Board of Directors
Emily Smejkal, P.Geol
President - Geothermal Canada
Geologic Consultant - Alberta No. 1
Associate - Tuya Terra Geo Corp.
Emily Smejkal, P.Geol is a geologist by training (BSc 2007) with over 10 years of experience in the Oil and Gas sector. Her work has been primarily with the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, where she spent the first portion of her career working on heavy oil deposits. She focused on fluvial and marine depositional environments, of which she created detailed 2D and 3D facies models. She also planned and executed drilling programs for both new and existing oil fields. While working on SAGD (steam assisted gravity drainage) heavy oil projects, Emily was a geologic specialist for both wellbore integrity and surface facility geochemistry projects. She is also experienced in GIS, subsurface mapping, 3D and 4D modelling, project management, facies modelling and sedimentary depositional environments. Currently Emily is transitioning her experience to geothermal exploration in sedimentary basins.
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Daniel Alonso Torres, M.Sc., P.Geo.
Email: dan.alonso.torres@gmail.com
Vice President - Geothermal Canada
Principal Geoscientist - Advection Inc.
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Daniel Alonso Torres, M.Sc., P.Geo., is a geoscientist with a proven track record of generating and progressing geothermal projects across Canada, counting on more than 14 years of experience in research and exploration. As a Principal Geoscientist of Advection Inc., Daniel supports a diversity of clients in the pursuit of their geothermal exploration, development, and conservation goals. He holds a Master of Science in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. In collaboration with remote communities, First Nations, developers, and professionals from academia and industry, Daniel has started and advanced several geothermal projects across Canada’s west and north. Daniel is a passionate science communicator and geothermal advocate, currently serving as the Director for British Columbia on the board of Geothermal Canada and as a member of the Geothermal Technical Division Committee of the Canadian Energy Geoscientists Association.
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Doris Ross, MBA, BSc Geophysics
Secretary - Geothermal Canada
Her career includes roles such as Manager of Subsurface Data Management at Woodside Energy Ltd., Geosciences and Reservoir Engineering Skills Manager and Geotechnical projects lead (oil sands, Surmont 2) at ConocoPhillips. Doris has expertise in hydrocarbon exploration, software product management, cloud-first methodologies, and data governance. She has been a speaker at many industry events, led significant projects at Woodside Energy, and co-authored a pivotal submission on geomechanics and operating pressure strategy (Surmont 2) for the Alberta Energy Regulator.
Doris has been involved in professional organizations, including the PPDM Professional Development Committee and the CSEG Foundation Board. She is multilingual, and enjoys hiking, travelling, skiing, baking, playing the accordion, and birding. Married with three adult children, Doris has lived in various cities across North America and Australia.
Philip Harms, P.Geol
Treasurer - Geothermal Canada
President & Co-Founder - 4th Resource Corp.
Philip Harms completed his BSc from the University of Calgary in 2006 with a double major in Geology and Geophysics. He has over 15 years of international exploration, development, and gas storage experience. His roles have included project leadership, geological & geophysical interpretation, seismic data acquisition & processing, resource quantification & risk assessment, data analytics and GIS analysis. Phil has a keen interest in leveraging exploration technology and workflows from the oil and gas industry into the geothermal space and integrating emerging energy trends and technologies into environmentally balanced energy solutions both in Canadian and international markets.
Mr. Harms is a registered Professional Geoscientist with the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) and a member of the CSEG.
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Harmokale Project in Ethiopia:
Dr. Stephen Edward Grasby, PhD
Past President - Geothermal Canada
Senior Research Scientist - Geological Survey of Canada
Dr. Grasby received a PhD in Geochemistry from University of Calgary in 1997. He has worked on regional groundwater studies in the Canadian Prairies and in British Columbia, including climate change impacts of regional water supply. He has also conducted extensive studies on thermal and mineral springs in western and northern Canada. He is lead author of the 2011 GSC publication, " Geothermal Energy Resource Potential of Canada".
