Billy-Joe Lafortune

Dale's Bio

Dale Hansen is the Dean in the MacPhail School of Energy at SAIT, providing leadership for its academic programs that span across the energy industry.

Prior to joining SAIT, Dale spent 25 years in the oil and gas and mineral resource sectors. Through the course of his career in oil and gas, Dale filled a wide variety of leadership roles across many functions, including time spent in field locations such as the Oil Sands near Fort McMurray. This has provided him with a well-rounded perspective on the industry and an absolute passion for energy in all of its forms. Dale is an experienced facilitator and speaker who holds a Chartered Professional Accounting (CMA) designation and a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University.

Holding a very strong belief that post-secondary education has a pivotal role to play in ensuring a supply of well educated, talented people across the energy system, Dale spends much of his effort building strong relationships with industry leaders. These relationships support SAIT’s effort to remain current in a rapidly changing environment as the industry seeks to transform itself on the path to decarbonization.

MacPhail School of Energy

Bronwyn's Bio

Bronwyn is the lead for Energy Evolution at Suncor Energy, with a focus on how responding to changes in the global energy landscape.

Previously, Bronwyn was a lead for clean energy technology with responsibility for the net zero technology roadmap and developing clean energy technology options to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050. Bronwyn is the small modular reactor (SMR) Team Lead for the Pathways Alliance, and also active in the other Net Zero Technology and GHG emissions reduction groups at Pathways and COSIA.

Prior to joining Suncor in 2018, Bronwyn worked at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) first as a reactor physicist and lastly as Program Manager, Small Modular and Advanced Reactor Technologies. In the latter role, she provided leadership in support of CNL’s SMR strategic initiative and participated in a number of national and international expert groups and collaborations, including the Canadian SMR Roadmap.

Bronwyn holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in physics from the University of Guelph and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada.

Suncor Energy

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

Shafak's Bio

With over a decade of experience at the intersection of industry, government, and communities, Shafak Sajid is dedicated to building meaningful relationships and driving impactful change.

A recipient of the Young Women in Energy Award, Shafak excels in strategic planning, and relationship building. Currently she is the interim Director, Engagement at the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation.

AIOC