Student Reflections and Recaps
We were fortunate to have students from Mount Royal University, SAIT and the University of Calgary join us for this event. As a professional development opportunity, these students also created recaps of the various components of the day.
University of Calgary School of Public Policy Keynote Recap and Reflection provided by Douglas Braden, Preeta Raghunathan and Naz Rahman
Mount Royal University Marketing Student Power Shift Panel Recap provided by Brynlee Van Slys, Olivia Hubick, Holly Saunders
SAIT Marketing Student New World Panel Recap provided by Jessica Chu, Denis Shymansky, Yuki Li Shiyao
Note: These reflections and recaps were independently created by student guests and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Calgary Chamber.
On September 22, the Calgary Chamber hosted Energy and Environment, the second installment of its Alberta Next series. The session brought together industry leaders and policymakers for a series of discussions on Alberta’s energy sector. Conversations focused on emerging technologies, market diversification and shifting geopolitical landscapes.
The session began with a keynote from Dr. Robert J. Johnston, Director of Energy and Natural Resources at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy. Johnston highlighted key issues being faced by Canada’s energy sector, such as maintaining US relations amidst a rise in sanctions, export controls and tariffs; entering new markets; and the growth potential for Alberta’s natural resources, particularly LNG. Johnston emphasized the importance of diversifying into new markets, primarily Asia, and how oil has the potential to catalyze new trade and geopolitical relationships for Canada.
The keynote was followed by a fireside chat with Calgary Chamber’s Vice President of Policy and External Affairs, Ruhee Ismail-Teja, Johnston and Gitane De Silva, Founder and President of the consulting firm, GDStrategic. The conversation centred around Alberta’s opportunity to grow its natural resource economy and reiterated the importance of expanding into new markets. Both speakers agreed that US relations remain a priority, but Canada must diversify its economy and focus on other allies to achieve an effective energy security strategy.
Power Shift: Alberta’s Evolving Electricity Market
The first panel discussion of the afternoon was moderated by Cayla Saby, Vice President of Government Relations and Commercial at AltaLink. The panellists included:
- Dale Friesen, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Chief Government Affairs Officer at ATCO
- Ed de Palezieux, Vice President of Energy at Beacon Data Centres
- Matthew Davis, Vice President of Regulatory, Policy and Government Relations (Canada) at Capital Power
Alberta’s electricity sector is undergoing a major transformation. This discussion addressed the uncertainty around this sector and how the province is meeting current demands. The panelists provided insight into regulatory changes, new infrastructure development and evolving market structures, including:
- Meeting the growing demand for electricity in Alberta and the challenge of attracting AI data centres to the province.
- Fortifying infrastructure and expanding our grid across provinces.
- Identifying roadblocks and working with industries to ensure a more reliable, affordable, and cleaner grid.
A New World: Navigating a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
The final panel of the afternoon was moderated by Jennifer Pierce, Chief Administrative Officer of Trans Mountain. The panelists included:
- Shannon Young, General Counsel and Vice President of External Affairs at PETRONAS
- Max Chan, Senior Vice President of Operations and Engineering of Liquid Pipelines at Enbridge
As a key energy producer, Alberta plays a vital role in ensuring a reliable supply while navigating shifting market demands and geopolitical challenges. This panel examined Canada’s role in strengthening energy security and the importance of key infrastructure projects in the country. The panelists explored topics such as:
- Positioning Canada as a global energy superpower.
- Challenges to developing new infrastructure, including navigating regulations, increasing production and accelerating processes.
- Ensuring all levels of government are aligned in the development of critical infrastructure to best increase production.
We would like to extend a special thanks to our presenting sponsor, the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy; our reception sponsor, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers; our supporting sponsors, PETRONAS and WBM; and our student table sponsors, Canadian Natural and Pathways Alliance for making this event possible.
