Jason Casselman
Jason is an Agronomy Specialist with the Canola Council of Canada. He has extension responsibilities covering the Peace Region of Alberta and British Columbia and is the team lead on Precision Ag, Plant Establishment and Profitability. Jason and his wife Lora farm in Grovedale, Alberta and reside in the County of Grande Prairie.
His previous experience was a Senior Agronomist with Richardson Pioneer in Fairview and Territory Account Manager for Monsanto and Bayer Crop Science in the Peace.
Jackie Forrest
Executive Director of ARC Energy Research Institute, Managing Director of ARC Financial Corp., Jackie actively monitors emerging strategic trends related to energy. She is an author and sought after public speaker with over 25 years of experience in the energy industry. She is the co-host of the ARC Energy Ideas podcast, a weekly show that explains the latest trends and news in Canadian energy and beyond.
Jackie is a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA). She is a former board member of Longshore Resources Ltd. and the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (EPAC).
Prior to joining ARC, she was the leader of North American crude oil research for IHS CERA (now S&P Global). Jackie has published 20 public papers on energy issues. She has co-hosted over 200 podcasts and written numerous columns in national publications, spanning all energy systems from oil and gas to clean energy, including electric vehicles, renewable power, and biofuels.
Jackie was the recipient of the 2022 Schulich School of Engineering Canadian Engineering Leadership Award. The award recognizes pioneers of progress in engineering for their achievements, leadership, generosity in sharing their experiences & role model qualities. She is currently a member of the Schulich Industry Advisory Council (SIAC), the group provides input to the engineering school to help to ensure that programs and initiatives align with industry needs. She is also a Special Advisor to the Business Council of Alberta.
Jackie attended the University of Calgary where she received an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering. She also has an MBA from Queens University.
Ken Gordon
As Vice President, Operations, Ken Gordon is responsible for providing oversight and leadership for Trans Mountain’s operations teams, and for the safe and reliable operation of its pipeline system.
He has over 17 years of experience in the energy industry, including the upstream, downstream, and service sectors. He held multiple progressive leadership roles at Imperial Oil Ltd. in engineering, corporate planning, and pipeline integrity management. Most recently, Ken was Director of Operations at TC Energy, leading large field operations teams in TC’s gas pipeline systems.
Ken holds engineering degrees from Western University and the University of Calgary, as well as an MBA from the University of Calgary. He is a registered professional engineer in the province of Alberta.
Rachelle Himer
Rachelle Himer is a long-time resident of Grande Prairie and recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit of the Peace Region. In her 27 years of providing insurance to the community, she has supported business in the region’s strong economic generators that contribute significantly to Grande Prairie and the Peace Region’s vibrant ‘open-for-business’ economy. Rachelle enjoys working and living in the resource-rich landscape which is Northern Alberta. When not with family or in the outdoors, she can be found in the gym coaching high school and club volleyball.
Session Description:
Triggered by the Extreme-the Protection Provided by Parametric Insurance”
Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and severity resulting in catastrophic events that create economic impact to public entities and businesses. In order to recover from a catastrophic event, one must act quickly. The funding strategies provided by Parametric Insurance provides an adaptable resource to respond to potential disasters caused by the unpredictability of Mother Nature.
Waneek Horn-Miller
Waneek Horn-Miller has always lived for what she believes. From fighting for Indigenous rights to her iconic cover in TIME magazine as the first Mohawk woman to compete in the Olympics, she’s persevered through it all with resilience and strength. After a near-fatal stabbing by a Canadian soldier during the Oka Crisis, she almost gave up her dreams in sports. But for Waneek, “being someone’s victim was not an option.” Ten years to the day of the stabbing, she led her team into the Olympics as co-captain. She took control of her story — and now inspires others to do the same. An incredible storyteller, Waneek shares her hopeful insight on reconciliation, community, mental health, and social harmony to spark a drive in every listener.
“You want to know about resilience and strength and never giving up? You just ask Indigenous people. We are tough. I wanted to show the world that. And I think I did at the Olympics.”
Session Description:
Indigenous Reconciliation-Finding Common Ground Through Dialogue
While working for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Waneek Horn-Miller knew process was just as important as results. The inquiry sought to expose the underlying causes of violence in this country — and make recommendations to eliminate them — in a timely, organized fashion. But this had to be balanced with the emotional needs of participants — their deep need to be heard, validated, and humanized. In other words, it needed to grant victims, and their families, the opportunity to heal.
