Advanced Biofuels Canada honors Thomson, Hooper for 2 decades of industry leadership
Advanced Biofuels Canada announced Nov. 10 that Ian Thomson and Doug Hooper, two longstanding leaders whose contributions over more than two decades have helped shape Canada’s low-carbon fuels industry, are retiring from the association Dec. 31.
“Doug and Ian have been instrumental in building Canada’s advanced biofuels industry and establishing Advanced Biofuels Canada as a respected voice in federal and provincial policy, and fiscal program development,” said Fred Ghatala, the president of Advanced Biofuels Canada. “Their leadership and commitment have aided the sector’s progress over the past two decades, reflecting their dedication and the many partnerships they’ve built along the way.”
Their journey began in the early 2000s, when they co-founded Canadian Bioenergy Corp., which played a key role in the commissioning of Canada’s largest biodiesel refinery in 2013.
Thomson, Advanced Biofuels Canada’s founding president, played a central role in establishing the BC Biodiesel Association in 2005 and the Alberta Biodiesel Association in 2006.
The two organizations later merged to form the Western Canada Biodiesel Association, expanding their reach and influence before evolving into a national organization, Advanced Biofuels Canada, in 2015.
Under Thomson’s leadership, the association’s membership and impact expanded year on year to become today’s preeminent Canadian advocate for biofuels from coast to coast.
The association’s reach also grew internationally, leading to formal ties with allied associations across North America and Europe.
These, and collaborations with other Canadian clean-fuel sectors and nongovernmental organizations, have strengthened the outlook for the full spectrum of low-carbon sustainable fuels in Canadian transportation.
Hooper’s role as director of policy and regulation long preceded Advanced Biofuels Canada’s inception.
His leadership across the sector has materially impacted every clean-fuel regulation in Canada since 2005, including leading sector efforts to develop and implement the federal Clean Fuel Regulations in 2022 and provincial regulations in British Columbia (2010, 2013), Alberta (2011), Saskatchewan (2102), Manitoba (2009), Ontario (2014) and Quebec (2023).
Hooper also played a key role in the development of fiscal programs that helped support the expansion of Canada’s biofuel production capacity by billions of liters.
These included the federal ecoENERGY for Biofuels program, Alberta’s Biofuel Production Credit Program, and the recent federal Biofuels Production Incentive.
“The lasting impact of Ian and Doug’s work in the advanced biofuels space is difficult to quantify,” said Advanced Biofuels Canada Chair Kent Engelbrecht. “The seeds they planted over the past 20-plus years, beginning in Western Canada, have taken root and are evident throughout Canada and across North America. The biofuels industry will continue to expand and provide benefits to the Canadian agriculture and energy sectors due to the firm foundation built by these two leaders.”
Advanced Biofuels Canada’s influence and impact continue under Ghatala.
In that role since January 2025, Ghatala builds on two decades of sector experience during which he was a key contributor to many of the foregoing clean-fuel regulatory policies and fiscal programs.
Colleen Lamothe continues to lead provincial and federal engagement as vice president of Advanced Biofuels Canada, a role she assumed in October 2024.
With the support of its board of directors and Advanced Biofuels Canada’s research, regulatory and policy staffs, the association said it remains committed to advancing policies that strengthen low-carbon fuel production, attract investment and support market growth across Canada.
Advanced Biofuels Canada extended its sincere appreciation to Thomson and Hooper for their years of leadership, dedication and service to the industry and wished them both the best in retirement.
