Valerie Miller

Lauren's Bio

My name is Lauren and I have been a Power Engineer for 6 years. In my role as a Power Engineer I am responsible for the operation and safety of a utility plant’s equipment and workers. As a young person I never imagined the doors I opened for myself when I entered the oil and gas industry. I look forward to sharing my journey and advice with you.

Suncor

Andrea's Bio

Andrea Visser is the Director of Fund Development and External Relations at Iron & Earth. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Geography and working towards her Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE) designation, Andrea has played a key role in building Iron & Earth from the ground up.

She has successfully secured significant funding from government, industry partners, and foundations, leading the organization’s growth. Andrea specializes in advancing renewable energy workforce development and community-based training programs, with a focus on rural and Indigenous communities across Canada.

Iron & Earth

Dr.James's Bio

Dr. James Makokis and Anthony Johnson are renowned as the trailblazing Two-Spirit team on the Amazing Race Canada. Their compelling victory in Season 7 brought pivotal gender, sexuality, and Indigenous issues to the forefront of national consciousness, reshaping societal perceptions. Distinguished in their individual capacities, they bring rich, diverse experiences and a profound depth of expertise to their advocacy efforts, championing the rights of First Nation and LGBTQ2S+ communities.

Residing in Treaty 6 Territory, Edmonton, Anthony Johnson is dedicated to the resurgence of Traditional Cree Medicine practices in Kehewin Cree Nation. Together, they are a formidable force, advocating for systemic change and promoting equity and inclusivity. Their journey transcends the Amazing Race; it’s a continual stride towards societal transformation, galvanizing communities, and allies alike to dismantle prejudices and foster a more inclusive, empathetic world. Their narrative is not just one of triumph but a compelling call to action for unity, understanding, and relentless pursuit of justice.

Nicholas's Bio

Nick Ayre is the Team Lead of Business Development Geosciences at Strathcona Resources Ltd., a rapidly growing Calgary-based company specializing in oil and gas resource development in Western Canada. In his capacity of Team Lead, Nick oversees all Geoscience contributions with acquisition appraisals, regional evaluations, sustainability initiatives such as carbon capture, and Petrophysics.

Before working at Strathcona, Nick has been employed in both large and small Calgary based energy companies establishing multi-year exploration and development drilling programs, mentoring staff, acquisition appraisals, and divestment program.

In addition to his role at Strathcona, Nick has been actively involved with the Canadian Energy Geoscience Association (CEGA) where he served as the Conference Director overseeing all society conferences between 2021-2023, and co-chaired/advised CEGA’s annual Core Conference between 2020-2024. Nick’s roles at CEGA underscore his belief that organizing geoscientific events are critical for the promotion of geosciences to the general public, professional networking, and career development within the energy and geoscience communities.

Strathcona Resources Ltd.