Catherine Magnan

Maxwell's Bio

Maxwell Shedd | Team Captain, University of Calgary Solar Car Team
Innovation Gallery (Saturday morning)

The University of Calgary Solar Car Team has the vision of leading the community in the pursuit of sustainable technology. To do so, our team members design, build and race practical solar cars that engage the community and encourage the growth of student leaders.

Throughout our 18 years of impact in the community, our team has aimed to educate younger generations, innovate within our Calgarian community, and inspire the automotive industry to push for the implementation of renewable energies within our daily lives.

University of Calgary Solar Car Team

Theo's Bio

Theo Paradis | Senior Water Advisor, Canadian Natural
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

Theo Paradis has a background in Process Engineering and has had nearly 30 years of experience in mining and mining processes. At Canadian Natural, he has conducted plant design and production processes. Currently he is a Senior Water Advisor on mining water use, treatment, and monitoring at the Horizon Oil Sands Mine.

Canadian Natural

Winona's Bio

Winona Lafreniere | Project Manager, Indian Resource Council
Future of Energy Panel (Friday 10:30-11:30)

Winona is Anishinaabe from Treaty 4 territory in Manitoba, currently living on Treaty 7 territory in Calgary, Alberta. She lives out her passion for the environment, lifelong learning, and humanity through storytelling, philanthropy, and Indigenous ‘Ways of Living and Being’. She is recognized for championing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of her role as Project Manager with the National Energy Business Centre of Excellence (Indian Resources Council) and her entrepreneurial pursuits as owner of Indigenous Innovative Solutions Inc.

Winona holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Sciences from the University of Manitoba, a Project Management Certificate from Simon Fraser University and is currently working on a number of national and international energy projects. Her vision for a greener planet continues with her work in Rwanda, Africa where she is empowering women and youth in the shaping of a more sustainable future.

She attributes her success to the strong connection she has with her culture which has led her to various partnerships with Ducks Unlimited, Project Forest, Clean Resource Innovative Network, Eco Canada, Rotary Club Calgary North and more recently as a Fellowship member with Energy Futures Lab.

Indian Resource Council

Sam's Bio

Sam Effah | Canada Games Gold Medalist, Right to Play Ambassador, Amazing Race Canada Finalist
Keynote Speaker

As a native Albertan, Sam has speed. He represented Canada at 3 World Championships, 3 World University Games, 2 Commonwealth Games and was inducted into the 2021 Canada West Hall of Fame. Most recently, Sam was named co-Chef de Mission for the 2022.

As a volunteer, he’s an athlete ambassador with Right To Play and a past Classroom Champions mentor, where he focuses on using his platform to inspire the next generation of youth around the world.

In 2019 he was cast on The Amazing Race Canada Season 7 and placed second overall. 

Outside of athletics and in-office work, Sam loves to speak. He leads a strong stage presence, developed over the course of a ten-year career as a seminar speaker, workshop facilitator, and motivational presenter.

Learn More About Sam Effah