Board of Directors
Greg Ombach is a seasoned international senior executive with 25+ years of experience in technology, power systems, strategy, innovation and technology licensing. As the Chairman of AdvEn’s Board of Directors, he brings a range of expertise that he earned as Senior Vice President and Head of Disruptive Research and Technology for Airbus where he is responsible for global research, development and innovation. Greg was also the former Executive Vice President for Draexlmaier Group (revenue EUR 5 billion, 75,000 employees) where he was head of strategy & innovation and head of a battery systems business unit. Earlier, he worked at Qualcomm as a Global Vice President and General Manager in technology licensing business. Greg is a member of the Forbes Technology Council.
John Meekison has extensive experience as a CFO and has worked with a range of public and private sector organizations including as an investment banker raising investment capital. John is a CPA, Certified Management Accountant, Certified Investment Manager, and Professional Logistician, and holds a BA from the University of British Columbia. John is currently also acting as the CFO of Exro Technologies Inc. (TSX: EXRO; OTCQB: EXROF).
Philip Chong is a business entrepreneur with more than 33 years of international business experience in various industries, including financial investment, property development, manufacturing, clean energy, internet, life science and food industry. He spent the first 10 years of his career in the banking industry in both Hong Kong and Toronto with responsibilities in project finance, corporate finance, trade finance, M&A and investment banking. He has served on several public and private company boards.
Dr. Yanguang Yuan (affectionately known around the office as “YY”) brings more than 35 years of experience in the field of geological sciences, as well as engineering in academics, research and the upstream oil/gas industry to his role at AdvEn. Passionate about making positive change in the world, YY has deep expertise in technology development and commercialization. He provides a rare blend of scientific knowledge, industry insight, creativity and business acumen to his leadership role – and is always ready to support, encourage and mentor the more junior team members. Prior to AdvEn, YY founded BitCan Geosciences & Engineering Inc. and has grown it into a world-renowned, independent, integrated technology and service company that specializes in geomechanics.
Leadership Team
Dr. Weixing Chen
Ph.D.
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
As the founder of AdvEn Inc. and co-inventor of the core ASAC and ESAC technologies, Dr. Weixing Chen provides technical leadership in material innovation and process optimization. His role is to steer the team to ensure that ASAC technology and products are positioned to transform the activated carbon industry. An expert on material degradation for oil and gas, as well as petrochemical infrastructure, Weixing is a respected professional in those industries. He brings more than 25 years of experience in material engineering research and development to his role at AdvEn and has been at the forefront of several industrial innovations. He is a tenured professor with the University of Alberta, has published more than 200 technical papers and co-authored two books, and has given more than 100 technical keynote talks and presentations. Weixing holds a Ph.D. in Material Science and Engineering from the University of Manitoba and an M.S. and B.S. in physical metallurgy from the Dalian University of Technology in China.
Michael Steele is a seasoned business leader with expertise in strategy, finance and marketing communications. He has developed global teams (Americas, Europe, Asia and Caribbean), acting as a senior executive, financial advisor and entrepreneur. He has been actively developing and executing strategy and has been growing and financing businesses for more than 20 years. Mike has participated in transactions ranging from under $2 million to more than $750 million, including several structured exits and public offerings. Mike currently volunteers as Director and Treasurer for the Alberta Society of Artists.
R. Michael Steele
CPA, CMA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CORPORATE SECRETARY
Jos Roosen
CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
Jos is a seasoned professional with over 13 years of expertise in Supply Chain Management, Strategic Sourcing, Product Development, and Business Development. His proficiency extends to global networking, business development, and supply chain management, further reinforced by his technical mastery of Activated Carbon. His comprehensive skill set includes specialization in Activated Carbon (Purification Solutions), Bio-Char, Raw Materials, and Agricultural Sustainability, with practical project experience across Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe. As a consultant for AdvEn over the past years, Jos has gained an in-depth understanding of our company, and has made significant contributions to AdvEn’s business development efforts.
With over 30 years in heavy industrial construction, Elval Rogers is a seasoned professional in steel and pipe fabrication, modular construction, and field installation. He played a key role in major projects in Alberta, totaling $400 million across Canada and the U.S. Formerly the Facility Manager at Connect Group Inc., he ensured safety and productivity in structural, mechanical, and piping projects. With 11 years at JV Driver, he rose to Senior Operations Manager, overseeing capital projects for clients like Suncor and Shell. Beyond his career, Mr. Rogers is an Executive Board Member of the Beaumont Ringette Association and is dedicated to volunteer coaching.
Elval Rogers
VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
