Speakers

Suzanne Gibson “awakens the potential” of your organization to achieve its mandate and vision. Suzanne has worked extensively in the charitable and government sectors and specifically enjoys supporting municipalities to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Over the past 25 years, Suzanne has:

• inspired organizations to “dream big,” unite around an idea and turn those dreams into reality;
• uncovered creative solutions to complex social and organization problems mobilized diverse groups into strong teams;
• facilitated and supported leaders, staff and community members to achieve their personal and collective potential;
• applied her entrepreneurial flair to start up innovative new ventures; and
• equipped organizations to secure much-needed knowledge, skills and resources.

Suzanne specializes in leadership development, strategic planning, social innovation, governance and change management. She has been an instructor at York University’s Schulich School of Business in the Non-Profit Management Leadership Institute as well as at Metropolitan Toronto University and the Coady Institute.

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Todd Pugh began his local government career in 1994 as a professional weed-whacker with the Parks Department of a regional district in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. More than three decades later, he is the Executive Director of CivicInfo BC, a Victoria-based not-for-profit that provides information and data services to the local government sector.

Under Todd’s leadership, CivicInfo BC has developed a number of innovative tools and resources, including Canada’s largest local government job board, an online municipal statistics platform, and the first province-wide municipal election results reporting system in the country.

Since 2007, Todd has also served as an instructor in the School of Public Administration at Capilano University, where he teaches courses on local government administration, services, finance, and leadership.

More about Todd:

• BA in History and Political Science from UBC, Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Victoria
• Currently lives in North Saanich, on Vancouver Island BC
• Two kids, one wife, no pets

Todd’s hobbies include playing something that resembles recreational hockey and recovering from the related injuries. And he still fires up the weed-whacker on weekends.

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Brenda brings her learning and experience as a speaker, trainer, writer and consultant to everything she does. She and her team work as The Robcan Group. Her Bachelor of Arts was earned at Brandon University and her Masters of Education at Simon Fraser University. She has been addressing groups for over thirty years about communications, humour, laughter, positive working skills and wellness in general. Her workshops and presentations are in high demand. She has authored five books to help people gain new skills for personal and professional application. .

Brenda grew up on a farm close to Minnedosa, Manitoba and continues to stay connected to her family there. She now lives in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Brenda has five children and 6 grandchildren.

Brenda believes that we are on a life-long learning journey. It should be enriching, exciting, interesting and above all, it should be fun!

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As Executive Director for REACH Edmonton Council for Safe Communities, Jan believes the best solutions come from community. She was a driver in establishing the Alberta Office to Combat Trafficking as well as the Provincial #NotinMyCity Provincial Network that she now co-chairs. She also served on the Alberta Human Trafficking Task Force. Outside REACH, Jan is the past-chair of the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities (CCFSC), represents Edmonton in the global Peace in Our Cities network, and leads the new Rotary Indigenous Speaker Series Committee. She is also a consultant with Robcan Group working with many local municipalities to share her knowledge. Previously, Jan managed labour relations issues with the Government of Canada, and was warden at the Edmonton Institution for Women where she founded Women in Police and Corrections.

Accolades include the YWCA Lois E. Hole Lifetime Achievement, Women of Vision Award, Association of Professional Executives Partnership Award, Institute of Public Administrators Teamwork Award, and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.

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Chantal is a skilled professional with over two decades of public sector experience, navigating all levels of government. Specializing in digital transformation and program management, Chantal has excelled in diverse industries, showcasing exemplary skills in business development and stakeholder engagement. Currently serving as the Public Sector Industry Lead at AltaML, Chantal oversees the overall success of customer engagements, including the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions from proof-of-concept to deployment, with a keen focus on delivering offerings that are competitive in the market. Prior to this role, Chantal held the position of Senior Executive Business Partner - Public Sector at AltaML, where she played a pivotal role in driving strategic planning and innovation. Her influence still extends to the success of AltaML’s expanding talent accelerator program, GovLab.ai. Chantal holds a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alberta.

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Dan is the Executive Business Partner for GovLab at AltaML, where he leads the delivery of applied AI projects for the public sector. By leveraging strong client relationships, Dan ensures successful project outcomes that align with the strategic priorities of partners across multiple levels of government. His role also includes educating stakeholders on AI adoption and removing barriers to using AI as a transformative tool across public services. With over 20 years of experience in both public and private sectors, Dan has led large-scale projects focused on process improvement, strategic planning, change management, and performance measurement. His leadership in transforming how organizations operate and deliver services has been instrumental in advancing legal services, shared services, and corporate governance. Dan fosters collaboration between government, industry, and academia to shape discussions around AI’s impact on public service delivery.

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Angela has been an advisor with the Municipal Advisory and Capacity Unit since 2016. In this role, she is part of a team that provides advisory support to council(s), administration, and the public, delivering workshops, developing resources, and performing advisory visits.

Prior to joining Municipal Affairs, Angela worked in local government for nine years in various administrative capacities. She holds Level 1 of the National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration (NACLAA) and enjoys playing pickleball.

