FOREWORD

econext would like to recognize the ongoing support provided to it by its membership, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and the Department of Industry, Energy, and Technology (IET). Without your support, our accomplishments through 2021-22 and our work to accelerate clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador would not be possible.

What’s in this Report

  • Foreword

  • Introduction

  • Message from econext’s Chair

  • Message from econext’s CEO

  • The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association becomes econext

  • Clean Energy

  • Net Zero

  • Value From Waste

  • Environmental Sensing, Characterization & Monitoring

  • econext’s International Business Programming

  • Events

  • Training and Professional Development

  • Industry Awards

  • econext 2021 Conference

  • Our Team

  • Financial Statements

INTRODUCTION

 

This document serves as a final report and summary of activities that econext was engaged in from April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022.

During this period econext wrapped up its work developing a clean technology and environmental services sector growth plan for Newfoundland and Labrador. Through this exercise, econext is focusing its future activities and initiatives to reside within four (4) priority areas including:

  • Clean energy – including renewable energy development; electrification and energy efficiency; and clean fuels production in Newfoundland and Labrador.

  • Net zero – the pursuit of net zero by the year 2050 by industries and communities in Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Value from waste – increasing the effectiveness of waste management in Newfoundland and Labrador, with a focus on finding value in waste streams and addressing wastewater challenges

  • Environmental sensing, characterization, and monitoring – supporting the cluster of cleantech excellence in Newfoundland and Labrador using technologies (e.g., lasers, sonar, radar, satellites, eDNA, etc.) to help understand our impact on the environment – and its impact on us

Accordingly, this report will summarize econext’s activities as they relate to each of these key priorities.

Of particular note is the rebranding of the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) to econext that took place in September of 2021. This change, a calendar year in the making, will allow the organization to capitalize on opportunities to accelerate clean growth in province. From a legal perspective, the organizations remains as “NEI Association Inc.”

The prevalence of COVID-19 continued to pose challenges for econext and its operations during the time period of this report, however the organization is proud of what it was able to achieve in spite of the pandemic.

Message From Our Chair

Ashley Noseworthy, CEO, Edgewise Environmental

In 1992 the founding members of NEIA had the foresight to create an organization that would help foster growth within Newfoundland and Labrador’s environmental industry. 

In recent years, NEIA has played a strong role in helping to define the province’s clean growth opportunities, outlining how we can move forward to pursue our full economic potential. From clean energy to finding value from waste – global trends around climate change, the energy transition, and ‘building back better’ have created clear and present opportunities for our province to grow and diversify.

We have seen and proven that our association can play a leading role in helping Newfoundland and Labrador realize these opportunities. We continue to build on the efforts that began in 1992 to this day. Now rebranded as econext – we endeavour to push even harder, developing more in partnership with governments, industries, and communities to drive clean growth and create opportunities for our members.

Some of these opportunities are beginning to crystallize. 

As the world continues its push towards achieving net zero, the availability of clean electricity is becoming critical, in a variety of different contexts. In the Fall of 2021 econext worked with its members and within its network to develop a series of very specific recommendations for the provincial government to consider in supporting the growth of the renewable energy industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. We were proud of this work and were very pleased to see much of it reflected in the renewable energy plan released by the provincial government in December.

One of the key drivers of new renewable energy development in the province is the prospect of hydrogen production and export. In just a few short years this possibility has moved from concept towards reality. We have been working with members on a continuous basis to advocate for the enabling of policies and frameworks that are essential in order to allow for these types of projects to commence. We are excited about what 2022 will bring and believe that Newfoundland and Labrador will emerge as a global leader in green hydrogen production.

Of course, in the pursuit of net zero, emissions reductions must be a top priority. Through government and industry partnerships econext is making a very tangible contribution within the offshore energy industry through the creation of The Net Zero Project. This group is driving the development of net zero pathways for the industry through the lens of both environment and local economic development – and we are excited to see their work bear fruit this coming year. At the community level econext continues its work supporting municipalities in understanding how they are contributing to climate change, what they can do to adapt, and the projects that can be prioritized to help them achieve net zero.

