Navigate: Youth Water and Environmental Leadership Summit

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

John's Bio

John Pomeroy | Distinguished Professor, University of Saskatchewan
Off-Site Tours - Canadian Rockies Hydrological Observatory (Saturday afternoon)

John Pomeroy is the Canada Research Chair in Water Resources and Climate Change, UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability, and Director of the Global Water Futures program and the Canmore Coldwater Laboratory at the University of Saskatchewan, Canmore.

Centre for Hydrology, University of Saskatchewan

Global Water Futures

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

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

Autumn's Bio

Autumn EagleSpeaker | Outreach Coordinator, Keepers of the Water
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

Autumn is Blackfoot from Kainai First Nation in Southern Alberta and African American. As Indigenous Outreach Coordinator at Keepers of the Water, a grassroots Indigenous and ally supported organization rooted in decolonizing Indigenous water governance, Autumn assists in amplifying Indigenous community voices impacted by proposed and existing coal and fossil fuel extraction projects. Through educational sessions and community dialogues Autumn is sharing how these projects impact water, land, affect people, animals and species at risk.

Autumn believes firmly in the protection of the environment and Indigenous rights. She has worked in the area of Indigenous consultation, non-profit management and cultural event curation. Autumn’s educational background is Indigenous governance and political science. 

Keepers of the Water

David's Bio

David Hill | Director, Centres and Institues and Research Advocacy, University of Lethbridge
Water Futures Panel (Friday 10:30-11:30)

David Hill has almost 50 years of experience in water, irrigation, agriculture, and natural resource management. He is a member of the Board of Inside Education (www.insideeducation.ca) and since 2005 he has served as the Water Policy Co-Chair for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (www.pnwer.org). His various roles at the University of Lethbridge provide focus on connecting water and agricultural research and training with the needs of community, government, and business.

David was a member of the Alberta Water Council for 9 years from its inception until joining the University of Lethbridge in 2012. He is a former Chair of the Alberta Science and Technology Leadership (ASTech) Foundation (www.astech.ca) and a past president of the Canadian Committee on Irrigation and Drainage. David has served on the Alberta Endangered Species Conservation Committee, Alberta Environmental Agriculture Council, and as a past member of the Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy (University of California, Berkeley, 2004-2010).

Prior to joining the University of Lethbridge David was the Executive Director for Water at Alberta Innovates and formerly the Executive Director of the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association.

University of Lethbridge

Dr.Jessica's Bio

Dr. Jessica Liggett | Senior Hydrogeologist, Alberta Geological Survey / Alberta Energy Regulator
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

"Water is essential for life. My fascination with water started as a kid, when I’d sit by rushing mountain streams, watching the water toss and turn over the rocks. I am now a hydrogeologist at the Alberta Geological Survey where I map and model Alberta’s precious groundwater resources to balance groundwater use with sustainability." - Dr. Jessica Liggett

Alberta Energy Regulator

Kaleigh's Bio

Kaleigh Watson | Program Manager, Alberta WaterPortal Society 
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

Kaleigh has a background in marketing and media, including photography, graphic design, web design, and video production. She joined the Alberta WaterPortal in 2021 and has been able to apply her mixed background by doing strategic business development activities, as well as leading the creation of articles, graphics, and videos on water management topics. In her spare time she enjoys reading and enjoying the natural environment by hiking or skiing.

Alberta WaterPortal Society

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

Erinn's Bio

Erinn Drage | Programme Officer, International Union for Conservation of Nature - World Commission on Protected Areas
Youth Environmental Action Panel (Saturday Morning)

Erinn Drage is an environmentalist, filmmaker, protected areas enthusiast and outdoor adventure guide. In recent years Erinn has worked as an expedition guide in the Arctic and Antarctica, directed, shot, and edited digital media series’ for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and conducted research on nature-based tourism economies in the Denali region of Alaska.

Her first feature-length documentary, In the Footsteps of Our Ancestors, follows the story of the Sahtú Dene and the Canol Trail in the Northwest Territories. She currently works full-time in international conservation policy with Parks Canada and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), while pursuing her other passions by writing and editing film projects on the side. 

World Commission on Protected Areas

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

Camille's Bio

Camille LeBlanc | National Lake Blitz, Program Manager
Offsite Tours (Saturday afternoon)  

Camille LeBlanc is Living Lakes Canada’s National Lake Blitz Program Manager. In this role Camille, along with the rest of the Lake Blitz team, provides the tools, training and ongoing support to hundreds of volunteer lake monitors across Canada. Prior to managing this national community science and education program, Camille has led projects on habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, and water quality monitoring.

Camille graduated from Selkirk College with an Associate Degree in Peace and Justice Studies and a diploma in Integrated Environmental Planning in 2018. Her interests bridge both the social and environmental sciences, which reflect her passion for community capacity building and environmental advocacy.

