MaRS announces appointment of prominent energy entrepreneur as Managing Director of its Advanced Energy Centre

TORONTO, July 21, 2014 /CNW/ - MaRS Discovery District is pleased to announce the appointment of Ron Dizy as Managing Director of its Advanced Energy Centre (AEC).

"I am delighted that Ron has decided to join the Advanced Energy Centre," said Ilse Treurnicht, CEO, MaRS Discovery District. "As an entrepreneur, Ron has been passionate about bringing new technologies and approaches to the energy sector. I know that with his drive, experience and pragmatism, he will find ways to help this key sector increase its impact."

The Advanced Energy Centre is a public-private partnership focused on driving the adoption of innovative energy technologies in Ontario and Canada, while also fostering international market opportunities for Canada's energy innovations. The creation of the Centre was announced by Premier Kathleen Wynne at the Canadian Energy Innovation Summit at MaRS in February. In addition to Ontario's Ministries of Energy (MOE) and Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure (MEDEI), MaRS, Capgemini and Siemens are founding partners of the Centre. A range of other academic, industry and sector partnerships are now in development.

The AEC will catalyze the creation of "whole solutions" that drive faster, lower-risk adoption of Canadian energy innovation. It will work closely with utilities to identify high-priority, cost-effective opportunities for improved solutions, ensure that the innovation community is addressing the needs of the system, and will support the adoption of standards-based programs like Green Button to drive both domestic and export market opportunities.

Dizy will work closely with Paul Murphy, the former President and CEO of Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and founding chair of the Centre's Advisory Board. "I worked with Ron when I was at the IESO, where he helped us to see some innovative alternatives to balancing the grid. I really look forward to working with Ron and his team at the Advanced Energy Centre to find ways to deliver a wide range of relevant and cost-effective innovations to the Ontario energy sector."

"I'm convinced that Canadian energy innovation is among the best in the world and that we have many of the winning conditions in place," said Dizy. "However, as I have been involved as an entrepreneur in delivering innovation to the energy sector, I have observed the structural challenges that tend to slow the rate of adoption and scaling. I think the Advanced Energy Centre has the right structure and partners to break down these barriers and create tremendous economic and environmental value."

The Advanced Energy Centre works closely with the two other organizations in the MaRS Cleantech cluster: MaRS Cleantech Venture Services, which helps grow early-stage, high-impact cleantech companies, and ArcTern Ventures, a $30 million privately-backed fund that invests in some of the leading cleantech companies in the MaRS community.

About Ron Dizy
Ron Dizy is an experienced entrepreneur and early-stage technology investor, with deep industry expertise in energy. He joins MaRS after seven years leading ENBALA, where he was responsible for strategy, recruiting the executive leadership team, financing, establishing corporate direction and business development. While at ENBALA, Ron raised over $20 million in venture capital and established ENBALA as the leading, real-time demand management company in North America. Prior to ENBALA, Dizy spent seven years as a Partner at Celtic House Venture Partners, where he opened its Toronto office, helped raise two venture capital funds (over $500M) and was responsible for all aspects of sourcing, selecting, negotiating and managing investments.

About MaRS Discovery District
MaRS Discovery District (@MaRSDD) in Toronto is one of the world's largest urban innovation hubs. MaRS cultivates high-impact ventures and equips innovators to drive economic and societal prosperity. MaRS provides expert advice and market research, and makes connections to talent, customers and capital. MaRS startup clients have created 6,500 jobs and, in the last three years alone, they have raised $1 billion in capital and generated $500 million in revenue.

SOURCE: MaRS Discovery District

Kara Collins, Manager, Communications, MaRS Discovery District, 416.673.8196, [email protected]