SAF+ is a pioneering aviation decarbonization solutions company that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial sources and transforms it into sustainable fuel (SAF). This process, called Power-to-Liquid (PtL), is one of the most promising ways that airlines can reduce their carbon footprint and meet critical net zero targets.
Our experienced leadership team is composed of seasoned professionals with a track record of success in aviation, project development, renewable energy, finance, sustainability, legal, and engineering. Our expanding team of experts have made SAF+ an acknowledged leader and pioneer in the PtL industry, winning awards, and accolades for the project.
Beyond the sphere of our management team, the SAF+ Consortium includes a network of key partners in the aviation value chain. These collaborators and supporters provided additional competences and expertise, positioning SAF+ to deliver cost effective and sustainable PtL projects in Quebec, Canada and globally.
Management team
Jean Paquin
President & CEO
Jean is a cofounder of the SAF+. He has over 25 years of experience in developing and managing renewable energy projects in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South-East Asia, North and Latin America. After launching businesses in Spain and France, he became Director of Business Development for one of the world’s leading wind and solar energy consultants.
Subsequently, he became director of the hydroelectric generation department and senior director of business development for one of the largest independent power generators in Canada. Jean cofounded SAF+ in 2019 to bring his deep expertise to the development of a large commercial SAF project in east-end Montréal. Jean holds an eMBA from the John Molson School of Business and a degree in Civil Engineering (B.Sc.) from Condordia University.
Alexandru Iordan
EVP of Technology
As cofounder of SAF+, Alex led the development and operations of our first pilot plant. He is currently overseeing the technology development and project management activities of the company. He has 15 years’ experience in the field of environmental management and clean technology.
Prior to SAF+, Alex spearheaded the environmental regulations strategy at Bombardier and contributed to clean tech development at the National Research Council of Canada. He played an active role in several expert groups such as IAEG, AIA and ICAO CAEP work group on CORSIA. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Strasbourg, France. In 2019, he received the prestigious CLEAN 50 Emerging leader award for his contribution to sustainable development in Canada.
Pierre Gonthier
VP of Legal Affairs
Pierre has served as general counsel for SAF+ since its incorporation in January 2019, joining the management team in 2021. Pierre was called to the bar in 1989 and has practiced in the Government, with a large accounting firm, and in private practice. His experience covers 30 years in the areas of mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations, tax and estate planning, tax litigation and international taxation. A law graduate of McGill University and holder of a master’s degree in taxation and an MBA in international business from HEC Montréal, Pierre is also a member of the board of governors of the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law and an accredited NGO observer to the United Nations dedicated to promoting legal education and legal research on corporate sustainability and ecosystem protection.
Marc Poulin
VP of Business Development
Marc
joined the SAF+ team at the end of 2019 as VP, Business Development. He is
responsible for developing the company’s business strategy as well as for forging
partnerships with companies in the sustainable aviation fuel value chain. Marc
has nearly 30 years’ professional experience in the renewable energy and
telecommunications sectors including several years in Latin America. He is also
deeply involved in Montreal’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, where he provides
volunteer coaching and mentoring services to organizations such as Futurpreneur
and the Montreal Foundation Inc. Marc holds a B.Sc. in chemical engineering
from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from McGill University.
Technical team
Peter Pedersen
Lead Process Developper
Peter is a chemical engineer with 42 years of experience focused on technologies for syngas generation and downstream syntheses for producing ammonia, methanol, hydrogen, chemicals and synthetic fuels, NG-to-Liquids, Coal-to-Liquids, and Biomass/Biogas/Landfill Gas-to-Liquids. He has a diversified background in chemical plant operations support, technology evaluations & selection, process development and architecture, managing and coaching engineering teams, project coordination and general consulting. He has worked for Haldor Topsoe, Maersk Oil & Gas, Howe-Baker Engineers (now CBI), Rentech (FT technology). Peter founded Stovlbaek Consulting 15 years ago, an independent consultancy in the technical fields described above and with a long list of clients.
Advisory team
Keith Lawless
VP Renewable Aviation
Keith joined SAF+ in 2022 after 21 years of working for an airline where he held management positions in several departments. He created and ran the airline’s award-winning sustainability department and helped to create the first aircraft recycling and e-SAF industries in Quebec. Prior to this, Keith worked as a plant manager in automobile parts manufacturing, as a operations mangement consultant, and aas a process and research engineer. He has worked in Quebec, a metallurgical engineering degree from McGill University, an MBA from McGill/Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium), and a certificate in Business Leadership Development from Christ Church University of Oxford (UK). Keith received a Clean 50 award in 2021 given to the top fifty sustainability leaders in Canada.
Claude Richard
EVP Business Strategy
For the last several years Claude has been helping SAF+ to finance and develop sustainable aviation fuel projects. He has over twenty years’ experience in strategic financing and high-level government relations and it renowned for accelerating government evaluations and the decision-making process. Claude is an expert in facilitating the development of relations between government decisions makers and project partners, leading to the identification of the best approach for the optimal realization of an organization’s project. He has a vast experience working at the highest levels in the government and corporations. Over the course of his career, he has facilitated the setting up of many companies and joint ventures in a multitude of industries. Claude is the President of Quentus International and has an engineering background.
Seth Brouwers
Senior advisor
Seth brings a comprehensive business management skill set including: strategy, corporate and business development, operations, finance, project management, and product/service development/management. He has acted as executive management, consultant, and strategic advisor for various companies, investors, entrepreneurs, and more. Most recently he was VP of Operations for Advanced Chemical Technologies Inc. developing a power-to-liquids alternative fuels production project utilizing industrial CO2 emissions capture and green hydrogen production to low carbon fuels. He has also co-founded an environmental not-for-profit, CoSphere, helped establish and manage a Global innovation Fund as Lead Analyst, developed a digital media platform company as Chiel Porduct Officer and executed an RTO as Chief Operating Officer for this compny, SponsorsOne Inc., commercialized an airbone remote sensing environmental monitoring technology, and worked an an independent solar entrepreneur in Ontario.