We believe in using carbon for good

As Chairman and Co-founder of Rain Cage Carbon,  Blair Aiken divides his time between managing the corporation’s strategic activities and directing its extensive R&D capabilities.

He aims to take climate change from the impossible to something we discuss as a distant memory. As a serial entrepreneur and inventor, Blair challenges the usual approach to business and the environment as his focus is on finding new and effective ways to make a positive and lasting impact on energy solutions and society.

Blair has over 35 years of experience focusing on complex technologies. Early in his career, he was recruited for confidential research programs on global energy infrastructure and economic interdependencies and chemical and aerospace reverse engineering projects, where he spent many years gaining unique experience.

His reputation for developing strong, influential relationships and innovative technologies led him to enter private life working with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, and major companies such as ConocoPhillips and Proctor and Gamble, Statoil, etc., and as a contributor to CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies).

Before co-founding Rain Cage Carbon, Blair also co-founded several companies, including Calgary-based Kara Technologies, a cleantech company dedicated to developing the next generation of technology for the economical production of low-emission fuels and petrochemicals.

As the caretaker of all things related to the people of Rain Cage Carbon, Julia Cartwright is responsible for building an inimitable culture that can scale globally while owning the entire Human Capital Management function at Rain Cage Carbon.

Julia has more than 20 years of experience in HR, communications, marketing and  coaching in a variety of corporate, agency and startup environments. She is a true business partner, culture crusader, truth seeker and transparent communicator who loves taking companies and their cultures from early start up to new and exciting heights. In her various HR leadership roles, her brand and expertise lie in the areas of business strategy, process  implementation, leadership development, organizational transformation and creating highly engaged workforces.

Julia holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology and is also an Adler Certified Coach (ACC). With her “business led, HR architected ” business motto, combined with her desire to improve any environment she’s in makes her an asset to the Rain Cage team.

In addition to leading the day-to-day operations, Shay Heron is responsible for developing and implementing sustainable strategies that advance and strengthen Rain Cage Carbon’s brand and ecosystem ensuring that the company’s operations align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. She is an empathetic leader with over 25 years of experience in the technology and financial services sectors holding senior positions in organizations from startups to large financial institutions.

Shay began her career in financial services and moved into the technology sector, focusing on fibre optics, broadband, and eventually oil and gas software. Her background includes critical infrastructure contract and service management, marketing, and leading corporate shared services groups. She brings all of that to her role at Rain Cage Carbon to provide leadership, cohesion, and connectivity between Rain Cage Carbon’s business units.

Shay completed her undergraduate studies in International Business and Graduate Studies in Change Management and is also a ProSci-certified Change Management Practitioner. She strongly believes in social and environmental stewardship and helping companies navigate sustainable regenerative change.

As a Senior Coating and Formulation Scientist at Rain Cage Carbon, Debbie Maguire plays an instrumental role in recognizing and actioning the full potential of engineered carbon.

Debbie’s expertise lies in chemical formulations, research and development, process development and product realization. She has been granted and has patents pending on processes for “superconductor” plating for battery and RF/EMI applications, as well as RepliChrome – an excellent high temperature, high hardness replacement for hexavalent hard chrome plating.

With over 40 years of experience in plating, surface finishing, machining and stamping, Debbie has successfully managed the launch of three plating and surface finishing start-ups, as well as two machining and stamping operations companies, with a primary focus on high volume production of components for the energy, automotive, cellular, medical and defence industries. She has formulated and is the intellectual property owner of processes related to the plating of magnesium and aluminum as well as various electroless nickel formulations.

In her spare time, Debbie Maguire is the Chief Executive Officer of DMAG USA, a HUBZone Certified, woman-owned small business, and a Co-founder of Rain Cage Carbon. She has extensive experience in the implementation of quality management systems, development of sales strategies, large volume manufacturing and assembly, and promoting and demonstrating the company’s products and services.

With a P. Eng and a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics, Dr. Fertman is an accomplished theorist and practical thinker in the field of Engineering, Chemistry and Physics. His 45-year career allows him to independently hold 6 patents in anode and cathode technologies, hydrogen, and others that were directly sold before publication. He has developed and sold 20,000 water batteries to UNICEF and worked with Governments and Power companies in the fields of salt batteries, hydro power, propulsion, clean burning incineration technology, and has worked with hydrogen specifically for 38 years.

Dr. Fertman has developed out of the box solutions such as underwater electrical systems for divers to propel them through the water and extracting oxygen from seawater. He has worked with NASA on battery cathode technology and with companies like Siemens in the 1990s and 2000s. He is involved in multiple green technologies, UAV development, hydrogenation and oil extraction and is the Principal Scientist for Rain Cage Carbon Inc.

Mark brings over 25 years experience in developing, commercializing, and implementing technology solutions on a global scale to his role as Commercial Operations at Rain Cage Carbon.

