Certus Team

David G. Gould - LL.B., Q.C., C.Med.

David is a recognized leader in the design and implementation of conflict management and dispute resolution systems and processes including mediation, arbitration and med/arb. David leads the Certus team of process experts to integrate these approaches with crisis communication theory and today's regulatory and legal requirements to consult and engage publics, stakeholders and impacted communities.

Former chairman of the Global Negotiation Insight Institute (GNII), David helps people and organizations have difficult conversations and reach better decisions about what matters most for our communities, environment and economic future.

David has worked extensively with industry, energy regulators, government agencies, community and industry stakeholder groups, Aboriginal communities and numerous companies in the transmission, mining and oil and gas sectors across North America.

Timothy J. Robillard - B.A., LL.M. (ADR), C. Med.

Tim has extensive experience in Canada and the United States coaching negotiations and facilitating and mediating complex and multi-party disputes. He plays a pivotal leadership role with clients who seek assistance with their public and industry consultation and regulatory compliance.

Tim’s experience as a mediator with industry-to-industry and landowner disputes has helped settle issues relating to coal mines, organic farming, siting telecommunications infrastructure and high profile sour gas processing plants and infrastructure. Tim’s expertise in Appropriate Dispute Resolution has helped build the Certus “Get Ahead and Stay Ahead of Conflict” processes.

Barbara A. Samuels - B.Sc., M.Ed., Ph.D.

Barb’s work with Certus involves assisting industry and government organizations to have difficult yet meaningful conversations with their stakeholders. Her background is in planning, policy and program development, information architecture and large-scale national and local public consultations, facilitated dialogues and workshops.

Barb is considered an organizational change agent and has designed many innovative processes and tools for consultations, negotiations and mediations including using the principles of effective information architecture in the preparation of materials to encourage well-informed dialogue.

Barb has assisted companies, organizations, governments and energy regulators have difficult conversations about government debt and deficit policy, health system restructuring, oil sands environmental impacts, drilling issues related to sensitive lakes, streams and aquifers, multi-jurisdictional spills and reclamation issues, effective citizen engagement, cultural diversity and religion in education.

Steven A. Shapiro - Esq.

Steve has nearly 30 years of experience working in the areas of public consultation, mediation, facilitation and designing conflict management systems for complex, multi-party situations. Steve is considered one of the premiere mediators and arbitrators in the energy, environmental and commercial fields. He serves on the energy rosters of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution and the American Arbitration Association. He also acts as a neutral for regional transmission organizations and independent system operators.

Steve was one of the first Alternative Dispute Resolution specialists and mediators for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and previously served as Assistant General Counsel with Continental Telephone Corp., a Fortune 200 firm. He publishes and speaks on the subject of energy law and dispute resolution and was Chair of the Energy Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.

Keith L. Seat - Esq.

Keith has over 25 years of legal experience working at senior levels in corporate, government and law firm environments addressing telecommunications, energy, public policy and other complex issues. He is a mediator, facilitator and arbitrator with a strong telecommunications and technology background and extensive experience resolving commercial disputes. Keith formerly served as General Counsel of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee’s Antitrust, Business Rights and Competition Subcommittee, where he played a significant role in the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and was senior in-house counsel at a major telecommunications firm.

Keith is an adjunct law school professor of Alternative Dispute Resolution, trains and speaks on mediation and is a distinguished fellow of the International Academy of Mediators.

Bill Remmer - P. Eng.

Bill is a professional engineer, certified mediator, facilitator, negotiator and arbitrator with over 31 years experience with the Alberta Energy and Resources Conservation Board (ERCB). He has held numerous senior level ERCB management positions and was an acting Board member who has chaired or been a panel member for over 100 ERCB hearings on a wide range of public and industry issues. He was responsible for creating the ERCB’s Appropriate Dispute Resolution program for conflicts between landowners and oil and gas companies.

Marjorie K. Conner - Esq.

Marjorie is the Project Director for Certus' US office and has practiced telecommunications law for over 20 years, focusing primarily on negotiating and documenting transactions involving communications properties, goods or services and counseling clients on Internet user policies, as well as broadband issues. Marjorie has facilitated cooperative participation in FCC rulemaking proceedings involving, among other things, pole attachment rules and related litigation. She is adept at bringing consensus from contentious participants.

Marjorie has participated in mediation as a mediator or party-representative for over ten years. She trained with the Project on Negotiation at Harvard Law School and Northern Virginia Mediation Service. Marjorie speaks on telecommunications matters, most recently participating on a panel on the opportunities and concerns presented by the FCC’s Open Internet proceedings at the Women in Film and Video’s Executive Breakfast.

Kristin Hansen

Kristin’s history within the energy industry is a great asset for Certus clients. She brings her experience and attention to detail to her role as project manager responsible for overseeing project details for our clients. Kristin brings to Certus over 15 years experience in the day-to-day management, coordination and orchestration of project scheduling, tracking, documenting, preparing energy application and audit materials and organization and staging meetings and large-scale events. Kristin’s training in conflict resolution helps enable Certus clients to better manage the outrage that can occur during the outreach of controversial projects.

Leanne Pinksen - B.Comm, B.A.

Leanne has been providing leadership in information design and project management to the energy industry across Western Canada for several years. Her portfolio includes the design of documents and application of information architecture principles to improve our client’s abilities to communicate technical project information to stakeholders. Her background in corporate communications and marketing brings a creative proficiency that offers different strategies to complex projects.

Elan Comegys-Brisbane

Based in the Washington office, Elan brings five years of research and administrative expertise to the Certus team. Her education and experience allow her to effectively implement a broad range of projects on behalf of Certus’ clients. Elan graduated from American University with a degree in Public Communications.