Who We Are

Barbara was appointed as a federal Member in 2017 and as the Board Chairperson in 2022. She also serves as the Chair of the Social Responsibility Committee. She has over 20 years of experience in the energy industry, including onshore and offshore energy, electricity, renewable energy, and public policy. Barbara is a former producer/journalist for CBC and The Canadian Press; a former Public Information and Environmental Coordinator at the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board; the founding Chief Executive Officer of The Maritimes Energy Association; and a former Vice-President of the Atlantic Institute of Market Studies. 

Corrina was appointed as a federal Member in 2017 and serves on the Audit, Evaluation and Human Resources Committee. Corrina has over 30 years experience in the resource development and energy industries in Canada and internationally, both with operators and as an independent consultant. Corrina is an experienced board director and holds the ICD.D professional governance designation. She serves on the Boards of the Alberta Energy Regulator and the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission and is a former Chair of the Environmental Advisory Review Committee, Town of Canmore and Director of Emissions Reduction Alberta.

Bernie was appointed as a federal Member in 2022. He also serves on the Social Responsibility Committee. He practised environmental law throughout Atlantic Canada for over 25 years. Bernie was a Managing Partner and CEO of McInnes Cooper; he served in the Nova Scotia Public Service in various roles including Deputy Minister of Planning & Priorities, Deputy Minister of the Office of Strategy Management, and Deputy Minister of Business; he served on  many Boards including the World Trade and Convention Center, Research Nova Scotia, Events East, Develop Nova Scotia, Innovacorp, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Cresco, and as Corporate Secretary of Twin Rivers Paper Company ; he is Managing Trustee of the Killam Trusts; he teaches Environmental Assessment at Dalhousie University’s School for Resource and Environmental Studies and Government Structure & Organizations in the Masters of Public Administration program. 

Tareq was federally appointed as an alternate Member in 2023 and serves on the Social Responsibility Committee. His career extends over 30 years of combined international and Canadian experience in the areas of executive management, strategic planning, regulation, health, safety, oil and gas, renewable and nuclear energy, infrastructure, environmental protection, compliance, and enforcement. Tareq is a former Deputy Minister at Manitoba Infrastructure, Assistant Deputy Minister at Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Executive Director at Saskatchewan government and Senior Advisor at Alberta Energy Regulator.

Roger was provincially appointed as a Board Member in 2022 and serves on the Social Responsibility Committee. Roger has more than 35 years of experience in the environmental field in Canada and abroad, with a focus on environmental assessments, contingency and development plans and emergency response. Roger managed Environment Canada’s Environmental Emergency Program in the Atlantic Region for over 25 years; led advisory teams on oil spill response in the Persian Gulf and South Korea; and participated in the International Observer program, Macondo Blowout.

Jim was appointed as a provincial Member in 2020 and serves on the Audit, Evaluation and Human Resources Committee. Jim has over 30 years of industry experience spanning across North America, including Amoco Canada Petroleum Company, Nova Scotia Resources Limited, Pengrowth Energy Corporation and participated in the development of the Cohasset Panuke Project and Sable Offshore Energy project. 

Robert was provincially appointed as an alternate Member in 2022 and is the Chair of the Audit, Evaluation and Human Resources Committee. Robert has more than 30 years of experience in the energy industry including senior leadership roles in operations and project management, finance, commercial and contract negotiations, health, safety and environment, regulatory and stakeholder affairs. He is a former Project Director and Asset Manager for Deep Panuke Offshore Gas Development Project with Ovintiv (formerly Encana) and participated in several applications and hearings with Canada Energy Regulator (National Energy Board), Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and other regulatory agencies. 

Christine was appointed as Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors in February 2023. Christine reports directly to the Board of Directors and is responsible for organizational leadership, strategy and planning to ensure we fulfill our mandate in an efficient and transparent manner.

Robert leads the development and continuous improvement of regulatory oversight practices for the Operations/Health, Safety and Environment team. In his role, Robert analyzes and evaluates operator regulatory compliance and management systems, with a focus on emergency response plans and procedures, safety plans, and training and competency of personnel. Robert serves as CNSOER’s Chief Safety Officer, Occupational Health and Safety Officer, Operational Safety Officer, and Administrative Monetary Penalty Officer.