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Lucien has been in the municipal governance field since 1990 and, most recently, with Municipal Affairs for six years. He has also been a member of the Society of Local Government Managers since 2007. Lucien’s career has primarily focused on legislative services though he has also worked as a CAO and a development officer. He believes humour in the workplace is essential and has been known to be the "class clown" and premier orator of quality dad jokes (is that an oxymoron?).

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Andrew has been an advisor with Municipal Affairs for the last four years. In this role, he is the first point of contact for municipalities and Albertans with questions about the administration and operation of local governments. He also contributes to the development of resources and documentation for stakeholders.

Prior to joining the ministry, Andrew worked in a range of policy and program roles with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency and the Alberta Ombudsman. Andrew likes onion and pineapple on pizza.

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As Co-Chair of the firm’s Municipal Law Team, Daina is a trusted advisor for municipalities and related entities. She has appeared before all levels of courts in Alberta and the Supreme Court of Canada. She regularly appears before and acts as counsel for administrative tribunals, including subdivision and development appeal boards and the Land and Property Rights Tribunal. Daina also provides advice and guidance to regional governance bodies such as growth management boards and regional services commissions.

Daina regularly writes and speaks on municipal law issues and has given presentations at a number of municipal association conferences, including Alberta Municipalities, Rural Municipalities of Alberta, the Society of Local Government Managers (SLGM), the Local Government Administration Association and Alberta Municipal Supervisors.

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Sean is the Co-Chair of Reynolds Mirth’s Municipal Law Team, and provides advice to municipalities and public bodies throughout Alberta. His municipal law work is varied and includes drafting, interpreting and challenging bylaws, planning and development, and the many issues municipalities face as complex entities with considerable statutory powers and responsibilities.

Sean has appeared before Subdivision and Development Appeal Boards, the Municipal Government Board, and at all levels of Court in Alberta on matters related to municipal law. He is also a frequent speaker and presenter on various municipal law topics.

Sean’s media law practice includes providing advice to print, broadcast and online media outlets of all sizes with respect to publication and access and matters related to defamation. He has appeared at all levels of Court in Alberta, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada, where he was a member of Reynolds Mirth’s team relating to an injunction brought against a major national broadcaster respecting articles posted to its website containing information subject to a publication ban. Sean teaches Communications Law at MacEwan University and is a board member of the Canadian Media Lawyers Association.

Sean’s practice also encompasses privacy law, including matters related to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act which come before the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta. He is also a member of the firm’s Construction Law Team and provides advice to both owners and contractors on various contracting issues and construction disputes.

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Hugh Culver’s business enterprises have included a pioneering whitewater rafting company, the world’s only airline in Antarctica, and a national content management company. His adventure exploits have taken him from the Arctic to the Antarctic, from mountain peaks to whitewater rapids and even included golfing at the North Pole.

His insights and writings on personal leadership are sought after by leading organizations, including: Imperial Oil, Shoppers Drug Mart, Royal Bank of Canada, Investors Group, Western Union, Suncor, Telus, United Way, and Royal Lepage.

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Dr. Marvin Washington (Ph.D., Northwestern University / Kellogg Graduate School of Management), is most known as a Pracademic (practicing academic). Dr. Washington has written three books focused on leadership, strategy, and organizational change. His most recent book is, Lead Self First Before Leading Others with Stephen Hacker at Business Expert Press.

Over the past 20 years, Dr. Washington has worked with a wide array of organizations. Most notably, Dr. Washington was the Academic Director for Alberta Health Services Executive Leadership Program. He has also worked with organizations such as Enbridge, AIMCo, Blue Cross, Parkland Fuels, and SportChek, many ministries and departments in the Country of Botswana, the state of Oregon, Government of Alberta and the City of Edmonton on topics of leadership, organizational change, and diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice.

Since July, 3, 2023 Dr. Washington is the College Dean / Vice-Provost for Social Sciences and Humanities at University of Alberta. Academically, Dr. Washington research often focuses on processes of organizational and institutional change.

On a personal note, Dr. Washington is married and has 3 sons. When not at work, Dr. Washington is an avid basketball fan having coached boys’ and girls’ basketball teams for almost 25 years.

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Sara Ahlstrom is a Senior Intermunicipal Relations Specialist working with Alberta Municipal Affairs for the last 17 years, focusing on providing assistance to municipalities with inter and intra municipal facilitation, collaboration, mediation and training programs.

Sara appreciates that difficult conversations requires a combination of self-awareness, skills and practice that can be learned. She loves to work with those who want to try to have difficult conversations in a more positive and productive way.

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Nnezi is an International Mediation Institute (IMI) qualified Mediator, a certified Arbitrator and a Dispute Resolution specialist for the past 6 years. After over 15 years of legal practice, Nnezi made the shift to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and have since practiced, trained and coached others in the field of dispute resolution.

Nnezi is passionate about helping people integrate conflict resolution skills into their life in a way that makes sense to them and builds upon the strengths they already have.

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