Advanced Biofuels Canada Honors Ian Thomson and Doug Hooper

Advanced Biofuels Canada (ABFC) has honored Ian Thomson and Doug Hooper for their two-decade-long contributions to the biofuels industry.

Their journey began in the early 2000s, when they co-founded Canadian Bioenergy Corp., a company that played a key role in the commissioning of Canada’s largest biodiesel refinery in 2013. Ian Thomson, ABFC's founding President, was central to the establishment of the BC Biodiesel Association in 2005 and the Alberta Biodiesel Association in 2006. These two organizations later merged to form the Western Canada Biodiesel Association, which expanded their reach and influence before evolving into a national organization, Advanced Biofuels Canada, in 2015.

Under Thomson’s leadership, the association’s membership and impact expanded year on year to become today’s preeminent Canadian advocate for biofuels from coast to coast. The association’s reach also grew internationally, leading to formal ties with allied associations across North America and Europe. These collaborations, along with partnerships with other Canadian clean fuel sectors and non-governmental organizations, have strengthened the outlook for the full spectrum of low carbon sustainable fuels in Canadian transportation.

Doug Hooper’s role as Director of Policy and Regulation long preceded ABFC’s inception. His leadership across the sector has materially impacted every clean fuel regulation in Canada since 2005, including leading sector efforts to develop and implement the federal Clean Fuel Regulations in 2022 and provincial regulations in British Columbia (2010, 2013), Alberta (2011), Saskatchewan (2012), Manitoba (2009), Ontario (2014), and Quebec (2023). Doug also played a key role in the development of fiscal programs that helped support the expansion of Canada's biofuel production capacity by billions of litres. These included the federal ecoENERGY for Biofuels program, Alberta's Biofuel Production Credit Program, and the recent federal Biofuels Production Incentive.

The lasting impact of Ian and Doug’s work in the advanced biofuels space is difficult to quantify. The seeds they planted over the past 20+ years, beginning in Western Canada, have taken root and are evident throughout Canada and across North America.

ABFC’s influence and impact continue under President Fred Ghatala, who has held that role since January 2025. Ghatala builds on two decades of sector experience during which he was a key contributor to many of the clean fuel regulatory policies and fiscal programs. Colleen Lamothe continues to lead provincial and federal engagement as ABFC Vice President, a role she assumed in October 2024. With the support of its Board of Directors and ABFC’s research, regulatory, and policy staffs, the association remains committed to advancing policies that strengthen low-carbon fuel production, attract investment, and support market growth across Canada.

ABFC members operate over 45 billion litres of low-carbon fuel production capacity globally and are leading suppliers of renewable and low-carbon fuels in Canada and worldwide. The organization’s efforts have positioned it as a key player in the transition to sustainable fuels, contributing significantly to the Canadian biofuels industry’s growth and development.