CEO hired for International Carbon Capture Organization

REGINA, April 22 /CNW/ - The International Performance Assessment Centre for Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide (IPAC - C02) today announced the hiring of Dr. Carmen Dybwad as the centre's new Chief Executive Officer.

IPAC - C02 is designed to meet a public and regulatory need in the global Carbon Capture and Storage chain by providing an independent performance assessment of geological storage of carbon dioxide. Carbon capture and storage has been identified by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as one of the most promising near term technologies for the rapid reduction of global CO2 emissions.

IPAC-CO2 was established at the University of Regina in 2009 with $14 million in funding from the Government of Saskatchewan, Royal Dutch Shell and the Government of Canada.

"We are very excited to be able to recruit Dr. Dybwad who has extensive professional experience in both government and the energy sector," said Dr. David Gauthier, chairman of the not-for-profit organization's board of directors and Vice-President, Research at the University of Regina. "Her return to Saskatchewan to accept the lead at IPAC-CO2 will help move the centre forward."

Dybwad, who held increasingly senior positions during a 20-year career with the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina, leaves her current position in Calgary as vice-president of the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI) to join IPAC-CO2.

Prior to joining CERI in 2009, she was President of the Energy Council of Canada for two years. She also served a seven-year term on the National Energy Board.

"I'm pleased to join an organization focused on the global need to ensure that carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is deployed rapidly and safely around the world," Dybwad said. "IPAC-CO2 will develop knowledge that contributes to a complete understanding of risk performance."

From a secretariat located at the University of Regina, IPAC-CO2 is working to establish a global network with regional centres in China, India, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe and the United States.

"IPAC-CO2's work is critical to realizing the potential of an emerging CCS value chain from an independent perspective, meeting GHG emission reduction targets set by governments and recognition of CCS as a valid international process under the Clean Development Mechanism," Dybwad said.

Dr. Malcolm Wilson, Director of the Office and Energy and Environment at the University of Regina and a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, had been IPAC-CO2's acting CEO since it was established.

For further information: Joe Ralko, IPAC-CO2, [phone] office, [phone] cell, [email protected]