Camille is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Environment and Management from Royal Roads University. Camille grew up along the Sturgeon River in Alberta on Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Métis Nation of Alberta, where she explored the surrounding wetlands and learned the names of the birds and the plants. After travelling through British Columbia’s Southern Interior, her draw to live in wild spaces brought her to the Kootenay Region in 2013. Camille is now based in Trail, B.C. on the unceded territory of the Ktunaxa, Syilx, and Sinixt Peoples. 

Lake Blitz

Matthew's Bio

Matthew Mairinger | Business Analyst, Ontario Power Generation
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

Matthew Mairinger is the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN) Vice President. He is also a Young Energy Professional member with the Energy Council of Canada and is a board member with the Canadian Nuclear Association. Matthew is a Project Management Professional and a Professional Engineer.

He received his Bachelor of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering and his Graduate Diploma in Nuclear Technology from Ontario Tech University. He has ten years of experience working at Ontario Power Generation at both the Darlington and Pickering nuclear generating stations.

NAYGN

Lisa's Bio

Lisa Pollio | Program Manager, Careers in Energy (Energy Safety Canada)
Innovation Gallery (Saturday morning)

Lisa joined Energy Safety Canada (ESC) as a Program Manager in 2013, after six years of working in the oil sands region of Fort McMurray. Lisa learned valuable field experience as a Health, Safety and Environment Advisor and then transitioned to a Disability Management role. This hands-on knowledge allowed her to obtain the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation.

Being part of the Training and Industry Development and Support teams at ESC has enabled Lisa to bring her expertise of our sector to the Careers in Energy group. An adventurer at heart, Lisa loves spending her free time in the mountains or travelling to different parts of the world with her family.

Careers in Energy

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

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

Jessica's Bio

Jessica Needham | Youth Advisory Council Coordinator, Ducks Unlimited Canada
Projects in Action Workshops (Saturday morning)

Jessica is currently the Youth Advisory Council Coordinator for Ducks Unlimited Canada. She has the privilege of working with youth from across Canada who are helping to shape the future of conservation and youth engagement at DUC. Jessica is also a part of the National Education Team at Ducks Unlimited Canada, where she helps to develop and deliver educational programming.

In recent years, Jessica has been conducting research on how to transform local knowledge into spatial data that can be used to help make conservation decisions. She completed the Master of Environmental Studies program and a BSc in Environmental Science at Dalhousie University.

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Dr.Vanessa's Bio

Dr. Vanessa Swarbrick | Senior Science Advisor, Office of the Chief Scientist, Government of Alberta
Water 101 (Friday morning)

Vanessa Swarbrick is passionate about using science to advance the way we manage aquatic ecosystems and has worked on water-related issues across academic, non-profit, industry, and government sectors. As a scientist, she is interested in the intersection of limnology, biogeochemistry, and resource management.

From the highest alpine lakes to our prairie rivers and streams, Dr. Swarbrick’s research has evaluated the impacts of different types of pollution, like mercury, organic contaminants, and nutrients, on freshwater ecosystems in Canada. Since joining the Government of Alberta in 2014, she has focused on improving the way water is managed through science and monitoring, policy, and resource management programs. 

Office of the Chief Scientist

Lisa's Bio

Lisa Dryden | Environmental Innovation and Research Advisor, Vertex Resource Group Ltd.
Innovation Gallery (Saturday morning)

Lisa Dryden, Environmental Innovation and Research Advisor with Vertex Resource Group Ltd., holds a BSc. in Environmental and Conservation Sciences, majoring in Land Reclamation from the University of Alberta, and a Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) Designation in Alberta. She started her career as an Environmental Scientist where she consulted on remediation and reclamation projects for upstream oil and gas.

Also working in the non-profit world, she fostered relationships that promoted an industry association and the environment industry with other industry sectors and levels of government. Lisa currently works in Research and Development at Vertex Resource Group Ltd., focusing on managing and expanding projects that better the environment industry and promotes the company’s long-term success. 

Vertex

Kate's Bio

Kate Rich | Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas
Water Futures Panel (Friday 10:30-11:30)

Kate Rich, P.Geo., has led various strategies for the public and private sectors related to energy, climate change, water and land management – all with a focus on sustainable development. She has lived and worked in several cities across Canada and internationally. Her current role is the Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy in Alberta Environment and Protected Areas and the Stewardship Commissioner in Alberta’s Land Use Secretariat.

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas

Dr.Paolo's Bio

Dr. Paolo Mussone | Ovintiv Applied Research Chair in Energy, Northern Alberta Institute of Science and Technology
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

Dr. Paolo Mussone holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science and has 20 years of experience in industrial innovation, technology commercialization, and research in the fields of applied chemistry and environmental science.

As the Ovintiv Applied Research Chair in Energy at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Paolo leads multidisciplinary and multistakeholder projects spanning laboratory and field activities focusing on technology development and validation with emphasis on environmental applications relevant to the circular economy. Paolo also leads training and mentorship initiatives to support Indigenous communities in establishing environmental monitoring programs with special focus on freshwater and soil quality.

