The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) is governed by an independent Board of Directors, which is comprised of provincial and federal appointees and a Board Chair. The Board Chair is a jointly approved position to which Keith was appointed on August 17, 2015. The Board sets the CNSOPB’s policies and programs through strategic, ethical and transparent lenses in the stewardship and regulation of offshore petroleum resources. The CNSOPB’s primary mandates are safety of offshore workers and protection of the environment.
In addition to their valued contributions to our Board, our Board of Directors are active members in their communities and dedicate their time, resources and expertise to numerous organizations. Our Board Chair, Keith MacLeod, P.Eng, ICD.D., grew up in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and received a Diploma, Technology in Mineral Science from the College of Cape (now Cape Breton University) in 1978. Keith furthered his education by attaining a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Engineering at Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology and then moved to Alberta, where he worked hard to be become successful in the oil and gas industry.
Keith completed the Director Education Program developed by the Institute of Corporate Directors, the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business and the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University in October 2016. He earned the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors in February 2017.
Keith has been active with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (“SPE”) since 1990, having served in a number of roles, including as the Regional Director for Canada on the international board. In 2020, he was presented with the Distinguished Member Award for recognition of distinguished achievement in the field of petroleum engineering and noteworthy service to the SPE.
Keith has always been proud of his Cape Breton roots, enjoys spending summers in Baddeck and has fond memories of his time at Cape Breton University. Eager to give back to the place that gave him so much, Keith was pleased to have been appointed Chair of the Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and Environment at Cape Breton University in 2016.
To further his contributions to his community, Keith and his wife, Gail Matheson, a fellow Islander and Cape Breton University graduate, recently created a Bursary Fund at Cape Breton University. In December 2018, they committed to donate $1 million, over a 10 year period, to fund local students pursuing a university education. This fund is targeted toward students not solely based on academic achievements but on financial need and community leadership.
“We felt it important to support this group of students so they too may be provided with a Cape Breton University degree to help launch their future success,” say Keith and Gail.
We thank Keith for his continued leadership on our Board as well as for his contributions to his community and beyond. For more information on Keith, read his Board biography.