Debbie Scharf
Assistant Deputy Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Debbie Scharf is an Assistant Deputy Minister at Natural Resources Canada, where she is responsible for the Energy Systems Sector.
In her leadership role, Debbie is supporting the Government of Canada in its bid to build a clean energy economy. The Energy Systems Sector is central to these efforts. The sector comprises the Electricity Systems Branch; the Nuclear Energy and Infrastructure Security Branch; and the Energy Policy Branch; as well as the Regional Energy and Resource Tables and the Sustainable Jobs Secretariat – each one a vital contributor to Canada’s clean energy ambitions.
A key element of her Sector’s mandate is to help catalyze Canada’s economic opportunities in the energy transition and drive effective governance for the energy industry through integrated decision-making by the Deputy Minister, the Associate Deputy Minister, and the Minister. Through the Regional Tables, the Energy Systems Sector also plays a leading role in identifying and accelerating regional growth opportunities that build on Canada’s competitive advantages in the global shift to a low-carbon economy.
Prior to her current role, Debbie was the Director General of Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Fuel Branch. She assumed this role in spring 2020 – on the eve of an unprecedented global pandemic – and was tasked with creating the embryonic branch from scratch. During the next two years, under Debbie’s team-driven leadership, the Clean Fuels Branch was integral in delivering several of the government’s pivotal energy initiatives, including the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada, the $1.5-billion Clean Fuels Fund and the implementation of the $750-million Emission Reductions Fund.
Previously, Debbie served as Senior Director, Strategic Energy Policy, and Director, Office of Energy Efficiency, both at Natural Resources Canada. She also held various positions at Environment and Climate Change Canada, where she advanced important work on chemicals management, clean air and the climate change file.
Debbie holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University, and a Master Degree in Resource and Environmental Management from Simon Fraser University.
In her leadership role, Debbie is supporting the Government of Canada in its bid to build a clean energy economy. The Energy Systems Sector is central to these efforts. The sector comprises the Electricity Systems Branch; the Nuclear Energy and Infrastructure Security Branch; and the Energy Policy Branch; as well as the Regional Energy and Resource Tables and the Sustainable Jobs Secretariat – each one a vital contributor to Canada’s clean energy ambitions.
A key element of her Sector’s mandate is to help catalyze Canada’s economic opportunities in the energy transition and drive effective governance for the energy industry through integrated decision-making by the Deputy Minister, the Associate Deputy Minister, and the Minister. Through the Regional Tables, the Energy Systems Sector also plays a leading role in identifying and accelerating regional growth opportunities that build on Canada’s competitive advantages in the global shift to a low-carbon economy.
Prior to her current role, Debbie was the Director General of Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Fuel Branch. She assumed this role in spring 2020 – on the eve of an unprecedented global pandemic – and was tasked with creating the embryonic branch from scratch. During the next two years, under Debbie’s team-driven leadership, the Clean Fuels Branch was integral in delivering several of the government’s pivotal energy initiatives, including the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada, the $1.5-billion Clean Fuels Fund and the implementation of the $750-million Emission Reductions Fund.
Previously, Debbie served as Senior Director, Strategic Energy Policy, and Director, Office of Energy Efficiency, both at Natural Resources Canada. She also held various positions at Environment and Climate Change Canada, where she advanced important work on chemicals management, clean air and the climate change file.
Debbie holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University, and a Master Degree in Resource and Environmental Management from Simon Fraser University.
Speaking At