Jeff Kucharski is a strategic thinker, policy-relevant researcher and international business facilitator. Kucharski has expertise in policy development (especially in the energy area and including energy security, energy transitions and the geopolitics of energy), international business, international relations, energy regulatory affairs and project management.
Kucharski possesses strong communications and interpersonal skills, and industry knowledge gained from diverse business and public sector experience in a variety of senior positions in both Canada and internationally. He has significant experience at the executive level and with all levels of government and industry.
Kucharski has testified before several of Canada’s parliamentary committees on energy and geopolitical issues and published peer-reviewed research in several international journals and with various academic institutions.
Experience
Over the course of a broad and diverse public service career, Kucharski has held roles responsible for international business and trade development, policy development, strategic planning, strategic partnership building, national and international government relations, energy regulatory affairs and project management.
Kucharski spent almost half his working career in Japan in various roles, including with the Seibu Group, as the Government of Alberta’s trade representative in Tokyo and as Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Nagoya.
Before leaving the public service, Kucharski was as assistant deputy minister for the Government of Alberta Department of Energy, responsible for international energy policy and strategy.
Memberships and Committees
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Senior Fellow, Macdonald-Laurier Institute
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Fellow, Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Member, Canadian International Council
Education
2016
Doctor of Energy Science
Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Japan
2001
Master of Business Administration
University of Alberta
1981
Bachelor of Commerce
University of Alberta
Research
Research interest
International trade
Energy policy and energy security
Geopolitics of energy
Publications
Doctoral Thesis
Kucharski, Jeffrey, Energy security in Japan in the context of a planned energy system transition. Kyoto University, Graduate School of Energy Science. October, 2016.
J. Kucharski and H. Exner-Pirot, “Canada’s role in global energy security: practical considerations for a low-carbon transition”, Canadian Foreign Policy Journal, 2022.Doi: 10.1080/11926422.2022.2122524
Kucharski, Jeffrey, “Canada’s strategic energy resources: Why prioritizing the Indo-Pacific will benefit Canada and our allies,” MacDonald-Laurier Institute, Apr. 2020 [Online]. Available: https://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/leveraging-canadas-strategic-energy-resources-indo-pacific-new-mli-report/.
Kucharski, Jeffrey, “Japan, FOIP and the geopolitics of energy in the Indo-Pacific,” in School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Jul. 2020 [Online]. Available: https://sppga.ubc.ca/news/japans-leadership-in-the-liberal-international-order-impact-and-policy-opportunities-for-partners/.
Kucharski, Jeffrey, and Hironobu Unesaki, “An Institutional Analysis of the Japanese Energy Transition”, Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, Volume 29, Dec. 2018. Doi: 10.1016/j.eist.2018.07.004
Kucharski, Jeffrey, “Energy, Trade and Geopolitics in Asia: The Implications for Canada”, SPP Briefing Paper, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, vol. 11/19, July 2018. doi: 10.11575/sppp.v11i0.52699
Kucharski, Jeffrey, and Hironobu Unesaki, “Japan’s 2014 Strategic Energy Plan: A Planned Energy System Transition”, Journal of Energy, vol. 2017, Article ID 4107614, 13 pages, 2017. doi:10.1155/2017/4107614
Kucharski, Jeffrey, and Hironobu Unesaki, 2015. “A Policy-Oriented Approach to Energy Security.” Elsevier Procedia (Environmental Sciences) 28: 27–36. doi:doi:10.1016/j.proenv.2015.07.005. (Chapter 3).
Kucharski, Jeffrey, and Hironobu Unesaki, 2016. “Energy Security and Sustainability in Japan.” International Journal of Sustainable Future for Human Security (J-SustaiN) 4 (1). http://www.j-sustain.com/. (Chapter 4.3).
Jeffrey Kucharski and others. “Fuelling the Indo-Pacific - How hydrogen power could help safeguard energy security in the region”. Ottawa, February 25, 2022. Webinar. Available: https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/webinar-panel-video-fuelling-the-indo-pacific-how-hydrogen-power-could-help-safeguard-energy-security-in-the-region/.
