Dr. Sharon M. McIntyre (M.Ed., DSocSci) is working at the intersection of innovation, values and creative culture. Founder of New Cottage Industries & Co. Inc., an education company focused on growing practical creativity and everyday innovation with our clients, Sharon has shared her passion for building pragmatic marketing, branding, and innovation systems with global corporations, public sector organizations, start-up enterprises, and students for 25+ years.

Dr. McIntyre's research has articulated a new model of entrepreneurial innovation in Canada and recommended program and policy changes. Sharon was an inaugural member of the Alberta Government's Talent Advisory Council on Technology and is adjunct faculty in Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Mount Royal University. She has deep experience in developing and delivering education programs in strategic marketing and entrepreneurial innovation at universities and in industry workshops.

Sharon has held senior leadership positions and consulted in a variety of domains including software, energy, telecommunications, housing, publishing, and the arts. Through her consultancy, ShelfLife C&D Inc., Sharon also provides technology marketing mentorship and frugal innovation program design to Eneo, the national electrical utility company of Cameroon in West Central Africa. In the role of Chief Social Scientist, she supports the leadership team at Chaordix, a crowdsourcing technology and methodology pioneer in the brand and product innovation space.

Sharon has lived and worked internationally, communicates in English and French, holds dual Canadian and Irish (EU) citizenship, and contributes online as @shazzmack.

Executive Director of the Calgary Flames Foundation and Community Investment.

Experienced videographer, editor, photographer, and writer with a focus on automotive media.

Passionate about classic cars and currently in a committed relationship with a 1970 Corvette Stingray.

Dr. Cheryl Kinzel is the Interim Dean of Research & Innovation at Bow Valley College. She has worked in the field of education in a variety of teaching and leadership roles in British Columbia and Alberta for the past 25 years.

Cheryl’s doctoral research explored Reconciliation and Indigenous knowledges in the college setting and she is the project director on a Social Sciences and Humantities Research Council of Canada grant. Her research interests are social-emotional well-being in the early years, Reconciliation, Indigenous knowledge systems, and culturally-specific curriculum.

Cheryl has been with Bow Valley College for six years, working as a faculty member in the School of Community Studies; the Program Coordinator for the Early Learning and Child Care, and Indigenous focus Child and Youth Care programs; and most recently as the Director of the Centre for Early Development and Applied Research.

Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and anthropology from the University of Victoria. She has a Bachelor of Education in primary and special education, and a Master of Education in early childhood education from the University of British Columbia. She also has a Doctorate in educational research and adult learning from the University of Calgary.

Abdur Rahman Hussain, more commonly known as “The Commissioner ”, the grandfather and founder of Legends Basketball is the heart and soul of the organization. The man behind the brand is the reason that Legends Basketball has grown into what it is today! Driven by his passion for teaching and coaching, his love for the game led him from the gym where he trained the next generation of athletes to Legends Basketball. However, it is rumoured that perhaps his love for yelling at players may be a far stronger driving force, than his actual teaching or coaching. Known for his now spiffy appearance, snappy comments, and sheer brutal honesty, we encourage you not to ask for his opinion because he will not hold back. The Commissioner can often be found around the Genesis Centre, in the community or at Petra Shawarma, happily reminding players of their incompetence, mistakes or lack of intellect, which is always appreciated when filmed on, Heat Check. His knowledge of the game is second to none, despite his inability to play the sport today; perhaps one too many stops at Petra Shawarma may have served to be a hindering factor. Regardless, he is everyone’s favourite Commissioner (or so we were told to write). Rumour has it, that it pays to keep the Commissioner happy.

Jennifer Konopaki is the Executive Director, Sport at WinSport.

Jennifer has direct oversight of WinSport’s Sport Leadership team, including hundreds of seasonal instructors, coaches, career coaches, sport development managers, program leads, and team leads.

She is a people-oriented, community-minded, enthusiastic individual with vision. Her diverse background includes contributions in sport business, administration, and systems change. Jennifer is a sport expert with an intimate understanding of the Canadian sport system and sport excellence at its best.

Jennifer’s strong leadership, with the ability to coach and mentor others, extensive knowledge in creating and designing programs, is an asset to our Board of Directors.

She has a degree in Physical Education & Recreation Studies from the University of Manitoba, and is currently completing her Executive Leadership Education with Queens University’s Smith School of Business.

As Director of the Human Capital Centre, Janet Lane champions the development of a skilled and productive workforce able to fulfill the potential of the West’s — and by extension, Canada’s — economy. As the demands on the workforce evolve, her work focuses on the need to understand and build the competencies required for new jobs and changing work environment

Janet is a subject matter expert in literacy and essential skills development and in leading programs and organizations in the literacy field. Janet has advised and led projects involving sponsors and stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. Previously, she built a successful career in financial services. Her education, experience and proven track record for growing organizations contributes to her ability to connect human development with the skills and competencies that western Canadian industries need.

