Kurt Kornelsen

Kurt is the Director of Environment and Climate Change at Ontario Power Generation. He has worked in and with the hydropower industry for almost a decade. Throughout this time, Kurt has contributed to advancing practices in water resources, climate change, policy, planning, business development, and research and development aligned with organizational goals. In his current role, he is responsible for the OPG integrated Climate Change Plan, the Environmental Management Systems, and the interaction of these programs with OPG’s broader Environment, Sustainability and Governance (ESG) framework. Kurt leads a dynamic team of energy professionals that are developing the program to integrate climate change considerations in all appropriate aspects of OPG’s business. He has co-authored industry guidance for integrating climate change into hydropower business processes and is currently serving on two Canadian Standards Association committees related to climate change and dams. 

Kurt has a doctoral degree focusing on hydrology and water resources from McMaster University, where he is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Earth, Environment and Society. He has served as a board member on the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board, on the Energy Program Steering Committee at the Ouranos Consortium for Regional Climatology and Adaptation to Climate Change, and has lead hydropower working groups at the Centre for Energy Advancement through Technology Innovation.