Advisors to the Task Force

After a 20-year career in the resource industry and an extensive history in executive leadership, community development and human resources, Sean Willy was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Des Nedhe Development in August 2017.

Willy joined Des Nedhe as Vice President in July 2016 and led numerous business development initiatives for Des Nedhe. His experience with Indigenous communities and corporations enabled him to establish strong ties between our companies and our numerous Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners.

With roots in the Denesuline and Metis communities, Sean brings an understanding of the expectations and needs of Indigenous people. Growing up in a mining household, he experienced life in communities across the Canadian Shield – from the Northwest Territories to Nunavut to Alberta to Saskatchewan.

In his role as Director, Corporate Responsibility at Cameco, Sean developed the strategies and led all negotiations which saw Cameco build upon its successful track record with Indigenous peoples. This led to Sean building partnerships in Australia, the United States, and throughout Canada. Sean’s greatest career achievement was signing five community-based agreements in Australia and in northern Saskatchewan and completing the most unique legacy trust fund in Canada, the Six River Trust.

Sean also serves as chair of the highly successful training partnership Northern Career Quest and a director of the Global Indigenous Trust. He is the  former co-chair of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.

Lori is serving her third term as the Mayor of the City of Fort St. John BC. In this role she is, not only a steward for the needs of her city but, she is a champion for her citizens on the national stage. 

In 2016 Lori was named one of the Top 35 Most Influential Women in BC in BC Business Magazine and in 2019, the Energy Council of Canada honoured her as the Canadian Energy Person of the  

Lori is serving her third term as the Mayor of the City of Fort St. John BC. In this role she is, not only a steward for the needs of her city but, she is a champion for her citizens on the national stage. She leads with conviction to educate decision makers on the realities of resource extraction, our economy and our communities.

Taking her expertise in local government and resource extraction on the international arena, Lori spent four years working with small communities in Peru. Through the Sustainable and Inclusive Communities in Latin America (CISAL) Program, she worked to improve governance, economies, community infrastructure and relations with the mining industry in remote regions of the country.

Where there is a need for a voice to speak for her community, Lori will join, lead or form an organization to raise awareness of the important issues. She represents Fort St. John on many local, regional and provincial boards and committees.

In 2016 Lori was named one of the Top 35 Most Influential Women in BC in BC Business Magazine and in 2019, the Energy Council of Canada honoured her as the Canadian Energy Person of the year.

Lori is a leader, an innovator, a champion, a lifetime-learner, a mom, grandma, partner and friend. 

Mac Van Wielingen is an energy executive, private equity investor, corporate director and philanthropist. He is the founder and chair of Viewpoint Group, a founding partner of the Creative Destruction Lab and is the vice chair and founding member of the Business Council of Alberta. Most recently, he was appointed to serve on the Alberta Premier’s Economic Recovery Council.

Mac’s knowledge, expertise, and primary experience is the product of over 35 years in the financial and energy sectors. He is a founder, director (1989-2018) and partner of ARC Financial Corporation, the largest private equity investment management company in Canada focused on the energy sector.

Mac is also a Founder and former Chair (1996-2016) of ARC Resources Ltd. In addition to the above, he has served as a director for approximately 15 different companies in the energy sector and is active in various capacities in the community and not-for-profit sector.

Karen Ogen-Toews is the CEO of the First Nations LNG Alliance. She was a founding member of the Alliance, and brings extensive experience to her role as CEO, having served as elected chief of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation for six years.

She now sits on the nation’s elected council, holding the Natural Resource/Energy and Economic Development portfolios.

She is familiar with the needs of Indigenous communities throughout B.C., and seeks to increase economic opportunities for First Nations through providing information and education regarding responsible resource development.

Karen’s academic background is in social work. She achieved her Master’s degree from the University of Northern British Columbia in 2007, and graduated from the Indigenous Governance Certificate Program from the University of Victoria in 2010. These academic programs have given her a unique perspective to pursue development opportunities that benefit communities not only for economic purposes, but also for long-term social development.

