Billy-Joe Lafortune

Bryan's Bio

Bryan Helfenbaum is the Vice President of Clean Energy at Alberta Innovates, where he oversees programs in Clean Technology and Advanced Hydrocarbons with key initiatives in hydrogen, CCUS, digital energy, bitumen beyond combustion, and others. Before joining Alberta Innovates, he spent 20 years in technical, business, and innovation roles in the private sector.  Bryan has taught courses at the University of Calgary and worked on innovative community residential development projects.  

Bryan has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Waterloo and an MBA from Calgary.

Alberta Innovates

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

Candice's Bio

Candice is the Vice President – Corporate Affairs at Enhance Energy with over 15 years of experience in technology development and innovation in energy systems. She is passionate about energy technologies, environmental performance and community impact, holding an authoritative voice in the safe, permanent and best practices of CO2 utilization and storage.

Her expertise is sought by governments, regulators, industry partners and the public. She holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta and a MSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary. She spends her free time hiking and snowboarding with her husband and two kids, and loves to do flips on a trampoline with her “gymnastics for grown-ups” group.

Enhance Energy

Aspen's Bio

Aspen Dudzic is the Director of Communications at the Alberta Forest Products Association and has been working with the association for over 5 years. She supports media and government relations at the AFPA, but most of her work is centered around public engagement and educational initiatives including leading AFPA’s award-winning campaigns, Work Wild and Love Alberta Forests.

Aspen serves on the leadership team of the Forestry Together alliance, an initiative that works to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in Canada’s forest industry. She is also the host of AFPA’s podcast, Forestry Talks, which explores all things forestry in Alberta and can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

Alberta Forest Products Association