The Energy Transition Crossroads Bootcamp

Description

Canada's energy transition is no longer simply an environmental challenge—it is an economic, geopolitical, and strategic one. Governments, industry, regulators, Indigenous communities, investors, and the public are all navigating difficult trade-offs involving energy security, affordability, competitiveness, emissions reduction, and long-term prosperity.
This two-day executive program provides participants with a practical understanding of the policy choices shaping Canada's resource economy and the forces driving energy and climate decision-making. Through expert presentations, facilitated discussion, executive simulations, and real-world case studies, participants will explore how governments and organizations can make sound decisions in an increasingly complex policy environment.
Participants will examine the intersection of energy, climate, economics, geopolitics, and public policy while developing practical tools to assess competing priorities, manage uncertainty, and communicate strategic advice to senior decision-makers.

The program covers the following modules:
● The Global Energy Landscape – Examine how global markets, geopolitics, technological change, and energy security are reshaping Canada's strategic environment.
● Canada's Resource Economy – Explore the economic importance of Canada's energy and natural resource sectors, investment trends, competitiveness challenges, and regional perspectives.
● Climate Policy and the Energy Transition – Understand the evolution of Canadian climate policy, carbon pricing, emissions reduction pathways, industrial decarbonization, and the policy choices facing governments.
● Executive Decision-Making Simulation – Apply learning through an interactive simulation where participants work through complex policy and investment decisions involving competing economic, environmental, political, and stakeholder pressures.
● Strategic Leadership in an Era of Transition – Discuss emerging trends, policy outlooks, and leadership approaches for navigating uncertainty while supporting economic resilience and long-term sustainability.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze how global markets, geopolitics, and regional economic realities shape Canada’s energy security.
• Navigate Canadian climate policies, carbon pricing mechanisms, and industrial decarbonization pathways.
• Balance trade-offs between economic competitiveness, energy affordability, and environmental sustainability.
• Test strategic choices under pressure using an interactive executive decision-making simulation.
• Formulate clear, evidence-based advice and leadership strategies for senior executives navigating policy uncertainty.

Duration:

• 2-day, in-person course held at IOG’s offices in Ottawa’s ByWard Market from 9 am - 4 pm each day. A light breakfast, coffee and refreshments, and lunch are included.

Who should take this course

This bootcamp is ideal for:

• Federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal public servants
• Policy analysts, managers, directors, and executives
• Energy, environment, natural resource, and infrastructure professionals
• Crown corporation and regulatory agency staff
• Industry leaders and professionals working in energy, mining, utilities, finance, or clean technology
• Consultants and advisors supporting governments or the resource sector
• Anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Canada's evolving energy policy landscape and the strategic decisions shaping the country's future

Whether you are directly involved in energy policy or simply need to understand the broader strategic context, this program provides practical insights that can immediately inform your work.

Special Offers

Take advantage of these exclusive discounts available when registering for IOG courses:

• Group Course Discount: Register 3 or more colleagues together for the same course and receive 10% off your total registration fee.  
  Learning together builds team capacity—and helps you save on training costs. 

• Individual Bundle Discount: Register as an individual for 3 or more courses at the same time and save 10% on your total registration fee.

Advance your professional development while maximizing value.

Facilitators

Douglas Nevison and Derek Hermanutz are among Canada's most experienced advisors in energy, environmental, and economic policy. Together they bring decades of senior leadership experience across government, regulation, industry, and strategic policy development. Their practical insight and deep understanding of Canada's evolving energy landscape provide participants with a balanced, evidence-informed perspective on one of the country's most important public policy challenges.

Doug Nevison

Doug Nevison provides independent strategic advice to governments, organizations and companies on a wide range of economic issues, with an emphasis on fiscal policies, budget preparation and execution, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Prior to his retirement from the federal public service, he was Assistant Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Climate Change Branch, where he led the development of the Government of Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan and Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy. Previously, he was the Board Director for Canada, Morocco, Jordan and Tunisia at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and held senior leadership positions in the Privy Council Office and the Department of Finance Canada. Before joining the public service, he held economic research positions at the Conference Board of Canada and the London School of Economics.

Derek Hermanutz

Derek has over thirty years working in various areas of public policy with both the federal and Alberta government. He is currently the Director General of the Economic Analysis Directorate at Environment and Climate Change Canada and has over fifteen years of experience leading the economic analysis and modelling of federal environmental policies. Derek began his career with the Government of Alberta, working on federal-provincial fiscal issues at the Department of Finance. He then moved to Ottawa, taking on various responsibilities in the Fiscal Policy and Federal-Provincial Relations Divisions at Finance Canada as well as two different stints in the Liaison Secretariat for Macroeconomic Policy at the Privy Council Office. Derek has a Master of Arts (Economics) from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Economics from the University of Alberta.