Our team of experts

Yuho Okada, MBA, is the President of Barkley Project Group. In addition to engaging in his current executive management role, Yuho has over 10 years of hands-on experience in project management, including project development, financing, strategic planning, economic analysis, strategic planning, and business planning for numerous clean energy projects in BC and Yukon. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s in Business Administration from Royal Roads University. He serves as a chair of the Board of Directors for a clean energy industry association, Clean Energy BC.

John Ebell is co-founder and Principal of Barkley Project Group. With more than 42 years of experience in the natural resources sector, John serves as a Senior Project Manager and Geothermal Team Lead. His broad background includes work in fisheries, environmental assessment, and regulatory permitting. In addition, John has more than 23 years of direct experience in the clean energy sector, where he has brought hydropower developments from concept to operation. John has been managing geothermal exploration and development on a growing number of geothermal projects, including Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal, a Fort Nelson First Nation-owned project. John’s project management experience spans all stages of development, including renewable energy resource inventory and feasibility assessment, strategic planning, design coordination, permitting, and operations management.

Ben Whyte, P. Eng., PMP, is the Hydro Team Lead and Principal with more than 15 years of experience in heavy civil and industrial construction. Ben has successfully led and delivered multiple clean energy projects in remote locations throughout British Columbia as a Project Manager with Barkley Project Group. Prior to joining Barkley Project Group, Ben was responsible for site engineering as the Owner’s Representative overseeing the spillway program for BC Hydro’s Ruskin Dam and Powerhouse Upgrade project. Ben’s project experience also includes site project engineering and construction coordination of EPC contracts for solar power, nuclear power, and natural gas projects across Canada. Ben holds a degree in Civil Engineering and Management from McMaster University.

Diane Walton is Barkley Project Group’s Finance Manager. Diane has over 25 years of experience in corporate accounting and office administration in the renewable energy, forestry, construction, and service sectors. Diane provides financial and administrative services to Barkley Project Group, operational hydropower companies, and development projects.

Dan Valliquette is the Operations Manager and Team Lead providing technical and management services in power plant operations, systems management, inspection and maintenance, and plant operator training and supervision. Dan is also experienced in hydrometric data collection, electrical energy load monitoring, project planning, design, and construction. Dan is a certified Red Seal Electrician with over 10 years of experience in commercial and residential installations. He is experienced in the installation of grid-tied and off-grid renewable energy systems, including Micro-hydro, PV, wind, and battery.

Mary Vasey, B.Sc., M. Eng., PMP, CEM, is a Project Manager and the Development Team Lead providing specialized services in community energy planning and the development of renewable energy systems in off-grid communities. Mary holds a Master of Engineering in Clean Energy from the University of British Columbia. She collaborates with several remote and urban First Nation communities to develop projects that align with community priorities and objectives. Her diverse experience in renewable energy technologies includes solar, wind, and hydropower development. She is passionate about streamlining high-quality energy conservation measures in homes and community building to provide tangible solutions and real results.

Nick Balaban B.Ed., B.A., is a Construction Manager with more than 15 years of experience in construction. Nick has 10 years of experience working on hydropower development projects, including 8 years as a carpentry foreman. He specializes in working with concrete, including suspended slabs. Nick operated his own construction business for eight years, where he managed sub-contract trades and performed estimating and budgeting work for projects. Nick’s personnel management and communication skills allow him to thrive as the interface between design and construction.

Tim Matthews, B.Sc., ADGISA, is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Permitting Lead on the Hydropower team with over 10 years of experience in the clean energy sector. Tim is responsible for overseeing Barkley’s Regulatory Permitting and GIS services to support hydropower projects from concept through to operation. With a background in Geography, Tim is passionate about applying geospatial thinking to the human and physical world to help solve problems and aid in critical decision-making.

Kai Foss, B.A., ADGIS, is a GIS Technician responsible for the development and support of Barkley Project Group’s various projects and GIS services. Kai is well-versed in spatial data management, editing, analysis, and the development of web mapping applications. Before working with Barkley Project Group, Kai worked at Nova Scotia’s Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, where she gained experience working with Stakeholders and managing large data sets for use in online web applications. Kai is also pursuing a master’s degree in GIS at Vancouver Island University, where their research project is on the development of a baseline extent of Blue Carbon on the West coast of Vancouver Island.

Jonathan Venter, B.Eng., EIT, is an Operations Technician with the Operations team. Jonathan graduated with a Mechatronics Engineering Degree from the University of Port Elizabeth (NMMU). He also has his Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management. He has 9 years of experience in the renewable energy industry with a focus on wind energy. He has been part of renewable energy projects in South Africa, Spain, and the United States. His experience spans the commissioning of wind farms, reliability improvement, and back-office technical analysis of plant performance.

