The Lab celebrates its 10th anniversary with launch of ‘All-Star’ Fellowship
- The Lab Team
- Jan 23
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
The Energy Futures Lab is kicking off a year-long celebration of its 10-year anniversary with the announcement of the tenth cohort of its iconic Energy Futures Lab Fellowship.
The 49 Fellows signing on for the two-year program running from January 2025 to December 2026 will face notably strong headwinds to their objective of empowering Canadian businesses and communities to lead and thrive amid shifting energy paradigms. Turbulent domestic and international political situations, threats of tariffs on exports by the incoming US government, polarization, and misinformation are adding to the complexity surrounding urgent decisions and investments required to ensure the stability of Canada’s regional economies in the face of climate change, shifting trade agendas, and growing global energy needs.
“The messiness of this moment requires a complexity savvy approach,” says Alison Cretney, Managing Director of the Energy Futures Lab. “Canada needs to move quickly and decisively while also enabling unprecedented levels of collaboration at a moment of intense polarization. This makes the Energy Futures Lab the ideal partner to lead the creation of solutions that can help Canada navigate more quickly towards a secure and prosperous future that leverages our strengths as energy leaders.”
The members of the 2025-26 Energy Futures Lab Fellowship are:
Aaron Foyer – Orennia
Aidan Bodsworth – MEGlobal Canada ULC
Alison Thompson – Borealis Geothermal
Aurelio Zanni – Shell Canada
Barbra Korol – Peitho Group
Bill Whitelaw – geoLOGIC Systems
Brad Nickel – EQUS
Bronwyn Hyland – Suncor
Cameron Brown – Global Public Affairs
Chelsea Donelon – TransAlta
Chris Brown – Calgary Economic Development
Christina Kehrig – Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association
Christophe Owtrimm – Emissions Reduction Alberta
Dani Hansen – BMO Capital Markets
David Ghoris – DMG Events
Demetria Zinyemba – Independent
Donald Jantz – Strategic Sustainability Consulting
Duncan Mundell – AltaML
Eric Pelletier – Battery Metals Association of Canada
Ericka Rios – Alberta Innovates
Gabriela Wilson – ATB
Geoffrey Tauvette – Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels
Jacob Rao – InnoTech Pioneers Inc.
Jennifer Young – Independent
Jolaine Healy – Blood Tribe Employment & Skills Training
Kari Hyde – Pembina Institute
Kelty Latos – ConocoPhillips
Kim Welby – Progressive West Consulting
Krystal Northey – Canadian Climate Institute
Lacy Brooke Gielen – Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Lauretta Pearse – ATCO
Leoni Rivers – Leoni Rivers Consulting
Mark Hopkins – Human Venture Leadership
Martin Boucher – NorQuest College
Matt Toohey – Modern West Advisory Inc.
Michael Benson – Canada Energy Regulator
Michelle Goodkey – Good Synergies
Morgan Rodwell – Fluor Canada Ltd.
Nic Raytek – GLOBE Series
Paola Casillas – Prairies Economic Development Canada
Patricia Bailey – Pathways Alliance
Peter Casurella – SouthGrow Regional Initiative
Rory Wheat – Varme Energy Inc.
Sascha D’Souza – FortisAlberta Inc.
Sheila Schindel – Innovate BC
Sinmi Adeoye-Esene – Daniola
Suzanne Life-Yeomans – First Nations Women’s Council on Economic Security
Tristan Walker – Massif Energy
Winona Lafreniere – Steel River Group
This carefully curated cohort of influential leaders includes economic development experts, Indigenous and non-Indigenous business and community leaders, engineers, geologists, researchers, policy specialists, analysts, technology leaders, entrepreneurs, social workers, utilities administrators, communicators, finance professionals, artists, philanthropists and government representatives. Among their ranks are Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and Governor General’s Medal recipients, several Top 40 Under 40 (and 30 Under 30) honourees, a Toastmasters champion, an Ironman Athlete, and a member of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency’s Nuclear Innovation 2050 project.
Together, Fellows will serve as an “in-house” representation of Canada’s broader energy system, including leaders and experts from different sectors, regions, cultures and technologies, primarily focused in Western Canada. Utilizing their collective insight, Fellows will anticipate and analyze implications of the shifting global context for Canada’s energy system, and identify windows of opportunity for Lab intervention to influence outcomes aligned with its 2050 vision. They will also lead and shape initiatives that help identify and resolve barriers impeding greater progress in select industrial growth pathways.
“It’s hard to imagine a more accomplished or diverse group that’s ready to roll up its sleeves in taking on this challenge,” continues Cretney. “Of any group that can guide the inspiring and productive places that Canada’s future energy system may take us, I believe in this one. I can’t wait to see the advancements their work together will generate over the next two years.”
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