In this keynote, Horn-Miller unpacks the hard but necessary work ahead of us if we want to escape our history of conflict and move to a place of shared understanding. If we embrace the true spirit of reconciliation, we need to make it a way of life — a cornerstone of how we proceed as a multicultural society — and not just a destination. To Horn-Miller, this takes listening, and dialogue; it means extending empathy to those with different outlooks, and not shying away from debate; it means solutions-based thinking rooted in our shared aspirations. But if we can do this, we can do something unique in this country. And we can embrace what reconciliation is all about — a way of addressing wrongs, living in harmony, and healing for those who need it most.
Shawn Kanungo
As a globally recognized innovation strategist and bestselling author, Shawn Kanungo works at the intersection of creativity, business, and technology. He spent 12 years at Deloitte working closely with leaders to help them better plan for the opportunities associated with disruptive innovation. In his high energy keynotes, Kanungo draws on his extensive experience to provide audiences with an optimistic roadmap for the future; one that embraces unexpected approaches to innovation to remain competitive and relevant.
Since leaving Deloitte, Kanungo has worked with hundreds of organizations on their journey to digital transformation. He’s led complex projects incorporating artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, behavioural economics, Web3, and more. Today, Kanungo is a Partner with Queen & Rook, where he advises leading organizations and executives on disruptive trends and invests in early-stage ventures.
Kanungo is the first innovation expert to have a streaming special, released on Apple TV and Prime Video in August 2023. It complements and shares the name of his bestselling debut book, The Bold Ones, a playbook for individuals to become bolder and push their careers and organizations forward. It has been touted as one of McKinsey’s top decision-making books for leaders. Kanungo’s work has also been featured in the Globe and Mail, The Guardian, CBC, and CTV.
A prolific content creator, Kanungo’s content on innovation has garnered millions of views across LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. He’s been recognized by Edify magazine as one of their “Top 40 Under 40” and was called the “best virtual keynote speaker I’ve ever seen” by Forbes in 2021.
Shawn Kanungo’s The Bold Ones talk and his insights on AI, deeply intertwine with the future of workforce development, particularly in fostering a mindset of innovation and adaptability. In this talk for Growing The North, Shawn emphasizes the need to embrace disruption and the rapid changes brought by Generative AI and rising expectations Here’s how these themes connect to workforce development:
1. Shift from Knowledge Workers to Value Creators: Today, Shawn believes that most powerful people within the workforce are no longer knowledge workers, but value creators. This idea applies to workforce development by encouraging employees to embrace change, disrupt traditional roles, and continually evolve their skills. By leveraging AI tools, workers can handle more complex tasks efficiently, increasing overall productivity. This necessitates workforce training to effectively use these tools.
2. AI as a Tool for Empowerment: Shawn stresses that AI, specifically generative AI, will democratize action and enable anyone to access powerful tools, making it easier for people to innovate. He highlights that AI will empower everyone within their organizations, especially in the North, to “way more with with less” – given that the North has always been plagued by talent shortages. Everyone will need to be upskilled to AI to enhance productivity, creativity, and decision-making – whether you are in trades or knowledge work.
3. Nurturing Flexibility and Experimentation: Workforce development in the AI age demands nimbleness and flexibility. He argues against rigid playbooks and for a culture of experimentation through “Universal Play Income”. Encouraging teams to be bold, ask questions, and play —even if they fail—will be critical for organizations and individuals to remain relevant as AI continues to evolve.
4. Balancing Technology with Humanity: While technology aims to make processes frictionless, Shawn argues for the value of ‘friction’—creating meaningful, memorable experiences. Workforce development should, therefore, focus not only on technical skills but also on emotional intelligence, empathy, and interpersonal skills.
5. Leadership and Organizational Change: Leaders and organizations must be willing to disrupt themselves, unlearn outdated practices, and foster a culture of innovation. This approach is vital for workforce development as it prepares the organization and its employees for future challenges.
By integrating these ideas, organizations can prepare their workforce not only to adapt to AI but to lead in a bold future. Skills like innovation, AI upskilling and embracing bold, experimental approaches are critical for this transformation.
Sagar Kancharla
As Director of Energy Transition Advisory and Investments at WSP, Sagar is involved with advising organizations to navigate the energy transition to low-carbon technologies. In particular, evaluating opportunities, enabling strategic decisions, and guiding successful executions. He is an accomplished leader in the energy sector with ~25 years of experience having worked with an energy company, an energy regulator and now with an energy consultancy.
He has extensive experience in policy reviews, business strategies, market analysis and investment reviews of opportunities across the energy infrastructure spectrum. With regards to hydrogen and P-to-X projects, he is currently involved in or completed engagements in Canada, the US, Norway, Sweden, and New Zealand for large-scale investments across the hydrogen value chain.