We recognize the economic, political and regulatory landscapes are changing quickly and are firm believers that Newfoundland and Labrador is very well positioned to be a leader in the emerging clean growth economy. We are seeing rapid progress on multiple fronts, but to ensure continued success and stability our SMEs and workforce will need to be prepared to work in these emerging ‘green jobs’. To that end, econext will be focused in 2022-23 on playing a collaborative role to assist in the coordination of strategic workforce development initiatives.

This is just a snapshot of what econext has been doing on behalf of its membership this past year, and a short preview of what is to come. We hope that you enjoy learning more about our work in your review of our annual report. As always, your Board of Directors and econext staff are available to discuss your ideas, concerns, opportunities, and challenges at any time.

I would like to thank the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada and their various departments and agencies for their continued support for econext and its efforts to support environmentally sustainable economic development. Without that support, our work would not be possible.

 

Message From Our CEO

Kieran Hanley, CEO, econext

This past year econext has demonstrated the catalytic role that it can play in Newfoundland and Labrador to help drive clean growth within the province.

We have developed strong relationships with a long list of stakeholders which is allowing us to lead or tangibly contribute to projects and initiatives that help to create green economic development opportunities for econext members.

This is clearly evident through The Net Zero Project which you will read about in this report. But there is a long list of projects and initiatives that are not in plain view which we are confident will yield dividends.

For example, we have accessed funding to conceptualize what an energy retrofit financing program could look like for the province. Such a program would allow homeowners to easier access funds to help them make investments in their properties today that will save them money in the long run, while collectively reducing environmental impacts and creating green jobs province-wide.

This is complementing new resources that we have available to help communities and sectors understand how climate change is impacting them and the types of actions that initiatives that they can take in response. Helping stakeholders accelerate these types of projects towards implementation creates business opportunities for our members.

Another example of the role that econext is playing is in the work that we have done with respect to green jobs.

What is a ‘green job’ in the Newfoundland and Labrador context? Based on the expected environmental performance measures key industries in our province will be undertaking in the coming years, what types of green jobs can we expect? With new renewable energy developments and the prospect of hydrogen production on the horizon, what types of jobs do we need to be prepared for? Through a series of partnerships we have helped to answer some of these questions and are working towards answering others.

We look forward to doing what we can to give our members and their employees the tools that they will need to succeed. The pandemic disrupted our regular professional development and training programming, but it has also given us the opportunity to review and retool what we are providing for our members. This will be an important focus of econext in the coming year, as this unique type of programming keeps us closely engaged with our membership and is important for the organization’s long-term sustainability.

Another area that econext believes it can play an impactful role is in the field of waste management. Truthfully, since the onset of the pandemic, the rapidly evolving challenges and opportunities in the energy sector have demanded much of econext’s attention. But we will soon be acquiring new resources to attribute specifically to stimulating new activity and innovation in and around industrial waste streams in Newfoundland and Labrador. We know that there are economic and environmental opportunities in creating value from various waste streams – and believe we can help realize them.

Whatever your line of business, as a member of econext we are here to help you. Our staff wields significant expertise in a number of areas that are relevant to your firm. Do not hesitate to reach out to any one of them to help you address problems you might be having or figure out how to pursue your opportunities. I would like to thank each of the econext staff for their hard work this past year. Without their dedication to the organization and its membership, none of what you see in this report would have been accomplished. 

I would also like to thank econext’s Board of Directors whose insight and commitment to the organization during a turbulent time in the province’s history has helped it come out on the other side stronger than before. You have made a difference.

With the above said, I hope you are able to take the time to read through our 2021-22 annual report to get a full sense of the activities that your association has been involved in. Your comments and feedback are very welcome. econext looks forward to working with you to accelerate clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association becomes econext

On September 16, 2021 the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) rebranded to reflect its evolution as an association and its continued work to grow and support the green economy in the province. As econext the association will accelerate clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“We have seen and proven that our association can play a substantial role in helping the province to realize environmentally sustainable economic development opportunities,” says Ashley Noseworthy, econext’s Chair. “But over the past two years we have also come to recognize that we needed a brand that would allow us to convey excitement towards that pursuit of clean growth - a brand that would help us draw more attention to what is happening here in Newfoundland and Labrador on national and international stages.”

