CANADA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Grady Semmens, Director Board Chair
Grady Semmens is an accomplished communications and public affairs leader with more than 20 years of experience driving meaningful change at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and the global energy sector.
Currently serving as Associate Director of Development Communications at the University of Calgary, Grady leads communications for a major expansion of the Faculty of Science, mobilizing philanthropic, industry, and public support—including the type of impact made possible through CSR charity donations—to advance STEM education and research in energy, environment, biotechnology, and aerospace.
Grady began his career as a journalist with the Calgary Herald, where he established one of the region’s first dedicated environmental beats, covering key issues in southern Alberta and southeastern British Columbia. He holds both a BSc in Anthropology and an MBA from the University of Calgary.
A long-standing supporter of LUTW, Grady had the opportunity to visit LUTW’s projects in Papua New Guinea in 2008–2009, gaining firsthand insight into the transformative impact of renewable energy access in underserved communities. He joined the LUTW Board in 2024 and brings deep expertise in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable development.
As Board Chair, Grady is committed to advancing LUTW’s mission by strengthening partnerships, enhancing visibility, and building the foundation for long-term growth and impact.
Dr. Dave Irvine-Halliday is the founder of Light up The World. As a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Calgary, he had the vision to use LED lighting to bring practical, economical, and environmentally safe lighting to the developing world. In the early years, Dave and his wife, Jenny, self-funded their Light Up The World (LUTW) family projects and built solar and LED systems.
Dave and his wife Jenny started a social enterprise in 2009 called Visionary Lighting and Energy India (VLE) designs.
Darren Maley is a seasoned energy industry professional with a strong foundation in Chemistry. He holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Calgary (2004) and has spent nearly two decades driving innovation in the oil and gas sector. His expertise spans roles at BJ Services, Trican Well Service, and STEP Energy, before starting his own business in consulting on projects in oil and gas, hydrogen, and lithium extraction. Currently Darren is the director of technology at Advancing Chemistry, formulating products for production chemistry, industrial cleaning, and immersion cooling.
Darren Joined Light Up The World in 2022 on the technical committee, recently progressing to the board of directors in july of 2024. He is dedicated to applying his skills to support LUTW’s mission of providing sustainable energy solutions to communities worldwide.
Michelle is the Chair of our Technology and Projects Committee
Bill enjoyed a career of over thirty years with Ontario Hydro, Ontario Hydro International and Hydro One Inc. His career focused on transaction development and implementation in the electric distribution and transmission businesses – both internationally and in Ontario. Bill ‘s work experience includes significant travel throughout Latin America. He is now a senior advisor with Morrison Park Advisors.
Bill joined the Light Up The World Board in June 2019 and took on the Board Co-Chair role in December 2020. Bill is passionate about making a difference in the lives of people living in remote and underserved communities. He hopes that his work experience in the energy industry and Latin America, combined with his charitable work in Honduras, will help guide the organization to achieve its mission of ending energy poverty and powering opportunity. Bill also serves as a Board Member for El Hogar Projects (Canada).
Cherise has 20 years of experience in the power industry, managing commercial, trading, and operational optimization of a portfolio of assets. She is the Vice President of Power Marketing for Aypa Power, a Blackstone Portfolio Company that develops, owns, and operates utility-scale energy storage and hybrid renewable energy projects.
Cherise first joined LUTW in 2019 assisting the Partnerships and Fundraising Committee and has participated in projects in both Guatemala and Peru. Cherise joined our Board of Directors in 2022. She has an MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario and sits on the Board of Women + Power in Alberta, Canada.
Raymond has thirty-five years of experience in the power industry, including the operations and construction of thermal generation and the development of district energy, thermal, and renewable energy facilities.
Mr. McKay is the President and principal consultant for RVM Developers Inc., providing commercial, development and transactional services to the power sector. He holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia and an MBA from Queen’s University.
Raymond joined the LUTW Board of Directors in 2021. His commercial skills will help broaden LUTW’s impact in providing access to electricity to underserved countries.
Kayla is an associate at Stikeman Elliott LLP, a leader in Canadian business law offering creative solutions to clients across Canada and around the world. Kayla’s practice focuses on sophisticated corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, energy transactions, corporate finance, securities and corporate governance. Called to the Alberta Bar in 2017, she holds an Honours degree in the Sciences from the University of Calgary, and a Juris Doctor from Queens University.
