Leadership
We are led by an independent Board of Directors with industry and regulatory representatives who oversee our operations, priorities and strategic planning to ensure the OWA fulfills its mandate.
Directors are appointed by the OWA’s members: the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada and the Alberta Energy Regulator.
Board of Directors
D. Blake Reid
Paramount Resources
OWA Chair
Brad Herald
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
Doug Dafoe
Ember Resources
Logan Popko
Cenovus Energy Inc.
David Hardie
Alberta Energy Regulator
Kyle Pisio
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Management Team
Vik Dhalla
Corporate Controller
Lars De Pauw
President
Brad Malley
Director, Operations
Dave Marks
Manager, Land and Stakeholder
D. Blake Reid
Paramount Resources
OWA Chair
Blake Reid is a Professional Engineer and Executive Vice President, Operations at Paramount Resources. Prior to joining Paramount, Blake held a number of progressively senior roles over 25 years of industry experience. His work has included a broad range of technical, operational and strategic management roles, including leadership of multi-disciplinary organizations covering operations, maintenance, engineering, project management, drilling and completions, administration, and environment, health and safety portfolios.
Brad Herald
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
Brad Herald’s work with CAPP has focused on industry operations and economics in Western Canada, including best practices related to the environment and public health and safety. He works closely with industry experts on community and regional stakeholder concerns, and with regulators and governments on policy issues and implementation.
Doug Dafoe
Ember Resources
Doug Dafoe is President and CEO of Ember Resources Inc. He has more than thirty years of industry experience in financial and operating positions in several publicly traded energy companies. In addition to corporate leadership positions, Doug brings extensive governance experience as a Board Director for drilling and energy production companies, and as a past member of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. He holds the designations of Chartered Accountant and Chartered Director.
Logan Popko
Cenovus Energy Inc.
As Vice-President of Well Delivery for Cenovus Energy Inc., Logan Popko is accountable for the safe and efficient execution of drilling, completions and asset retirement programs. Over more than 15 years at Cenovus, he has held increasingly senior roles in production operations, asset development, execution, strategy and corporate planning, and downstream businesses. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Oil and Gas Engineering from the University of Calgary and is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.
David Hardie
Alberta Energy Regulator
David Hardie is the Director of Liability Management for the Alberta Energy Regulator. In over 20 years with Alberta’s regulatory authorities, David has worked in analysis, strategy development and organizational leadership for infrastructure liability and closure in the energy industry. His experience relates directly to stewarding policies related to financial, environmental and public safety risk related to wells, pipelines and facilities.
Kyle Pisio
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Kyle Pisio is Vice-President, Drilling, Completions and Asset Retirement at Canadian Natural Resources. During his more than 15 year career at Canadian Natural, Kyle has gained extensive experience in the development of oil and natural gas projects in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin as well as international offshore assets. Kyle is a Professional Engineer who has progressed through a range of technical roles and is currently leading multi-disciplinary teams that safely, effectively and efficiently manage drilling, completions and asset retirement activities, including decommissioning, reclamation and site closure.
Vik Dhalla
Corporate Controller
Vik Dhalla is responsible for the OWA’s financial operations, including fiscal modeling and planning, oversight of funding and loans, service contracts, employee compensation and benefits, and financial reporting. He also has responsibility for the OWA’s IT support and services. Vik has more than 25 years experience in finance systems, analysis, modeling and disclosure across the retail, technology and energy sectors. He holds degrees in biological sciences and finance, and the designations of Chartered Management Accountant (CMA) and Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).
Lars De Pauw
President
Lars De Pauw joined the OWA in 2017 as the association entered a new era of enhanced regulation, increasing inventories and larger and more complex projects. As executive director, and then president, he has led significant organizational transformation as the OWA has become one of the largest oil and gas site closure organizations in Alberta. Prior to joining the OWA, Lars held roles of increasing responsibility in environmental and reclamation management at a large producer and in the service sector, and has volunteered on several boards. He holds a B.Sc. in environmental engineering, an M.Sc. and a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation.
Brad Malley
Director, Operations
As Director, Operations, Brad Malley oversees the decommissioning and reclamation of sites for the OWA. He brings over 40 years of energy industry experience from the field and the head office. His past roles have included senior level oil and gas positions with responsibilities that included large capital projects, asset retirement, project and contractor management, health and safety, and regulatory compliance. Brad holds the designation of Professional Technologist (Eng).
Dave Marks
Manager, Land and Stakeholder
Dave Marks leads the OWA’s Land and Stakeholder group. In this role, his team works with orphan sites from the earliest stages of engaging landowners and conducting risk assessments through ongoing operations, long-term monitoring and site closure. Dave also provides oversight of key industry relationships with working interest partners on orphan sites, and with the AER when the regulator has directed the OWA to ensure site safety. Dave has over 36 years of experience in the oil and gas industry and is a former OWA board member. He holds a B.Sc. in Resource Conservation and is a Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.).