Director
Dr. Walter Merida
Walter began his career in clean technology working with Ballard Power Systems, British Gas Investments Canada, and academic partners more than twenty years ago. He was a founder and Board member for General Hydrogen Corporation, and the Institute for Breakthrough Energy Technologies in Vancouver. He leads the Natural Gas Futures research consortium, and the Transportation Futures Group at the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, the Academic Council for the Global Alliance on Powerfuels, and the Climate Change Advisory Board for Toronto Dominion Insurance.
At UBC, Walter has served as director for the Clean Energy Research Centre, and he is currently the Associate Dean of Research and Industrial Partnerships in the Faculty of Applied Science.
Management Team
Dr. Omar Herrera
Senior Program Manager
Omar Herrera is currently the Senior Program Manager of Transportation Futures and in charge of partnerships, funding and the day-to-day of the cluster. Omar graduated with his Ph.D. at UBC and began his innovation career in the biotech and sports industry. His work has taken him through startups and renewable energy companies, and recently academia. He is an innovator and strategist that links industry, government and academia.
Dr. Julián Fernández
Project Manager
Julián Alberto Fernández is a Project Manager at ENILab. With more than 7-years experience on Electric Vehicle-Grid Integration – from optimal charging strategies to minimize power quality impacts on the grid to machine learning techniques applied to the interaction Building-EV parkade. His experience includes leading a team of highly qualified researchers working on topics related to the electrification of transportation: feasibility analyses of E-bikes; E-cars to replace ICE-mobility; and feasibility analyses of E-Buses. Julián graduated from the Pontifical Xavierian University in Bogota Colombia with a degree in Electronics Engineer, a MASc. in Electrical Engineering from the Institut National Politechnique de Grenoble, and a PhD from the University of Grenoble-Alpes.
Nadia Adame
Project Coordinator
Nadia is the Special Projects Coordinator. She focuses on making the work accessible to a broader audience by supporting the group with their public outreach and producing graphics, websites and videos. Nadia graduated from the University of Colorado and comes to UBC with extensive international experience in the performing and media arts.