Noseworthy says that the association believes that it can do more to uncover what’s next for Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy. “This exciting new brand will allow our association to represent our members more effectively and deliver on clean growth projects in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Noseworthy says that as econext, the organization can do more to work with industries, governments, communities, and institutions at all levels to unlock this vast potential.

To support our transition from NEIA to econext, we had a promotional video which can be viewed below:

 

To support our transition from NEIA to econext, we had a promotional video developed which can be viewed below:

 
 

Clean Energy

Intensifying global discussions on emissions reductions have created new opportunities for the development of Newfoundland and Labrador’s rich cache of clean energy resources.

econext articulated these opportunities and through a comprehensive engagement with its members and networks made a series of specific recommendations to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in the development of its renewable energy plan. This submission can be accessed here.

The production of clean fuels (such as hydrogen) is an important area of opportunity for the province. econext helped to create awareness of these opportunities through a discussion paper released in 2021, followed by work with NRCan and others in the production of a high-level study which helped to outline and define these opportunities. This report can be accessed here. It is anticipated that momentum around renewable energy in NL will continue to build in 2022-23, and econext will work closely with its members and government(s) to help all realize the opportunities.

Another important element of Newfoundland and Labrador’s clean energy opportunity lies with offshore wind. NRCan is currently engaging stakeholders in the development of offshore renewable energy policies and regulations, and to that end econext worked with its partners to provide feedback on its proposed technical requirements. This submission can be access here.

econext is in the process of prioritizing its next steps related to clean energy and looks forward to working with the Department of Industry, Energy, and Technology in this regard.

Net Zero

Accelerated global discourse on emissions reductions has also increased the importance of the concept of ‘net zero’. This follows Government of Canada and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador commitments to achieve net zero by the year 2050. These commitments present both challenges and opportunities for the province. econext believes it has an important role to play in helping stakeholders understand the impact that net zero will have on the status quo and to plan accordingly.

To that end, econext was proud to launch The Net Zero Project in partnership with Energy NL and the Oil and Gas Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Net Zero Project is a collaboration within the energy and environmental industries to drive economic growth, diversification, investment, and awareness through the lens of sustainability and the pursuit of net zero in Newfoundland and Labrador’s energy sector. The initiative will support the development of clean growth strategies and projects in priority areas of Canada’s net zero journey as they relate to its offshore energy industry, e.g., carbon capture, utilization, and storage; carbon offsets; and electrification and renewable energy. 5 staff have been hired for this project: a project manager, a technical lead, an economics lead, a strategic partnerships lead, and a policy and regulatory lead.

 
 

Part of this project will see the development of specific net zero pathways for the offshore oil and gas industry which can be used to target and attract investments for research, development, commercialization, and deployment. The project also includes the exploration of the feasibility of blue hydrogen production in Newfoundland and Labrador. More information on this project can be found here.

Beyond the offshore industry, econext has been working to support the pursuit of net zero across the economy. It has just recently completed research which helped define what a “green job” is and can be in the Newfoundland and Labrador context so that stakeholders in all industries can take advantage of the related opportunities and supports that will present themselves in the years to come. This research can be accessed here. econext will take what it has learned from this research (acquired in collaboration with the Maritimes Energy Association and ECO Canada) and engage with education providers (e.g., Memorial University, College of the North Atlantic, etc.) on what next steps should be taken. This discussion on green jobs encompasses a number of adjacent activities including: econext’s leadership on immigration with its TeamGrowNL project; econext’s leadership in the development of an Attraction and Retention Strategy for the province’s tech sector.

econext is also busy working to support the pursuit of net zero at the community level. econext has partnered with a number of organizations (including Memorial University) in conceiving a series of substantive multi-year R&D and communications projects. At present, these projects are being evaluated for funding. Meanwhile, econext is working with the City of St. John’s, Newfoundland Power, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to design a potential ‘energy efficiency retrofit financing’ program for homeowners in the province. Such a program could see homeowners borrow off of future energy savings or property value increases to finance efficiency retrofits today that can be paid off over a period of time. This work is expected to conclude at the end of 2022. econext is Newfoundland and Labrador’s partner for CLIMAtlantic and hosts the province’s Climate Services Coordinator as part of its team. This resource engages with communities and industries in helping them understand the impacts of climate change and how to take action. econext is currently building a list of climate action projects that municipalities are prioritizing so that it can provide support in helping them access the resources to pursue them.