Mr. Cleland is a private consultant with extensive experience in energy and environment policy. He is at present Senior Fellow with the University of Ottawa’s Positive Energy Project, immediate past chair of the Board of Directors at the Canadian Energy Research Institute, chair of the board of directors of QUEST (Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow) and a Senior Fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

He is formerly President and CEO of the Canadian Gas Association. Prior to joining CGA, he was Senior Vice President Government Affairs for the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA). Before joining CEA, he was Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM), Energy Sector in the Department of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), formerly Energy, Mines and Resources (EMR) and before that, Director General of the Energy Policy Branch. From 1987 to January 1990, he was Assistant Director, Resource Policy Division in the Department of Finance.

Before joining the federal government in 1987, Mr. Cleland worked in Nova Scotia where, he was a lecturer in  business/government relations at the school of Public Administration at Dalhousie University and academic editor of Plan Canada, the journal of the Canadian Institute of Planners. From 1982 to 1985, he was Associate Director of the Centre for Development Projects at Dalhousie University where he was responsible for various management training projects in Zimbabwe and the countries of the Commonwealth Caribbean. Prior to joining Dalhousie University, he occupied a number of positions at the Nova Scotia Departments of Development and Municipal Affairs.

Mr. Cleland was born in Quesnel, British Columbia, and educated at the University of British Columbia (BA in political science 1972) and Queens (MPL urban and regional planning 1974).

Kim Rudd has been a lifelong entrepreneur and an advocate on the federal and provincial levels for small businesses, child care, and post-secondary education. In 2011, she was named RBC’s Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year and served as Vice-Chair of the Ontario TCAF Secretariat.

Additionally, Rudd was Founding Executive Director of the Association of Private Colleges and Vice-President of the Ontario Association of Career Colleges. Rudd has also been a lifelong volunteer in organizations ranging from the United Way to serving as President of the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce.

Rudd was elected as Member of Parliament for Northumberland—Peterborough South in 2015 and served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources from 2015-2018. Rudd led the government's engagement on the nuclear file domestically and internationally. Rudd continues her passion for addressing Climate Change and clean energy as a pathway to achieving our goals as a Consultant to the Canadian Nuclear Association.

Robert R. McLeod retired in 2019 following his second term as Premier; the first person in the history of the Northwest Territories to ever repeat in the role. In addition to being the Premier of the 18th Assembly, Mr. Mcleod served as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations.

Mr. McLeod was born and raised in Fort Providence, Northwest Territories. Mr. McLeod holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta and an Honours Diploma in Administrative Management from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton. In 1989, Mr. McLeod also completed a program of national and international studies at the National Defense College in Kingston, Ontario. As part of that program, Mr. McLeod traveled to 25 countries and completed a thesis on Aboriginal Self Government and the Possibilities for Constitutional Reform.

Mr. McLeod is an active member of the Yellowknife community serving and participating in several community organizations. He has served as president of the Yellowknife recreational hockey league, president of the Yellowknife golf club (led the expansion to 18 holes), member of the Yellowknife Elks club and as Senator for the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre.

Mr. McLeod has served on numerous boards and agencies. He served as the co-chair of the Northern River Basin study, Director for the Canadian Tourism Commission and chaired the Canadian Diamond Strategy Working Group and the Mackenzie River Basin Committee. At the national level he served as vice president for the Fur Institute of Canada and chair of the Canadian Wildlife Coalition.

Mr. McLeod and his wife, Melody, have one son, Warren (Shannon) and two beautiful grandsons, Carter and Cooper.

Patricia Mohr is the former Vice-President, Economics and Commodity Market Specialist at Scotiabank’s Executive Offices in Toronto (until April 2016). Ms. Mohr worked closely with Corporate and Investment Banking – including the Mining and Oil & Gas teams – with Commercial Banking and with Global Risk Management. Pat prepared the Metal and Oil & Gas price forecasts for credit evaluations at The Bank and presented regularly to clients at home and abroad – especially in China, Peru, Chile, Mexico and London. 

Ms. Mohr holds an Honours B.A. Degree and an M.A. Degree in Economics from the University of British Columbia.  Pat is a Director of Alumni UBC and is on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Faculty of Applied Science (engineering).  

Ms. Mohr is a Director of the Centre for Research & Innovation in the Bio-Economy (including Nextfor) in Ontario and has been a Director of Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) for the past seven years – channeling public funds into leading-edge R&D for GHG mitigation.  Since inception, ERA has funded over $500 million of R&D projects, leveraged 6.6:1 with industry and other government partners to yield $4.3 billion of investment in clean technology (including start-ups in the Vancouver area).  Reducing the carbon footprint of the Alberta oil sands, and securing Alberta’s economic success in a lower carbon world, are key objectives. 

