EFL Fellowship: Leading and influencing in times of uncertainty

2016 was a year of change and new realities.

2016 was a year of change and new realities. It ended with national and international developments that will impact Alberta’s energy system for years to come. These include uncertainty looming around the US elections, the continued Alberta recession, the ramifications of pipeline approvals, and the new regulations addressing climate change. Such complex and difficult topics likely made for some contentious Christmas dinner conversation starters in households across Canada.

We need more leaders who are able to listen and incorporate the diverse opinions of multiple stakeholders – whether from indigenous communities, industry, NGOs, youth or government.

Many believe 2017 will be a year of uncertainty, requiring a wait-and-see attitude. But we cannot afford to wait and see. The environmental and economic challenges we face are urgent and demand that we take action and become more engaged in energy issues.

The EFL is expanding its Fellowship – a unique program that recruits collaborators and players in Alberta’s energy system. The Fellows will take a lead role in identifying, testing, and scaling energy projects that will have long lasting impact on Albertans. It is a program designed to equip leaders and influencers in Alberta with skills and strategies to facilitate learning and collaboration for energy transition. The new Fellows will work closely with the original EFL Fellows on practical initiatives that move our province forward along a series of Innovation Pathways.

The conversations will continue to be difficult when we discuss energy issues in Alberta and Canada. We need more leaders who are able to listen and incorporate the diverse opinions of multiple stakeholders – whether from indigenous communities, industry, NGOs, youth or government. Only by including these perspectives can we achieve the innovation needed to build our future energy system.

The EFL Fellowship is about preparing a new cohort of influencers to lead a movement for energy innovation and transition in Alberta. It is about managing and facilitating difficult conversations without prescribing specific outcomes. It is about collaborating with people we do not necessarily agree with on pragmatic initiatives. The EFL Fellowship is about leading and innovating during times of uncertainty. It is what our energy future requires of us.

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