Mark Allison is a seasoned technology executive renowned for his leadership in the IT industry. As the President/CEO of LAN Solutions, a leading provider of networking and infrastructure solutions, Mark has driven innovation and growth within the company. Mark's ascent to the helm of LAN Solutions was a natural progression reflecting his exceptional leadership skills and industry expertise. Under his guidance, LAN Solutions has expanded its service offerings, forged strategic partnerships, and consistently delivered innovative solutions tailored to clients' needs. Mark's commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction has solidified LAN Solutions' reputation as a trusted partner in the IT landscape.

Dr. Radnejad is an entrepreneur and educator with more than a decade of experience in innovation strategies in Canada, UK and USA. Currently, Bahman is an Associate Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Bissett School of Business, Mount Royal University (MRU), and president of 1388 consulting. Prior to joining MRU, Bahman was a business faculty member at State University of New York at Brockport and Susquehanna University in the USA. Bahman has a PhD in Strategy from University of Calgary, Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from University of Manchester, and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from University of Tehran. He has also received a Design Thinking certification from Harvard Business School.

Based in Edmonton, Erika Barootes knows Alberta’s government inside and out—from the premier’s office to the heart of policy-making and most things in between. As the first president of the United Conservative Party, Erika played a central role in preparing the party for winning government in 2019 and 2023. Her experience in government in Alberta includes positions such as: Principal Secretary and senior manager of government communications in the premier’s office, senior advisor to a minister, and caucus liaison to the government’s policy coordination office. In these roles and in her time in the private sector, Erika has led and supported a series of public and private consultations, as well as focus groups and community outreach initiatives. Erika regularly appears on national TV panels and newspapers, speaking on a range of provincial, national and international issues.

Jason Bates (he/him) is the Vice-President, Grants and Community Initiatives at Calgary Foundation. Prior to working with the Foundation, he managed grants and contributions for various federal government departments in the Prairies Region as well as community development projects in both North Africa and China. He is a settler on Treaty 7 Territory, born and raised on a farm south of Calgary. Jason received his BA from McGill University majoring in Anthropology and International Development. Outside of work he is an avid outdoorsman and LEGO enthusiast.

With over 25 years of experience in the technology sector, Dan is a seasoned entrepreneur and an expert in spearheading innovative tech solutions. His entrepreneurial journey has involved collaborations with world-class brands such as Nintendo of Europe, Aeroplan, and BMW, where he has driven substantial advancements in technological frameworks. Currently, through his company Everythingcloud Technologies, Dan focuses on public cloud cost optimization and accelerating AI adoption in the modern workplace. Dan's work is dedicated to helping companies optimize their cloud investments and harness the transformative power of AI, ensuring they remain competitive and use technology as an enabler.

Susan has been with the United Way for 13 years and is the Vice President of Community Impact & Partnerships. In this role she works with agencies and other stakeholders to identify gaps, reduce barriers, and build innovative and intentional partnerships to create greater community impact. She has a Master’s Degree in social work, and has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 35 years.

Kat is the Executive Director of the FES. Kat’s main focus is building The Youth Harbour, a youth-for-youth climate support system focusing on supporting youth climate leaders with financial, technical, and networking support to amplify and scale their work, so far raising $4 million for youth climate action since 2021. On top of her work at FES, she sits on the board of the Sustainability Network, is an Advisory Council member to the Boann Social Impact, and is an Advisory Group Member for the Community Climate Transitions Innovation Fund by Tamarack Institute. Kat is passionate about activating the local community, whether that be organizing grassroots campaigns and clothing swaps, or volunteering at the University of Calgary or Calgary Foundation. Kat is passionate about empowering youth to take impactful action on sustainable development, strengthening and amplifying the youth *force* in the Canadian climate movement.

Odelia has developed relationships with St. Mary’s students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders in her roles as an academic advisor, career services advisor and Work-Integrated Learning coordinator. In her spare time, she likes to travel and is known for baking amazing biscotti and key lime pie.