Steve currently works at the Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. He does research in Geochemistry, Geology and Geomicrobiology. His current projects includes controls on Early Triassic paleoproductivity and geothermal energy potential of Canada.
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Fiona Chapman
Director at Large - Geothermal Canada
PhD Candidate - INRS
Fiona is a PhD candidate who holds a BSc in Environment with a minor in Geology from McGill University (2019) and completed her MSc in Earth Sciences at McMaster University. In 2021, she joined Jasmin Raymond’s Geothermal team at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique, centre Eau Terre Environment.
Currently, Fiona's primary research objective revolves around evaluating the geothermal potential around Lhu’aan Man (Kluane Lake) in southwestern Yukon. This project is in partnership with the Yukon Geological Survey and Kluane First Nation. Fiona is using a combination of fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and modelling to estimate the geothermal potential. This research will provide fundamental knowledge for Kluane First Nations to make informed decisions about further geothermal energy exploration and development on their traditional territory.
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Dr. Catherine Jean Hickson, PhD, P.Geo., FGC
Director for British Columbia - Geothermal Canada
President - Tuya Terra Geo Corp.
Chief Geologist - Terrapin Geothermics
C.E.O. - Alberta No. 1
Dr. Hickson is an experienced geothermal resource development expert. She received her PhD from the University of British Columbia in 1987 focusing on the subglacial volcanoes of Wells Gray Provincial Park, BC. However, her career in geothermal started as a summer student with the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) where in 1981 she joined the survey’s geothermal program doing downhole temperature measurements as well as field mapping. She spent the next 25 years of her career as a Research Scientist with the GSC. In 2008, she left government and joined Magma Energy Corp. (now Alterra Power Corp.) as VP Exploration and Chief Geoscientist. She led the company’s exploration and advanced resource assessments globally, spending significant time on projects in Chile, Iceland, Italy, Peru and USA. She continues to work actively in geothermal exploration and development to this day.
She has made significant contributions to the profession of geoscience through her career, volunteer service, and leadership. A pioneering volcanologist and a globally-recognized geoscience and geothermal expert with more than 30 years’ experience, she is the author of over 100 scientific papers as well as articles for the public, including two books. Dr. Hickson's early career focused on assessing past and future eruptions and hazard impacts of young volcanoes in Canada and globally. She went on to spend 25 years working with the federal government at the Geological Survey of Canada. She worked closely with the International Civil Aviation Organization creating pilot and airspace regulations for flight in regions impacted by volcanic ash. She also formulated and implemented Canada's volcanic eruption response. Combining her management and volcanological expertise as well as her global experience, an impactful career in the private sector followed, with a focus on geothermal energy and lithium brines.
In 2014, Dr. Hickson founded her own geological and management services company specializing in supporting geothermal development, lithium exploration, and public engagement in the Earth sciences. In 2018, she became Chief Geologist of the Alberta start-up Terrapin Geothermics. Under her leadership, Terrapin secured over $25 million in project development funds from Natural Resources Canada’s Emerging Renewable Power Program for its Alberta No. 1 project to harness the benefits of geothermal energy. She now serves as Alberta No. 1’s CEO. Dr. Hickson holds a Ph.D. (1987) in Geology and Volcanology, and a B.Sc. in Geology (1982) from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
Catherine is a registered professional geoscientist with Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC) and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). She served as an EGBC Council member from 2017 to 2019 and has also been a member of EGBC’s Geoscience Committee (2018 to 2022), the Credentials Committee (2018 – 2021), the Professional Practice Advisory Group (2017-2018), and the Nominating Committee (2013- 2015). Catherine is currently a member of the Engineering Experience Assessment Panel.
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Jasmin Raymond, P. Geo., Ph.D.