Tara is responsible for the day-to-day operations of human resources; developing, planning and implementing human resources policies and programs; administering the cost recovery system; and supporting the Audit, Evaluation and Human Resources Committee.

Colleen is responsible for leading the implementation of the CNSOER’s internal and external communications strategies, Indigenous and stakeholder engagement, media and government relations. Colleen also supports the Social Responsibility Committee.

Shelley is responsible for general accounting, payroll, procurement, and budgeting, including preparing monthly and annual financial reports of the CNSOER. 

Karen provides support services to the Chief Executive Officer, General Counsel, management team, and Board of Directors.

Troy is responsible for managing and leading the Information Services team. In his role, he is responsible for providing Information Management and Technology strategic direction for the CNSOER.

Jason is responsible for Information Technology security and Continuity. He administers the CNSOER’s IT infrastructure while providing information technology support and advice to the CNSOER team. 

Bob is responsible for supporting the CNSOER’s information technology systems such as hardware and software for all servers and workstations, network administration, technical communications, and audio visual.

Anita is responsible for curating and managing geological and geophysical data and subsurface samples at the CNSOER. Anita also scans archival data for the CNSOER Information Management Centre and assists clients by arranging data loans and access to physical samples for research projects. 

John is responsible for supporting the Information Management Centre, helping people to obtain data for research purposes, as well as curating and digitizing legacy seismic data for internal study and long-term preservation. 

Zizheng is responsible for conducting regular inventories and audits of content within the Information Management System, organizing scanned information into CNSOER’s file structures, and conducting quality checks as well as supporting the administration of the CNSOER intranet and website. 

Shanti is responsible for leading the Legal and Regulatory Affairs team. He provides legal advice to the CNSOER and advises on the development of the CNSOER’s regulatory policy. Shanti also serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors. 

Nichole is responsible for supporting and leading projects related to policy, financial requirements, and governance, in addition to maintaining databases and internal auditing. 

Dena is responsible for leading the Operations/Health, Safety, and Environment team and all its work including the review and approval of activity authorization applications for proposed offshore energy activities and the CNSOER’s monitoring and assessment of regulatory compliance of authorized activities. 

Elizabeth leads the CNSOER Strategic Assessment process and reviews environmental aspects of operators’ activity authorization applications. A key part of Elizabeth’s role is to ensure protection of marine life, marine habitat, species at risk and their critical habitat, and marine conservation areas with involvement in up-to-date science-related processes. 

Janice is an environmental assessment and permitting specialist and is a lead reviewer of environmental aspects of operators’ activity authorization applications. She plays a lead role in the development of internal CNSOER regulatory policy as it relates to environmental assessment and protection. 

Kenda is responsible for researching regulatory processes of offshore energy and supporting the development of CNSOER related policies. She is also responsible for maintaining and supporting the CNSOER electronic information management system. Kenda is the CNSOER’s Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator. 

Thierry is responsible for undertaking research and analysis for input into the CNSOER’S offshore renewable energy internal regulatory processes, developing offshore renewable energy guidance, staying current on the global offshore renewable energy standards and the regulatory practices of other global offshore renewable energy regulators, reviewing offshore renewable energy activity applications, and monitoring offshore renewable energy activities. 

Kris is responsible for leading the Resources and Rights team. In his role, Kris manages the CNSOER’s Call for Bids processes for licences, advises on geoscience matters relating to energy exploration, development and production; and reviews geoscience aspects of industry submitted activity authorizations. Kris also serves as CNSOER’s Chief Conservation Officer. 

Mark advises on geological matters relating to offshore energy exploration, development and production. He also studies geological and geophysical data to better understand the geology and hydrocarbon potential of the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area. Mark is responsible for reviewing geoscience aspects of industry-submitted activity authorizations, reports and plans to ensure compliance with CNSOER regulatory requirements. 

Matteo advises on geophysical matters relating to offshore energy exploration, development and production. He also studies geological and geophysical data to better understand the geology and hydrocarbon potential of the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area. Matteo is responsible for reviewing geoscience aspects of industry-submitted activity authorizations, reports and plans.

Brian is responsible for providing mapping support using Geographic Information Systems software, and graphics support for CNSOER publications and presentations. Brian is also responsible for the loading, quality control and management of offshore data. 

Cameron is responsible for supporting and leading projects related to rights management and the Call for Bids processes and developing and providing advice for rights issuance and land management policies.