Our leadership team is a dynamic group of strategic thinkers united in the pursuit of a clean energy future.
Amanda Hall is the CEO and Founder of Summit Nanotech. Amanda spent years in the oil and gas industry and identified the opportunity to make a significant impact with clean energy.
She is a graduate from University of Toronto - Trinity College with a BSc Biology major and a double minor in Physics and English. She later graduated from the University of Calgary with a BSc Geophysics and has a passion for the environment.
Amanda is on the Advisory Board for Canadian Energy & Climate Nexus (CECN) and sits on the Board of the Chilean Clean Technology Institute. She is a mentor for Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (CSEG) and contributes to the arts as a member of the Board of Directors for the Calgary Opera.
She is a mother to three daughters and loves getting lost in the mountains.
Gautam has over 30 years of international experience in the mining and critical minerals industries. He has a proven track record of delivering over $31 billion in capital projects managed in nine countries: USA, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Africa, Australia, Canada, Peru and India. He prioritizes operational excellence in all of his projects to ensure they’re delivered on time and within budget. He has achieved multi-year Zero Lost Time or environmental incidents and has been recognized for his award-winning health, environmental, and safety performance by the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
He has successfully bridged the gap between clients, contractors and suppliers to improve technologies’ productivity and lower both capital and operating costs. Working internationally, he is proficient in stakeholder management, social responsibility, and sustainability including the engagement of local communities and regional governments.
Gautam is an electrical engineer, speaks six languages, and is a certified six sigma black belt.
Dr. Jeremy Patt has 20 years of experience in the chemical industry at Fortune 500 companies and venture-backed start-ups. In the last 15 years, he has held global leadership positions in building and advancing research programs, pilot plants, and first-of-kind manufacturing plants. Jeremy has led and developed successful commercialization processes across a broad range of technologies, including high-volume chemical production, catalysis, adsorption, extraction, membranes, solids handling, and water treatment. He earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan and is an inventor on 17 U.S. patents.
After work, Jeremy enjoys chasing his family on bike tracks, ski slopes, ice rinks, hiking trails, and bouldering walls.
Sandro Mazzini has over 30 years of experience in the oil & gas industry. His expertise, both on the technical and commercial sides, includes catalyst research, process technology design, operations and maintenance, technical sales, marketing, and commercialization of existing and new technologies. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Sandro has championed relationship-focused, diagnostic, and value-driven business development in almost every continent. He holds a degree in chemical engineering from Illinois Tech in Chicago, Illinois, and completed certification programs at Harvard Business School and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Outside of work, Sandro practices traditional Japanese ju-jitsu, enjoys scuba diving, cycling, volunteering with both the American Red Cross and Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR), and mentoring students and recent graduates of Illinois Tech and with American Corporate Partners (ACP).
Dr. Cristóbal De La Maza has 20 years of experience in environmental economics, public policy and building sustainable programs for private and public institutions. Taking a science-based approach, he’s established green and decarbonization strategies, environmental tax and emission trading schemes, acted as technical advisor to various councils, and informed Chilean environmental enforcement and compliance policies. Cristóbal earned a PhD in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. His past roles were serving the Chilean Ministry for the Environment, Chilean Ministry of Energy, and the Minister for the Environment. Dr. De La Maza is a Research Professor at San Sebastian University in Machine Learning and Corporate Sustainability, and Teaching Professor role at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in Environmental Economics and Policy.
In his personal time, Cristóbal enjoys wandering in nature and spending quality time with his wife and three children.
Dr. Katerina Kryst is the Vice President of Engineering at Summit Nanotech. She is a licensed chemical engineer with a passion for developing technical solutions to environmental challenges.
She graduated with a BESc in Chemical Engineering from Western University in London, Ontario, where she also pursued a PhD in Chemical Engineering. Prior to Summit Nanotech, Katerina was at Koch Separation Solutions in their Technology Development group managing a suite of development projects that guide commercial industrial equipment design, overseeing lab bench testing, pilot plants, demo units for projects such as direct lithium extraction, and coordinating cross-departmental strategies to optimize in-field issues with no disruption time.
In her spare time, Katerina likes to spend time with her family travelling, camping, cooking and taking care of the vegetable garden.
Adam Le Dain has worked in the energy sector for 8 years including investment banking and private equity roles with a focus on energy transition technologies and technology enhanced assets. During this time, he has gained experience in financial, strategic, investment and business development initiatives with start-ups and mature companies.
Adam has a Bachelor of Commerce degree with distinction from Queen’s University and is a CFA Charter holder. Adam is passionate about advancing global energy development using the most efficient, effective and scalable solutions available.
Starting her career in Europe and West Africa, Melanie worked in the industrial sector as a junior chemical engineer.
In 2008, she moved into the modular water and wastewater treatment industry holding various operational, sales and leadership roles.
After her MBA and a role as CEO in a water technology start-up, she started a consulting company in early 2022. Melanie joined Summit Nanotech as Executive Advisor of Commercialization where she focuses on market intelligence, revenue generation and developing the company's global commercialization strategy.
Jacob Grzywacz has worked in the mining and power generation industries for 13 years, gaining experience in operations, maintenance, project management, and organizational transformations. As a seasoned VP of Operations, he is passionate about advancing organizational growth through highly collaborative relationships.
In addition to Summit, he is also involved in coaching business leaders and developing real estate.
Outside of the office, Jacob enjoys searching for new adventures with his three children, writing, and mountaineering.
Dr. Houston Brown is a registered patent agent (CA and US), a patented inventor, and a published researcher. He’s won numerous intellectual property awards and is an active contributor to the profession through his work with Canada’s College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents.
Before joining Summit as VP Intellectual Property, Houston practiced at a top-ranked international law firm and then went in-house with a leading global technology provider to deepen his knowledge of the business side of intellectual property.
Houston found his cleantech calling during a post-doctoral fellowship with the US Department of Energy. He also gained first-hand experience of the power that comes from combining interdisciplinary teams, compelling scientific breakthroughs, and sound engineering practices. He’s privileged to have found the same at Summit, and he’s proud to be part of a world-changing cleantech venture.
Outside of work, Houston loves spending time outdoors – the more remote, the better. Wilderness canoeing, back-country hiking, and long-distance cycle touring are at the top of his list.
Summit Nanotech develops technology that will help all of us enjoy a clean future.