Management

Kevin brings with him a formidable background that crosses private, public and not-for-profit sectors. His background includes serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Saskatchewan, including serving in several Cabinet Portfolios, as well as Vice President of Corporate Relations at SaskPower during the development and approval periods of the BD3 CCS Facility.

Throughout his career, Kevin has served in several board positions including the University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors, Vice-Chair of the Hospitals of Regina Foundation, Member of the Regina Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as President of Saskatchewan Special Olympics. Kevin has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Saskatchewan and formerly held the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. In November 2019, Kevin joined the International CCS Knowledge Centre in the role of interim President & CEO.

As Vice-President, Strategy & Stakeholder Relations, Beth represents the Knowledge Centre amongst global decision makers and financiers to accelerate engagement on and understanding of the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS); and focuses on helping to link CCS knowledge within Canada and with other countries to reduce locked-in investments and collaboratively support the goals of the Paris Agreement. Her understanding of complex climate change matters, policies and regulations, and international financing concerns act as a solid basis for assisting both national and international implementation strategies for technologies that support environmental targets. 

Prior to joining the Knowledge Centre Beth worked briefly as legal counsel for the provincial Crown utility. She pairs this industrial perspective with regulatory knowledge as Acting Director of Climate Change with the Government of Saskatchewan. These positions are reflective of Beth’s time with the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy where she focused on analysing provincial/territorial climate action plans and making recommendations for low cost and sustainable pathways. Beth’s legal education, teaching and practice have explored balancing energy, the environment and social implications. 

Following over two decades at SaskPower, Debbie Kajati was seconded as the Chief Financial Officer for the International Knowledge Centre (and the Treasurer of the Board) in 2016. Prior to this appointment, Debbie had been the Manager of the Coal Combustion Products and Contracts Management Department, where her role was to develop, implement, lead and oversee a Contracts Management Department.Her career at the corporation started in 1994, helping set up and manage the SaskPower International Inc. - a wholly-owned subsidiary of the SaskPower Corporation.

Mandy Selzer started with SaskPower with the Carbon Capture group in 2012. She then joined the International CCS Knowledge Centre in 2016 as the Executive Assistant and Office Manager. Previously Mandy worked for the Government of Saskatchewan in the Ministry of Education. When not at work, Mandy skips a competitive women's curling team.  

Brent Jacobs joined the International CCS Knowledge Centre in 2017 and prior to which worked for SaskPower for 20 years specializing in the Performance of Thermal Power Generation and the Integration of Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS).

His experience with SaskPower includes four years as Senior Engineer and Project Leader in Generation Planning studying future supply options including CCS, five years as the Project Leader for Thermal Performance and Heat and Power Integration on the Boundary Dam Unit 3 ICCS Project, two years as Turbine and Heat Rejection Lead on a pre-commitment study for a new build coal plant with CCS, and eight years as Performance Engineer for SaskPower’s thermal generating fleet. The highlight would be the work on the Boundary Dam Unit 3 ICCS Project with the result being a Carbon Capture process fully integrated with the Power Island including the application of a Flue Gas Cooler. He continues to work on future CCS options for SaskPower and others with a goal of reducing the capital cost and applying the learnings from the Boundary Dam Unit 3 Project.

Brent holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and has recently started work on a Masters in Process Systems Engineering at the University of Regina.

Yuewu joined the International CCS Knowledge Centre in Oct 2018.

His experience includes working on the SaskPower Boundary Dam 3 CCS project since Oct 2011. During this time, he served as a Mechanical Engineer, lead on Mechanical Commissioning, and Senior Engineer in capture island. His areas of focus were on reviewing design, managing supply and install contracts in owner’s scope, mechanical commissioning, resolving the deficiencies, improving performance, and supporting the overall operation and maintenance of capture island.

He is currently reviewing the design of emerging CCS projects and providing advice to owners and participating in CCS feasibility study with applying the learnings from Boundary Dam 3 CCS Facility. Prior to joining the Boundary Dam 3 CCS project, Yuewu spent three years in mechanical design/design review/equipment supply/install/commissioning and technical support on operation/maintenance/overhaul at the SaskPower Poplar River Power Station and another 14 years in Mechanical (thermal power) Engineering in the power generation industry in China.

Yuewu holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical (thermal) Engineering and a Master’s Certificate in Project Management.

Zewei Yu obtained his graduate degree in Canada in 1990s.  He had left behind in China a short career of facilitating academics in their expanding interactions and knowledge exchanges around the world.

Capitalizing on the growing interactions between China and Canada, Zewei helped link China to Saskatchewan’s worldleading academic and trade business development. While pursuing graduate studies in Regina, he facilitated the contract awarding process for the Canadian Crown nuclear corporation to build the CANDU nuclear power plant in Qishan, China - the largest overseas turn-key project undertaken and financed by Canada.

Also drawing on his public service experiences in climate change planning, Zewei has effectively presented Canadian CCUS achievements and expertise on the international forums involving international governments and industries, financial institutions and think tanks. Under Zewei’s oversight as a Canadian certified translator, the Knowledge Centre has been able to make accessible to China the important learnings about “Integrated Carbon Capture and Storage Project at SaskPower’s Boundary Dam Power Station”.

Zewei has built strong business connections in CCUS with China and other Asia Pacific economies at both technical and policy levels since 2009, opening the doors for successful communications and collaboration for the Knowledge Centre. He has helped inform a wide range of key CCUS shareholders of the evolving trends, issues, and the complex challenges associated with large-scaled CCUS technology development and deployment.