Important to all of the above was work that econext undertook in collaboration with the Atlantic Province’s Economic Council which resulted in a report titled ‘Accelerating Clean Technology Adoption in Atlantic Canada’. This report can be accessed here.

econext's CEO sits as the Chair of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Net Zero Advisory Council, Chair of the City of St. John’s Environmental and Sustainability Experts Panel, and is a member of the Oil and Gas Industry Recovery Task Force’s Energy Transition Working Group.

Value from Waste

Extracting value from waste streams has been identified as area of need and opportunity within Newfoundland and Labrador. The rural and remote nature of its population and industries, the difficulty of achieving economies of scale required for existing commercial solutions, and the distance from major markets all create challenges for the effective management of waste in the province.

However, Newfoundland and Labrador is not the only jurisdiction in the world in these circumstance, and as such the solutions developed right here could be exportable worldwide. These factors make this space ripe for innovation.

With this in mind, econext is working in partnership with Springboard Atlantic to explicitly identify specific industrial waste streams that present opportunities for innovation. These results will help inform a workshop that econext is involved in organizing for the Spring along with Memorial University’s Harris Centre and a variety of industry partners around waste management in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Further, econext is pursuing a two-year program which will see it acquire new resources to stimulate private sector led research, development, and deployment that specifically relate to the priorities as identified through the partnerships mentioned above.

econext is also supporting a circular economy project in the Town of Harbour Main which will see a self-sustaining community-scaled project that will include: curbside composting; renewable-energy fueled greenhousing;, and a new farmer’s market. This project will improve environmental outcomes and food security in Harbour Main and surrounding areas, and it is hoped this initiative can be replicated in other parts of the province.

 

Environmental Sensing, Characterization, and Monitoring

 

Substantive research through 2019-2021 pointed to the expertise that Newfoundland and Labrador has developed in and around environmental sensing, characterization, and monitoring technologies – both within the private sector and within its research institutions.

This cluster of excellence is deserving of more support as it is the province’s best and most prolific offering to the world in terms of clean technology.

econext is working to understand how it can best support this group, understanding that they are served to some degree by other organizations (e.g., those in aerospace and defence, oceantech, energy, etc). Research soon to be published, which included engagement with these various stakeholders, will provide econext with a series of potential next steps to consider in this regard. Complementary research also underway will point to organizations with whom it can engage with internationally to help open doors for the local cluster.

The subject matter is highly related to econext’s work to help identify thematic and programming focus areas for a future innovation centre in Newfoundland and Labrador.

econext’s International Business Programming

Though the climates may differ substantially, Newfoundland & Labrador and markets in the Caribbean region face challenges that are alike. As small, mostly island economies, the jurisdictions face similar effects of climate change, coastal zone erosion, and strive to provide efficient and economical environmental services when scale is difficult to achieve and major markets are distant.

There is a long history of trade between Newfoundland and Labrador and the Caribbean region, dating back to the export of salt fish in exchange for rum, and today our firms are well positioned to provide solutions to familiar challenges being faced in the Caribbean. This is why econext has been helping firms from all over Atlantic Canada actively pursue opportunities in the Caribbean since 2014.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent cancellation of planned outbound Trade Missions to the Caribbean, a flexible support program was designed in the sumAs a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent cancellation of planned outbound Trade Missions to the Caribbean, a flexible support program was designed in the summer of 2020 to assist organizations with business development, market research and capacity building focused on the Caribbean Basin. 

In advance of a planned return to the region through a business development mission in Summer 2022, econext published and made available on-demand a presentation focused on current and emerging opportunities in the blue and green economy in the Caribbean, and also provided program participants the chance to meet with key stakeholders in Saint Kitts and Nevis in a webinar and roundtable.

Beyond the Caribbean, econext continues its efforts helping firms from Newfoundland and Labrador learn about leading edge clean technology developments and applications from Northern European jurisdictions and is planning activities for 2022.

