Michael Nemeth

Kim's Bio

Kim Sturgess | CEO, WaterSMART Solutions
Water Futures Panel (Friday 10:30-11:30)

Kim Sturgess is the founder and CEO of WaterSMART Solutions Ltd., a services organization committed to improving water management through better technologies and practices. She has led the development of collaborative watershed management models and systems over the last 15 years and has supported water management planning in industry and government.

In addition to serving on the boards of her own companies, she has served on the boards of the Alberta Chamber of Resources, Council of Canadian Academies, Alberta Water Council, Canadian Academy of Engineering, National Research Council, and the Alberta Economic Development Authority.

She has a degree in Engineering Physics from Queen’s University, an MBA from Western University, an Honorary Doctor of Science from Queen’s University and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Calgary. She is a Member of the Order of Canada.

WaterSmart Solutions

Murdoch's Bio

Murdoch McKinnon | PhD Student, University of Waterloo
Youth Environmental Action Panel (Saturday Morning)

Murdoch is a PhD student in Geography at the University of Waterloo. His research involves studying a new method to turn oil well pads back into peatland wetlands just outside of Slave Lake, Alberta. Accordingly, he spends much of his time knee-deep in peat, swatting mosquitoes, and pouring water out of his boots—all in the name of science.

He is also a member of the new Youth Advisory Council at Ducks Unlimited Canada, where he works as part of a team of young people from across the country to help improve wetland conservation programming for youth. When not out studying a wetland or in the lab, Murdoch can usually be found exploring the Canadian Rockies on foot or on skis.

DUC Youth Advisory Council

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

Pablo's Bio

Pablo Pina | Academic Chair, MacPhail School of Energy, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Innovation Gallery (Saturday morning)

Trained to understand how the earth works and how it supports life in areas of biological, physical, and earth sciences, Pablo Pina has pursued his passion for water and environmental sustainability through a career that has brought together research, consulting and higher education.

With a bioscience undergraduate degree, a master’s in environmental biology and a doctorate in water and land resources, Pablo has worked as a research associate at the University of Calgary and consulted with clients across the non-profit sector, industry and government. His research and presentations on it have taken him from Canada and the United States to Mexico and Central and South America, along with Switzerland and France.

Pablo joined SAIT in 2017, taking a role as the Academic Chair of Water Sustainability — helping SAIT develop and unveil the groundbreaking Integrated Water Management diploma program in 2019. In 2020, his role evolved as he was named the Academic Chair of Sustainability which has him contributing to the development of the sustainability portfolio through innovation, research integration and talent development. 

MacPhail School of Energy, SAIT