can often be found working in her home vegetable garden in Ann Arbor, MI.

Ellen received her B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Northwestern University in 1993 and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering in 1998 from the University of California, Berkeley.

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Matt LensinkMatt Lensink

PlanET Biogas Solutions

Matt Lensink is our Application Manager with PlanET Biogas Solutions in St. Catharines, Ontario. He has a Mechanical Engineering and Management degree from McMaster University. He is responsible for PlanET’s project development efforts, focusing on all areas of a project starting with initial conception, through permitting and planning, and onto detailed design. Matt has been involved in all ten (10) of PlanET’s current projects.

PlanET Biogas Solutions designs, builds and services Anaerobic Digesters that convert organic by-products to useful power and heat. PlanET currently has six (6) biogas systems in operation with four (4) more under construction and several others in various stages of development.

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Tracey Maconachie

Life Science Association of Manitoba

Tracey Maconachie is President of LSAM, providing leadership and support to the life science industry in Manitoba. Her strategic intent is to facilitate improvements in the business environment for life science organizations to flourish. In all that she does, Tracey has four cornerstone objectives in mind: connecting people, information and ideas; building human resource capacity; facilitating a strong business development climate for members; and advocating for Manitoba’s life science industry.

She continues to work to anticipate and meet the needs of LSAM’s members in an evolving industry. Tracey believes that with an expanding and aging population and growing concerns over the health of the environment, the role that life sciences can play in feeding, healing and fuelling the planet in a sustainable and responsible way holds great potential for Manitoba and the world.

Previous to joining LSAM Tracey was at Merck Canada for twenty years and has been heavily involved in organizations that promote innovation. On the Organizing Committee for the Business of Science conference for 6 years, she served as Chair for 2 years, forming relationships with partners to ensure shared goals were achieved.

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Dr. Ronald MärtinsDr. Ronald Märtins

Dr. Ronald Märtins is the leader of Basic Research and Concepts with the Moeller Group, Bielefeld, Germany. Organised into two operating areas – plastics technology and flexible mouldings – the Moeller Group today supplies state-of-the-art products worldwide. Dr. Märtins holds a PhD in engineering and has been part of the Moeller Group since 1997. He has been involved with several facets of the business and has functioned in roles from Head of Product Development and Technical Director to Plant Manager.

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Sean McKay, P. Eng.Sean McKay

Executive Director, Composites Innovation Centre

Mr. Sean McKay has held the position of Executive Director of the Composites Innovation Centre since its inception in 2003. This not-for-profit corporation supports and stimulates economic growth through innovative research, development and application of composite materials and technologies for manufacturing industries.

Sean has a wealth of knowledge and experience in developing and implementing composite materials related technologies with over 30 years in the industry. He has been instrumental in assembling regional, national and international research and commercialization partnerships to develop the necessary technologies, promote industrial interest and implement an economically viable supply chain to exploit the use of natural sustainable materials for bioproduct applications.

In 1979 Sean received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Salford University, England. He is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of Manitoba.

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McMillanDavid McMillan

David McMillan's background is in painting, but he became more interested in photography, which he now teaches at the University of Manitoba's School of Art. This October, he will have photographed in the Chernobyl exclusion zone for the sixteenth time. The photographs have been exhibited in Canada and elsewhere, including the Pingyao International Photography Festival in China in September.

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Dennis RogozaDennis Rogoza

Dennis, as CEO of Rogoza Consulting Group, leads the firm’s delivery of energy and environmental strategic and program services to public agencies and private companies in Canada and the United States. The firm specializes in addressing complex issues where policies, programs, regulations, investments, markets and politics intersect. Sustainability is one such area. His thirty years of work experience has included being Director of the Office of Energy Conservation for the Government of Saskatchewan, manager of the vehicles and fuels policy and regulatory group with the British Columbia Government, leader of the BioFleet program that was instrumental in the market development of biodiesel in Western Canada, and head of the group that developed the E3 green rating certification system for the fleet sector in Canada. He currently is an advisor on sustainability to the Canola Council of Canada and has worked on life cycle carbon issues for feedstocks and biofuels as they underpin regulatory mandates in the US and Europe. Dennis has undergraduate degrees in business and economics from the University of Regina and a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies from York University, Toronto. He resides in Victoria, British Columbia.