 

Events

econext held and partnered on a number of events throughout 2021-22 that supported its priorities. These events included:

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis Market Information Session – March 9, 2022

  • Webinar: Atlantic Canada’s Green Potential – Jobs and Skills Toward Clean Growth – February 4, 2022

  • Annual Member Holiday Social (in partnership w/ ACADA and OceansAdvace) – December 15, 2021

  • Webinar: Greening your business – Lessons on clean technology adoption in Atlantic Canada – December 14, 2021

  • On-Demand Webinar: Blue and Green Opportunities in the Caribbean Basin

  • econext and Marine Renewable Canada Members’ Roundtable – Newfoundland and Labrador Renewable Energy Plan – October 28, 2021

  • econext Annual Conference – October 22, 2021 – 135 in-person attendees (capacity limit); 47 online participants

  • Training – Contaminated Sites Health & Safety Training (Hazwoper) – October 1-8, 2021

  • On-Demand Webinar: EVerything EVs: Is plugging into the EV market right for you or your business?

  • Webinar: Defining Green Jobs for Newfoundland and Labrador – A Panel Discussion – September 16, 2021

  • Webinar: Opportunities and Challenges for Hydrogen in Newfoundland and Labrador (in partnership w/ OERA) – September 9, 2021

  • Workshop: Low Carbon Offshore Oil and Gas – International Trends and Canadian Investments (in partnership with Noia and Capp) – May 14, 2021

  • Environmental Industry Awards presentations – April 30, 2021

    • Cleantech Innovation Award – SmartIce

    • Business Excellence Award – Heave Away Waste Management

    • International Business Award – BEHI Engineering and Environment

    • Industry Champion Award – Edmundo Fausto, City of St. John’s

 

Training & Professional Development

Cleantech in the Offshore

Atlantic Canada’s oceans industries – which are vitally important to the region’s economy – operate in international markets and as such need to be prepared to thrive in a world where investments and decisions are increasingly being made based on environmental performance indicators.

What does this mean for Atlantic Canada’s blue economy? What are the challenges that we face in ensuring that we remain competitive into the long term? What are the local opportunities for the development and application of clean technologies? Where in the world is the leading research, development, and innovation taking place? What businesses based in Atlantic Canada are already on the forefront and exporting their products and services worldwide?

econext partnered with Energy NL, Marine Renewables Canada, and the Maritimes Energy Association to create a series of 16 presentations that explored answers to these questions and focused in on areas of particular interest for the region. The following topics are covered in over 10 hours of content presented by subject matter experts from Atlantic Canada:

  • Module 1: Cleantech in offshore industries – what it means, latest trends, and opportunities

  • Module 2: Net zero, emissions reduction challenges in offshore industries, and emerging solutions

  • Module 3: Non-GHG environmental challenges in offshore industries and emerging solutions

  • Module 4: Advances in offshore carbon capture and storage Module 5: Electrification in offshore industries – trends and opportunities

  • Module 6: Offshore wind energy alongside oil and gas industry developments

  • Module 7: Highlighting firms from Atlantic Canada engaged in the international offshore wind industry

  • Module 8: Marine renewable energy

  • Module 9: Port electrification – the role that ports can play in enabling a green (and blue) economy

  • Module 10: Digitalization, integrated operations, and the relationship to improved environmental outcomes

  • Module 11: Emerging technologies in environmental characterization and monitoring

  • Module 12: Clean technology within Atlantic Canada’s aquaculture and fishing industries

  • Module 13: New ocean industry opportunities

  • Module 14: Arctic, harsh environments, and clean technology

  • Module 15: European and North American FTAs & implications for CleantechModule 16: European green recovery plans: implications for Canadian cleantech firms

econext’s training and professional development programming – which will become increasingly prominent in the near future – cross-cuts the organization’s four priorities.

In 2021 econext launched ‘econext Online and On-Demand’ which will allow the organization to provide training and professional development opportunities throughout the province in a more direct and efficient way.