Paolo earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science from the University of Manchester in the UK, an MSc in Process Control Engineering, and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Milan. Prior to joining NAIT, he was a process development engineer in the hydrogen, syngas, and methanol industrial catalysis team at Haldor Topsoe A/S in Lyngby, Denmark (2002-2003).

His academic career includes a postdoctoral fellowship in the Oil Sands Engineering Research group (2007–2009), Research Associate in the Biorefining Conversions and Fermentation Laboratory in the Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences (2010–2014), and Process Engineering Lead in the Department of Chemical Engineering (2015), at the University of Alberta.

NAIT Clean Technologies Team

Michael's Bio

Michael Wagner | Forest Hydrologist, Alberta Forestry, Parks and Tourism
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

Michael Wagner is a Registered Professional forester and Forest Hydrologist with Alberta Forestry, Parks and Tourism. He has over 18 years of experience in research hydrology, forestry, and land and watershed management issues. The position he has with the Forestry Division is focused on developing policy and decision support tools related to sustainable forest management and cumulative effects for addressing water and watershed management issues across Alberta’s forested regions.

Alberta Ministry of Forestry, Parks & Tourism

Patrick's Bio

Patrick Hanington | Professor, University of Alberta
Projects in Action Workshops (Saturday morning)

Patrick is an associate professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. Patrick and his group use molecular biology to detect and quantify organisms that pose a risk to human and environment health in aquatic ecosystems. Part of this research involves engagement of community and school-based participants to expand the scope of research projects, encourage community participation in scientific research and increase water literacy.

University of Alberta

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

Pieter's Bio

Pieter Aukes | Professor, Integrated Water Management Program, SAIT 
Innovation Gallery (Saturday morning)

Pieter has a passion for working with water information in a digital world. With a research background in hydrogeology and arctic biogeochemistry, Pieter has always enjoyed being outside trying to understand how natural water and chemical cycles interact with each other. He looks for ways to create effective and engaging products to share these findings using a number of techniques, ranging from open-access tools to virtual-reality data rooms. When not working as an Instructor at SAIT for the Integrated Water Management Program, he can be found out on the trails (sometimes frantically keeping up with his toddler-on-bike).

SAIT Integrated Water Management Program

Maxwell's Bio

Maxwell Shedd | Team Captain, University of Calgary Solar Car Team
Innovation Gallery (Saturday morning)

The University of Calgary Solar Car Team has the vision of leading the community in the pursuit of sustainable technology. To do so, our team members design, build and race practical solar cars that engage the community and encourage the growth of student leaders.

Throughout our 18 years of impact in the community, our team has aimed to educate younger generations, innovate within our Calgarian community, and inspire the automotive industry to push for the implementation of renewable energies within our daily lives.

University of Calgary Solar Car Team

Jennifer's Bio

Jennifer Shearer | Subteam, University of Calgary Solar Car Team
Innovation Gallery (Saturday morning)

The University of Calgary Solar Car Team has the vision of leading the community in the pursuit of sustainable technology. To do so, our team members design, build and race practical solar cars that engage the community and encourage the growth of student leaders.

Throughout our 18 years of impact in the community, our team has aimed to educate younger generations, innovate within our Calgarian community, and inspire the automotive industry to push for the implementation of renewable energies within our daily lives.

University of Calgary Solar Car Team

Ceilidh's Bio

Ceilidh Welch | MSc Student, University of Alberta
Projects in Action Workshops (Saturday morning)

Ceilidh Welch an MSc student in the University of Alberta School of Public Health, specializing in Environmental Health Sciences. Her research is focused on investigating the reliability of a community-based approach to qPCR monitoring for biological hazards in recreational waters and means of expanding the use DNA-based testing in monitoring programs.

University of Alberta

Terava's Bio

Terava Groff | Hydrology Graduate Student, University of Saskatchewan
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

Terava is an MSc. student studying hydrology at the University of Saskatchewan’s Coldwater Laboratory based in Canmore, AB. Her focus is on the infiltration of snowmelt into sloped frozen soils. She graduated in June 2021 with a BSc. (Honors) in Environmental Earth Sciences with a minor in Hydrology from the University of Saskatchewan.

Terava was part of the Co-operative Education Program during her undergrad which gave her experience working in research under various researchers with ECCC. She continued to take research opportunities at the U of S as summer jobs and as part-time throughout the school year. It was these experiences that led her to pursue her Master’s.

University of Saskatchewan Centre for Hydrology

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

Denise's Bio

Denise Beaven | Girls Talk Tech Co-Chair, Conocophillips Canada
Round Tables (Friday afternoon)

Denise Beaven has spent 40 years in the IT industry with 33 years at ConocoPhillips Canada. Girls Talk Tech’s goal is to help girls learn more about IT careers and feel confident they can succeed. Girls Talk Tech (GTT) was formalized in 2018 with the mission to educate, encourage and empower young women to embrace technology for the future.

Girls Talk Tech

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