Building a Sustainable Future: Workforce Development in Marine Renewables and Offshore Resources
August 21 @ 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
In part one of this webinar series, we will highlight the importance of developing a skilled workforce to support the growth of marine energy and offshore technologies. Learn about current and emerging training programs and career opportunities to build a knowledgeable and adaptable workforce capable of driving the sustainable advancement of this dynamic sector. Discover how targeted workforce development is key to achieving long-term success and sustainability in marine renewables and offshore resource management.
Speaker: Ms. Sarah Thomas
Senior Development Manager, DP Energy
Sarah began her career in 2006 with the US Navy, serving as an officer on the USS Juneau, homeported in Sasebo, Japan. Sarah lived in Sasebo for eighteen months before being posted to San Diego, California, US for an additional two years.
She transitioned to the shipbuilding industry in 2009 after her time in the Navy, working for the US government ship procurement office, first as a systems engineer before eventually becoming the Deputy Technical Director of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. After working on the LCS program for five years, Sarah emigrated to Canada in 2014 and worked at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, NS where she was the Project Manager for the Canadian Surface Combatant program before also assisting the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) Program as the Design Manager.
With a strong interest in renewable energy, Sarah transitioned to the Renewable Energy Sector in 2017. She worked as the Technical Manager for OpenHydro overseeing the technical aspects of their turbine preparations prior to its 2018 deployment. Sarah began working for DP Energy in 2019, starting as the Project Manager for DP Energy’s Uisce Tapa Project in Canada. She is now Senior Development Manager for DP Energy where she leads the Nova East Wind Project while also supporting other renewable energy projects throughout Canada.
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and is a fully qualified Project Management Professional (PMP) with the Project Management Institute. She also holds a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University.
Sarah holds a director seat on the board of Marine Renewables Canada.
She became a Canadian Citizen in 2022.
Speaker: Amanda Mombourquette
Manager Workforce Development, NSCC & Warden, Richmond County
An economic developer for the last 20 years, Amanda has a passion for the economic well-being of Atlantic Canada. Her work with the Nova Scotia Community College is focused on leveraging the assets of the College to enable businesses to solve problems and seize opportunities, especially when it comes to talent attraction and retention.
Amanda has a strong belief that creating innovative learning opportunities and increasing entrepreneurship in rural Nova Scotia will contribute to the economic prosperity of communities across the province – enabling more people to choose our communities as a place to live, work and invest.
Amanda is fortunate to work with talented business leaders across a variety of sectors, and is always supportive of projects that elevate the skills, market connections, and labour attraction efforts of local business people in the region – think global, act local!
As the founder of the “Strait of Canso Offshore Wind Task Force” she has been instrumental in representing the socioeconomic interests of the Strait region. The Task Force has advocated for, and participated in, the development of regulations for the offshore wind industry in Nova Scotia alongside the provincial and federal governments. And together, the membership continues to support responsible and inclusive development of the offshore wind industry in the Strait Area.
Strait of Canso Offshore Wind Task Force – Cape Breton Partnership
Her background in workforce development and talent retention, combined with her deep understanding of the demands in the offshore renewables industry, gives her a unique perspective on the emerging workforce demands in offshore wind in Canada.
Funded in Part By:
