David B. Fissel

After completing an M. Sc. in physical oceanography at the University of British Columbia in 1975, David worked on contract as a research oceanographer at the Institute of Ocean Sciences of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in Sidney B. C. In 1977, David co-founded ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. (originally Arctic Sciences Ltd.), and has held a number of senior positions in the company as it has grown to become Canada's largest physical oceanographic company with a staff of over 30 scientists and engineers. David has been based in ASL's Sidney BC office except for five years (1986-1991) when he managed ASL's office in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Since starting ASL in 1977, David has managed many oceanographic projects, involving studies of ocean currents, waves, and sea-ice in various parts of all three oceans bordering Canada as well as projects in the United States, Russia, West Africa, Kazakhstan and South America. Most of these projects involved input to the design of offshore oil and gas facilities, port development, or environmental assessment and monitoring for coastal and deepwater developments. David has co-authored 24 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and 40 scientific conference papers as well as many reports. In the late 1990's, he established a successful Product Division within ASL which manufactures oceanographic instruments sold to research labs and universities in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.

David has served on the Board or local executives of several scientific organizations, industry associations and business community groups. He is presently on the Board of Ocean Industries BC, and the Canadian Ocean Glider Foundation and he is a member of the Ocean Networks Canada Centre of Excellence Advisory Committee at the University of Victoria. David is a member of the Science Advisory Council for Fisheries and Oceans Canada and of the Science, Technology and Innovation Council of Canada which reports to the Canadian Minister of Industry.