Dana Decent (she/her) has a background in climate change and sustainability, and has worked across many sectors to advance a more just, sustainable and collaborative world. Dana is the Program Director of Climate and Health at Definity Foundation, and previously worked as the Director of Partnerships at Community Foundations of Canada, and Manager of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation. Dana has an M.E.S. in Sustainability Management and a B.E.S. in Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo. She has been recognized as a Clean50 Emerging Leader (2018), a Corporate Knights’ Top 30 Under 30 (2016) and received the St. Paul’s Young Alumni Award (2016). In her spare time, Dana can be found gardening, hiking and kayaking in her home near Kjipuktuk (Halifax) with her wife Tania and pup Taco.

Scott has been a leader in the nonprofit field for more than 25 years. In 2022, he co-founded Avista Philanthropy, a sought-after firm for local and national charities seeking specialized fundraising and leadership counsel. Over his career, Scott has consulted for and worked with over 85 organizations, often helping with the largest charitable gifts in their histories. Scott is an international trainer, active volunteer, advocate for the fundraising profession, award-winning fundraiser, and is skilled at developing leadership capacity to enable organizations to ask more for what matters. Scott recently collaborated with an international group of professionals to develop a white paper from Rogare entitled “Artificial Intelligence and fundraising ethics. What do we know and what don’t we know about the ethical use of AI in fundraising.”

Liz’s previous roles in the nonprofit sector have ranged from program manager to senior leader. The majority of her professional time and talents have been dedicated to capacity-building organizations and programs in Guelph, Toronto and Peel Region. Since joining Capacity Canada in 2018, Liz has used the lens of human-centred design to stimulate new thinking and approaches to challenges and opportunities faced by social good organizations. Liz has enjoyed expanding her network of wise and dedicated colleagues to Waterloo Region and beyond with Capacity Canada.

Michelle has over sixteen years of experience providing organizations with human resource expertise and innovation. In her role at MNP Community & Sport Centre, Michelle has been dedicated to creating efficiencies with new technology, developing agile systems for an unpredictable environment, and building on a company commitment to ensure DEI in the workplace.

Before joining MNP Community & Sport Centre, Michelle worked at WestJet for eighteen years where she held many different roles: Flight Attendant, Recruiter, Facilitator, Instructional Designer, and Manager. Michelle’s passion for human resources began when she saw the need to attract and develop great talent at WestJet.

Michelle values education, which includes continuous professional and personal development. She completed an MBA in 2017 and earned her CPHR designation in 2020. Her passion is inspiring others on their career path and fostering a culture of professional development by providing employees the tools they need to be successful.

Vincent Duckworth is the President and CEO of ViTreo. ViTreo is a full-service fundraising consultancy helping leaders, teams, and volunteers raise more money for Canada’s non-profit sector. Vincent has a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Alberta and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). He is also a certified AFP Master Trainer.

Vincent has been leading in the nonprofit sector almost 30 years. He is internationally recognized as an expert on campaign design, strategy and major gift performance. He is also Canada’s authority on philanthropic naming. His chapter on philanthropic naming can be found in the Canadian fundraising reference: Excellence in Fundraising in Canada: Volume Two.

Arti Freeman is the President and CEO of Definity Insurance Foundation, a national philanthropic organization that works with charitable partners across Canada to advance community-led solutions that further climate, health, and socio-economic justice. Arti has over 20 years’ experience in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector. Her ability to lead and bring diverse players and sectors together to address systemic challenges speaks to her passion for driving positive social change. Her innovative approaches to high-impact philanthropy have been featured by The Philanthropist and the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations. Arti has lived and worked in several countries, including India, the Philippines, Belgium, South Africa, and ultimately made her home in Canada.

Daisy Giroux (She/Her) is Woodland Cree from the Driftpile First Nation on Treaty 8 territory but has been a visitor of Treaty 7 since 2011. Her traditional name means ‘keeper of the sacred medicines’ in Cree, gifted by Elder Alma Kitwyhat from Saskatchewan. Daisy’s other traditional name which means “Driftpile woman” in Blackfoot was gifted by Elder Reg Crowshoe of Piikani First Nation. Her pronouns are she/her. Daisy is a single mother of 3 living children, who are 27, 22 and 17, and one child in the spirit world. She is also a ‘kookum,’ or grandmother, to two grandsons.