Aside from her dedicated legal practice, Kayla contributes to her community as an active volunteer.
Kayla joined LUTW in 2024 as a Director and Board Secretary. Her significant expertise in energy projects and governance will help LUTW propel towards its goal of a sustainable future.
Barbara Sinclair is an experienced CPA, CMA with over 20 years of extensive experience in Oil and Gas, in the areas of Operations, Marketing, Asset
Rationalization and Regulatory Compliance Management.
She has solid interpersonal skills and cross-functional team interactions coupled with an innovative leadership approach to support other disciplines in delivering
accurate results.
Her expertise include; Strategic Business planning, Team management and reorganization, Resource assessment, Acquisitions and Divestitures Budget
management Processing, JV, Marketing, Partner/Regulatory Agreements, Processes and Procedures Improvements and Implementation, System evaluations and
implementations
Barbara joined Light Up the World in May 2021 as a Finance Audit Committee member progressing to the Board of Directors in February 2024.
Barbara’s focus has been finding solutions to the accounting and audit challenges impacting prior years, assisting in the transition of new accounting staff and
implementing new accounting practices in order to generate reliable and accurate financial reports to support LUTW’s objectives.
Andrew Langille. M.Sc., P.Geo. is a retired energy industry professional with over 35 years experience (Shell, Chevron, Spectra, Enbridge, Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline). Andrew obtained his B.Sc. Honours Geology from Mount Allison University in 1984 and a Masters of Sciences in Earth Sciences from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1987; and, in addition has completed post graduate work in Chemical Engineering, Hydrogeology and Environmental Management.
Backed by a strong technical education and extensive leadership experience, Andrew believes that every situation can have a positive outcome. As a leader, Andrew is: process oriented, challenges the status quo, manages the issue and situation, is a creative thinker/problem solver, and a strong negotiator. He’s a committed telemark skier and instructor, cyclist, lover of the outdoors, strong beer, harmonica and happy to be anywhere.
Andrew is a LUTW field team leader who has participated in four remote high altitude Andes LUTW installs who loves the challenges, positive impacts and significance of LUTW’s work.
Michael is a semi-retired, global H.R. leader with experience in world class H.R. organizations.
He now operates as an advisor and consultant to small to medium sized organizations, where human capital strategies are central to business performance and development.
Michael joined LUTW in 2020. He is currently a Director to Head the Governance Committee. He has a passion for the sustainability of our planet and organizations that work to provide solutions, like LUTW.
PERU
Aaron Cohen. Executive Director
Aaron Cohen is driven by a profound passion for leveraging technology to alleviate poverty. A graduate of The University Of Calgary with a BSc in Natural Sciences, his journey with the organization began in 2018 as a volunteer on a project in Guatemala. Demonstrating a deep commitment to LUTW’s mission, Aaron learned Spanish, moved to Peru, and steadily progressed through roles from Technical Assistant to Technical Project Manager before assuming his current leadership position. He played a pivotal role in developing a sustainable internet model for off-grid communities, increasing system size, effectively integrating donated products, and significantly reducing system costs to maximize investment in technological advancements for rural communities.
Milagros is an Agronomy Engineer with a Master’s Degree in Economics. She has skills in design, maintenance and development in renewable energies (SFV), development in rural project management, aptitude in managing inter-institutional and inter-community relations (knowledgeable about diversity of cultures, attitudes and basic needs) and is a skilled leader. Mily is characterized by her responsibility, companionship and teamwork to achieve results.
Mily has been working with LUTW since 2011, when she participated in the first community projects in Peru and has been at the forefront of the evolution of the Organization since, such as the emergence and empowerment of the Social Enterprise – to serve family homes without access to electrification. She was part of the first social development achievements of LUTW in Peru and contributed to the improvement of Andean villages. She shares challenges to improve the living conditions of those most in need through mutual collaboration.
Jean Paul is an electrical Engineer from the National University of Callao; He has knowledge in Solar Energy and has developed electrical installation work in Autocad at the level of residences and individual homes, he also has supervised electrical works and has experience in ground wells.
Throughout his work, he showed his ability to identify and analyze problems that led him to implement effective solutions, he works with initiative and teamwork, a professional committed to quality and safety at work, in addition to working with principles ethics contributing to the development of the organization.
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