BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF
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David Hyndman
Chairman and President
Director - Private Business/Resident (2021-2024)
David has been an active member of Switch for over a decade. He is currently the Chief Science Officer at FireRein Inc., a clean technology company developing bio-based fire suppression products for the urban and wildland fire sectors. Previous to this role he was an Assistant Director of Industry Partnerships at Queen’s University where he facilitated collaboration opportunities between Queen’s Researchers and the community. He has a PhD in Biochemistry from Queen’s University and has previous experience in academic research, the Ag-biotech sector and as a consultant in the clean energy sector.
David’s sustainability interests started during his work in the private sector developing biofuel technologies and market opportunities for the Kingston-based company Performance Plants. This work, and subsequent consulting support, was important in the implementation of low-carbon fuels at the Lafarge Bath plant. He supported numerous sustainable energy companies during his time with Industry Partnerships.
David is a proud owner of an electric car and previously used an electric scooter for his commute to work in the summer months. His background allows him to bridge the worlds of academic research and product-driven commercial development, which he uses to support sustainable technology development in the region.
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Darko Matovic
Vice-President
Director - Education/Research (2020-2023)
Darko has been teaching at Queen’s Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering for 25 years. He is a member of the Engineers for Social Justice and Peace international network. His research and advocacy have been focused on sustainable energy, biomass use, biochar and combustion of low carbon fuels. Darko was the recipient of the 2014 SWITCH Community Leadership Award. As a long time SWITCH member he is eager to contribute to the transition towards sustainable energy and elimination of greenhouse emissions both through social activism and engineering skills.
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Abdul Razak Jendi, KEDCO
Treasurer Director - Government/Utility (2022-2025)
I
am a seasoned international business development professional with
expertise in international trade and FDI in North America, Europe &
Asia. Throughout my career, I gained experience working in companies
that are publicly traded, privately held, family-owned, and non-profit.
Before joining the Kingston EcDev team as the Investment Manager for
Sustainable Manufacturing, I held the position of Economic Development
Manager at ROI, a Montreal based consulting firm, playing a pivotal role
in managing and delivering lead generation programs, in-market
representation, and industry analysis for domestic and international
clients in Canada, the USA, and Europe. In the United Arab Emirates, I
managed over 100 contracts worth $6.5 billion while working with
National Central Cooling Co PJSC (DFM:TABREED). Working with Mazlum
Steel Pipes I closed several deals including a landmark deal from Turkey
to India worth $14 million to build a chemical processing plant. I also
served as the Deputy Director for the Global New York Canada Office
assisting companies to expand and grow in the State of New York, as well
as supporting New York based companies enter the Canadian market.
I
was brought up and raised in the United Arab Emirates and graduated
with a bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance with a minor in
Economics from the American University of Sharjah. I am currently
completing my Master’s in Economics at Concordia University.
Serving
on the SWITCH Board of Directors allows me to share industry insights
in terms of the region’s potential to attract global sustainable energy
companies and initiate and support programs that would raise
Southeastern Ontario’s competitiveness in terms of sustainable talent
pools, R&D, and favourable conditions for foreign direct investment.
I will also be able to guide local alternative energy companies through
available private, provincial, and federal funding programs and manage
projects involving several layers of stakeholders. Moreover, I will
offer support and guidance for local companies seeking to expand beyond
the region and
serve other export markets.
Rosamund Hyde
Director - Private Business/Resident (2021-2024)
Dr. Rosamund Hyde, P.Eng., manages research and innovation services for a large technical consulting firm. She holds a doctorate in Civil Engineering and lives near Tamworth, Ontario, in a home equipped with solar hot water, solar hot air and 3 kW of PV power.
Rosie brings a strong background as members of non-profit, value- driven boards. She served for six years on the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (a standing committee of Engineers Canada), which involved chairing site visits to many communities to review their institutions’ engineering programs.
After having worked in Nigeria for three years in a placement, she served on the board of a faith-based development organization for six years, Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, building skills in governance and interpretation of financial information. She helped to establish the first chapter of the Canada Green Building Council (Vancouver).
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Ian Arthur
Director - Government/Utility (2019-2023)
Elected July 10, 2018 to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario 2018, Ian Arthur represents the riding of Kingston and the Islands as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party. As a member of the Official Opposition, Mr. Arthur currently serves on the Finance and Economic Affairs committee of the Legislative Assembly and is the critic for Environment and Sustainability.
Mr. Arthur has attended SWITCH meeting as far back as 2010 elected to the SWITCH board of Directors for Government/Utility this February, 2019.
Prior to being elected he was the executive chef at well-known Kingston restaurant Chez Piggy and coached rowing for Queen's University.
Arthur grew up on a small farm northeast of Kingston. He attended Sydenham High School before studying International Development and Political Studies at Trent University. While completing his undergraduate degree, Arthur studied abroad at the University of Accra in Accra, Ghana and worked in Iceland.
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Paul MacLatchy, City of Kingston
Director - Government/Utility (2021-2024)
I am a professional engineer who has been involved, professionally and personally, in developing a culture of sustainability and energy awareness in Kingston since 2000. I am familiar with almost all aspects of energy and climate progress in Kingston and have developed numerous contacts and relationships over my past 20 years here. I have worked with SWITCH since its early years and have always recognized how unique it was and how much of an opportunity it represents for Kingston as we work together to reach our community climate and energy goals.
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Kiari Goni Boulama, Royal Military College
Director - Education/Research (2021-2024)
I am Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Royal Military College of Canada and happy Kingstonian since 2007. I teach and conduct research on the areas of EnergyConservation, Energy Conversion, and Energy Systems. I have industrial background in these topics, including a previous work experience at Hydro-Québec, and I have consulted for local companies such as Lafarge. I am also Adjunct Professor at Queen's University.
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| Maria (Efrosyni) Skordaki, Royal Military College/Queen's
Director - Education/Research (2022-2025)
In the last twenty-five years, working across Canada as an environmental scientist - primarily on
projects that involve military infrastructure, I have seen how important it is to adopt sustainable energy practices, as these practices help ensure a viable future for our military and the general public from financial, environmental and health aspects. As a Queen’s alumna who has been living with my family
in Kingston for almost three decades, I am pleased and honored to participate in the SWITCH board of Directors. I am interested in supporting the excellent efforts put forth by SWITCH within our local community in terms of promoting sustainable energy usage and informing the public about relevant initiatives. Through this role, I would also be happy to connect my graduate students at Queen’s as well as colleagues at the RMC Green Team with SWITCH members and the local sustainable energy community; I believe that several mutual interests will be identified through this marrying-up of various expertise. For more information, please feel free to visit the following websites: Dr. E. Maria Skordaki - Home (emariaskordaki.com), RMC Green Team Website: https://www.rmc-cmr.ca/en/civil-engineering/rmc-green-team
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