He is a civil engineering undergraduate and an MBA graduate from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India and McMaster University, Canada. He is also a Chartered Director from The Directors College, Canada. He serves on the Board of Geneva Centre for Autism, Toronto.
Edward Olson
Edward Olson is Leader of MNP’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practice and Leader of the Firm’s Enterprise Risk Services (ERS) practice for the BC Okanagan region. With more than two decades of Canadian and international experience in both public practice and industry, Edward delivers practical and meaningful business advice to clients in both the private and public sectors.
Edward helps his clients with ESG sustainability awareness and adoption, including identification, measurement, management and reporting of financially material issues. He also provides enterprise risk management, internal audit, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, process efficiency, performance improvement and value for money audits.
Edward works directly with executive leadership teams, boards, internal audit and compliance departments, as well as with industry regulators. He has deep industry experience in utilities, financial services, educational services, the public sector and government and government agencies.
Edward earned a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm Co-op) in accounting from the University of Alberta in 1998. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan. Edward is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE). He holds a Global ESG Competent Boards Designation (GCB.D) from Global Competent Boards.
Mark Parsons
Mark Parsons is the Vice President and Chief Economist at ATB Financial, where he leads a dynamic team in providing insightful commentary and strategic economic outlooks, primarily focused on Alberta. With over two decades of experience in senior economic positions, including notable roles at Alberta Treasury Board and Finance, PwC, and the Department of Finance Canada, Mark has established himself as a trusted authority in the field. He is a regular speaker at industry conferences and a frequent contributor to media discussions on economic trends. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Alberta.
Mark Patterson
As Executive Director, Mark Patterson leads Magnet’s efforts in advancing workforce innovation and building partnerships that drive skills development and inclusive economic growth. As the creator of Magnet, Mark has shaped its vision to connect talent with opportunities across Canada and globally. A recognized expert in workforce and technology integration, he is at the forefront of emerging trends, including how artificial intelligence is reshaping skills development and the future of work. His leadership continues to influence how individuals and organizations adapt to these changes.
Keren Perla
Keren Perla is President of Perla Inc. and strategic advisor and innovation architect with the Energy Futures Lab leading net-zero research initiatives and innovation challenges that bring together government, investors, industry, entrepreneurs, Right and Title Holder and communities to collaborate on energy transitions. Keren’s career spans over two decades focused on public sector innovation working in multiple policy domains, from energy development to circular economies to health innovation and everything in between. She is Co-founder of the Alberta CoLab – the first public sector Social Innovation Lab to launch at a provincial level – where she led and oversaw over 150 projects (in Alberta, Canada and with the UNDP) to successfully introduce new strategies and approaches to solve messy challenges through the use of disciplines such as systemic design, foresight, and design facilitation.
Northwestern Polytechnic Deans
The Deans of Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the region’s growth and education.
Dr. Jodi Peebles, Dean of the School of Business, holds a Doctor of Education and an MBA. With 15 years at NWP, she began her career as a faculty member before transitioning into leadership roles in both Education and Business.
Megan Stone, Dean of the School of Health, holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Nursing from Athabasca University. She has experience in rural healthcare settings, having worked in general medicine, critical care, and geriatrics, and taught in the BScN program before assuming her current role.
Dr. Julia Dutove, Dean of the School of Applied Science and Technology, holds a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota. Before joining NWP, she was an assistant professor at Minnesota State University. She has been with NWP since 2017, supporting the School’s growth and new programs.
Bobbi Craig-Sparkes, Dean of the School of Skilled Trades (Grande Prairie campus), is a Red Seal Electrician journeyperson and holds extensive experience in the trades industry and education. She has been an instructor and leader in trades programs, equipping students with skills for success in the workforce.
Tony Shmyruk, Dean of the School of Skilled Trades (Fairview campus), is a Blue Seal Welder journeyperson with extensive industry experience across Alberta and beyond. He has been an instructor at NWP since 2010, specializing in apprenticeship training in welding and other trades.
Together, these leaders are dedicated to advancing education and economic development in their communities.
Christopher Smith
Christopher is the Manager, Destination Development for Northern Rockies and Wildlands. For the past two decades, Christopher has worked to drive Alberta’s visitor economy with a community-centric approach. What he loves most about his job is connecting with local operators and residents to share ways that tourism can build vibrant communities.
Prior to taking on the role of Destination Development Manager, Christopher previously held the roles of Tourism Investment Manager and Product Content Manager at Travel Alberta.
In his spare time, Christopher enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, reading and volunteer work. He is a born and raised Albertan and calls Edmonton home.