Prior to joining Scotiabank, Ms. Mohr spent a number of years with Alberta Energy Co. Ltd. (EnCana) in Calgary and with CP Ships and Canadian Pacific Bermuda in London, England as Corporate Economist.  Pat enjoyed working with senior management on ship charter and investment strategy for the company’s international tanker and bulk carrier fleet.  Ms. Mohr began her career as a mineral economist with the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources in Ottawa (now Natural Resources Canada).  

Darrel Reid is VP, Policy and Advocacy, for the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA). He has worked in the energy sector as GM, Sustainable Development, Upstream Americas for Shell Canada and was a Senior Fellow at the School of Policy Studies, U. of Calgary.

Previously, he served Canada’s federal government in numerous senior roles: Policy Director and Deputy Chief of Staff to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Senior Advisor, Science and Technology to Maxime Bernier (Industry); and Chief of Staff to Ministers Ambrose (Environment) and Kenney (Citizenship and Immigration). During the Reform years he was Director of Policy and Chief of Staff for Preston Manning, Leader of Canada’s Official Opposition.

He holds a Ph.D. (History) from Queen’s University.

 Mayor Alanna Hnatiw was elected Mayor of Sturgeon County Council in the 2017 Election on Monday, October 16, 2017. She is the Chair of Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association.

Mayor Hnatiw has been a Sturgeon County resident, as well as an active participant and volunteer in the community for 16 years. She shares her life with husband Rob and two children in Division 5. Ms. Hnatiw comes from four generations of farmers, but has spent most of her adult life as a small

business owner in the oil and gas service industry. Her focus is on leadership that will have an open door to its residents and an open mind while looking for innovative solutions to current challenges.

Ms. Hnatiw is committed to playing an active role in strengthening regional relationships and developing a prosperous future for Sturgeon County. Her goal is to support diversification in

industry and agriculture and support small business. There are many opportunities in Sturgeon County to chart a course for responsible, sustainable development.

Aged 42, Michel Trépanier has nearly 17 years experience in the trade union world and over 20 years in the construction industry. He began his career in the family business in 1996 as a Boilermaker and has participated in many projects as a worker and, later, in supervisory duties.

This enriching experience allowed him to learn the hazards of his job, but also to be a privileged witness of the importance to provide workers dignified and safe working conditions. It is this motivation that encouraged him to start his union involvement in 2002 when he became Trustee of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers - Local 271 in Quebec. In this role, Michel had the opportunity to discover several important aspects of a union management. Following this experience, he became in 2004, at the age of 26, business agent of the same premises. In this role, he had the opportunity to travel Québec and several parts of Canada and to be in touch directly with workers. This experience and the quality of the people who surrounded him lead him to become Business manager of Local 271 in 2009 and to be re-elected unopposed in 2013.

He also decided to extend its commitment to the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and became on January 1st 2015, international representative for Quebec and Eastern Canada.

Michel Trépanier was trained graduate in labor relations at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and is also a graduate of the Harvard Trade Union Program, the law school of that university.

In June 2015, Michel Trépanier adds a string to its bow and became president of the Quebec building trade (International). As such, he will be responsible for representing all Quebec workers to Québec, Canadian and international organisations and government.

Sheri Somerville is Chief Executive Officer of the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce (ACC), the largest accredited business association in Atlantic Canada representing more than 16,000 businesses through its network of 93 chambers and 25 corporate partners.

Sheri is a globally certified communication professional with more than 21-years of multi-sector business experience, and partners with her members to influence an environment in Atlantic Canada where business succeeds. A proud Atlantic Canadian, she is passionate about influencing growth and prosperity for business and people in the region.

A successful entrepreneur, leader and award-winning public relations consultant to some of the nation’s leading companies, Sheri took the helm as CEO in 2017. Since then, she has created a chamber vision to serve the next generation of Atlantic Canadian businesses, cultivated new sources of revenue, spearheaded new programming, enhanced governance and operational productivity, levered strategic partnerships and collaborations, and elevated the Chamber’s corporate reputation and membership as she works to shape and support a strong and resilient chamber network for the future.

