This session will focus on how Newfoundland and Labrador’s traditional and emerging industries are reducing waste, improving efficiency, and creating new value streams. Speakers will include representatives from various sectors, including: mining, forestry, aquaculture, oil and gas, fisheries, etc.
Audrey Parnell, PGeo, hails from the United States and holds both a BS and MS in Geology. With over 15 years working in the private sector as a geologist and climate scientist, Audrey is currently the Manager of Circular Economy at econext. In this role, she empowers entrepreneurs to explore innovative opportunities in waste management and circular economy practices. In addition to working with established businesses Audrey runs The Project Zero econext incubator to help new entrepreneurs develop circular businesses.
In her free time Audrey is pursing her PhD at Memorial University and volunteers at Bishop Field Elementary, with the Avalon Nordic Club, and is a Board Member with the St. John’s Tool Library.
As Woodland’s Manager, Geoff provides leadership for the sustainable forest management over Kruger’s 1.35 million hectares (3.6 MM acres) timber limits. Their forest is managed for multiple generations incorporating a multitude of environmental, social, cultural, economic values and objectives.
He is responsible for the overall strategic direction and operations of Woodlands for Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited. Ensuring the operations meet or exceed legislative, environmental, and standard operating requirements. He and his team manage the safe and cost-effective delivery of quality fibre to multiple destinations across the island.
He is also a member of Corner Brook Pulp & Paper’s Senior Leadership Team and is leading the modernization of the operations in support of the long-term sustainability of CBPPL.
Geoff, a member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, holds an undergraduate degree in Sustainable Forest Management from the University of New Brunswick as well as Masters Degrees in both Business and Forestry from the University of Alberta. This is complemented with decades of industrial experience in the natural resource sector across various technical and senior management positions. Geoff has held the status of Registered Professional Forester, in multiple provinces, for over 25 years.
Shannon Lewis is a business development and industry leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning mining, construction, marine logistics, seafood, tourism, and regional economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador.
He currently serves as Director of Business Development for Shoreline Aggregates Inc. and Guy J. Bailey Ltd., where his work includes corporate growth, project development, market expansion, government relations, strategic partnerships, and the commercialization of new industrial opportunities. His previous roles with the companies have included General Manager, Port and Terminal Manager, and Construction Projects Manager, providing hands-on experience across quarry operations, marine infrastructure, logistics, construction, and international export.
His broader career has also included international trade development and participation in bilateral government-industry negotiations related to market access and regulatory reform, including work in Asia-Pacific markets.
A major focus of Shannon’s current work is Maximus, an initiative aimed at transforming quarry by-product fines into a value-added agricultural soil amendment. The project is exploring how material historically considered a waste stream can support improved resource utilization, agricultural productivity, reduced input requirements, and potential carbon sequestration through enhanced weathering. Through research, technical validation, regulatory development, and international market engagement, Maximus represents a practical example of how a traditional resource industry can apply circular-economy principles to create new economic and environmental value.
Shannon is also founder and CEO of NorthStar Logistics Ltd., Chair of the Baie Verte Mining Innovation Task Force, and a Director and Past President of the Baie Verte and Area Chamber of Commerce.
Stephanie Synard-McInnis is the Compliance and Sustainability Director with Cermaq Newfoundland and Labrador, where she leads the company’s regulatory compliance and sustainability initiatives.
With extensive leadership experience spanning government and industry, Stephanie has spent much of her career working at the intersection of resource development, public policy, and environmental stewardship. Prior to joining Cermaq in 2024, she held several leadership roles with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, including Director of Aquaculture Development and Innovation Manager for Fisheries and Aquaculture, where she supported regulatory modernization, industry development, and innovation within the seafood sector.
Throughout her career, Stephanie has worked closely with industry, Indigenous governments, academia, and federal and provincial partners to advance sustainable growth and strengthen regulatory frameworks. She is passionate about building collaborative solutions that support economic opportunity while maintaining strong environmental and social performance.
Stephanie brings a practical perspective on sustainability, responsible seafood production, and the role innovation plays in shaping the future of Newfoundland and Labrador’s blue economy.
Jim Keating is the Chief Executive Officer of OilCo, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Crown oil and gas corporation, with more than 30 years of experience in the energy sector.
As CEO, Jim oversees the province’s offshore oil and gas interests, including major projects such as Hebron, Hibernia Southern Extension, and White Rose Expansion, while advancing future developments like Bay du Nord. He also leads a geoscience-driven exploration strategy that has attracted more than $4 billion in international exploration commitments to Newfoundland and Labrador.
In addition, Jim oversees Bull Arm Fabrication, a key industrial site supporting offshore development and economic growth in the province.
Before OilCo’s establishment in 2019, Jim served as Executive Vice President at Nalcor Energy, where he held senior leadership roles across renewable and non-renewable energy, including oversight of the Churchill Falls hydroelectric facility and the development of large-scale wind energy projects.
Jim brings a practical, industry-informed perspective on energy development, investment attraction, and the evolving global energy landscape.
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