Kim Sturgess

Michael's Bio

Michael Nemeth | Senior Advisor, Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability, Nutrien
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

Mike leads Nutrien’s global water stewardship and biodiversity efforts as material ESG topics and how they relate to sustainable agriculture. He also supports Nutrien’s climate strategy through Nutrien’s carbon program and looks for opportunities around system solutions between those portfolios with agri-food value chain partners.

Mike received his Bachelor of Science with Distinction in Environmental Science and his Master of Science with a concentration in Hydrology from the University of Lethbridge. He is registered as a Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) in the practice areas of Environmental Impact Assessment and Mitigation Planning and Water Resources Planning and Management and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Inside Education, and the Chair of the Water Committee for the Potato Sustainability Alliance in North America. 

Nutrien

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

Richard's Bio

Richard Phillips | General Manager, Bow River Irrigation District, Alberta Irrigation Districts Association
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

Richard is the chair of Irrigating Alberta Inc., the consortium of irrigation districts participating in the Alberta Irrigation Modernization Program. He has been with the Bow River Irrigation District since 1996, initially as the district engineer, and as the general manager since 2004. He serves as vice chair of the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association and the Bow River Basin Council and chair of the Vauxhall and District Regional Water Services Commission. He has a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta and is a professional engineer. He enjoys fishing and a variety of other outdoor recreational activities.

Alberta Irrigation Districts Association

Angela's Bio

Angela Ten | Biologist, Trout Unlimited Canada
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

As a lover of both fish and the outdoors, it was inevitable that Angela fell into the world of fisheries. Through her studies at the University of Alberta, she was able to cultivate a strong background in conservation biology, while her work in the field gave her valuable experience and perspectives from those who lived and worked on the land. Angela currently lives and works in Calgary as a Biologist with Trout Unlimited Canada.

Alberta’s Native Trout