MEET OUR TEAM
Our strength comes from a world-class team of geoscientists and engineers who work together to create and operationalize solutions to complex subsea challenges in the acquisition and interpretation of marine geophysical, geochemical and geotechnical data.
MANAGEMENT
Matthew Kowalczyk, BASc
CEO
Matthew is a mechanical engineering graduate of the University of British Columbia School of Engineering and subsequently studied at Laval University in software engineering. His professional career includes leading a design team for automated vision systems for manufacturing, then successfully founding a company that developed sensor-based ore sorting technology for the mining industry. Since joining OFG in 2014 the company has been continuously active in seafloor minerals exploration projects and has continued to grow through close collaboration with its clients in the development and deployment of new AUV services, as well as specialised sensors and technologies for seafloor mapping and inspection.
Alison Proctor, Ph.D., P.Eng.
COO
Alison is a Mechanical Engineer with internationally recognized experimental research on dynamic modelling and control of underwater vehicles. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and earned her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria.
Alison joined OFG in 2015 as an AUV pilot and control system engineer. She has run many offshore projects for the company including OFG's collaboration with the winning GEBCO-NF Alumni Team in the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE. Prior to joining OFG, she worked at the University of Victoria as Chief Underwater Vehicle Engineer. During her tenure, she was the principal engineer for the Bluefin 12 AUV and designed and implemented various algorithms for the vehicle. Alison is a certified operator of a number of ROVs and AUVs including the Saab-SeaEye Falcon, Bluefin-12, ISE Explorer 3000, WHOI REMUS 6000, OceanServer IVER and the Kongsberg Hugin.
Peter Kowalczyk, P.Geo.
Chief Scientist Emeritus
Peter is a founder of Ocean Floor Geophysics. He has a background in mining geophysics and extensive experience in mineral exploration worldwide. Prior to starting OFG, he was chief geophysicist for Placer Dome, the second largest gold mining company in the world, at that time. Peter has a strong background in electrical, magnetic, and electromagnetic potential field methods used in mineral exploration and in the economic evaluation of mineral deposits. He designed the electromagnetic system OFG built to map the Solwara SMS deposit and subsequently used on multiple SMS exploration cruises in the western Pacific and in Japan.
Peter is an expert in the geophysical response of seafloor mineralization. He has participated in the development of multiple geophysical systems now routinely deployed by OFG on AUV and ROV platforms for commercial survey work. Peter is a registered geophysicist in the BC society of professional engineers and Geoscientists. He graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.Sc. (geophysics) in 1970.
Laurie Bristow, CPA, CA
CFO
Laurie has over twenty years of experience in the subsea industry. In 1996, he joined OceanWorks International (OW) as the Vice-President Finance & Administration. In 2001, Laurie was a member of the management team that completed a management buyout of OW. Since working with OFG, he has helped manage the company’s growth as a member of the leadership team.
Brian Claus, Ph.D., EIT
Sensor Design Team Lead
Brian is an Electrical Engineer and the manager of OFG's sensors team. He has a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (B. Eng.) from the University of Victoria as well as a Masters in Engineering (M.Eng.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Brian's doctoral research focused on energy efficient navigational methods for long range underwater vehicles in surface denied regions.
Before joining OFG in 2017, Brian worked as a post-doctoral scholar at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) where he investigated cooperative acoustic navigation methods using IVER autonomous underwater vehicles with low grade odometry. Also at WHOI, Brian validated a magnetic sensing methodology for use on an autonomous underwater glider and investigated methods for extending the operational region of long duration underwater platforms to below 1000 meters.