Director for Eastern Canada (QC) - Geothermal Canada
Professor - INRS
Chairholder - INQ Northern Geothermal Potential Research Chair
Scientific Head - Geothermal Open Laboratory
Interested by heat transfer applied to Earth Sciences, Professor Raymond is a hydrogeologist conducting research on geoenergy systems. His research involves very low to high temperature geothermal resources, natural hydrogen and underground storage of green hydrogen, with projects spanned over four continents, from the arctic to the tropics, helping to develop sustainable energy solutions for the growing needs of our society. Chair holder of the Institut nordique du Québec and granted by UNESCO, Professor Raymond leads the Laboratoire ouvert de géothermie to characterize thermophyscial properties of rocks essential to model geoenergy systems of all kinds. The main objective of his projects, done in collaboration with resource developers, technology designers and regulators officials, is to improve the efficiency and profitability of systems by providing scientific and social innovations.
Intéressé par les phénomènes de transfert thermique appliqués aux sciences de la Terre, le professeur Raymond est un hydrogéologue qui effectue de la recherche sur les systèmes géoénergétiques. Ses recherches concernent les ressources géothermiques de très basse à haute température, l’hydrogène naturel et le stockage souterrain d’hydrogène vert, avec des projets réalisés sur quatre continents, de l’arctique aux tropiques, aidant au développement de solutions énergétiques durables pour répondre aux besoins grandissants de notre société. Titulaire d’une chaire de recherche de l’Institut nordique du Québec et appuyé par l’UNESCO, le professeur Raymond dirige le Laboratoire ouvert de géothermie utilisé pour caractériser les propriétés thermophysiques du roc essentielles à la modélisation des systèmes géoénergétiques de toutes sortes. L’objectif principal de ses projets, réalisés en collaboration avec des développeurs de ressources, concepteurs de technologies et responsables de réglementations, est d’améliorer l’efficacité et la profitabilité des systèmes géoénergétiques par le biais d’innovations scientifiques et sociales.
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Susan R. Eaton
P.Geol., P.Geoph., M.Sc., DIC, B.Sc. Hon., B.J. Hon., FRCGS
Email: susanreaton_geo@shaw.ca
Director for Northern Canada - Geothermal Canada
President - SR ECO Consultants Inc.
Based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Susan R. Eaton is a seasoned energy advisor and project manager with 30 years of domestic and international experience in the oil and gas, mining, and environmental sectors. Leveraging her financial, operations, and geoscience expertise, she embraces disruptive innovations that are transforming the energy industry toward a more sustainable future. Eaton is the director, Northern Canada, of Geothermal Canada, a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization comprised of geothermal experts committed to advancing science and promoting geothermal research and development in Canada.
During her career, Eaton has worked as a senior geologist and geophysicist for the federal government and large Calgary-based energy companies (Imperial Oil Ltd., Husky Energy Inc., and Suncor Energy Inc.). As Vice-President Exploration of three Calgary-based, publicly traded and privately held junior energy companies, she led technical, operational, regulatory, stakeholder engagement, and Indigenous partnership initiatives in Canada, the USA, and internationally. In her role as the country (Canada) manager leading technical teams and conducting business development for Gaffney, Cline & Associates, an international energy advisory firm owned by Baker Hughes Company, Eaton specialized in oil and gas evaluations and reserve audits, gas-to-power solutions, liquified natural gas (LNG), and renewable energy solutions in North and South America. As Stantec Inc.'s Team Lead, Environmental Services, Northern Canada, she led a technical team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals consulting on multi-sectoral projects across Canada's three Arctic territories.
President of SR ECO Consultants Inc., Eaton is registered as a professional geologist and geophysicist with NAPEG, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists. She holds a B.Sc. Honours degree in geology and biology from Dalhousie University, a M.Sc. degree in petroleum geology and geophysics from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, and a B.J. Honours degree in journalism from Carleton University.
An earth scientist, journalist, and polar explorer, Eaton studies the intersection between geology, glaciology, plate tectonics, oceans, climate, gender, human rights, and life. In 2021, The Explorers Club (TEC) included her in their inaugural TEC Class of 50, Fifty People Changing the World that You Need Know About. She is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). In 2015, the RCGS named her one of Canada's greatest 100 top modern-day explorers and trail blazers. A year later, the RCGS named her one of Canada's greatest 25 women explorers.