Tanya Richens

Vittoria's Bio

Vittoria Bellissimo is President & CEO of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA). Vittoria leads a member association focused on ensuring that wind energy, solar energy and energy storage play a central role in transforming Canada’s energy mix.

Vittoria was previously the Executive Director of the Industrial Power Consumers Association of Alberta and worked in renewable energy procurement at both the Ontario Ministry of Energy and the Ontario Power Authority (now the IESO).

Vittoria served on the Board of Emissions Reduction Alberta, as Vice Chair of Energy Efficiency Alberta, and was a founding Board member of Women+Power. She holds a M.Sc. in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Edinburgh and is a licensed professional engineer (B.Sc. Queen’s University). Vittoria is based in Calgary.

CanREA

Shannon's Bio

Whiskey Jack Gallery provides diverse access to information by removing barriers and reaching people who don’t have technical knowledge of environmental advancements. This mobile exhibit educates audiences using articles, videos, virtual reality experiences, paintings, and comics. 

Shannon Carla King aims to engage and educate in a way that is casual, fun and without bias. She is a Canadian painter who is focused on capturing the raw, natural beauty of reclamation, preservation, and conservation success stories in acrylic paintings. Her mission is to ensure environmental projects have a voice by reaching new audiences to inform, connect and instill pride in the great work that is being done to protect and heal the earth. Art can help increase environmental literacy by educating audiences on the acts of care for the land. 

Shannon believes that through art, we can facilitate crucial conversations and critical thinking in a way that is balanced and based on data. Her goal is to help individuals and organizations share their commitment of responsible development and land use using landscape paintings as a driver for curiosity.

Shannon Carla King
Whiskey Jack Gallery

Jennifer's Bio

Jennifer Chen serves as the GHG Impact Quantification Lead at Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA). ERA’s mandate is to invest in technologies that reduce GHG emissions and grow Alberta’s economy by accelerating the development and adoption of innovative technology solutions. In her role, Jennifer leads the evaluation of GHG quantification of project proposals and supports ERA’s emission reporting.

As a registered Professional Engineer in Alberta, Jennifer’s background includes process engineering design and operations in the oil and gas sectors, and polymer application and research. She graduated from the University of Waterloo with a BASc in Environmental Engineering, MASc in Chemical Engineering, and an MSc in Sustainable Energy Development with the University of Calgary. Jennifer is also a self-proclaimed “foodie”, who loves to eat and experiment on different recipes.

Emissions Reduction Alberta

Valerie's Bio

Valerie Miller (she/her) holds a PhD in land reclamation from the University of Alberta, which focused on building soils using mine waste at a diamond mine in northern Canada.

As Outreach and Engagement Lead for Future Energy Systems, a research program at the University of Alberta, Valerie manages the Energy Explorers training program, coordinates the extensive outreach and engagement program, and works with numerous external partners to provide public access to research and researchers. She is the author of The Energy Adventures of Tommy and Remi series.

Future Energy Systems