Andrea Visser

Valerie's Bio

Valerie Miller (she/her) holds a PhD in land reclamation from the University of Alberta, which focused on building soils using mine waste at a diamond mine in northern Canada.

As Outreach and Engagement Lead for Future Energy Systems, a research program at the University of Alberta, Valerie manages the Energy Explorers training program, coordinates the extensive outreach and engagement program, and works with numerous external partners to provide public access to research and researchers. She is the author of The Energy Adventures of Tommy and Remi series.

Future Energy Systems

Nicholas's Bio

Nick Ayre is the Team Lead of Business Development Geosciences at Strathcona Resources Ltd., a rapidly growing Calgary-based company specializing in oil and gas resource development in Western Canada. In his capacity of Team Lead, Nick oversees all Geoscience contributions with acquisition appraisals, regional evaluations, sustainability initiatives such as carbon capture, and Petrophysics.

Before working at Strathcona, Nick has been employed in both large and small Calgary based energy companies establishing multi-year exploration and development drilling programs, mentoring staff, acquisition appraisals, and divestment program.

In addition to his role at Strathcona, Nick has been actively involved with the Canadian Energy Geoscience Association (CEGA) where he served as the Conference Director overseeing all society conferences between 2021-2023, and co-chaired/advised CEGA’s annual Core Conference between 2020-2024. Nick’s roles at CEGA underscore his belief that organizing geoscientific events are critical for the promotion of geosciences to the general public, professional networking, and career development within the energy and geoscience communities.

Strathcona Resources Ltd.

Tamara's Bio

Tamara is the Senior Marketing and Communications Manager at Carbon Management Canada. She is a communications and marketing professional with extensive experience in brand and strategic communications management, public, stakeholder and rightsholder engagement, and content creation. Tamara specializes in communicating fabout Canada’s energy industry, including emerging clean energy sectors.

Tamara is a co-host of Not Your Grandpa’s Energy Industry podcast and supports the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) in a variety of volunteer roles. She has won awards for brand representation and website development in online publishing.

Carbon Management Canada

Shannon's Bio

Whiskey Jack Gallery provides diverse access to information by removing barriers and reaching people who don’t have technical knowledge of environmental advancements. This mobile exhibit educates audiences using articles, videos, virtual reality experiences, paintings, and comics. 

Shannon Carla King aims to engage and educate in a way that is casual, fun and without bias. She is a Canadian painter who is focused on capturing the raw, natural beauty of reclamation, preservation, and conservation success stories in acrylic paintings. Her mission is to ensure environmental projects have a voice by reaching new audiences to inform, connect and instill pride in the great work that is being done to protect and heal the earth. Art can help increase environmental literacy by educating audiences on the acts of care for the land. 

Shannon believes that through art, we can facilitate crucial conversations and critical thinking in a way that is balanced and based on data. Her goal is to help individuals and organizations share their commitment of responsible development and land use using landscape paintings as a driver for curiosity.

Shannon Carla King
Whiskey Jack Gallery