Denis Hains

Denis Hains, D.H.C., is the Founder, President, and CEO of H2i (Hains HYDROSPATIAL international inc.). He is a member of The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Strategic Advisory Group and represents the United States and Canada Hydrographic Commission on the International Hydrographic Review Board of the International Hydrographic Organization.

Mr. Hains is a guest professor at the Université Laval, Québec, and an Affiliate Research Scientist at the University of New Hampshire’s Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping. He is also the Senior Special Advisor to the Canadian Ocean Mapping Research and Education Network, and a member of the Hydrographic Panel Accreditation Scheme for the International Hydrographic Federation Society.

Mr. Hains is a former Hydrographer General of Canada and Director General of the Canadian Hydrographic Service, and he brings a 35-year public service career marked by high-impact leadership and collaboration across government, industry, academia, and international organizations. He spent 20 years with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and 15 years with Natural Resources Canada, where he led the Canadian Geodetic Survey as Executive Director. His leadership was recognized with the 2025 Québec Land Surveyors President’s Award and the 2024 Sam Masry Award of Excellence.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Geodetic Sciences (Land Surveying- 1983) and an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) in Geomatics Sciences (2025) from Université Laval.

---