Fueled by a desire to create order from chaos, Cheryl thrives as the connective tissue in cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment and cohesion across an organization. She excels at seeing the big picture while also diving deep into the details, to support all the facets of implementing strategic initiatives. Cheryl loves working at the intersection of different teams, bringing together diverse perspectives to ensure that everyone is moving toward shared goals.

Known for her dedication to continuous learning and personal growth, she lives by the motto, “I want to look back and say I’ve done great things.” Her work is grounded in integrity, transparency, and a strong commitment to collaborative teamwork.

With a background in engineering, Cheryl spent 12 years as a Development Engineer in Calgary’s energy sector and 4 years in Calgary’s thriving tech ecosystem, where she served as Head of Finance and Operations for a growing EdTech company.

Outside of work, Cheryl can be found either immersed in a book or camping out west with her two kids and dog, Timber. A seasoned traveler, she has explored 36 countries across six continents and has come to deeply appreciate the privilege of drinking clean water straight from the tap.

Ali Niazi has cultivated a deep expertise in the dynamics of sustainable energy transitions, with a particular focus on electricity markets. Joining the Energy Futures Lab as a Research Analyst, Ali
embarked on this new chapter in 2024, where he plays a pivotal role in the Alberta’s Electricity Future initiative, aimed at driving the province toward a net-zero electricity system by 2035.

Ali’s educational journey began with a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, followed by an MA in Economics, before pursuing his Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Calgary. His research endeavors are squarely focused on making electricity supply cleaner and enhancing the feasibility of EVs, aiming to mitigate their impact on the electrical grid while promoting widespread adoption.

Throughout his career, Ali has developed a versatile skill set that spans research, strategic analysis, and policy development, complemented by his ability to foster collaborative initiatives. He has been part of the efforts in bridging the gap between policymakers, practitioners, and academics, particularly through his involvement with the Net Zero Electricity Research Initiative (NZERI) at the University of Calgary.

His efforts are geared towards facilitating an inclusive and equitable transition to a prosperous net-zero future, leveraging Canada’s innovation capacity to overcome the complex challenges of energy transition.

Terri-Lynn (TL) joined the Energy Futures Lab in 2022 to start up its Innovation Challenge focused on grid modernization, Alberta’s Electricity Future (AEF). She brings her energetic and people-focused approach to the AEF leadership team where she focuses on strategy, influence, and advocacy work to help navigate the complexities of changes required in Alberta’s electricity sector.

TL worked in utilities for 17 years. She was the Director of Strategic Innovation at ENMAX Power, Calgary’s transmission and distribution utility, where she started-up and led multiple business units and was accountable for the utility’s innovation, grid modernization, customer experience, electrification and regulatory reform strategies and implementation programs. TL utilizes her depth of understanding of the regulated electricity business in Alberta to ensure that strategic plans can be translated into valuable results through immediate action. She is known as a disruptor and influencer in the sector, who is committed to realizing a net-zero future.

TL holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, and is a Professional Engineer and certified Project Management Professional. TL has been recognized with various leadership and innovation awards, she is a committed coach and mentor to many emerging leaders, an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, and a sought-after speaker and voice for change in the electricity sector across Canada.

Throughout her career, Maureen Kolla has built a comprehensive understanding of Alberta’s electricity system with deep experience in consortium building, emerging technology development, and sustainable business strategy.

Maureen joined the Energy Futures Lab in April 2023 as Project Lead for its new Innovation Challenge focused on grid modernization, Alberta’s Electricity Future. 

She brings to her role a diverse skill set with expertise in research, strategic planning, project and business development, technology evaluation, fostering collaborative relationships, and effective communications. Maureen has worked as both a funder and a business leader. She managed over $5 million in grant funding for projects related to geothermal energy, energy storage, smart grid, and clean technologies. She also led market entry strategies, business strategies, and carbon related ventures for various clients. In 2017, she founded the Alberta Smart Grid Consortium bringing together Alberta Distribution Facility Owners, the Alberta Minister of Energy and Alberta Innovates to collaboratively assess the impacts and opportunities presented by new grid technologies and their ability to meet the evolving needs of electricity consumers.

Maureen holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta, a Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Bio coming soon.

Sarah has been with The Natural Step for over fifteen years, focusing on developing and stewarding processes and practices to address messy challenges. She supports the overall Lab design and facilitation, including the Fellowship Arc and the EFL’s Alberta’s Energy Future Innovation Challenge. Sarah also leads engagement strategy for the Canada Plastics Pact and stewards solutions portfolio development for clients around the world.

Prior to her work with The Natural Step, Sarah was a natural building instructor, working to enable communities to create structure from locally available, minimally processed materials. She has worked with people from over 22 countries in this capacity. Sarah holds a master’s degree in “Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability” from the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden and an undergraduate degree in Geography from Mount Allison University.

With experience working at all levels of government in Canada Brian manages political and public sector engagement for the Energy Futures Lab and provides strategic government relations guidance to The Natural Step Canada team. This includes advocating for policy recommendations flowing from the Lab’s various initiatives, while seeking to encourage a well-informed and healthy political dialogue on energy transition and climate issues in Canada. Following an academic emphasis on international relations and the geopolitics of Northeast Asia, Brian’s professional career has largely focused on economic development in Alberta’s energy and industrial sectors.

Ailsa is a natural storyteller and communicator whose work has focused on connecting people and industry with forward-thinking solutions within the environmental and energy sectors.

Ailsa’s interest in the intersection of energy and environment was sparked while doing communications and marketing for an environmental consulting firm specializing in remediation. She went on to hold marketing and communications leadership roles at a national, environmental non-profit organization. She brings her experience and enthusiasm for written and visual communications, problem-solving, strategy and planning, and community engagement into her role within the Energy Futures Lab.

Ailsa holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Calgary and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Marketing Strategy from Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management.

Julie is a connector, collaborator, and coordinator working towards a sustainable, equitable, and resilient energy future. She has over 15 years of experience with innovative and complex projects in the sustainability and energy sector, working with a diverse range of players across Canada ranging from communities, utilities, system operators, regulators, technology providers, manufacturers, and renewable energy developers. Her work has included community resilience, digital innovation, smart grid and distributed energy resource adoption, renewables integration, and regulatory assessment, all while bringing various voices to the table in a collaborative way. Through her work she has built an understanding of the interconnectedness of energy systems.

Today, Julie is providing coordination support to the Alberta’s Electricity Future Team with the Energy Futures Lab, where she had been a Fellow with the lab for 3 years. Previously she supported the EFL’s Digital Innovation Team. She is also the Chair of the Board of Directors for a women-led start-up focused on innovative ways to create an equitable, regenerative, and democratic energy system.

Julie is also a Mom of two small humans, and a black lab, who are a harder team to manage, but the most fun. Julie and her family love camping in the mountains near their city of Calgary, planting a large vegetable garden, and heading home to the east coast every summer.

Mark is President From Here to There Consulting and Associate of Tamarack – An Institute for Community Engagement. Mark’s current focus is building the practice of Developmental Evaluation integrating real-time feedback and learning in emerging, complex, and fast-moving environments.