Twitter: @JanetCWF

Instagram: @nenshi

Naheed Nenshi, A’paistootsiipsii, was sworn in as Calgary's 36th mayor on October 25, 2010 and was re-elected in 2013 and 2017. Prior to being elected, Mayor Nenshi was with McKinsey and Company, later forming his own business to help public, private and non-profit organizations grow. He designed policy for the Government of Alberta, helped create a Canadian strategy for The Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy, and worked with the United Nations to determine how business can help the poorest people on the planet. He then entered academia, where he was Canada's first tenured professor in the field of nonprofit management, at Mount Royal University's Bissett School of Business. Mayor Nenshi was named a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, was awarded the President’s Award from the Canadian Institute of Planners, and received the Humanitarian Award from the Canadian Psychological Association for his contributions to community mental health.

James McAra is the President and CEO of Calgary Food Bank. He is known for his long-standing passion to make Calgary an amazing place for everyone. As a community leader, builder, and advocate, James and his team work to create a hunger free Calgary. Food does have a role in addressing poverty and the root causes. By actively collaborating with many other community agencies, James’ view is to build and sustain a healthy community.

As a well-known and respected member of Calgary’s not-for-profit community, James’ volunteer roles have included a continuum of service, from local to national, including the Stewardship Group of Calgary Eats!, Co-Chair of the Food Dignity Constellation for Calgary’s Poverty Reduction Initiative; Board Member for Food Banks Alberta; and Network Council Representative and Strategic Direction Committee member for Food Banks Canada. He currently serves on the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations’ Public Policy and Government Relations Committee. James was recently appointed to the Premier’s Council for Charities and Civil Society and is a Non-Profit Industry member for the Province’s Red Tap Reduction Panel.

James joined the Calgary Food Bank in 2000 and became the CEO in 2007. Under his leadership, the Food Bank is recognized as one of the 100 Great Places to Work in Canada; a Recommended Charity by Charity Intelligence; an Alberta’s Best Workplace finalist for Health and Safety; and a consistently top-ranked Canadian charity by MoneySense magazine. James holds degrees in Health, Statistics and Society from the University of Alberta.

Dr. Terry Rock is President & CEO of Platform Calgary. He is a passionate promoter of Calgary’s potential as one of the world’s most dynamic cities, and has been fortunate to be involved in numerous community building initiatives in his hometown. Terry’s previous experience has covered a wide variety of contexts and industries. He has been Executive Director of the Alberta Small Brewers Association and founding CEO of Calgary Arts Development Authority. He worked on Civic Partnerships at the City of Calgary, and was an Assistant Professor in Strategy at the University of Calgary. Between gigs, he advises boards and senior management on strategy and governance.

Terry contributes to the community through volunteering on the TELUS Calgary Community Board, and has served on the boards of Sled Island Music & Arts Festival, Hillhurst United Church, Calgary Cultural Capital 2012, the 2008 and 2016 Calgary-hosted Juno Awards, and was on the founding board of cSPACE Projects. He was the Chair of the AIESEC Canada board where he had been President in the early 90’s.

Dr. Rock holds a PhD in Management with a focus on Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Texas Tech University, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing (with Distinction) from the University of Saskatchewan.

If you’re inspired by digital disruption, you know at the core of Calgary’s growing tech ecosystem is Jim Gibson — a connector and catalyst. Passionate, infinitely curious and a serial entrepreneur, Gibson has spent three decades anticipating, adapting and advancing technology trends and challenges.

Gibson is the co-founder of Thin Air Labs, which funds early stage, entrepreneur-led technology ventures and networks. Gibson is also active in the innovation ecosystem. He is a member of The A100, board member of Mikata Health and Beakerhead, an advisor to Alberta Innovates, and a mentor with Venture Mentoring Services of Alberta.

With a Management Consultant designation (CMC) along with an MBA in Entrepreneurial Studies and Finance and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Computer Science, Gibson also understands the business side of innovation and technology advances. Outlined in his recently published and thought-provoking book, Tip of the Spear: Our Species and Technology at a Crossroads, Gibson examines the challenges and the opportunities ahead.

“With my recent work, I have come to appreciate that some of the best technologies, innovations and breakthroughs will come from places in our global economy where we least expect.”

If he sounds cool, it’s because he is.

Business development is core to my DNA.

As a managing partner in my family-owned business, Normont Industrial, I was responsible for operations and technical sales across Western Canada.

I bring over 20 years of hands-on experience in entrepreneurial operations and leadership expertise to the table. I’m comfortable developing and strengthening relationships at all levels and have collaborated with trades, corporate staff, engineering professionals and senior executives.

I understand that building client loyalty comes from results and authenticity. And, I’m adept at balancing strategic workforce and business requirements, along with the long-term interests of all stakeholders.