Daisy is a Strategy Lead for United Way of Calgary and Area’s Akaks’timan Indigenous Strategy. She has a Bachelor of Education degree and was a teacher and then principal for 8 years. Daisy has a Masters in social work through the University of Toronto, with a specialization in Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency.

Derrick is the President and CEO of Bluesky Equities Ltd., a diversified investment management company. He has been a Trustee of the Hunter Family Foundation since 1984.

Derrick was named Canadian Angel Investor of the Year in 2019. He is a Fellow of Creative Destruction Lab (Rockies), an Advisor to the UCEED General Health Fund and serves on the boards of Alberta Enterprise Corporation and Platform Calgary. He co-chairs the External Advisory Board of the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at UCalgary.

Derrick is a graduate of Queen’s University and the University of Calgary. He was the 2018 recipient of the Management Alumni Excellence (MAX) award from the Haskayne School of Business.

Anna Johnson is the Capacity Building Associate at the Calgary Foundation, where she leverages her expertise in systems thinking and social innovation to strengthen both organizational and sector-wide capacity. With over 10 years' experience at the intersection of community and academia, she has developed systems-focused learning programs at local, national, and global levels through roles with Mount Royal University’s Institute for Community Prosperity, Ashoka Canada, and the University of Oxford’s Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship. Anna is also a social entrepreneur, having founded both for-profit and nonprofit enterprises, including Fresh Routes, which aims to improve food access in Calgary.

Megan Kinal, M.Sc., is the Employer Engagement Manager of TalentED YYC at Calgary Economic Development. As part of this government-funded pilot project, Megan leads a team that supports organizations to diversify and grow their talent pool by accessing post-secondary talent via Work Integrated Learning. With a research background in developmental and social psychology, she has held roles in program coordination, business development, academic and career advising, and applied research across the non-profit and higher education sectors. She has served as Chair of the Research Ethics Board at Bow Valley College and is currently Casino Chair and Key Communicator for her son’s school council. She is driven by ideating and realizing innovative collaborations that improve life for youth in our community.

Nazarana Lalji (she/her) is a sixth generation East African and second-generation Persian. She moved to Canada from Tanzania when she was 14 years old and calls Canada her home. She has spent several years in the human resources industry and is passionate about people, especially those who come from marginalized groups. Nazarana advocates for promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. Through both her lived and professional experiences, she hopes to share her knowledge and passion for equitable practices within the HR realm. In her free time, Nazarana loves to workout and enjoys Muay Thai, as well as dancing, playing tennis, and hosting bootcamps. She also enjoys reading and spending time with her family and friends. Traveling and seeing the world is also important to her as she gets to see the world through a different lens. Work-life balance is important to Nazarana, as she believes that employees need to enjoy what they do but also have down time to prevent burnout.

Ken is the President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area, a board director with The Calgary Foundation, and a member of the Foundation's Major and Signature Grants Committee. He’s also a board director with Honens and is a founding member of the Calgary Chamber’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

In 2020, Ken received The Calgary Award for Community Advocate - Individual from The City of Calgary. In 2022, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of his significant contributions to the province through community service.

After more than 25 years of working with and alongside the social impact sector in the areas of governance, strategic planning, and investment partnerships (aka. fundraising), Jolene has learned a lot about the opportunities that these organizations face. She brings a well-rounded perspective, big thinking, creative approaches, and a fierce tenacity for ensuring equity in a sector that has been suppressed due to antiquated philosophies that no longer serve. She’s passionate about health, wellness, accessibility, and belonging – the underpinning mission of every social impact organization.

Having worked for the Globe and Mail and the CBC in London and Madrid, Alex returned to Calgary in 2004 and moved into the communications industry. Alex has worked in the arts, energy, tech and non-profit sectors and ran communications for progressive parties, and candidates, municipally, federally and provincially including developing the communications strategy for Mayor Nenshi’s re-election campaign in 2017. Alex also worked as Special Adviser to Premier Rachel Notley’s Minister of Treasury and Finance.

Founder of TEDxYYC and the first Director of ArtsVote, Alex is passionate about Calgary and helping to move the city forward so we can tackle critical issues of a changing world.

Hugh currently is a part-time Design Consultant with Capacity Canada’s Capacity by Design Program as well as a Faculty Member in Capacity Canada’s Board Governance Bootcamp. Through this work he helps social good agencies develop better ways of dealing with complex issues such as food security, social equity, housing shortages, and support for individuals with exceptionalities.

