Team
Together, our principals bring over 30 years of energy modelling experience to your project, while our team continues to grow and add new areas of expertise to our services. Hover over pictures for more detailed bios of each team member.
Susan is a leader in the field of energy modelling in British Columbia. She is a mechanical engineer and project manager with over 15 years of experience and a passion for sustainability, which has been her career focus. She founded Focal Engineering in 2015.
Her certifications include:
- Professional Engineer (Engineers & Geoscientists BC),
- Fellow (Engineers Canada),
- LEED® Accredited Professional with a Building Design + Construction Specialty (Green Building Certification Inst.),
- Certified Passive House Consultant(Canadian Passive House Inst.), and
- PowerSmart Modeller (BC Hydro).
Susan’s work has included mechanical design, energy modelling, research, and other energy analysis for new construction and existing buildings. Some of her career highlights include presenting at conferences across North America, contributing to several magazine publications, leading the LEED® energy modelling team for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Athlete’s Village, and being the lead mechanical designer for two buildings that won Vancouver Regional Construction Association Excellence awards.
Susan is an avid supporter of diversity in engineering, energy modelling and sustainability initiatives, and volunteers at several organizations, mentioned on our Community page.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-macdougall-399b171
Susan MacDougall, P.Eng., FEC, LEED AP BD+C, CPHC
Principal
Danny is is an Energy Modeller and Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) who has worked with Focal for since 2015, and comes from a background studying Physics and Computer Science at the University of Victoria. He has experience with a variety of energy modeling programs and has attended a course with Passive House Canada with plans to attend more. He is excited to be working in an industry that is a part of shaping our energy future.
He enjoys the Pacific Northwest outdoors and may be spotted running along Dallas Road or around Thetis Lake. He also enjoys tinkering with open-source software and game development.
Danny Taylor, B.Sc., CPHC
Associate
Ruffy has been working in the construction industry for over 15 years across UK and Canada. She is an experienced sustainability consultant, mechanical engineer and energy modeller. Her international variety of work experience has developed her creative and forward-thinking processes of delivering projects and meeting client satisfaction.
Her certifications include:
- Professional Engineer registered in BC,
- CIBSE Chartered Engineer, and
- Certified Passive House Consultant.
Ruffy specializes in delivering high performance buildings, where she combines her energy modelling skills with her knowledge of designing mechanical systems for complex and large-scale projects to offer an integrated design approach in both new and existing buildings across different sectors. Ruffy has a wide range of project experience both in scales and sectors including schools, airport terminal buildings, commercial, institutional buildings and social housing.
Ruffy Ruan, P.Eng., MCIBSE, CPHC
Senior Energy Analyst
Wes recently obtained his Master’s of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Victoria where he also completed his Bachelor’s of Civil Engineering. His graduate studies work focused on building energy simulation, renewable energy systems, negative emissions technologies and sustainability in general. He enjoys learning about anything to do with sustainability and looks forward to learning more about Passive House and natural building techniques.
When not working, Wes enjoys all outdoor activities. He is also an avid HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts, aka. sword fighting) practitioner and hobbyist blacksmith.
Wes Bowley, M.A.Sc., E.I.T.
Energy Modeller
An experienced administrative professional with extensive background spanning more than ten years in Office management and HR acquired through roles with global companies in the Middle East as well as in Winnipeg. Currently, she is honing her skills through a Business Administration program at the University of Victoria, a testament to her commitment to continuous growth and professional development.
As a newcomer to Vancouver Island, Hayzel embraces the opportunity to explore its awe-inspiring natural beauty, all while being a devoted mother and wife who treasures spending quality time with her family.
Hayzel Boado
Office Manager
Riley Beise is an experienced building performance simulator with nearly ten years of experience working as an energy modeling and building energy specialist. In addition to working with common building types, Riley has experience modeling complex specialty building types including healthcare, nuclear research, aquatics, ice arenas, greenhouse, laboratory, food production, and more. In addition to general energy modeling work for performance programs such as LEED, he has experience applying building performance simulation to specific engineering analysis for natural ventilation, CFD (computational fluid dynamics) airflow studies, occupant thermal comfort, and day-lighting. Other non-simulation work includes retrofit studies for existing buildings.
Riley is a passionate advocate for using building performance simulation as a design tool, and currently sits on the IBPSABC (International Building Performance Simulators Association – BC Chapter) executive committee as education co-chair.
Riley's certifications include:
- Professional Engineer (Registered in BC and Alberta)
- Building Energy Modeling Professional (ASHRAE)
- CaGBC Experienced Modeller (Canadian Green Building Council)
- Certified Passive House Designer (Canadian Passive House Inst.) 2017-2021
Riley Beise, P.Eng., BEMP
Principal
Originally from the East Coast, Angie attended university in Victoria and fell in love with Vancouver Island. Having been here well over a decade, she now calls Nanaimo home. She is a mechanical engineer and energy modeller experienced with both traditional and high-performance building mechanical systems. She is passionate about understanding how buildings operate and finding opportunities for energy conservation and carbon emissions reductions. She uses a collaborative approach, understanding that the best solutions are found when all parties share their experience and ideas.
Past projects have included schools, commercial spaces, airport terminals, recreation facilities, community centres and multi-family residential. She has been involved in LEED projects, incentive programs, and Energy Step Code Compliance projects.
Outside of the office, Angie can be found exploring the many trails and beaches of Vancouver Island.
Certifications:
• Professional Engineer registered in BC
Angie Boileau, P.Eng.
Senior Energy Analyst
Kristian recently obtained his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria. He has experience in mechanical building system design as well as solar PV system design. He is interested in all types of energy systems and looks forward to learning about Passive House and other sustainable building solutions.
When not working, Kristian is enjoying life on a farm. He enjoys hiking the local trails and staying active outside. He also plays the guitar and has recently picked up a banjo.
Kristian Storgard, E.I.T.
Energy Modeller
Aaron recently earned his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria. Originally from Alberta, he moved to Victoria with a strong interest in clean energy and sustainability. He has experience with wave energy converters, mechanical systems, and Passive House building principles. Aaron is eager to develop his skills as an energy modeler. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, strumming his guitar at home, or hiking the trails of Vancouver Island.
Aaron Eley, E.I.T.
Energy Modeller
Jennifer has found a home at Focal after a long career in the mapping industry - specializing in LiDAR mapping for the last 15 years in the distribution and transmission utilities sector. She brings along with her a variety of skills including a strong background in project coordination and management. In her new role as Office Administrator at Focal she helps keep us organized but also enjoys continually learning about energy modelling.
When she’s not working you can find her out with the dogs or tackling the never ending home reno projects!
Jennifer Blagborne
Office Administrator