Mark Kirby
President & Chief Executive Officer
Mark Kirby, President and CEO, is a seasoned chemicals and clean technology executive with a decade of experience in the hydrogen and fuel cell sector. Mr. Kirby has held leadership positions at Ballard Power Systems, where he managed the $100 million divesture of the company’s automotive fuel cell business to Daimler and Ford, as well as Questair Technologies.
Formerly President and CEO of Fortress Advanced Bioproducts, the biotechnology division of Fortress Global Enterprises, Mr. Kirby laid the groundwork for a Canadian biorefinery demonstration project with over $30 million of government support. He also co-founded S2G Biochemicals where he was responsible for raising millions in government and private funding support while developing strategic partnerships to position the company’s technology for commercialization. In addition, Mr. Kirby was responsible for integrating acquisitions and growing new global business for a $100 million division of Praxair.
Mr. Kirby currently serves as a member of the board of directors at HTEC. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of British Columbia.
Marie Lapointe
Executive Director, Hydrogène Québec; Regional Manager, Eastern Canada
With over 30 years of experience, Marie Lapointe holds an engineering degree and has successfully held various roles in plant management, strategy and marketing at Niobec, Rio Tinto Alcan, and Rio Tinto Fer et Titane. She previously served as CEO of Aluquébec, the Aluminium Transformation cluster in Quebec.
With a passion for business development, stewardship and collaboration, Ms. Lapointe brings her dedication to the growth of the Canadian hydrogen sector in collaboration with private and public partners.
Matthew Klippenstein
Branch Manager, Hydrogen BC; Regional Manager, Western Canada
Matthew Klippenstein is a fluently-bilingual chemical engineer who has worked in British Columbia’s clean energy economy for the past 20 years. In addition to his extensive hydrogen and fuel cell sector experience, he worked as a consultant in Wood’s renewable energy group performing energy yield assessments for wind and solar projects. A plug-in electric vehicle early adopter, he led outreach and co-administered the Government of British Columbia’s pioneering EV infrastructure rebates for multi-unit buildings through the Plug In BC initiative of the non-profit Fraser Basin Council.
A co-author of the British Columbia Hydrogen Study, Matthew co-authored the industry reference Fuel Cell Industry Review in 2017 and 2018. He chronicled the early years of the Canadian plug-in electric vehicle market at GreenCarReports.com, and his writing has appeared in Wood MacKenzie’s GreenTechMedia.com and Canada’s National Observer.
Nicolas Hilario
Operations Manager
Nicolas joined the CHFCA in 2015 and currently oversees the day-to-day activities of the association as operations manager. This includes managing relationships with government stakeholders, media and members, executing the association’s public affairs and communications strategy through its digital media channels, and coordinating the association’s participation in events and outgoing trade missions to key global markets.
Prior to joining the CHFCA, Nicolas served in a number of marketing and communications roles in the civil construction, energy, marine, software, aviation, and professional sports industries.
Nicolas graduated from Simon Fraser University in 2016.
Mary Jean Rodriguez
Manager – Accounting, Finance and Human Resources
Jean manages CHFCA’s administration and finance departments, overseeing general financial operations and human resources administration. Holding both Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Management Accountant designations, Jean brings extensive combined finance and accounting experience in private, public and non-profit organizations in Canada and abroad. In addition to volunteering with several non-profit organizations, Jean also enjoys singing in a choir as well as reading motivational and self-help books.