Leadership

Colin Armstrong

Colin Armstrong

President & CEO

Colin is a professional mechanical engineer with more than 30 years’ experience in the hydrogen sector.

Colin Armstrong

President & CEO

Colin is a professional mechanical engineer with more than 30 years’ experience in the hydrogen sector.

He is a founder of HTEC and has led the company for over 10 years. Colin is the driving force behind the development of British Columbia’s hydrogen station network, opening Canada’s first retail hydrogen fueling station in 2018. Prior to HTEC, Colin led hydrogen initiatives at Sacré-Davey Engineering, including the $21 million Integrated Waste Hydrogen Utilization Project (IWHUP) and the 1,000-kilogram-per-day fueling station project for a fleet of fuel cell buses operating in Whistler. Colin was also an investor and the lead engineer at Dynetek Industries (high-pressure carbon fiber gas storage cylinders) and worked at Ballard Power Systems to develop fuel cell manufacturing systems. Colin has been on the Board of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association since 2011 and currently chairs Hydrogen BC.

Colin is a 2022 Clean50 Honouree.

Colin Armstrong

President & CEO

Colin is a professional mechanical engineer with more than 30 years’ experience in the hydrogen sector.

He is a founder of HTEC and has led the company for over 10 years. Colin is the driving force behind the development of British Columbia’s hydrogen station network, opening Canada’s first retail hydrogen fueling station in 2018. Prior to HTEC, Colin led hydrogen initiatives at Sacré-Davey Engineering, including the $21 million Integrated Waste Hydrogen Utilization Project (IWHUP) and the 1,000-kilogram-per-day fueling station project for a fleet of fuel cell buses operating in Whistler. Colin was also an investor and the lead engineer at Dynetek Industries (high-pressure carbon fiber gas storage cylinders) and worked at Ballard Power Systems to develop fuel cell manufacturing systems. Colin has been on the Board of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association since 2011 and currently chairs Hydrogen BC.

Colin is a 2022 Clean50 Honouree.

Sabina Russell, P.Eng

Sabina Russell, P.Eng

VP, Clean Fuels

Sabina is a professional mechanical engineer with 25 years’ experience in the hydrogen sector.

Sabina Russell, P.Eng

VP, Clean Fuels

Sabina is a professional mechanical engineer with 25 years’ experience in the hydrogen sector. She is responsible for HTEC’s Clean Fuels department, involving production and liquefaction asset development, partnerships, and plant operations.

Prior to joining HTEC, Sabina was Principal & co-founder at Zen Clean Energy Solutions for seven years. She led Zen’s project management department, with a focus on consortium-based projects deploying clean and zero-emission technologies. She also led Zen’s hydrogen strategy work, including the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada on behalf of the Government of Canada, as well as a Maritimes Hydrogen Study for OERA and the BC Hydrogen Study. Sabina worked with Ballard Power Systems for over 18 years, where she held a range of technical and commercial roles. She ended her tenure at Ballard as Director of Product Engineering, leading a team of 95 engineers and scientists to develop fuel cell stack and system products, as well as provide engineering services to customers including automotive OEMs. Sabina is also the Chair of the Canadian Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA).

Sabina was featured in the "Women Leading Cleantech" 2022 by Foresight Canada and was a 2021 Clean50 Honouree.

Sabina Russell, P.Eng

VP, Clean Fuels

Sabina is a professional mechanical engineer with 25 years’ experience in the hydrogen sector. She is responsible for HTEC’s Clean Fuels department, involving production and liquefaction asset development, partnerships, and plant operations.

Prior to joining HTEC, Sabina was Principal & co-founder at Zen Clean Energy Solutions for seven years. She led Zen’s project management department, with a focus on consortium-based projects deploying clean and zero-emission technologies. She also led Zen’s hydrogen strategy work, including the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada on behalf of the Government of Canada, as well as a Maritimes Hydrogen Study for OERA and the BC Hydrogen Study. Sabina worked with Ballard Power Systems for over 18 years, where she held a range of technical and commercial roles. She ended her tenure at Ballard as Director of Product Engineering, leading a team of 95 engineers and scientists to develop fuel cell stack and system products, as well as provide engineering services to customers including automotive OEMs. Sabina is also the Chair of the Canadian Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA).