In addition to the above roles, Hugh is actively engaged with the business community through his consulting and management development activities. Hugh also currently serves as Marketing Director for the Kitchener Blues Festival.

Hugh recently retired from a long career at Wilfrid Laurier’s School of Business & Economics where he served as MBA Director as well as Professor of Marketing and International Business.

With over 15 years of experience, Cheryl Oates brings executive-level insight to advocacy campaigns and crisis management and has led government-level communications strategies to success. She began her career in journalism, working for a major Canadian broadcaster for nearly a decade. More recently, she served as the Executive Director of Communication and Planning to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley from 2015-2019, handling some of the most sensitive and complex issues currently facing the country, as well as sudden emergencies and catastrophes requiring immediate response and crisis management. Cheryl’s political background is complemented by her international experience. She has worked as an international communications and policy consultant in multiple countries, collaborating with governments, political parties and civil society organizations.

Bukola Ojemakinde, a Chemical Engineer and passionate community leader, has made an extraordinary impact in Calgary. Through her two nonprofit organizations and partnerships with other civic societies and funders, she has raised significant funds and received prestigious accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal and the Innovative Leadership Award from the Bhayana Family Foundation. Bukola serves on multiple boards, actively supports Healthy Aging Alberta, and tirelessly works towards addressing social issues that women and their families face. Her unwavering commitment to community service and dedication to creating positive change have transformed the lives of marginalized individuals, making her an inspiring force in the city.

Jill believes in an integrated approach to philanthropy, marketing, and communications. As a senior associate with ViTreo Group, her strategic approach has led to significantly increased revenues and expanded stakeholder bases for many organizations.

Jill’s proven track record spans both private and nonprofit sectors and she has earned multiple awards for marketing excellence. She also has a passion for brand identity and development. She recently led the rebranding of Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter into FearIsNotLove in 2022. 

Jill is a certified Communication Management Professional (CMP®) and a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE). She has a double degree in communication and psychology and is a member of both AFP and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).

Vinod Rajasekaran, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of Future of Good, leads a dynamic media and learning platform empowering changemakers with insights on social purpose innovations. Thousands subscribe daily to Future of Good for crucial updates. Vinod organizes impactful summits, including Black Leadership in Social Impact and Social Finance Forum, engaging over 5000 changemakers. He authors the Trends in Social Impact Report, a vital resource for industry leaders. Vinod teaches at Carleton University and previously led Rideau Hall Foundation and Impact Hub Ottawa. His pioneering work in social R&D is globally recognized. Vinod sits on the Advisory Board to the Equality Fund and holds accolades such as the Lewis Perinbam Award and The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. A sought-after speaker and commentator, he contributes to discussions on social impact, finance, innovation, and philanthropy worldwide.

Irfhan Rawji is Managing Partner with Relay Ventures, and Managing Partner with Realize Capital Partners, a fund-of-funds social finance asset manager, recently launched with an anchor commitment of C$135MM from the Government of Canada. Irfhan is also an entrepreneur, and is founder and executive chair of Canadian start-up MobSquad.

Irfhan serves on the boards of The Logic (Chair), PBA Land & Development, and Canadian Western Bank (TSX:CWB). Irfhan is actively involved in civic affairs serving as Board Chair of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, Board Member of Business and the Arts, Board Member of Venture for Canada, Board Member of the Aga Khan Museum, Board Member of CIFAR, and Member of the Canada Council for the Arts.

Kirby Redwood is Saulteaux-Cree from Cowessess First Nation and has called Moh'Kinsstis (Calgary)his home for over 50 years. He has been involved in the social services sector as a professional and volunteer since 1988. He has served in areas of children services, justice, adult education, and social services. Holding a BA in Justice Studies, MAL in Leadership, and an MBA, Kirby Values the role of formal education and the possibilities this path offers in relationship to his traditional ways of knowing and being. When we respectfully parallel Indigenous worldviews to Western worldviews we create opportunities for ethical space to emerge, and from there we open the doors to personal and community wellness. As the Lead Oskapweis (CEO) at Miskanawah, Kirby takes great pride in being part of a learning organization that contributes to community  as a social change agent and creates opportunities for the voices not always heard... to be heard.

