Erinn Drage

Vicki's Bio

Vicki Lightbown | Director, Water Innovation Program | Alberta Innovates
Water Futures Panel (Friday 10:30-11:30)

Vicki Lightbown is the Director for the Water Innovation Program at Alberta Innovates. She is a Professional Engineer with a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Calgary.

Vicki loves the outdoors and is driven by her desire to support initiatives to improve the environment. Her role with Alberta Innovates allows her to work proactively to identify critical knowledge gaps and support world-class researchers in developing solutions for some of the biggest water challenges in Alberta.

Alberta Innovates

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

Ashley's Bio

Ashley Johnson | Education and Outreach Coordinator, Athabasca Watershed Council
Projects in Action Workshops (Saturday morning)

My name is Ashley Johnson, and I’m the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Athabasca Watershed Council. I completed my B.Sc. in Palaeontology, but along the way I developed a passion for science communication. When I’m not at my desk or doing outreach, I’m often either looking for cool rocks and fossils (which can be found almost anywhere in Alberta!) or learning more about watersheds and all the weird wonders across them.

Athabasca Watershed Council

Paige's Bio

Paige Kuczmarski | Invasive Species Technician, Alberta Invasive Species Council
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

Born and raised in Edmonton, Paige has become a ’Jill of all trades’ with invasive species. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from MacEwan University in 2017 where she was first introduced to invasive species through multiple research projects with garlic mustard and forest tent caterpillars. Soon after, Paige started a position with Alberta Agriculture where she focused on a flowering rush control project and creating the coveted ’Aquatic Invasive Species Pocket Guide’.

Since then, contracts with Alberta Environment and Parks have brought her all over the province for fieldwork as well as allowed her knack for creating punny education and outreach methods to grow. In 2021, she joined the Alberta Invasive Species Council as an Invasive Species Technician where she organizes the Biocontrol Release Program, social media initiatives and everything else under the invasive species sun!

Alberta Invasive Species Council