Sustainability and Research

Ashik Bhat

Ashik Bhat is originally from Victoria BC; and graduated Queen’s University with a degree in Political Studies in 2006. During his time at Queen’s, he was an active member of the Alma Mater Society – serving as Director of Student Services in his final year.

He is currently the Vice-President of Sales at Labatt Breweries of Canada, Canada’s largest brewer and a proud member of the ABInbev family. Since joining Labatt in 2006 Ashik has held various positions across the organization, driving strong business impact, and has been leading the Sales Organization since 2019; a team of almost 600 people coast to coast. Ashik has brought a strong focus on consumer centricity to the commercial team, incorporating Insights and Analytics to drive growth, built strategic partnerships with customers, and delivered meaningful products to consumers. He has led the team to successive years of market share and topline growth, while transforming the team to better utilize technology and a category growth mindset.

He is a passionate, purposeful and driven business leader with a strong focus on strategy and people. In his free time, he enjoys traveling with his wife, spending time with his dog, and staying fit on his Peloton.

Darlene Lim

Dr. Darlene Lim is a research scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center. She is currently the Deputy Project Scientist for the NASA VIPER Lunar Rover Mission, and also leads several NASA-funded research programs that are focused on blending field science with the development of capabilities and Concept of Operations (ConOps) for human-robotic spaceflight to the Moon, Mars and beyond. She is the Principal Investigator of the SUBSEA, BASALT and Pavilion Lake research programs, Deputy PI for FINESSE, and Science Ops lead for RESOURCE. Darlene has conducted field research around the world, on land and underwater. She has served on a number of NASA Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group committees and is currently serving on the NOAA Ocean Exploration Advisory Board, and the NASA Network for Ocean Worlds Steering Committee. Darlene founded the Haven House Family Shelter STEM Explorers’ Speakers Series, which from 2012-2015 enabled NASA and academic researchers to conduct educational sessions with homeless children in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Norman Musengimana

Business Development Manager, Kingston Economic Development Corporation

Hailing from Rwanda, Norman's journey has spanned over 20 countries. As a former refugee in East Africa and having lived and worked in seven countries, his life's experiences are enriched with unique experiences combining his cultural background and all he has experienced from other countries. These have shaped his deep respect for cultural diversity and have fostered cherished memories. Today, he fondly calls Canada his home.

A double alumnus, Norman graduated from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University in 2018 with a Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Earlier in 2015, he earned a Master of Arts in Leading Innovation and Change from York St. John University, in the UK.

In the realm of social entrepreneurship, Norman's heart truly lies. His career chronicles a dedication to small business owners and budding entrepreneurs. Beyond this, he's spearheaded numerous social innovation initiatives, addressing pressing community challenges in the East African community.

Norman, having transitioned as a newcomer multiple times, intimately grasps the aspirations and hurdles that accompany such life shifts. This understanding propels his commitment to aid others on their distinctive paths. He sees himself as a mosaic, crafted by the kindness and wisdom of many, which has informed and shaped his core belief: "If there's one thing, I can do to help someone else, it will be done."  

Currently, Norman works as a business development manager for entrepreneurship and the startup landscape at the Kingston Economic Development Corporation. He also holds positions on several boards that champion some of the issues he cares about.

Harneet Panesar

Chief Operating Officer, Ontario Energy Board (OEB)

Appointed as the Ontario Energy Board’s (OEB) Chief Operating Officer in 2021, Harneet Panesar is integral in advancing the regulator’s role in the energy transition. His commitment to innovation, accountability, effectiveness and efficiency is modernizing the OEB and driving it to the rank of top-tier regulator.

Mr. Panesar supports Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) through his role as Executive Champion for the OEB’s DEI Council and invests in the sector and his profession through academia. He is a part-time lecturer at Toronto Metropolitan University, and regularly delivers ad hoc lectures at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School and the Ontario Institute of Technology.  

Mr. Panesar holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in electrical engineering and a Master of Business Administration, both from the University of Toronto. He received a Fellowship with Engineers Canada for his work with Professional Engineers of Ontario and service to the engineering profession. He also serves as on the University of Waterloo’s Institute of Sustainable Energy Advisory Board and the Dean’s Advisory Board at Queen’s University.

Prior to joining the OEB, Mr. Panesar spent 14 years in progressively senior positions at Hydro One, most recently as Director of Strategy and Integrated Planning. 

Marc Wayne

Chairman, Co-Founder Beckley Psytech

Marc Wayne is a lifelong entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in starting and operating new ventures. Over this time, Marc has been involved in creation, development and sale of many successful companies and has raised over 200M in early-stage funding. In 2012 Marc co-founded Bedrocan Canada Inc (Bedrocan), one of the first federally licensed producers of medical cannabis in Canada and took the company public in 2014, only the second public cannabis company at that time. In 2015, Marc successfully merged Bedrocan with Tweed Marijuana Inc. the first merger in the space and a key transaction that led to the formation of Canopy Growth Corporation (WEED:TSX) acting as Managing Director until December 2016. In December 2016, Marc became Founding President and CEO of Canopy Health Innovations, and Canopy Animal Health, both innovative cannabis research organizations that achieved successful exits. Marc, through Canopy Health Innovations was instrumental in the formation and development of Beckley Canopy Therapeutics UK a drug development company that was also acquired successfully in 2019. Considered a pioneer in the medical cannabis space, Marc was also instrumental in developing the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC). Since its inception in 2007, the CCIC continues to be a global innovator in education and research on medical uses of cannabinoids. Marc was also Founding Chair of Cannabis Canada Association (2013). Presently, Mr. Wayne serves as Chairman and Co-Founder of Beckley Psytech an Oxford UK based drug development company. Beckley Psytech newly formed in late 2019 is currently in late Phase 2 trials with a short acting psychedelic for the treatment of depression. Marc is also a former Board member and Alumni President for the Toronto French School, Canada’s largest independent school. 

Community and Wellness Sub-Committee

Global Impact and Innovation Sub-Committee