A number of programs and courses are currently under development, including a series of modules called ‘The Fundamentals of Green Business’ which is intended to raise capacity levels of businesses of all types to succeed in a greening economy. Modules for this program will include (but not be limited to)

  • Overview of the Clean Growth Economy and How it Affects Businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Understand Your Business' Impact on the Environment

  • Addressing Your Greenhouse Gas Emissions

  • Becoming More Energy Efficient

  • Improving Your Waste Management

  • Adapting to Climate Change

  • ESG, the UN Sustainability Goals, and What They Mean for Your Business

  • Green Jobs and Where They Are In Your Business

Industry Awards

From left to right: Paul Brett, Associate Vice President for Research and Strategic Partnerships, Marine Institute, Paul Griffin, President and CEO, C-CORE, Mr. Bob Anstey, Owner and President, Newco Metals & Auto Recycling, Ashley Smith, Owner and Managing Director, Fundamental Inc., Hon. Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Cleantech Innovation Award

econext’s Cleantech Innovation Award recognizes innovation at any stage of development in business and academia – from research and development, to commercialization, to refinement – of products, services, or processes that can mitigate effects to, protect, or enhance the environment. The award is judged according to the uniqueness of the innovation, the potential for positive environmental impact, and the potential for commercial application.

The winner of this year’s Cleantech Innovation Award is the Marine Institute of Memorial University. It has been a landmark year for the Marine Institute as it continues to help drive ocean innovation in Canada – from right here in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Marine Institute launched its new Ocean Innovation Hub, “The Launch” in Holyrood in November. The Launch provides the Canadian ocean research community with the capability and capacity to capitalize on the dynamic and often scalable environment required to deliver leading-edge research in applied ocean science and technology. Designed to support a comprehensive approach to ocean research, The Launch provides access to vessels, technology, technical expertise and collaborative partnerships, creating an ideal environment to further Canada’s Blue Economy Strategy. The Launch will factor prominently in the recently announced establishment of a Subsea Centre of Excellence at the Marine Institute that will attract industry and support organizations by providing equipment and support for environmental and safety training. The Marine Institute also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The objective is for the research institutions to work together in applying new marine technologies for remote operations and autonomous vehicles. Any one of these accomplishments would be substantive in and of themselves. However, collectively they represent a giant leap forward to establish Newfoundland and Labrador, a global leader in innovation in environmental sensing, characterization, monitoring, and remote operations.

Mr. Bob Anstey, Owner and President, Newco Metals & Auto Recycling receiving econext’s Business Excellence Award

International Business Award

econext’s International Business Award recognizes a significant initiative or achievement of a Newfoundland and Labrador organization engaged in international business activities relating to cleantech or environmental services. Initiatives or achievements could include export success, diversification into new sectors or markets, collaborative research and development, or the establishment of international partners be it through joint-venture, licensing, etc. The award is judged according to the relative impact of the internationalization activity for the individual business and/or the industry at-large.

The winner of this year’s International Business Award is C-CORE. C-CORE is an internationally recognized institution in earth observation, remote sensing, and oceans and energy innovation. This past year C-CORE signed a new contract with GHGSat – a global leader in high-resolution remote sensing of greenhouse gasses from space. C-CORE owns and operates two ground stations – one in the arctic (Inuvik) and the other in Northeast Canada (Happy-Valley Goose Bay). The partnership will see C-CORE continue to provide access to this infrastructure to GHGSat’s remote sensing satellites, a technology that is capable of detecting and measuring methane missions at the facility and community level. This leading edge technology is providing unique emissions data and intelligence to business, governments, regulators, and investors worldwide at a time when the quantification of greenhouse gasses has never been more important as the world continues its fight against climate change. C-CORE is a direct contributor to the growth and success of this technology. The unique partnership that C-CORE has developed with GHGSat is an excellent example of how Newfoundland and Labrador innovators can leverage their assets to access and engage on an international scale. The global attention that C-CORE will receive for its involvement in this enterprise will reflect well on Canada, and further cement Newfoundland and Labrador as a centre of excellence in the development and application of environmental sensing, characterization, and monitoring technologies.

Ashley Smith, Owner and Managing Director, Fundamental Inc.

