Rod Lever

Export Development Canada (EDC) wanted to support the cleantech industry but knew it needed to modify its approach to risk in the sector. Partnering with SDTC and adapting venture lending approaches, Rod helped stretch EDC’s ability to consider cleantech companies, building a team at EDC that went from zero in 2011 to supporting 157 different transactions by the time of his departure a year ago, without suffering losses. These included helping Canadian cleantech leaders such as Ostara, Endurance Wind Power and Nexterra land major contracts in Europe and elsewhere. Now at Cowater, Rod is providing opportunities to Canadian cleantech companies to participate in major international development projects.