Debbie Scharf is an Assistant Deputy Minister at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), where she heads the Energy Systems Sector.

In this role, Debbie is helping to lead the Government of Canada’s signature energy initiatives. This includes the Regional Energy and Resource Tables, which are identifying and accelerating opportunities to transform the country’s traditional resource industries and advance emerging ones for a net-zero world.

She also oversees the Electricity Systems Branch, the Nuclear Energy and Infrastructure Security Branch, and the Energy Policy Branch, all of which are integral to the Government’s ambitious climate and economic goals.

In addition to helping to catalyze opportunities in the energy transition, her Sector is mandated to drive governance for the energy enterprise to provide the Deputy Minister, Associate Deputy Minister and Minister with integrated decision-making.

Previously, Debbie served as the first Director General of NRCan’s Clean Fuel Branch, an assignment she started on the eve of the global pandemic. Despite two challenging years, her team-driven leadership delivered on several Government priorities for the clean energy transition, including the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada, the $1.5-billion Clean Fuels Fund, and the $750-million Emission Reductions Fund.

Debbie has also served as Senior Director of Strategic Energy Policy, and Director of the Office of Energy Efficiency. She came to NRCan from Environment and Climate Change Canada, where her files included chemicals management, clean air and climate change.

Debbie holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University, and a master’s degree in resource and environmental Management from Simon Fraser University.