The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, was on hand to announce the winners of econext‘s four industry awards:

  • Cleantech Innovation Award – Marine Institute of Memorial University

  • Business Excellence Award – Newco Metals & Auto Recycling

  • International Business Award – C-CORE

  • Industry Champion Award – Ashley Smith

Paul Brett, Associate Vice President for Research and Strategic Partnerships, Marine Institute receiving econext’s Cleantech Innovation Award on behalf of Marine Institute.

Business Excellence Award

econext‘s Business Excellence Award recognizes a significant initiative or achievement of a business engaged in Newfoundland and Labrador’s green economy. Initiatives or achievements could include the completion of specific business projects that have a positive environmental impact, business growth milestones (e.g., new sales, workforce expansion), or a contribution to the community from a sustainability or corporate social responsibility perspective. The award is judged according to the initiative or achievement’s impact as it relates to economic growth and development, positive environmental effects, and public awareness of green economy and environmental challenges or opportunities.

The winner of this year’s Business Excellence Award is Newco Metals and Auto Recycling. Newco provides a world class service for the metal recycling needs of Newfoundland and Labrador and has been on a rapid growth trajectory in recent years. In 2019 the company decided to take a significant step forward to build a state-of-the-art metal shredder. This expansion has enabled Newco to do full separation of crushed cars and tin metal from provincial waste management sites. Before this investment, much of the material received would need to be shipped to larger markets for further processing. But these new capabilities now allow for sophisticated and automated separation on-site, new secondary processing activities, and the harvesting of value-added products that can be directly exported to markets around the world. Just ten years ago Newco had one facility. Now the company has ten operating metal recycling facilities in Newfoundland and Labrador with another under construction. In this time the company has grown from employing 25 to now providing 100 good green jobs coast to coast. Newco’s success in business has also come with substantive environmental benefits for Newfoundland and Labrador. Over 1,400 tractor trailer loads of crushed metal that would be shipped elsewhere for further processing are now processed right here in this province, resulting in a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, its shredder facility and site set a new standard for environmental protection and performance. For example, all rain and water at the site goes through: an oil, water, metal interceptor; a sediment chamber; and a subsurface holding tank to ensure the water coming off the property is clean. This process exceeds California environmental standards. These accomplishments are achievements in business excellence that deserve to be recognized.

Paul Griffin, President and CEO, C-CORE

Industry Champion Award

econext’s Industry Champion Award recognizes the contribution of an individual (such as an environmental practitioner, business owner, decision-maker, etc.) to the growth of Newfoundland and Labrador’s environmental industry. Contributions can be considered from a practitioner, economic development, or regulatory perspective. Champions can be recognized for singular contributions or the culmination of their activities over a period of time. The award is judged according to the contribution (over and above commercial success), its associated positive environmental effects, and its lasting impact on the industry.

The winner of this year’s Industry Champion Award is Ashley Smith. Ashley is the Owner and Managing Director of Fundamental Inc, a company that she founded to pursue action on climate change in whichever capacities possible, with social wellbeing always at the core. For those who know Ashley, they know that she works tirelessly to pursue climate action in Newfoundland and Labrador. Ashley has played a significant role in shifting the dialogue across communities in the province when it comes to climate change action and its social and economic co-benefits. She has fostered working relationships with municipalities, businesses, researchers, and academics that through her leadership have come together on a number of climate action projects. Her impact has been substantive, focusing on a broad range of topics from renewable energy installations, to building retrofits, to asset management, to food security, waste management, and sustainable, affordable housing. Over the last 5 years, her efforts have resulted in significant local investments (including over $1 million in federal funding) in climate action planning, greenhouse gas emission reduction projects, and climate adaptation initiatives across over 25 municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador. She has worked with municipalities like Baie Verte, Bauline, Channel-Part Aux Basques, Paradise, Stephenville, and Torbay to quantify their greenhouse gas emissions and develop community-specific GHG reduction plans for each of them. While these are exemplary professional accomplishments for her and her team at Fundamental Inc, Ashley continues the fight against climate change in her free time. Currently she is volunteering her time and expertise to help to lead a community composting, greenhousing, and food security initiative in her hometown of Harbour Main. The projects Ashley has led in just a few short years have reduced energy consumption, saved greenhouse gas emissions, improved community resilience, and increased awareness and understanding of climate change across Newfoundland and Labrador. Ashley has shown that doing the right thing can not only create jobs, but meaningful, satisfying jobs – and has become an environmental industry champion in the process.