Sabina was featured in the "Women Leading Cleantech" 2022 by Foresight Canada and was a 2021 Clean50 Honouree.

Patric Ouellette, Ph.d, P.eng

Patric Ouellette, Ph.d, P.eng

VP, Infrastructure

Patric is a clean technology executive and a mechanical engineer with over 25 years’ experience in the development of fuel systems for alternative fuels.

Patric Ouellette, Ph.d, P.eng

VP, Infrastructure

Patric is a clean technology executive and a mechanical engineer with over 25 years' experience in the development of fuel systems for alternative fuels.

He was a member of the founding team of Westport Innovations and part of the leadership team that built the company from a university spin-off to a global industry leader in alternative fuel systems. As Westport's CTO, Patric was involved in fuel systems technology and product development for the utilization of gaseous fuels in a wide range of applications. Patric sponsored a few hydrogen projects at Westport, including the utilization of natural gas and hydrogen blends in transit buses and the investigation of high-pressure injection of hydrogen in engines in partnerships with European and North American engine manufacturers. After leaving Westport, Patric consulted to several clean technology organizations, providing services related to future heavy-duty vehicle technologies, sectoral emissions reduction strategies, market positioning of new renewable fuels, and technology leadership for a new start-up involved with an innovative refrigeration system.

Patric Ouellette, Ph.d, P.eng

VP, Infrastructure

Patric is a clean technology executive and a mechanical engineer with over 25 years' experience in the development of fuel systems for alternative fuels.

He was a member of the founding team of Westport Innovations and part of the leadership team that built the company from a university spin-off to a global industry leader in alternative fuel systems. As Westport's CTO, Patric was involved in fuel systems technology and product development for the utilization of gaseous fuels in a wide range of applications. Patric sponsored a few hydrogen projects at Westport, including the utilization of natural gas and hydrogen blends in transit buses and the investigation of high-pressure injection of hydrogen in engines in partnerships with European and North American engine manufacturers. After leaving Westport, Patric consulted to several clean technology organizations, providing services related to future heavy-duty vehicle technologies, sectoral emissions reduction strategies, market positioning of new renewable fuels, and technology leadership for a new start-up involved with an innovative refrigeration system.

Jeff Grant

Jeff Grant

VP, Transportation Solutions

Jeff Grant has over 22 years’ experience in business and project development and government relations in the hydrogen sector.

Jeff Grant

VP, Transportation Solutions

Jeff Grant has over 22 years' experience in business and project development and government relations in the hydrogen sector. At HTEC, Jeff is responsible for the Transportation Solutions department, involving fleet transition planning, transportation project development and execution, and vehicle leasing for heavy-duty fleet partners.  

With a passion for electrification of the transportation industry, Jeff has been instrumental in developing hydrogen and fuel cell equipment deployments in early markets. Prior to joining HTEC, Jeff was the Principal and co-founder of Zen Clean Energy Solutions. He led Zen’s project development and fleet transition verticals with a focus on creating and refining ideas, finding, and securing non-dilutive funding, identifying partnerships, and delivering contracts. He led multiple project development files for Zen, including key partnerships for HTEC’s early-stage light-duty fueling network in BC. At Ballard Power Systems, Jeff spent 15 years in several key business development roles, including the commercial lead for the North American bus market. Jeff recently served as the Vice Chair of Hydrogen BC.

Jeff Grant

VP, Transportation Solutions

Jeff Grant has over 22 years' experience in business and project development and government relations in the hydrogen sector. At HTEC, Jeff is responsible for the Transportation Solutions department, involving fleet transition planning, transportation project development and execution, and vehicle leasing for heavy-duty fleet partners.  

With a passion for electrification of the transportation industry, Jeff has been instrumental in developing hydrogen and fuel cell equipment deployments in early markets. Prior to joining HTEC, Jeff was the Principal and co-founder of Zen Clean Energy Solutions. He led Zen’s project development and fleet transition verticals with a focus on creating and refining ideas, finding, and securing non-dilutive funding, identifying partnerships, and delivering contracts. He led multiple project development files for Zen, including key partnerships for HTEC’s early-stage light-duty fueling network in BC. At Ballard Power Systems, Jeff spent 15 years in several key business development roles, including the commercial lead for the North American bus market. Jeff recently served as the Vice Chair of Hydrogen BC.