Rhonda Roth (she/her) is the Chief Impact Officer at United Way of Calgary and Area. A collaborative and strategic leader, Rhonda catalyzes community change and builds awareness and support of United Way to improve local lives. As Chief Impact Officer, Rhonda leads the organization’s Community Impact and Partnership, Marketing and Communications, and Resource Development teams to drive sustainable solutions for complex social issues. Rhonda has a track record of motivating high-performing teams and more than two decades of leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector, with specialization in health care and the social sector. Rhonda believes that everyone can make a difference and is passionate about creating a community where everyone thrives.

As a leader and innovator, Kim Ruse has built a career exemplified by excellence in scaling and growing non-profit organizations, developing strong teams, and transforming cultures. As the CEO of FearIsNotLove, Kim more than doubled the size of the agency and its revenue over eight years.

In non-profit leadership roles over the past 20+ years, Kim has championed innovation projects that improve social conditions and systems. At FearIsNotLove, Kim spearheaded innovative violence prevention programs, such as the Innovative Systems Response Project; co-authored Shelter 2.0 on enhancing women’s shelters’ impact in ending violence and launching the Shelterlink App and Men &. 

Kim has been honoured with the McKillop Award for commitment to the Calgary community and an Alberta Government Inspiration Award for leadership. In 2022, she was named one of Calgary’s Influential Women in Business, and in 2023, received Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee medal recognizing her contributions to the province.

Quentin Sinclair is the Director, Community Impact for ATB Financial and oversees ATB’s community donations program as well as cause-related employee engagement initiatives. Prior to joining ATB, Quentin held leadership roles within Calgary’s social sector for over 15 years, both with community and funder organizations.

Quentin’s educational background includes community economic development, business management, and social enterprise. He has contributed to work on a range of social challenges including mental health, homelessness, community development, affordable housing, impact investing, and social enterprise.

Curtis Slater is the Executive Director of The PREP Society, a nonprofit in Calgary that provides educational and therapeutic services to children with Down syndrome. Over the past 15 years, Curtis has worked in various roles within the nonprofit and public sectors, including as a researcher at the Calgary Board of Education studying the impact of technology in the classroom, as a researcher at Vecova evaluating the impact of programs within the disability sector, and as a post-secondary instructor at Bow Valley College and Ambrose University. Curtis has a passion for the nonprofit sector and truly believes that positive systemic change is possible when passionate individuals work together towards a common vision.

Dr. Malinda S. Smith is the Vice Provost and Associate Vice-President Research (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) at the UCalgary. A political scientist, she is the coauthor, editor, or coeditor of numerous articles, chapters, and books, including The Equity Myth: Racialization and Indigeneity at Canadian Universities (2017); Nuances of Blackness in the Canadian Academy (2022); and Critical Concepts: An Introduction to Politics (2023). Dr. Smith serves on several national committees, including Statistics Canada’s Immigration and Ethnocultural Statistics Advisory Committee; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s External EDI Advisory Board; and as Vice Chair of the Scarborough Charter Steering Committee. Dr. Smith has been recognized with numerous awards and honours including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Calgary Black Chambers (2023), a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) from Simon Fraser University (2021), the Susan S. Northcutt Award (2020) from the ISA’s Women’s Caucus, P.E. Trudeau Foundation Fellowship (2018), ISA-Canada Distinguished Scholar Award (2018-19), and the ‘Equity Award’ from the Canadian Association of University Teachers (2015).

Ilda Songhurst is the VP – People and Organizational Sustainability with CUPS Calgary. She has been a life long learner and recently completed her Masters in Executive Leadership with Royal Roads. She believes strongly in supporting employees, which has been her passion for 22 years in HR. She also believes that we have a responsibility to support future generations and has been an HR mentor for over 10 years with CPHR Alberta and CCIS, and fosters the practicum program at CUPS for students in many areas of responsibility.