econext 2021 conference

econext's annual conference took place on October 22, 2021 which explored the vast opportunities that net zero, the energy transition, and finding value from waste are presenting Newfoundland and Labrador. Sessions included:

Cleantech Sector Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador

Our province’s technology sector is booming, and among the success stories are businesses that are developing their own products and services that improve our relationship with the environment. In this session you will hear from a cleantech CEO who has seen their company experience rapid growth on an international scale – and from one of province’s foremost experts on how we are supporting our tech entrepreneurs and setting them up for success.

  • Keynote Speaker – Joshua Green, CEO – Mysa

  • Michelle Simms, President & CEO – Genesis

  • Philip Cave, Key Account Specialist – takeCHARGE

Value from Waste and the Opportunity for Innovation

Newfoundland and Labrador faces obstacles in dealing effectively with its waste streams – at household and industry scales. Our population is small and waste is generated in rural and remote areas. Economies of scale are difficult to achieve, and the environmental impact of transporting waste outside of the province can be substantial. In this session you heard about why conditions for waste management innovation are ripe in this province, and where the best opportunities for investigation may be.

  • Moderator – Sarah Halliday, Bus. Dev. Manager – Heave Away Waste Management

  • Charles Bown, CEO – Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB)

  • Don Drew, Operation Manager – Newco Metal & Auto Recycling

  • Ben Wiper, Co-Founder and CEO – 3F Waste Recovery

Josh Green, CEO of Mysa

CONFERENCE PARTNERS >

 

Technology, Net Zero, and the Environment

Global discussions around net zero have accelerated greatly since the onset of the pandemic. The pursuit of net zero will present industries key to Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy with significant challenges, but also with substantial opportunities for the development and application of new technologies. In this session you heard from leaders in oceans, mining, and oil and gas on what all of this means for their industries and the action that they are seeing taking place.

  • Moderator – Deidre Puddister, Env. & Compliance Manager – Anaconda Mining

  • Hon. Bernard Davis, Minister – Environment and Climate Change

  • Jim Keating, CEO – Oil & Gas Corporation of NL

  • Kendra MacDonald, CEO – Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

  • Allan Cramm, VP Innovation – Novamera Inc.

  • Geni Peters, Labour Market Information Manager – ECO Canada

Our Energy Future – Electricity, Renewables, and Hydrogen

The momentum that hydrogen and other clean fuels are gaining globally as solutions to achieve deep emissions reductions present Newfoundland and Labrador with exciting opportunities for the development of its vast cache of renewable energy resources. Using clean energy for the production of clean fuels gives the province a new pathway for development, while electricity generation remains an option. In this session you will hear about what these opportunities are and what the most realistic pathways to clean energy development may be for the province.

  • Moderator – Alex Templeton, Partner – McInnes Cooper

  • Hon. Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Natural Resources

  • Hon. Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy, and Technology

  • Jennifer Williams, President and CEO – Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

  • Keith Drover, VP Project Development – Growler Energy

  • Blair MacDougall, Founder and Director – Waterford Energy Services

Our Team

Board of Directors

Ashley Noseworthy
Chair
EDGEWISE Environmental

Chad Butler
Vice-Chair
Growler Energy

Don Drew
Treasurer
Newco Metal & Auto Recycling

Deidre Puddister
Director
Signal Gold

Kris Costello
Director
Oil and Gas Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador

Alex Templeton
Director
McInnes Cooper

Brian Taite
Director
Hatch Ltd.

Justin So
Director
Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions

Nola Sharpe
Director
Mysa

 

econext Staff

Kieran Hanley
Chief Executive Officer
kieran@econext.ca

Abbie Hodder
Chief Operating Officer & Director, International Business
abbie@econext.ca

Matt Rumboldt
Marketing & Communications Manager
matt@econext.ca

Joanne Strugnell
Operations Manager
joanne@econext.ca

Sepehr Khosravi
Climate Services Specialist
sepehr.khosravi@climatlantic.ca

Abbey Robertson
Training Module Developer
abbey@fundamentalinc.ca

Financial Statements