Gerhard Schmidt, P.eng, Cp.eng, Pmp

Gerhard Schmidt, P.eng, Cp.eng, Pmp

VP, Engineering

Gerhard has more than 20 years’ experience in the mechanical and process design of gas, water, and thermal systems in Canada, Australia, the United States, and Europe.

Gerhard Schmidt, P.eng, Cp.eng, Pmp

VP, Engineering

Gerhard has more than 20 years' experience in the mechanical and process design of gas, water, and thermal systems in Canada, Australia, the United States, and Europe.

He spent over seven years in the hydrogen fuel cell transportation sector working with Daimler Benz on engine development for buses and the battery replacement market for industrial forklifts. He has spent the last six years developing hydrogen infrastructure for various end use applications. Prior to this, Gerhard started and ran a successful consulting firm/partnership in Australia for eight years. He managed a clients' $80-100M-per-year capital projects portfolio, improving the portfolio’s on-budget delivery, streamlined project development and approval processes, and was a member of numerous large project development teams ($100M-$1B project spend), providing engineering design for gas extraction plants, water pumping stations, and underground-mine services.

Gerhard Schmidt, P.eng, Cp.eng, Pmp

VP, Engineering

Gerhard has more than 20 years' experience in the mechanical and process design of gas, water, and thermal systems in Canada, Australia, the United States, and Europe.

He spent over seven years in the hydrogen fuel cell transportation sector working with Daimler Benz on engine development for buses and the battery replacement market for industrial forklifts. He has spent the last six years developing hydrogen infrastructure for various end use applications. Prior to this, Gerhard started and ran a successful consulting firm/partnership in Australia for eight years. He managed a clients' $80-100M-per-year capital projects portfolio, improving the portfolio’s on-budget delivery, streamlined project development and approval processes, and was a member of numerous large project development teams ($100M-$1B project spend), providing engineering design for gas extraction plants, water pumping stations, and underground-mine services.

Shannon Halliday, MbA

Shannon Halliday, MbA

VP, Corporate Affairs

Shannon has 20 years’ experience in the fields of business development, marketing, and government relations with a focus on clean energy and technology.

Shannon Halliday, MBA

VP, Corporate Affairs

Shannon has 20 years' experience in the fields of business development, marketing, and government relations with a focus on clean energy and technology.

Shannon’s passion for sustainability has led to a career in both the public and private sectors. She opened a trade office for the Government of Quebec in Vancouver and was the West Coast representative for Natural Resources Canada’s energy sector, focusing primarily on hydrogen, fuel cells, and transportation technologies. She led business development activities while at Instream Energy Systems and Powertech Labs and represented Canada on the UC Davis Transportation Studies Advisory Board and the International Energy Agency’s Hydrogen Working Group. For two years, Shannon served as Vice Chair of Hydrogène Québec.  At HTEC, Shannon is responsible for the commercial team, including business development, government relations, and communications.

Shannon was featured in the "Women Leading Cleantech" 2022 by Foresight Canada. She was also named one of the most inspiring leaders in  “Women in Energy Transformation Series” 2022, an initiative by Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE), GLOBE Series and Pembina Institute.

Shannon Halliday, MBA

VP, Corporate Affairs

Shannon has 20 years' experience in the fields of business development, marketing, and government relations with a focus on clean energy and technology.

Shannon’s passion for sustainability has led to a career in both the public and private sectors. She opened a trade office for the Government of Quebec in Vancouver and was the West Coast representative for Natural Resources Canada’s energy sector, focusing primarily on hydrogen, fuel cells, and transportation technologies. She led business development activities while at Instream Energy Systems and Powertech Labs and represented Canada on the UC Davis Transportation Studies Advisory Board and the International Energy Agency’s Hydrogen Working Group. For two years, Shannon served as Vice Chair of Hydrogène Québec.  At HTEC, Shannon is responsible for the commercial team, including business development, government relations, and communications.