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D. R. St. George, M.Sc., P.Eng.

Sr. Biosystems Engineer, Manitoba Hydro

Dennis St. George is a Professional Engineer with Manitoba Hydro where he leads the Biosystems Engineering Section; a group responsible for delivering technical and business solutions to customers with biologically based processes, applications and issues. Renewable energy is one of Dennis’s key areas of expertise. He completed a Masters degree related to solar energy and has 25 years experience in the transportation and utility sectors. Dennis is one of a handful of Certified Measurement & Verification Professionals in Canada; a designation which permits him to offer valuation and verification of energy efficiency and renewable energy investments. He is also a Distributed Generation Certified Professional; a designation which permits Dennis to evaluate and lead distributed generation projects.

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Trevor StanleyTrevor Stanley

General Manager, Pineland Forest Nursery

Trevor is the General Manager of Pineland Forest Nursery. He is a graduate of the Lakehead University Forestry Program. With 23 years of forest nursery experience, Trevor spent 10 years as the Manitoba Director of the Canadian Institute of Forestry. He currently sits on the executive of the Manitoba Forestry Association for which he was the President in 2005 and 2006.

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TekleTam Tekle

Tam Tekle has over 25 years experience in the production of composite panel products such as OSB, laminated veneer lumber, plywood, particleboard, MDF, and strawboard. Tam has extensive expertise in the design and implementation of product development, process improvement (PI) and quality assurance (QA) programs and efficient plant start-up strategies.

In 1998 Tam founded TTS as a fibre products development and testing operation. The company has since serviced Canadian clients including Canfor, West Fraser Timber, and Tolko and international clients include International Paper (US), Modern Laminated Lumber (Russia) and Nelson Pine Industries(NZ).

Tam studied Wood Science (B.Sc. Honours) and is an Associate member of the Institute of Wood Science (A.I.W.Sc.). Tam also has a National Diplomas in Forestry and Wood Industries and from the Forestry Training Institute in Tanzania.

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UldrichJack Uldrich

Jack Uldrich is the author of ten books, including the award-winning bestsellers, The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology Will Change the Future of Your Business and Jump the Curve: 50 Strategies to Help You Company Stay Ahead of Emerging Technology. His most recent books are Unlearning 101: 101 Lessons in Thinking Inside-Out the Box and Higher Unlearning: 39 Post-Requisite Lessons for Achieving a Successful Future.

He is the “Chief Unlearning Officer” of The School of Unlearning—an international leadership, change management and technology consultancy dedicated to helping business, government, and non-profit organizations prepare for and profit from emerging technologies. Clients include Fortune 100 companies, venture capital firms and state and regional governments.

Uldrich, a former naval intelligence officer and Defense Department official, also served as the Director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Governor Jesse Ventura.

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WillemseHarmen Willemse

Harmen Willemse is a standardization consultant at NEN, the Netherlands Standardization Institute. Working at the Energy Resources division, he is responsible for the roll-out of the NTA 8080 certification system for sustainable biomass for energy purposes. This certificate can be used worldwide to demonstrate the sustainability of solid, liquid and gaseous biomass. He is also the secretary of both the Dutch and the European standardization committee for bio-based products. In this position he supports the development of European standards for various aspects of bio-based products, including sustainability and determination of bio-based content.

Before NEN, Harmen worked as a management consultant and as a sales professional in several companies in the IT and management consultancy sector. Harmen studied Business Administration at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he graduated on stakeholder involvement in standardization.

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Stephen WheelerStephen Wheeler

Stephen Wheeler (B.Sc) is from Port Au Port, Newfoundland and has been the General Manager at Magine Snowboards for the past year. Currently he is heavily involved with developing a composite snowboard which incorporates sustainable materials for sale in the marketplace.

Magine Snowboards is a partnership of Stephen Wheeler, Michael Maddock and Marcel Savidon, which produces hand-crafted snowboards in western Newfoundland. Magine is about freedom of expression, enjoying a fun lifestyle and supporting the community. The partners have developed a truly handcrafted process, using local sustainable cut wood and high quality materials. Recently, the trio spearheaded a partnership with the University of Winnipeg, and the Composites Innovation Centre Manitoba to further differentiate their product line, and increase the sustainably of their products by incorporate sustainable materials into their current design.

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