From building a national $750 million fibre-to-the premise network in Singapore, to implementing stock exchange trading and clearance & settlement systems in emerging markets such as Nigeria, Romania and Egypt, Mark has led organizations through significant growth and change. Mark is a highly collaborative leader bringing deep expertise in business development, product development, operations management, corporate development, and strategic stakeholder relations to his role at Rain Cage.

Mark’s passion for working in organizations with a growth mindset and keen interest in the development and application of new businesses and markets is in perfect alignment with Rain Cage Carbon’s mission of harnessing the power of carbon to create opportunities for a greener future. Mark holds a BSc in Computer Science and an MBA from the Ivey Business School.

Leading our product development and innovation arm of the business, Brian is charged with expanding on Rain Cage Carbon’s suite of exciting renewable products. Brian has collaborated and developed with Blair a variety of innovative and scalable environmental systems over the years to enhance industrial operations AND our planet.

Known as a strong strategic business development leader and executive coach, Brian strives to create a unified vision and belief system, where everyone takes ownership and shares in the success by having each discipline working in concert FOR each other. His strong leadership skills makes him a known quantity as he always positions a company better than he found it with a focus on culture, purpose and growth. Brian is a true impact player.

Brian’s belief is that not only should products perform great and have that WOW factor but they also must have a story that engages all players across the organization, with a reason for being, and also carry an emotive connection with the intended audience. His product and brand development legacy lives on in companies like Tupperware, Little Tikes and Fisher Price, just to name a few. Brian has been honored with a variety of International and Industry Design Awards, exhibited in museums and over 20+ patents to his name and he’s just getting started.

Brian has a Bachelor’s degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Industrial and Product Design. Is a thought leader, speaker, Chaired Design and Engineering related conferences and events and was a board member of the Explore & More Children’s Museum.

Tony Agbonkhese serves as the President & CEO of Africa + Rain Cage (A+RC), the African subsidiary of Rain Cage Carbon (RCC). His primary responsibility is to establish A+RC and deploy RCC’s suite of technologies in Africa. Prior to his role at A+RC, Tony founded and led Nerdia Connect Inc., an international trade and business development firm specializing in facilitating the expansion of foreign companies into Africa and vice versa. His motivation for founding this company is rooted in his passion for fostering Africa’s growth and empowering its youth.

Prior to joining Nerdia Connect, Tony accumulated a wealth of experience through his tenure in diverse industries such as consulting, government, healthcare, electric generation, and electric distribution. During his career, he held various positions in accounting, project management, and operations, showcasing his versatility and adaptability in different sectors. Currently, he serves on the board of The Africa Centre, a non-profit organization committed to promoting access and full participation of the African descent community in Alberta, Canada.

Tony is a graduate of Acadia University’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program. He is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) and holds certifications in Project Management and Asset Management. Additionally, he has earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a specialization in strategic management. With more than 18 years of experience, Tony is regarded as a change agent who consistently strives for excellence.

Justin Hospedales brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Vice President of Africa + Rain Cage (A+RC), a subsidiary of Rain Cage Carbon (RCC). With over 15 years of expertise in client engagement and relationship management at top marketing and financial institutions globally, Justin has a proven track record of driving revenue growth and nurturing long-term partnerships. Prior to his current position, Justin was a founding partner and Chief Business Development Officer at Nerdia Connect Inc., where he played a vital role in promoting bilateral trade and business relations between Canada and Africa.

Passionate about illuminating Africa with sustainable energy solutions, Justin is dedicated to providing Africa with power while reducing the world’s carbon footprint. He firmly believes in the power of collaboration, innovation, and advocacy to achieve a just energy transition and eliminate energy poverty. Leveraging his expertise, market insights, and client engagement skills, Justin is committed to making a positive impact on clients, communities, and the environment.

Justin is an alumnus of Acadia University, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in political science.  Furthermore, he acquired post-graduate certificates from esteemed institutions such as Harvard University, Google, and Mortgage Professionals Canada.

Zion Adeoye is the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer for Africa + Rain Cage (A+RC), a subsidiary of Rain Cage Carbon (RCC). In addition to his role at A+RC, Zion also holds the position of CEO and Partner at CLG. With extensive experience in energy law, Zion has played a key role in securing favorable outcomes for clients across Africa. He has provided strategic advice on various oil and gas investments and has been involved in major transactions that have contributed to the success and growth of his firm. His appointment as CEO in 2024 is a testament to his valuable contributions and dedication to positioning CLG as a leading energy firm in Africa.

Prior to joining CLG in 2017, he held roles at various organizations, including the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited, KPMG Nigeria, Terra Cotta Legal, Olaniwun Ajayi LP, Templars Law, and Transnational Energy Group. Zion has been instrumental in shaping oil and gas legislation across several African markets and has been recognized with an ESQ 40 under 40 Lawyer Award at the Nigerian Rising Stars Awards for his contributions to the legal profession.

Zion holds an LLB from Nigeria’s University of Ibadan, an LLM from Columbia University in New York, and an MBA from the University of Dundee in Scotland. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Association of Independent Petroleum Negotiators.