James Stauch is the Executive Director of the Institute for Community Prosperity at Mount Royal University where he has developed or co-created social innovation, leadership, and systems-focused learning programs for both undergraduates and the broader community. A former foundation executive and philanthropy and social change consultant, James is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, University of Oxford, a Board member of Alberta Ecotrust Foundation, an Advisor to the Nonprofit Resilience Lab, and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of The Philanthropist. Among other publications, James is the lead author of an annual scan of trends and emerging issues, produced in partnership with the Calgary Foundation.

Diana is settler, born on Syilx Territory home to the Okanagan Nation Alliance and Upper Nicola Band. She grew up on the unceded lands of the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group.

Diana Steele has worked in the Social Enterprise sector for over 20 years and is passionate about building inclusive community. Her professional style is facilitating the contribution of others with pride and courage towards common goals. Diana is currently Tenant Relations Coordinator at The Kahanoff Centre for Charitable Activities. A 210,000 square foot non-profit centre located in Mohkinstsis (Calgary Alberta) offering affordable office and meeting space to charities and non-profit organizations.

Kelli Stevens (she/her) is a part-time instructor of an undergraduate social work program and a full-time manager at the Suncor Energy Foundation. She finds it important to regularly test (and be tested on!) her beliefs about making change from within a system. At home, Kelli is a daughter, sister, caregiver, foster parent, and friend. She was initially shaped by a remote community in northern Alberta, and later re-shaped by extensive travel, work with a youth gang prevention program, and many other experiences that have all required her to understand that things can be both opposite and true.

As Associate Vice-President, Development at the University of Calgary, Janelle Wakaruk oversees major gift fundraising across faculties and units, and leads a talented group of 50 development professionals. Matching generous philanthropists with exciting research and educational opportunities is her passion.

Janelle has extensive experience in building and stewarding successful partnerships and developing complex, transformative fundraising priorities. With over 24 years of development experience, she has a track record of motivating high performing teams toward a shared goal. For 10 years she held progressive leadership roles in the Cumming School of Medicine, leading the team to raise over half of UCalgary’s $1.4B Energize campaign. She began her fundraising career in the arts, and has specialized in both community and health philanthropy.

Janelle’s volunteer leadership includes the Council for Advancement and Support of Education where she is currently Chair for District VIII, which encompasses the US Pacific Northwest and Western Canada

Meaghan graduated from Mount Royal University’s public relations program in June 2021 and has been with the Champion team ever since. She has worked with dozens of organizations spanning sectors including sports and entertainment, tech, energy and non-profit. Meaghan specializes in strategic communications and social media that prioritizes rich storytelling and leveraging algorithms.

Meaghan is passionate about helping organizations find authentic ways to engage with key audiences. In her spare time, she can be found scoping out local coffee shops with her dog, Bowie.

Joanne is the Executive Director of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI) at the Cumming School of Medicine, and UCalgary’s One Child Every Child (OCEC). She supports the strategic priorities of ACHRI, the implementation of OCEC and nurtures all internal and external partnerships. Her work focuses on the success of all maternal and child health and wellness research across ACHRI, OCEC and beyond. Joanne spent the past eight years as the Chief Operating Officer at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, collaborating with UCalgary, Alberta Health Services and the Government of Alberta to create impact for children and families through strategic research investments and clinical care investments by the donor community. Prior to working at the Foundation, Joanne had extensive experience in strategic management of large research initiatives at UCalgary, health system initiatives in acute and primary care, and community-based, multi-sector initiatives in child protection and child advocacy.

Jared Wesley is Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), a professor of political science and member of the Black Faculty Collective at the University of Alberta.  He studies the links between public opinion, public policy, and political culture.  His career path has included several senior management positions with the Government of Alberta. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, he is a lucky husband and proud father of two daughters.

Stephen has worked in Inclusive Employment for the last 38 years, and he is fortunate to have had the opportunity to ply his trade in both Australia and Canada. He has been involved in both the creation of the Alberta Association for Supported Employment and the Calgary Employment First Network.

He has facilitated workshops in Career Development for the Alberta Government and has been teaching in a variety of environments, promoting best practices in Inclusive Employment. His educational journey has been focused on Adult Education, particularly on alternatives to traditional learning.

Stephen has had the pleasure of working with groups of people over the years who share the same passions and enthusiasm for assisting persons with disabilities in becoming active members of their communities.

Presently, Stephen engages with Employers to address their Recruitment and Retention needs.