First Power combines the experience of Taylor Munro Energy Systems, the largest installer of Solar Water Heating systems in B.C., and the Centre for Integral Economics, an award winning non-profit organization dedicated to market innovations, community-led economics and story-based communications.

Joe Thwaites is president of Taylor Munro Energy Systems, a full-service renewable energy company based in Delta, BC, Canada specializing in solar heating systems for commercial and residential applications. Taylor Munro is a partner in First Power and Joe leads system design, deployment and monitoring projects.

Joe has worked with renewable energy for 20 years and holds a degree in Chemical Engineering. Joe has served as a Director of various organizations, including the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA), the Solar Energy Society of Canada, and the Canadian Global Change Program. He has also acted as a technical consultant for federal and provincial renewable energy programs over the years.

Taylor Munro has designed and installed systems for a variety of clients including Canada's Banff National Park, Vancouver International Airport and many BC municipalities. Joe and his company have won several awards including the Ethics in Action Award in recognition of the company's commitment to the triple bottom-line: financial results, environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility. The Canadian Solar Industries Association awarded Taylor Munro its 2004 Thermal Project of the Year Award and the company has earned an Energy Innovation Award from the Canadian Institute of Energy.

Donna Morton is the founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Integral Economics (CIE), based in Victoria BC, Canada. CIE is an enterprising non-profit organization that promotes market-based solutions to social and environmental sustainability. CIE is a partner in First Power with Taylor Munro energy systems; First Power is a project that creates funding, finance, training and other community supports to First Nation communities wanting to gain energy autonomy. In 2003 Donna was awarded an Ashoka fellowship and the Women and Spirit of the Crane award for business leadership.

She has consulted with large and small businesses, governments and NGO's and has 20 years experience in organizational leadership, communications, coaching and branding and policy development; she has consulted widely with NGO's, governments Aboriginal and business organizations.

Donna is a frequent keynote speaker and media commentator in Canada and internationally. She is being featured as 1 of 30 global leaders who use economics to deliver on the environment in the upcoming international TV series - Act for the plant: www.actfortheplanet.org

Jennifer Williams has an extensive background in environmental education, communications and business development. Jennifer currently serves as the First Power Project Coordinator, managing budgets, building the various projects with the team and managing day to day logistics.

Before First Power she served as the Coordinator for the Tilbury Eco-Industrial Partnership in Delta, British Columbia (an innovative industrial park networking like minded businesses and driving sustainability).

Jennifer is a Masters student at Royal Roads University in Environmental Education and is passionate about organic farming.

• Dominique Collin, National expert on First Nations economic development and finance
• Chief Gordon Planes, Chief of the T'Sou-ke Nation, entrepreneur and tradesman
• Cheryl Mathews, First Nations social policy innovator and thought leader