Mr. Abes is Senior Vice President, Canadian Operations of CC Technologies. He has twenty-four years of experience in the oil and gas pipeline industry, specializing in the areas of pipeline safety and pipeline integrity.

Mr. Abes worked at the National Energy Board of Canada for sixteen years, during which time his responsibilities included the development of standards and regulations, compliance monitoring and enforcement and accident investigations. He was part of the project team for the NEB Public Inquiry into Stress Corrosion Cracking on Pipelines, and was the project manager responsible for the implementation of the recommendations arising from the Inquiry.

In 1999, Mr. Abes entered private practice, providing a broad spectrum of services to the pipeline industry including the development and implementation of programs for regulatory compliance, quality control, pressure testing, integrity management, safety, emergency response and incident investigations, as well as integrated management systems.

Before joining CC Technologies, Mr. Abes was Vice President of Technology & Operations at the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, where he was responsible for promoting and facilitating improved industry performance in the areas of public safety, pipeline integrity and environmental stewardship; representing the interests of the pipeline industry before governments, regulators and other stakeholders; and facilitating the resolution of operational issues affecting the pipeline industry.

Since 1983, he has chaired or been a member of numerous CSA (Canadian Standards Association) Committees for the development of the national pipeline code for Canada (CSA Z662 Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems). He currently sits on the CSA Strategic Steering Committee for Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry Systems and on the CSA Z662 Technical Committee, of which he is the past Chair. In 2003, Mr. Abes received the CSA Award of Merit for his commitment, expertise and leadership in the development and advancement of standards for the oil and gas pipeline industry.

Since 2001, Mr. Abes has been a co-Chair of the International Pipeline Conference (IPC) Organizing Committee, which has developed into the premier conference on pipeline technology.