President

Co-founder and Chair of the Board of Directors of TAP, Dr. Tennyson received his Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Toronto. He was Professor and Director of the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, with research experience in advanced materials and aerospace structures, fiber optic sensor systems and pipeline integrity. He has published 215 papers in these fields, holds six patents on sensing systems and has received many awards for his pioneering work. Dr. Tennyson directs all research and engineering aspects of the TAP project and leads negotiations with funding resources, governments and NGOs.

TAP Foundation President

After several decades working in the media and entertainment industries as the founder and Managing Director of Original Media, Luke turned his attention to being a facilitator in the non-profit arena, establishing the TAP Foundation in the United States which works alongside TAP as its 501(c)(3) status charitable arm. He provides outreach and liaison expertise to funding sources and agencies for TAP and serves as a conduit for potential donors and partners including the PAGGW.

General Counsel

With a B.A. (Memorial) and an M.A. (Acadia) in history and economics, Ken moved on to an LL. B. (UNB) practicing law for business clients. From decades of service and memberships in the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Canadian Bar Association, he specialises in principled negotiations and consensus building. Using a variety of alternative resolution strategies Ken’s work for TAP includes developing effective working relationships with all stakeholders in the participating countries.

Environmental Research

A founding Director of TAP, Dr. Verma is an Instructor at the School of the Environment and Department of Geography at the University of Toronto. Her teaching and research interests are in the field of global water management, environmental science and climate change impacts. She is also the founder of Water Speaks, an organization committed to advancing and translating the voice of water through research, education and action.

Marketing Coordinator

John brings over 25 years of marketing and advertising experience to his role with TAP, during which he has been the recipient of 45+ international awards, managed over 400 brands, and served as a judge for numerous international design and digital marketing awards. He is the CEO and founder of JAC, a digital marketing agency with offices in St. John’s, NL and Toronto, ON that specializes in custom website design and development, full-service marketing and advertising solutions, and photo/video production. His role as Marketing Coordinator with TAP will provide the organization with the guidance it needs to reach and impact key markets and stakeholders.

Advocate, United Nations

A California native with a B.A. in International Studies from Fordham University in New York and experience in NGO development, the green economy and a focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in their specific relation to Africa, Joanna is TAP’s foremost liaison advocate with the United Nations.

Communications and Media Manager

An alumnus of the University of Toronto, Steve has been overseeing TAP’s web presence for more than a decade. He is the CEO of Global Village Design which focuses on ‘web design with a social conscience’. In addition to his digital world expertise, Steve’s communications experience includes creating and publishing books and materials for educators looking for resources connected to social justice, inclusion and equity. He also runs an events management company to create and manage awareness campaigns, logistics, fundraising and support for environmental companies and organizations.

Government Relations, Africa, Middle East & Europe

A Director of TAP, Pieter began his career working for Dutch, Irish and British print and broadcast media in Europe, Southeast Asia and Saharan and Sahelian Africa. An academic Africanist historian and Classicist, Pieter settled in London to become a Media & PR consultant for the Sudanese, Indonesian and Mauritanian embassies in London founding, among other organizations, the Mauritanian British Business Council (MBBC). He currently serves as TAP’s government relations representative for Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Engineering & Logistics

With a Master’s Degree from Queen’s University, Belfast, Robert founded Kilmurn PPS Ltd., in Northern Ireland as a dynamic project management, construction administration and health & safety consultancy services company. With over 20 years of experience working with clients in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Kilmurn’s professional project managers and engineers together control and manage the company’s operational activities. In leading that team, Robert’s in-depth knowledge and experience across an extensive range of quality services to the international engineering and construction industries brings both consulting and real-world expertise to the TAP project.

Sustainable Energy Advisor

With an M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Engineering from Texas A&M University, John is Director, Center for Sustainable Energy and Power Systems at the University of California Santa Cruz. With some 45 years of power systems experience across several African countries and the United States, he has also consulted for the largest power companies in the US and with the US Departments of Defense and Energy. John brings this expertise to assist TAP in ensuring viable, sustainable, zero carbon footprint power solutions to meet the project’s significant energy needs.

Government Relations, Europe

With a Ph.D in Law from Brussels University in his native Belgium, Vivian has worked in senior management positions in finance, sales and marketing at several international corporations. A multinational career has included twenty years of business experience in the field of water in the US, across the Middle East and Africa, and Europe which Vivian now brings to bear in liaising with European governments to increase awareness and commitment to the TAP project.