David Usher
When innovative companies like Google, 3M, Cisco, Pepsi, Rogers, and SAP want to spark creativity in their employees and executives, they bring in David Usher. He doesn’t just talk creativity and artificial intelligence (AI) — he lives it. Usher draws from his unique experience as the lead singer of Moist; a multi-platinum, four-time Juno award-winning musician; a bestselling author; and as the founder of the artificial intelligence creative studio, Reimagine AI, to help organizations reboot their creativity in this brave new world of disruptive change.
At Reimagine AI, Usher and his team build virtual beings and virtual being technology. He is also the co-creator of the Climate Clock, which tracks global warming in real time and the author of Let the Elephants Run: Unlock Your Creativity and Change Everything. Usher draws from his experience at the forefront of the AI revolution to reveal why now more than ever, creativity and innovation are the only way forward and an organization’s last, best competitive advantage.
In his dynamic, interactive presentations, Usher combines live music, video, improvisation, technology, and humour to electrify audiences and demonstrate that creativity and creative success is a learnable skill that anyone can master, and helps audiences jumpstart their creative process both at home and work.
Session Description:
Artificial Intelligence and the Power of Creative Thinking
Alongside his incredible music career, David Usher has also worked with large language models and generative AI for the past eight years. He is the founder of Reimagine AI, a company that builds interactive AI-powered virtual beings for entertainment and healthcare, specifically for memory and Alzheimer’s patients. His journey from musician to AI CEO mirrors the journey that every person, company, and institution must undertake today. The world is at a technological inflection point, and we all need to understand and embrace this new technology…but how?
Through sharing his story, Usher empowers audiences to join him in this technological revolution, leveraging his experience as an AI CEO; lead singer of the multi-platinum, four-time Juno award-winning band Moist; and bestselling author. He not only illustrates why audiences need to embrace new technology but lays out a
roadmap to actually doing it. Usher will demonstrate that accessing one’s innate creative thinking is the key to unlocking the potential of artificial intelligence in this new era. His dynamic presentations, which feature live music, technology, and humour, are not only entertaining but built to inspire audiences and ignite their creativity by showing them how they can be part of the AI revolution, both personally and professionally.
How Artificial Intelligence Will Revolutionize Our Future
ChatGPT is the hottest tech everyone is talking about, but will it revolutionize life and business as predicted? And how it will impact your industry? Find out in a fireside chat with David Usher, a Juno Award-winning musician, bestselling author, and the founder of Reimagine AI, an artificial intelligence company building an ecosystem of technologies that interface and control large language models. Reimagine AI has been working with GPT3 and other large language models (LLMs) for years. They have built AI-powered virtual beings in health care (for Alzheimer’s patients), governments, and entertainment (Time Square, New York City), and even created the first intelligent NFT exhibited at the Louvre in Paris.
Josie Van Lent
Josie has been immersed in agriculture her entire life with a 40 plus year professional career that spans government, private industry, and education. She started her career as a District Agriculturalist and then Livestock Specialist with Alberta Agriculture, and from there working in the crop input business first for Webb’s Crop Services and then the United Farmers of Alberta. Her industry experience led her to the Agriculture School at Lakeland College, first as the Dean of Agriculture and eventually transitioning to the Dean of Agriculture Technology and Applied Research.
She retired two years ago and has really enjoyed spending more time as an active partner with her husband and their sons, in Staden Farms, a farm which includes beef, bison, and crop enterprises, as well as engaging in some contract work on the side. Over the years Josie has also been involved with numerous boards, committees, events, and community groups. She was recently elected to the Results Driven Agriculture (RDAR) Board, providing input into the province’s ag research priorities. In her spare time, you can usually find her on a horse, gardening, or enjoying their 8 grandkids!
Richard Wong
Richard Wong serves as the Vice President of Regulatory and Operations at the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). As a key member of CAPP’s Executive Leadership Team, Richard spearheads major policy and regulatory initiatives spanning British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Atlantic Canada. Collaborating with a highly skilled team, he engages with governments, regulators, and stakeholders nationwide, driving transformative change to position Canada as the preferred source of safe, secure, reliable, affordable, and responsibly produced energy.
Having joined CAPP in 2016 as the Manager of Operations, Richard successfully led a diverse team in advancing advocacy on policy and regulatory issues across Western Canada. His extensive background includes progressively senior roles in engineering and leadership within a major North American upstream oil and natural gas producer. These roles encompassed government relations, business development, reservoir engineering, completions engineering, and field operations.
A Calgary native, Richard holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University at Kingston. He is a Professional Engineer and an active member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). An avid long-distance runner and nature enthusiast, Richard is committed to ensuring sustainable growth of Canada’s energy industry and helping shape tomorrow’s energy landscape today.