Abhishek Dave
Director of Power Markets & Origination
Give us a brief overview of your role.
I lead the Power Markets Division at GSI. Our main goal is to provide highly strategic, actionable insights for our development team so they can successfully secure projects across various markets in the US and Canada. My role also involves securing offtake for our projects, interacting closely with policymakers, and engaging with corporations looking to purchase power or environmental attributes. I’ve been with GSI for five years now, and because the landscape is constantly evolving, there is always an exciting new challenge to dive into.
What is the most memorable moment you have had working for GSI?
Without a doubt, it’s the incredible team culture we’ve built here. Our social events are always a highlight because it’s wonderful to get everyone under one roof. A specific favorite of mine was our “GSI Olympics” team-building event at our Waterloo office last year, where we all faced off in ping pong, Nintendo, and various other games. Beyond the social side, it is incredibly memorable whenever the team hits a major milestone, like recently securing financing for the Turning Sun project. Seeing everyone’s hard work culminate in a massive win like that is an amazing feeling.
What led you to a career in energy policy and market analysis and what have you found rewarding from working in the renewables sector?
When I was finishing my engineering degree, I knew I wanted a career where I could look back in 30 years and know I truly made the world a better place. At the time, renewable energy was still very new as an industry. One afternoon, I watched the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”, and it clicked for me, this was a generation-defining challenge that I wanted to dedicate my career to solving. That drove me to pursue my master’s degree and eventually build my career in this space.
What I find most rewarding is seeing the entire lifecycle of a project come to life. One of GSI’s core values is ensuring our projects benefit all stakeholders, including Indigenous groups, lending partners, municipal counties, local contractors, and landowners. Seeing a project transition from an idea to a fully energized facility that is actively reducing carbon emissions provides a direct, tangible impact that is profoundly fulfilling.
Tell us one interesting fact about yourself that your colleagues might not know.
If it’s a sunny day in Toronto, I’m often out playing tennis on the Lakeshore courts. Tennis has become one of my favorite ways to unwind, stay active, and disconnect after a busy day.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
Lately, I’ve really focused on prioritizing quality time with my friends and family. Living in Toronto gives us so many great ways to stay busy and active, whether we’re exploring the city’s parks, checking out art museums, or taking weekend trips together, like a recent getaway to Ottawa for the Tulip Festival. When I’m at home, I love cooking fresh, healthy meals and assembling nutritious bowls with my girlfriend. I always try to stay moving, so if I’m not out with friends or in the kitchen, I’m usually going for a jog, hitting the gym, or heading down to the Lakeshore courts for a game of tennis.
What is one thing you’d like to cross off your bucket list?
I would love to take an extended period off to go on a massive family tour, visiting all my cousins and their families across different places, spending a few dedicated days with each of them, and just enjoying uninterrupted family time together.
Rapid Fire Favorites
- Movie: Newton (starring Rajkumar Rao)
- Tv Show: The Righteous Gemstones
- Book: The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
- Musician/Band: Bruce Springsteen (and The Bleachers!)
- Restaurant (City): Vatan (New York City)
- Food: Authentic Gujarati food, specifically the mango juice
- Sports Team: Toronto Blue Jays & Toronto Raptors
- City/Region: Florence, Italy