New U.K. Consul General on campus

August 21, 2012

New British Consul General Tony Kay, middle, visits campus. Photo by Jae ImCalgary is the “energy capital” of Canada and the University of Calgary has the unique opportunity to be a national and world leader when it comes to issues and policies on energy. The new United Kingdom Consul General is taking note.

Consul General Tony Kay and his western science and innovation team visited the university last Thursday to learn about its research and tour labs that focus on energy, environment and sustainability.

“The tour was a hugely important and productive visit. The level of ambition and talent at the University of Calgary is staggering,” said Kay. “I want to work closely with President Elizabeth Cannon and her colleagues to ensure the U.K. is hotwired into the university on a range of subjects, including energy, global health and other priority areas.

Calgary provides unparalleled access to corporations and decision-makers comprising most of the country’s $80-billion energy sector.

“We were extremely honoured to have Tony Kay and his team on campus in what I hope will be the first of many future visits,” said Ed McCauley, the university’s vice-president (research). “At the University of Calgary, we are making significant research contributions in every single faculty and are addressing key issues facing the energy sector and society’s demands.”

The British High Commissions’ science and innovation leads, Nicole Arbour and Paolo Marcazzan, accompanied Kay and made more than a dozen stops on campus, visiting researchers in the Haskayne School of Business, School of Public Policy, Schulich School of Engineering and the faculties of environmental design and science.

In a related event Monday co-hosted by the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy and Carbon Management Canada, Marcazzan joined a 12-person trade delegation from the U.K. meeting with university researchers, industry and government to discuss potential collaboration in carbon capture and storage R&D. The event includes a reception hosted by the new Consul General.

“Our team saw much potential for future collaboration. This work will form an increasingly important part of the U.K.'s overall activity in Alberta,” said Kay. “I am excited by what we have seen, particularly the university's pioneering work to enhance the environmental sustainability of the energy industry here in Alberta."

The United Kingdom’s diplomatic network in Canada created the position of a resident Consul General in Calgary after the U.K. government announced last year its Foreign and Commonwealth Office would expand its diplomatic presence. To acknowledge the importance of Alberta and its energy industry, the U.K. Trade and Investment office in Calgary was upgraded to a full Consulate.