The Energy Futures Lab support team brings forth wide-ranging expertise, though it is the team’s passion and devotion that truly fuels our work.
The EFL support team is helping to accelerate Canada’s energy transition by supporting Partner challenges and Fellow initiatives through efforts including workshop design, developing strategic communications, fostering connectivity and alignment across our network, project scoping and management, advocacy, regular convenings and much more.
Alison has managed the operations of the Energy Futures Lab for the past 4 years and during that period has overseen its rapid expansion and success. Her career has been at the cross section of energy, environment and collaboration. Moving from oil and gas engineer, to climate and sustainability consultant, to social innovator, her focus is on forging collaborative solutions to our biggest challenges.
Erin is the Director of Partnerships for the Energy Futures Lab and an Associate with The Natural Step Canada. Erin supports the development of role model organizations as leaders in sustainable business and sustainable communities. Her specialties include sustainability planning processes and indicator development.
Keren Perla directs and stewards the Energy Futures Policy Collaborative - a multi-leader partnership diving into the future of energy attraction and investment. Keren’s career and specialties have focused on pioneering new ways to solve messy challenges through the use of disciplines such as systemic design, foresight, and design facilitation. She is Co-founder and former Director of the Alberta CoLab – the first public sector social innovation lab to launch at a provincial level - and alumni of Avenue Magazine's Top 40 under 40.
Pong is a founding member of The Natural Step Canada and Senior Associate. Pong has worked with a wide range of clients to share his expertise on sustainability, governance and organizational learning with a range of Albertan stakeholders.
Emma works with Energy Futures Lab as their Communications Specialist. Emma's professional experience ranges from educational programming and public speaking to historical research and strategic communications. As a communications professional, she is focused on exploring the relationship between energy literacy and storytelling. She believes that stories are a powerful tool in helping us tackle important issues with curiosity and empathy.
Kelley has a passion for connecting people and is sensitive and adaptive to changes in needs and priorities, while seeking opportunities to understand, empathize, and problem-solve. These skills have positioned Kelley as a leader in advocating for workplace diversity and have helped her deliver numerous opportunities for inclusivity training in professional settings.
Juli is the Lead Animator for the Energy Futures Lab. After 3 years as an EFL Fellow, Juli works with the Lab to support the initiatives, help deliver community roadshows, and acts as liaison between the EFL and the Circular Economy Leadership Coalition. With deep roots in petroleum geology and experience in business strategy and systems thinking, Juli knows that Alberta can be a leader in the global energy transition. Juli earned both a B.Sc. in Geology and an MBA from the University of Calgary.
Pronounced Najwan, Nagwan is a professional with a Master’s of Science in Sustainable Energy Development and 10+ years of Canadian and international experience in stakeholder relations, strategic communications, community investment within multinational organizations. Her masters research focused on Addressing Climate Change through Collaboration between the Public and Private Sectors. She is a former public member of the City of Calgary BiodiverCity Advisory Committee and past president of Ask Her YYC. Nagwan is a 2020 Young Women Energy winner; an award shining a spotlight on women’s accomplishment and contributions to Alberta’s energy industry.
Matt is the Lead, Special Projects with the Energy Futures Lab and an Associate at The Natural Step Canada and has extensive experience applying systems-thinking, facilitating sustainability strategy and advancing leadership in all sectors across North America. He both advises and supports the design and delivery of the Energy Futures Lab as well as the Circular Economy Lab.
Emily has always been fascinated by the natural world. Growing up on a small island off the west coast of British Columbia, she learned early in life of the important connection between healthy communities, economies, and the environment. She is passionate about working collaboratively across sectors to support the implementation of sustainable environmental practices. Emily is a recent graduate of the Master of Environmental Management program at the University of New Brunswick, and holds an undergraduate degree in Geography from the University of Calgary.
Dewly brings a background of 20 years of business and entrepreneurship, government as a Councillor in the Town of Hinton, and community action to his role as Community Mobilizer. He has been involved in energy and environment within his community as well as both provincially and federally. He has been involved with the Lab through Roadshow and Accelerator events and was a member of the Fellowship. He brings a unique perspective and background to the EFL Team.
