About Us

Sally managed the Alberta Energy Regulator’s Program for regulatory excellence in responsible hydrocarbon resource development in Canada and developing countries. Previously, she managed TransAlta's capital portfolio, overseeing the Infrastructure, Renewable Power, & Growth programs. As a Business Advisor, Sally worked with organizations to develop and implement strategy within public and private sectors. Her experience spans across industries, including public services, oil & gas, power and utilities, and scientific research across North and South America, China, Italy, Madagascar, the Netherlands, and the UK. As a Systems Engineer on national space programs and earth observation missions, she worked on the development of space assets for the private sector, Canadian Space Agency, NASA, and the European Space Agency.

Irene is a professor in the Accounting and Tourism areas at the HaskayneSchool of Business, and adjunct professor in the Faculty of Environmental Design. She supervises graduate students in HaskayneSchool of Business, Environmental Design, and the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program at the University of Calgary. She teaches courses in the U of C's inter-disciplinary degree program, Sustainable Energy Development, in both Calgary and Ecuador. She is also co-funder of Nature's Ride, a nonprofit with messages of responsibility about the environment and planet. Irene's research interests focus on many contemporary issues including management and environmental control systems, environmental performance, international business, intellectual capital, and performance evaluation.

Karen McPherson is passionate about human rights including advocating for LGBTQ2S+ equality, innovation and ways to connect Alberta more via technology, and furthering our nation to nation partnership with our indigenous partners. Karen’s career includes roles as varied as Collaboration Analyst, Collaboration and E-mail Architect and Manager, Business Continuity Consultant and Business Analyst in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, in industries such as Chemicals, Manufacturing and for more than 20 years, in Oil and Gas. In May 2015 Karen was elected to serve as the MLA representing the constituency of Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. She also served as Secretary for Old Colony Habitat for Humanity in Norton, Massachusetts, a wrangler when Calgary hosted the Juno Awards in 2008 and a judge of the Calgary Youth Science Fair for seven years.

Steve is president of Rickard Realty Advisors, which is transitioning to AEC Property Tax after over 30 years of service in property tax assessment reviews. He has been involved in the real estate industry since 1975 including many aspects of building, planning, land development, sales, investment, valuation and lease/construction arbitration. Steve is also an active Rotarian, serving as President of the Rotary Club of Calgary West in 2000 and as Governor for District 5360 in 2005. He was the Founding President of the Rotarian Action Group for Microcredit (RAGM) in 2007 as well as the founder of the District 5360 Microcredit Task Force, and he continues to advocate for microcredit. Steve is also a past Board Chair of Motive Action, a non-profit organization that trains youth at risk with employable skills.

Mel is President of MJ Wilson Inc. and has been an active sustainability consultant in Calgary for over 25 years. As PwC's Partner and National Leader of the Sustainable Business Solutions Practice, he worked on consulting and assurance engagements across North America and the UK, as well as in developing countries such as Sudan and Yemen. Mel and his team pioneered sustainability practices while at PwC, which are now considered mainstream sustainability consulting services, such as independent assurance on corporate sustainability reports and verification of greenhouse gas emission reports. Mel also managed Corporate Strategy and Risk at Talisman Energy, and was on the board of duSoloFertilizer, a phosphate mining company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange with operations in Brazil. Mel has been an active member of several nonprofit boards, including Young Environmental Professionals (now Connecting Environmental Professionals) and the Foothills Acoustic Music Institute.