Prior to the ACC, Sheri founded Pure Symmetry PR Inc. serving clients from across Eastern Canada; held leadership roles at the Association of Consulting Engineers (NB), the New Brunswick Petroleum Alliance/CAPP, MT&L Public Relations, Michelin North America (Canada), and the Ontario Centres of Excellence; as well as gaining her professional foundations working for leading PR firms in Toronto and the private sector in Montreal.

First elected to the 18th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in November 2015 to represent the constituency of Hay River South, Wally Schumann was appointed Minister of Transportation and Minister of Environment and Natural Resources in his inaugural term.

Following a cabinet shuffle in September 2016, Mr. Schumann took on the role of Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) and, following an amalgamation of the departments of Transportation and Public Works and Services on April 1, 2017, also became the first NWT Minister of Infrastructure.

A life-long northerner, a Red Seal journeyperson and successful businessman, Minister Schumann served as a Director for the Hay River Chamber of Commerce, a member of the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines Aboriginal Participation Committee, and was the founder and a director of the NWT Manufacturers’ Association.

As president, then vice-president, of the Hay River Métis Government Council, Mr. Schumann is credited with leading a large-scale consultation to develop a community wellness funding agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT).

As Minister, he championed the completion of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway, saw tourism numbers increase year after year and signed a bilateral agreement with the Government of Canada to help fund long-term infrastructure projects.

Colleen joined the Atlantica Centre for Energy as President, in a role that helps to foster the exchange of information and dialogue on energy opportunities and challenges. Energy literacy and education has become a priority of the organization. The Atlantica Centre for Energy works with partners to engage the public and community leaders on energy topics to help them make informed decisions that are appropriate for this region. 

In a collaborative effort between The University of New Brunswick and The Atlantica Centre for Energy, Colleen directs the Energy Fundamentals for Leaders certificate program. This program does a deep-dive into all aspects of the energy sector, including treaty rights, renewable electrification, environmental permitting, energy diversity and energy security as well as overviews of the challenges being faced to adopt new business models to compete in the coming decades.

Colleen also serves on the Advisory Board to the Faculty of Engineering at the University of New Brunswick, and on the Editorial Board of Natural Resources Magazine. She also sits on the external advisory committee to the newly formed Canadian Centre for Energy Information (formerly part of the National Energy Board).

Colleen has a bachelor’s degree from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, and studied at the graduate level at the University of New Brunswick.

Alan Arcand is Chief Economist at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME).

Alan is a member of the National Policy team where he is responsible for developing and executing CME’s major national research projects, conducting CME’s macroeconomic analysis to support the organization across the country, managing our tax policy efforts, and be a leading voice representing the interests of the association and members with government and with the public.

Before joining CME, Alan spent 19 years at The Conference Board of Canada where he held multiple roles, including the Associate Director of the Centre for Municipal Studies. Alan’s background includes expertise in municipal, regional, and national economic matters including economic forecasting and analysis.

Alan has an M.A. in Economics from Queen’s University.

Joseph Quesnel is a research associate at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. He received a BA honours in political science and history from McGill University and completed a Master of Journalism degree at Carleton University.  Quesnel has over 15 years of experience in print journalism including over three years as lead staff writer at the Drum/First Perspective, a national Aboriginal publication. Of Metis background, he is originally from Northern Ontario but currently lives in Nova Scotia. 

For almost 10 years, Quesnel was a policy analyst at the Frontier Centre where he wrote widely on Indigenous, property rights, and water market issues. He is a leading commentator on Indigenous governance and economic development issues. He was lead researcher for the Frontier Centre’s flagship Aboriginal Governance Index and he completed an extensive study of the B.C. Nisga’a Nation.  Quesnel’s work has been featured in numerous Canadian radio and newspapers outlets. He has been called to provide expert testimony before the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples and the House’s Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. 

Joseph also recently served as a program manager at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, overseeing their Indigenous resource economy project, where he wrote extensively on the duty to consult and accommodate Indigenous communities, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Communities, and the impact of legislation such as Bills C-48, C-69, and C-262. Joseph also commented on issues surrounding the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project, as well as the Coastal Gas Link project. 

