Merran Smith

President, New Economy Canada
Fellow, Simon Fraser University

Merran Smith is President of New Economy Canada, bringing decades of award-winning leadership uniting industry, government, and civil society partners to solve society’s most pressing social and ecological challenges.  She is broadly recognized as a fearless advocate and national thought leader in advancing Canada’s clean, zero carbon economy.

Since establishing Clean Energy Canada in 2010, Merran has been at the forefront of public policy discourse and solution building for Canada to win in the global energy transition. Earlier, her leadership in the landmark Great Bear Rainforest agreement led to the protection of BC’s coastal rainforest ecosystems and set a new standard for collaboration between Indigenous and Crown governments, and across sectors.

Merran has served as co-chair of BC’s Climate Solutions Council which informed the province’s first comprehensive climate plan, CleanBC, and co-chair of Natural Resources Canada’s Generation Energy Council. She represents Canada on the C3E International Ambassador Corps and is a Fellow at Simon Fraser University.

Merrans leadership has been formally recognized through Vancouver Magazine’s Power 50,  SFU’s President’s Social Media Newsmaker Award, Clean Energy BC’s Lifetime Achievement award, Vancouver Board of Trade’s Wendy McDonald Community Catalyst award, and the Clean 16 award for leadership in clean capitalism.

Speaker Sessions

Bridging the Climate Divide: Idealism, Pragmatism and Realism on the Road to Net Zero

  • Reaching Destination Net Zero
  • Restoring and Protecting Nature
  • Intersectional Track
  • Building Resilient Communities
  • Ensuring Water Security
  • Government Policy and Corporate Governance
  • Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Session Date
Wednesday, Feb 14 2024 | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Featuring
Justin Bull Academic Director, Centre for Climate and Business Solutions, UBC Sauder School of Business
Jackie Forrest Executive Director, ARC Energy Research Institute & Managing Director, ARC Financial Corp.
Merran Smith President, New Economy Canada
Fellow, Simon Fraser University
In collaboration with

Equal by 30: The Road to Equal Pay, Leadership and Opportunity for Women in the Energy Sector (Invite-only)

  • Reaching Destination Net Zero
  • Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Government Policy and Corporate Governance
Session Date
Tuesday, Feb 13 2024 | 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Featuring
Parliamentary Secretary Julie Dabrusin Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Government of Canada
The Honourable Josie Osborne Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, Government of British Columbia
Dr. Carol-Ann Brown President, Delphi
Grace Quan President and CEO, Hydrogen In Motion Inc.
Jeanette Jackson CEO, Foresight Canada
Merran Smith President, New Economy Canada
Fellow, Simon Fraser University
Muhammad Ahsan DEI Specialist, EHRC
Anita Gara Project Manager, EHRC
Sponsored by