John is a communicator, videographer and designer who curates stories with hopes of inspiring action. His passion and enthusiasm stem from a love of Alberta and its natural landscapes. His masters research addressed the communicative barriers to climate action and energy transition within Alberta. He has previous experience working in the UK for a Scottish Climate Group that educates and empowers young people in creating a sustainable future. In his spare time, he runs his own clothing upcycling business and has past experience retrofitting homes.
Steve specializes in Corporate Social Responsibility design, evaluation, impact measurement, and data visualization for sustainability. He is a technology strategist designing and facilitating participant-driven public engagement events with over 20 years experience in the software industry.
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.
Mike Gerbis is CEO of The Delphi Group, a strategic consultancy providing innovative solutions in the areas of climate change, corporate sustainability, clean technology solutions and environmental policy. Mike is also CEO of GLOBE Series of Conferences (2016.globeseries.com).
George’s professional work is in environment and sustainable development governance and management focusing on energy and natural resources in Alberta and across Canada. He has held positions in government, international organizations, resource companies, consultancies, universities and NGOs. His joy is outdoor activities of all kinds.
Lori is manager of community investment, Suncor Energy Foundation, focused on social innovation. She works with inspiring people shaping new dialogue about the energy future, what it will take to get there, and how to achieve this collectively.
David Hughes became President & CEO of The Natural Step Canada on June 15th, 2016 after having served four years as a member of our Board of Directors. He is highly regarded as a strategic leader with a strong track record of scaling the impact of some of Canada’s leading charities.
Almas has more than 20 years of experience in various roles in the oil and gas industry. Prior to her current role, Director, Strategic Engagement for Cenovus Energy, she has worked in communications, stakeholder relations & Indigenous engagement, supply chain management, corporate planning, and sustainability. Almas has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Travel and Leisure.
Simon is a partner in PURE Reserve, a company focused on technology solutions to Alberta's issues that are both financially and environmentally viable. We are currently working on implementing a biocoal facility in Alberta with the support of a CCEMC grant.
Kevin is the President & CEO of Beaver Drilling. Kevin’s 20-year career in the drilling industry has seen him work in almost all aspects of the drilling business, from field operations to marketing to executive leadership. Kevin is the co-founder of the Avatar Program, the ground-breaking collaboration accelerating the adoption and commercialization of new technologies in the energy industry. Kevin is also the Drilling Executive Chair of the Canadian Association for Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC).
David is the Director of the Canadian Energy Systems Analysis Research (CESAR) Initiative and a Professor at the University of Calgary. In CESAR he studies Canada’s past and present energy systems to model and analyze the options and implications for the next energy systems transformation.
As Executive Director of QUEST, Tonja has over 15 years of experience working in the energy industry. Having been with QUEST since its inception in 2007, Tonja has played an instrumental role in establishing QUEST's extensive national network and ensuring QUEST is known in the industry as a leading thinker on the energy transition and implementer of Smart Energy Communities.
Pat’s work as Executive Director of Alberta Ecotrust is to create solution space with industry, environmental organizations and others to share ideas and implement strategies that protect the environment and build healthier, stronger communities. Important priorities for Pat include a clean energy future.
Steve MacDonald is CEO of Emissions Reduction Alberta. He played a central role in the development of Alberta’s renewed climate change policy framework that establishes a comprehensive vision, strategies and outcomes to support environmental sustainability and economic growth for Alberta.
Lexi McKinnon is the Associate Director of Indigenous Leadership at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Lexi has also led the institution’s Truth and Reconciliation Framework. Lexi is passionate about systems change, social innovation and design thinking from the teachings learned through an Indigenous worldview. Lexi received her Bachelor of Arts in Canadian Studies and MBA in Aboriginal Business and Leadership.
Chad is Vice President, Sustainability and Citizenship with The Co-operators. Chad has played a leadership role on several business sustainability and social innovation initiatives including having served as Executive Director of The Natural Step Canada. He was also the founding Director of the Energy Futures Lab.