Shannon was featured in the "Women Leading Cleantech" 2022 by Foresight Canada. She was also named one of the most inspiring leaders in  “Women in Energy Transformation Series” 2022, an initiative by Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE), GLOBE Series and Pembina Institute.

Kurt Loewen, Cpa, Msc

Kurt Loewen, Cpa, Msc

Chief Financial Officer

Kurt Loewen is HTEC’s CFO; he has over 13 years of experience as a CFO of high-growth public companies in the forestry and mineral exploration sectors.

Kurt Loewen, Cpa, Msc

Chief Financial Officer

Kurt Loewen is HTEC’s CFO; he has over 13 years of experience as a CFO of high-growth public companies in the forestry and mineral exploration sectors.

Kurt was a key member of the HTEC team that successfully closed a $217 million investment from Chart Industries, Inc. and I Squared Capital.

Prior to his current role, Kurt was HTEC’s director of project finance. In that capacity, Kurt provided support for business development submissions for funding programs and project analysis, and reporting to multiple federal and provincial agencies. He also managed HTEC’s low carbon fuel credits. Kurt developed the HTEC Quebec proforma, incorporating truck leasing, fueling stations as well as hydrogen production and liquefaction.

Kurt Loewen, Cpa, Msc

Chief Financial Officer

Kurt Loewen is HTEC’s CFO; he has over 13 years of experience as a CFO of high-growth public companies in the forestry and mineral exploration sectors.

Kurt was a key member of the HTEC team that successfully closed a $217 million investment from Chart Industries, Inc. and I Squared Capital.

Prior to his current role, Kurt was HTEC’s director of project finance. In that capacity, Kurt provided support for business development submissions for funding programs and project analysis, and reporting to multiple federal and provincial agencies. He also managed HTEC’s low carbon fuel credits. Kurt developed the HTEC Quebec proforma, incorporating truck leasing, fueling stations as well as hydrogen production and liquefaction.

Gerhard Schmidt, P.eng, Cp.eng, Pmp

Gerhard Schmidt, P.eng, Cp.eng, Pmp

VP, Engineering

Gerhard has more than 20 years’ experience in the mechanical and process design of gas, water, and thermal systems in Canada, Australia, the United States, and Europe.

Gerhard Schmidt, P.eng, Cp.eng, Pmp

VP, Engineering

Gerhard has more than 20 years' experience in the mechanical and process design of gas, water, and thermal systems in Canada, Australia, the United States, and Europe.

He spent over seven years in the hydrogen fuel cell transportation sector working with Daimler Benz on engine development for buses and the battery replacement market for industrial forklifts. He has spent the last six years developing hydrogen infrastructure for various end use applications. Prior to this, Gerhard started and ran a successful consulting firm/partnership in Australia for eight years. He managed a clients' $80-100M-per-year capital projects portfolio, improving the portfolio’s on-budget delivery, streamlined project development and approval processes, and was a member of numerous large project development teams ($100M-$1B project spend), providing engineering design for gas extraction plants, water pumping stations, and underground-mine services.

Gerhard Schmidt, P.eng, Cp.eng, Pmp

VP, Engineering

Gerhard has more than 20 years' experience in the mechanical and process design of gas, water, and thermal systems in Canada, Australia, the United States, and Europe.

He spent over seven years in the hydrogen fuel cell transportation sector working with Daimler Benz on engine development for buses and the battery replacement market for industrial forklifts. He has spent the last six years developing hydrogen infrastructure for various end use applications. Prior to this, Gerhard started and ran a successful consulting firm/partnership in Australia for eight years. He managed a clients' $80-100M-per-year capital projects portfolio, improving the portfolio’s on-budget delivery, streamlined project development and approval processes, and was a member of numerous large project development teams ($100M-$1B project spend), providing engineering design for gas extraction plants, water pumping stations, and underground-mine services.

Shannon Halliday, MbA

Shannon Halliday, MbA

VP, Corporate Affairs

Shannon has 20 years’ experience in the fields of business development, marketing, and government relations with a focus on clean energy and technology.