Stuart Reiswig, B.A., B.S.E.E, is a Project Coordinator with an Electrical and Renewable Energy Engineering degree from the Oregon Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Barkley, Stuart worked on the design and installation of numerous solar PV, solar hot water, and energy efficiency projects. He also owned and operated a remote off-grid store and bakery in Montana, USA, that he led through a clean energy transition from diesel to solar.

Janelle, Flett B.Sc. ENV is a Junior Project Coordinator on the Development team, working on hydropower development and community energy planning. Janelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Mount Royal University and is a proud member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation located on Treaty 8 Territory. She brings her knowledge of freshwater health and experience of First Nations relations to Barkley Project Group. Currently, she sits on the Indigenous Youth Advisory Council in partnership with Suncor.

Ben Boudreau, B. Eng., EIT, is a Project Coordinator contributing to the Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal management team. Ben graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. Before and during his engineering studies, Ben worked as a Hairstylist in Montreal for nearly 10 years. He has since worked primarily in design engineering on projects related to robotics, construction, and aerospace. Prior to working at Barkley, Ben worked as an Aerospace Design Engineer, helping design wildfire-fighting aircraft to combat the effects of climate change all over the world.

Stephen Rayner is a Geomatics Technologist who leads the Community Infrastructure Development Initiative. Stephen graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology with a diploma in geomatics engineering technology. He spent 15 years working on a range of infrastructure projects in a multitude of roles, from planning, data collection, and design to inspection and commissioning. Before joining the BPG team, Stephen spent 7 years as the Director of Government Services for a treaty First Nation. In this role, he oversaw the comprehensive community plan, asset management plan, program development, and capacity building. Stephen also oversaw the planning, development, design, construction, commissioning, operation, and replacement of all Nation-owned infrastructure.

Brie Haley, M.Eng., EIT, has her MEng in Clean Energy, and 9 years in the renewable energy and climate change sectors, combined with international experience and personal development, has enabled her to take an authentic approach to provide advisory services. Known for her positive energy, dedicated work ethic, and innate ability to build and maintain meaningful and trusting connections with others. “The feedback I hear most often from clients is how well I listen. I have a proven track record of securing capital, building inclusive teams, and moving clean energy projects from planning through to implementation. I am committed to serving for the greater good of all living beings and our planet – let’s connect to make the world a better place!”

Jason Village B.Comm. is a Business Analyst for the Community Infrastructure Development Initiative, supporting communities in identifying, planning, and launching new infrastructure and economic development projects. Jason graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce, specializing in Business Operations and Logistics with a concentration in Sustainability and Social Impact from the University of British Columbia. His work experience includes funding for non-profits, geophysics fieldwork, and project management on a Tiny Home with a hybrid renewable energy system. While at UBC, his focus was researching economic, technological, and policy barriers in energy transitions.

Meetika Kher BASc., EIT, is a Renewable Energy Project Coordinator on the Project Development Team at Barkley, contributing to community energy planning for a variety of renewable energy generation projects for First Nations communities. Meetika graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering, with an Energy Specialization, and a Diploma in Sustainability. She is working to obtain a Master of Engineering in Cities Engineering and Management, emphasizing Environmental Issues for Healthy Cities and Climate Change. She has experience working within the municipal, federal, international development, and consulting sectors, with a focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Her main goal is to empower Indigenous communities through the development of efficient renewable energy projects and to directly contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions from Canada’s energy sector.

Raj Khugsal, BComm, PMP, is a Financial Analyst on Barkley’s Geothermal team. Raj is a Commerce graduate, certified PMP, and current board member of Canadian West Coast PMI Chapter. He is currently working on the Tu Deh Kah Geothermal project, supporting the larger team. He comes with broad experience in project management, budgeting, analysis, reporting, and working with organizations on process improvement and optimization. His previous experience in renewables includes working with biomass fuel projects.

Erin Quon, P.Eng., is a project manager on the Development team with over 9 years of experience across infrastructure, renewable energy, and clean technology sectors. Bringing varied technical and managerial skills to the team, her project experience includes geotechnical investigations and engineering design, construction monitoring, solar and marine energy development, wind farm optimization, data management, emissions management, and several business growth initiatives. Erin holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University and volunteers with various climate and social action organizations. Passion for Earth’s natural environment and enthusiasm for people creating positive change drives her personal and professional life.

Arjun Sharma is a Project Coordinator working in the hydropower department. He has over 5 years of project development and construction management experience in the renewable energy industry. Arjun has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Nepal and a Canadian Graduate Certificate in Energy Management. He worked as a Project Manager on two hydropower projects in Nepal, including engineering the design and construction of transmission lines and switchyards. Arjun is immensely gratified to be part of a team that provides clean energy solutions to indigenous communities, thereby positively impacting both the environment and local communities.