Ray Castelli, British Columbia Technology SVP

Ray Castelli is President of Naikun Wind, a Vancouver-based renewable energy company developing the world's largest offshore wind farm off the north coast of British Columbia, Canada.

Prior to returning home to Vancouver in 2006, Ray spent 6 years in Dallas, as Senior Vice President and co-founder of an electronic procurement and supply chain management technology company, initially funded and utilized by the world's 20 largest mining and metals companies.  This company, Quadrem, has grown to become a profitable US $40 million company with more than 50,000 customers in 40 countries.

Ray worked for Alcan, a major Quadrem shareholder, for 6 years prior to joining Quadrem  Ray's responsibilities included being responsible for mergers and acquisitions in New York; strategic planning and global business development in Montreal; and corporate affairs and energy issues in Vancouver.

From 1983 to 1993 Ray was active in Canadian politics and government, serving as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister's Office, Chief of Staff to the Minister of National Defense and Minister of Justice as well as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Ray's other roles in government included Executive Assistant to the Minister of Fisheries, Manager of the Vancouver Ministers Regional office and BC tour coordinator in the Prime Minister's Office.  He also represented the PMO in managing the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Vancouver to open Expo 86.

Born and raised in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Ray is an alumnus of the SFU Business School as well as the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD). He holds both Canadian and European citizenship and speaks 5 languages.