Karen Graham is the principal of KMG Strategy, which she founded in 2017 after more than a decade in senior public policy roles in the private, public and business association sectors in British Columbia. She was the author of Resource Work's May 2020 report "Team Canada for the Rebuild," which served as a foundational piece for the Task Force for Real Jobs, Real Recovery.

Areas of focus include natural resource sector policy (including the energy/environment nexus), other regulated sectors of the economy (wine/liquor), Canada-US relations, and provincial/regional economic  development initiatives. Karen’s previous roles have included Spectra Energy, the United States Consulate General (Vancouver), the Business Council

of B.C. and the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

Karen holds a Master of Arts in International Relations (York University) and a Master of Public Policy (Simon Fraser University).

Tenzin has a unique multi-sector profile of leadership in the start up, corporate, government and non-profit sectors. He has a successful Executive Growth Advisory practice that has helped leaders to scale, personally and as a company, in technology, cannabis, pet, healthcare, energy and resource, finance, real estate and travel industries.

He is an investor and served as EVP in a global leading plant-based pet wellness brand. He was also Managing Director and Executive Vice President of a boutique investment bank dedicated to bridging Canada and Asia in the energy and resources sectors.

Prior to investment banking, he was the Chief of Staff/senior-most political advisor to the Minister of Industry in reviewing foreign investments into Canada and to the President of the Treasury Board in reviewing IT, spending, regulations and human resources across the Government of Canada.

Working in the Office of the Prime Minister and then for the Minister of Immigration, he was also responsible for developing and implementing strategic policy and communications plans for the government’s engagement of multicultural communities and ethnic media. As a result of this work, Tenzin was recognized as one of the top 60 influencing Canadian foreign policy.

Prior to government, Tenzin spent a decade in the television and telecommunications sector. He co-founded a technology company that raised more than $10 M of venture capital, had more than 60 employees and secured the leading broadcasters and telecommunications firms as clients. He also spearheaded sales and strategic partnership initiatives throughout Asia especially in the greater China region, South Korea and India as well as taking part in many Canadian trade missions. Tenzin also worked as a sports broadcaster at CBC-TV.

A graduate of McGill School of Management, Tenzin ran as a candidate for federal Member of Parliament in Montreal in the 2006 elections and is a recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. 

Adam Pankratz is a lecturer at the Sauder School of Business in the Strategy and Business Economics division. He is a UBC alumnus having completed his MBA from the Sauder School of Business in 2013. Adam also has a Masters degree in Foreign Language Linguistics from the University of Potsdam in Germany, and a BA in French Linguistics from Simon Fraser University.

His prior work has included time in commercial banking and payments and cash management with local and international financial institutions. Adam currently is on the Board of Directors at Rokmaster Resources, a junior mining company based in Vancouver.

Tim McEwan is Senior Vice President, Policy & Stakeholder Engagement with the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), a leading industry association in British Columbia. 

Over his professional career spanning more than 25 years, Tim has served in senior executive roles in both the public and private sectors, most recently as Deputy Minister, BC Ministry of Small Business, Red Tape Reduction and Minister Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch. Prior to this, from 2012 to 2015, Tim was Associate Deputy Minister, BC Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour where he established and led the BC Major Investments Office, a cross-government initiative to expedite major resource and development projects through complex permitting and approvals processes.

Tim also served as President and CEO of Initiatives Prince George Development Corporation (2008-2012), the economic development authority for Prince George, BC, and led the implementation of a strategic plan to strengthen Prince George's economic leadership role in BC and Western Canada. He was also founding Executive Director (Assistant Deputy Minister) of the BC Progress Board (2001-2006), a Board of blue chip CEO’s mandated to benchmark BC’s economic performance and to provide strategic advice to the Premier of BC. 

Early in his professional career, Tim worked eight years for the Business Council of BC in senior policy advocacy and operational positions, including a key leadership role in the landmark BC Business Summit initiative between 1999 and 2001. Tim has served as a Board member on numerous government, business, and non-for-profit organizations. He is a past member of both the Deputy Ministers Council of BC and the Board of Governors of the Business Council of British Columbia.

Tim holds a B.A. and M.P.A, both from University of Victoria, and resides with his wife Cynthia in Tsawwassen, BC