Jeffrey Kucharski, “Canada-Japan Trade and Foreign Relations- Emerging Opportunities in a Post-COVID Era”, Canadian International Council – Foreign Policy by Canadians, December 8, 2020. (presentation)
Jeffrey Kucharski, “Trade, Security and the China Seas: Japan’s Strategic Approach to Energy Security”, Japan Studies Association Conference, October 16-18, 2016, UBC Campus, Vancouver, BC. (presentation)
Jeffrey Kucharski and Hironobu Unesaki, “Energy security and sustainability in Japan”, 6th International Conference on Sustainable Future for Human Security (SustaiN 2015), (November 17-19, 2015), Bali, Indonesia. (presentation)
Jeffrey Kucharski and Hironobu Unesaki, “A Policy-Oriented Approach to Energy Security”, 5th International Conference on Sustainable Future for Human Security (SustaiN 2014), (November 19-21, 2014), Bali, Indonesia. (presentation)
Jeffrey Kucharski, Navaporn Kaerkitcha, Taichi Iwai, Takashi Sagawa and Kei-ichi N. Ishihara, “Utility-scale energy storage to support increased variable renewables in Japan by 2030”, The 6th International Symposium of Advanced Energy Science, Kyoto, Japan (September 30-October 1, 2014). (poster)
Jeffrey Kucharski, “Chinese Investment in the Energy Sector in Alberta”, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, DC, 2012 (presentation).
J. Kucharski, “Ottawa looks on as China buys Canadian lithium operations,” Macdonald-Laurier Institute Inside Policy Magazine, Mar. 2022 [Online]. Available: https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/inside-policy-freedom-vs-security-finding-the-balance-between-the-right-to-protest-and-the-rule-of-law/.
J. Kucharski and H. Exner-Pirot, “Global energy security and the growing demand for critical minerals,” Macdonald-Laurier Institute Straight Talk, p. 12, Mar. 2022. https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220307_Kucharski_Exner-Pirot_STRAIGHT_TALK_FWeb.pdf
Kucharski, Jeffrey, “The evolution of energy security in the Indo-Pacific: Why is it important for Canada?,” Macdonald-Laurier Institute Commentary, p. 10, Feb. 2022.
J. Kucharski, “What should we make of COP26 and its commitments? Jeff Kucharski for Inside Policy,” Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Nov. 10, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/make-cop26-commitments-jeff-kucharski-inside-policy/.
J. Kucharski, “The cancellation of Keystone XL raises the stakes for Trans Mountain: Jeff Kucharski in the Globe and Mail,” Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Jan. 29, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/cancellation-keystone-xl-raises-stakes/.
J. Kucharski, “Line 5 and Colonial reveal much about politicians and pipelines: Jeff Kucharski for Inside Policy,” Macdonald-Laurier Institute, May 18, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/politicians-pipelines-line-5/.
J. Kucharski, “It’s time to leverage Canada’s strategic energy resources internationally,” Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Mar. 18, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/going-beyond-domestic-disruption-leveraging-canadas-strategic-energy-resources-internationally-jeff-kucharski-financial-post/.
J. Kucharski, “Canada should forget about Keystone XL and look beyond the U.S.,” Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Jun. 05, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/keystone-xl-look-beyond-u-s/.
Jeff Kucharski, “Middle East tensions reveal value of Canadian energy in Indo-Pacific”, MacDonald-Laurier Institute, October 2, 2019. https://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/middle-east-tensions-show-canadas-future-economic-stake-indo-pacific-jeff-kucharski-inside-policy/
Jeffrey Kucharski, “Canada and Japan - Trade and Security Partners in the Indo-Pacific”, presentation to the Canadian International Council, Victoria, BC, June 27, 2019.
Jeffrey Kucharski, “Canada and China: Now, Never or Later?”, presentation to the Canadian International Council, November 6, 2018.
Jeffrey Kucharski, “Canada's 'Energy Insecurity' and Asia”, Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada, Canada-Asia Agenda, April 15, 2014. https://www.asiapacific.ca/canada-asia-agenda/canadas-energy-insecurity-and-asia
