We Are Canada's Agrivoltaics Project and Research Advocates

Founding Director & President 

Patrick is an entrepreneur and environmental advocate with a fervent passion for sustainable, triple bottom line solutions. Starting in South Africa, he founded a company to address the energy crisis developing solar projects and has since been instrumental in Canada's transition to a low-carbon economy. As Managing Partner of First Green Energy and a founding member of Agrivoltaics Canada, Patrick champions innovative agrivoltaics project solutions that serve the environment, economy, and society. With a career spanning multiple continents and diverse renewable energy projects, Patrick's dedication to a sustainable future is unwavering. 

Founding Director & Secretary     

Many development techniques that are commonplace today were pioneered by Claude and his teams after he was an early entrant into the renewable energy industry in 1998. 

The industry has exponentially grown since 1998 and he is pleased to offer industry-leading competency in regard to developing renewable energy projects across most electrical jurisdictions in North America. He offers an intimate understanding of the process from his early years driving sodar equipment through fields in Northern Ontario, discussing neighborly concerns at community consultations in California, and successfully lobbying the provincial government to allow renewable access to the electrical grid in Alberta.

Each step of his career development has led him to WEST Partners LTD. Here, his intimate knowledge of best practices and proven track record of large-scale development projects is combined with his desire to continue to push the boundaries of what renewable energy generation can look like in Canada.

Founding Director & Treasurer
Rob is a results-oriented leader with a decade of experience in the Ontario electricity sector, spanning project development to strategy. His work, published on the IESO's website, has greatly influenced Ontario's energy transformation, including connecting remote communities. Passionate about innovating the electricity system, Rob is eager to contribute to companies focused on energy storage, EV charging, and smart grids 

Founding Director

 Uzair is an accomplished Mechanical Engineer with extensive experience in the Energy, Automotive, and Petrochemical sectors, and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Western Ontario. He boasts expertise in maintaining and troubleshooting rotating and static equipment, and has led significant projects like the 323 MW Turbine Retrofit with GE at Hub Power Station. With degrees from NED University and certifications from NEECA, he's also an Associate Member at IMechE. 

 Director 

Drawing from 30 years of experience, Craig leverages his expertise to champion advancements in cleantech and agritech. Specializing in guiding early-stage tech companies in food, energy, and water, he is focused on propelling commercialization, growth, and scaling with a clear environmental impact. Recognizing the inherent connection to advancing food production, Craig passionately advocates for agrivoltaics, a sustainable approach where solar energy and agriculture coexist, fostering both renewable energy generation and enhanced agricultural productivity.

Director

Janna Greir is a first-generation farmer and co-owner of Whispering Cedars Ranch with her husband in Alberta, leveraging their sheep for utility-scale solar grazing.  In 2023, Janna co-founded Solar Sheep Inc; revolutionizing vegetation management, offering consultancy and coaching services to solar developers and livestock producers, and supplying a range of applicable products, including solar seeding solutions. 

Janna is also a Registered Nurse, with a passion for rural palliative care. She combines her insights and care of clients and livestock to her role at Agrivoltaics Canada, where she envisions the synergy of agriculture and energy production for environmental benefit. 

Founding Director 

 Mike champions the energy transition with cutting-edge renewable development and efficiency technology. With over a quarter-century in the renewable energy sector and certifications like PMP and FMV, Mike excels in managing diverse projects and evaluating their financial and sustainable prospects. He fervently promotes private renewable energy ventures, highlighted by his agrivoltaic projects harmonizing solar generation with farming. Moreover, his co-authored publication on microgrid design underscores his deep knowledge in merging renewable sources and storage solutions.  

Director

Jeff and his brother Mark lead The Smart Energy Company, an Agrivoltaics leader in Atlantic Canada since 2016. The company was founded to help farmers generate their own energy independence by using technology to harness the power of the elements. They're on a path to help farmers in Canada save $1B in electricity costs. The days of having to choose between farming or renewable energy generation are behind us. Solar energy generation on the farm is good for the farm business, the farm operation and the planet.

Founder and Advisor

 Joshua is driven by a passion to foster a just and sustainable society, with a primary focus on the electronic device physics of solar photovoltaic cells and materials. He also delves into areas like open source hardware/3-D printing, applied sustainability both domestically and in developing nations, and open source appropriate technology. Furthermore, Joshua has a keen interest in energy policy.