Alex Ryan is VP Systems Innovation and Director of MaRS Solutions Lab. He is the co-founder of Synthetikos - a boutique strategy consulting firm dedicated to helping large organizations and collectives to navigate complexity with agility. He was a former Senior Systems Design Advisor with the Department of Energy in the Government of Alberta. Dr. Ryan co-founded and leads Alberta CoLab, a cross-ministry strategic foresight and systemic design lab focused on energy and resource development.
Kali Taylor is the co-founder and Executive Director of Student Energy – a global not-for-profit that works to create the next generation of leaders who will transition the world to a sustainable energy future.
Dan Woynillowicz is the Policy Director of Clean Energy Canada, an initiative of the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Clean Energy Canada works to accelerate Canada’s transition to clean and renewable energy systems. They do so by telling the story of the global shift to clean and low-carbon energy sources and conducting original research, hosting dialogues, and inspiring and informing policy leadership.
Bill Whitelaw is the chief executive officer of JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group (JWN). He has expanded the company’s product portfolio, developed new frontiers within the industry and ensured JWN remains progressive and industry-focused through the products and services it for provides for insight and intelligence. Bill also holds positions of executive vice-president, business information group, at Glacier Inc. and managing director of Evaluate Energy, an affiliated energy analytics and research company based in London, UK.
Dr. Reg Crowshoe is a member of the University of Calgary Senate and prominent cultural and spiritual leader. Reg and his late father, Joe Crowshoe, have travelled extensively around the world bringing awareness and education about Blackfoot history, traditions and spirituality.
Toby Heaps is the co-founder and president of Corporate Knights Inc. Toby has a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University in Economics, with a minor in International Development. From 1997-98, he spent one year in the Belgrade Field Program (LLB in Management Studies) with the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Don Iveson was elected the 35th Mayor of Edmonton in 2013. Since being elected, Mayor Iveson has set his sights on transforming Edmonton into a highly liveable, uplifting and globally competitive city that is recognized as one of Canada’s very best. Born and raised in Edmonton and tirelessly passionate about the place, Don has spent most of his adult life working to build Edmonton’s future.
Donna has served in the private, not-for-profit and public sectors. Highlights include: MLA for Calgary-Varsity and Alberta’s first Cabinet portfolio responsible for Electricity & Renewable Energy; Nexen Inc.’s first female vice president; working on energy projects in 35 countries; founding a capacity-building NGO in Yemen; publishing two books; launching Viewpoints Alberta; raising three sons.
Since joining Suncor in 1997, Gordon has served in senior roles including most recently, Executive Advisor Sustainability and Innovation and previously as Vice President Sustainable Development. Gordon began his career with Imperial Oil Limited in 1980. He is a frequent speaker on energy, the environment and innovation. Gordon currently serves on the Alberta Climate Change Advisory Panel. Gordon is also President of GRL Collaboration for Sustainability.
Reza is one of Alberta’s most successful and innovative homebuilders. A strong advocate for energy efficient housing, his goal is see the mainstream adoption of affordable Net Zero energy homes. His contributions to the building industry and to the community have been recognized with numerous honours including the Alberta Order of Excellence.
Eric Newell served for 14 years as CEO Syncrude Canada Ltd. and later as Chairman and President. In 2004, he was installed as the 18th Chancellor of the University of Alberta. Eric actively contributes to his community and industry. He currently serves on a number of boards, including: Board Chair of the Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation and Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions.
Nicholas Parker is Founding Managing Partner of Global Acceleration Partners which addresses global megatrends shaping basic needs for resource-efficient clean energy, food, water and infrastructure by accelerating cross-border deployment of proven technologies and business models into high growth emerging economies.
Ed Whittingham served for seven years as Executive Director of the Pembina Institute, Canada’s leading energy and environment research organization. In September 2011 Ed was named to Canada’s 2012 Clean50 list, which honours 50 outstanding contributors to sustainable development and clean capitalism in Canada.
We are an Alberta-based coalition of diverse innovators and leading organizations working together to accelerate the transition to the energy system the future requires of us.
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