Shannon Halliday, MBA

VP, Corporate Affairs

Shannon has 20 years' experience in the fields of business development, marketing, and government relations with a focus on clean energy and technology.

Shannon’s passion for sustainability has led to a career in both the public and private sectors. She opened a trade office for the Government of Quebec in Vancouver and was the West Coast representative for Natural Resources Canada’s energy sector, focusing primarily on hydrogen, fuel cells, and transportation technologies. She led business development activities while at Instream Energy Systems and Powertech Labs and represented Canada on the UC Davis Transportation Studies Advisory Board and the International Energy Agency’s Hydrogen Working Group. For two years, Shannon served as Vice Chair of Hydrogène Québec.  At HTEC, Shannon is responsible for the commercial team, including business development, government relations, and communications.

Shannon was featured in the "Women Leading Cleantech" 2022 by Foresight Canada. She was also named one of the most inspiring leaders in  “Women in Energy Transformation Series” 2022, an initiative by Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE), GLOBE Series and Pembina Institute.

Shannon Halliday, MBA

VP, Corporate Affairs

Shannon has 20 years' experience in the fields of business development, marketing, and government relations with a focus on clean energy and technology.

Shannon’s passion for sustainability has led to a career in both the public and private sectors. She opened a trade office for the Government of Quebec in Vancouver and was the West Coast representative for Natural Resources Canada’s energy sector, focusing primarily on hydrogen, fuel cells, and transportation technologies. She led business development activities while at Instream Energy Systems and Powertech Labs and represented Canada on the UC Davis Transportation Studies Advisory Board and the International Energy Agency’s Hydrogen Working Group. For two years, Shannon served as Vice Chair of Hydrogène Québec.  At HTEC, Shannon is responsible for the commercial team, including business development, government relations, and communications.

Shannon was featured in the "Women Leading Cleantech" 2022 by Foresight Canada. She was also named one of the most inspiring leaders in  “Women in Energy Transformation Series” 2022, an initiative by Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE), GLOBE Series and Pembina Institute.

Kurt Loewen, Cpa, Msc

Kurt Loewen, Cpa, Msc

Chief Financial Officer

Kurt Loewen is HTEC’s CFO; he has over 13 years of experience as a CFO of high-growth public companies in the forestry and mineral exploration sectors.

Kurt Loewen, Cpa, Msc

Chief Financial Officer

Kurt Loewen is HTEC’s CFO; he has over 13 years of experience as a CFO of high-growth public companies in the forestry and mineral exploration sectors.

Kurt was a key member of the HTEC team that successfully closed a $217 million investment from Chart Industries, Inc. and I Squared Capital.

Prior to his current role, Kurt was HTEC’s director of project finance. In that capacity, Kurt provided support for business development submissions for funding programs and project analysis, and reporting to multiple federal and provincial agencies. He also managed HTEC’s low carbon fuel credits. Kurt developed the HTEC Quebec proforma, incorporating truck leasing, fueling stations as well as hydrogen production and liquefaction.

Kurt Loewen, Cpa, Msc

Chief Financial Officer

Kurt Loewen is HTEC’s CFO; he has over 13 years of experience as a CFO of high-growth public companies in the forestry and mineral exploration sectors.

Kurt was a key member of the HTEC team that successfully closed a $217 million investment from Chart Industries, Inc. and I Squared Capital.

Prior to his current role, Kurt was HTEC’s director of project finance. In that capacity, Kurt provided support for business development submissions for funding programs and project analysis, and reporting to multiple federal and provincial agencies. He also managed HTEC’s low carbon fuel credits. Kurt developed the HTEC Quebec proforma, incorporating truck leasing, fueling stations as well as hydrogen production and liquefaction.

Directors

Colin Armstrong

President/CEO HTEC & CENCO Innovations

Jesse Krynak

Principal
I Squared Capital

Peter Bradshaw

Corporate Director

Mark Kirby

Senior Advisor, CHFCA

Bob Oesterreich

Corporate Director & Vice President Global Hydrogen Sales, Chart Industries

Ivan Ponieman

Director
I Squared Capital

Rick Hopp

Corporate Director

Rick Hopp

Corporate Director