Emily Smejkal

Emily Smejkal (she/hers/her) is a Research Fellow on the Ultradeep Geothermal program and the Policy Lead for Cascade Institute’s Geothermal Energy Office (CI-GEO). She leverages geologic data to guide Canadian geothermal regulations and policy. 

Emily is a professional geologist who spent the first ten years of her career working in the Oil and Gas sector. Her work was primarily in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, where she specialized in heavy oil deposits, water floods, well integrity, and geochemistry. 

Over the past three years, Emily transferred her subsurface expertise to geothermal energy development. She has contributed to projects involving subsurface characterizations for geothermal exploration and development, reservoir analysis for carbon sequestration, and regulatory evaluations and recommendations. Her current research focus is on utilizing subsurface science to develop Canadian geothermal policy. She is also currently serving as Vice President of Geothermal Canada, a technical society focused on advancing geothermal technologies in Canada. There she hosts a series of webinars aimed at sharing geothermal knowledge and technological advances.  

Emily lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband and three children. She enjoys nature and is often found hunting for unique rocks and fossils.