Speakers

Théo Charette, M.Sc., P. Biol., QAES, is the Operations Director and co-founder of CPP Environmental, a BBA Consulting Company. With over 20 years of experience in aquatic science, reclamation, and environmental assessment, he has led major projects shaping regional frameworks for ecosystem restoration. Théo is recognized for his expertise in water quality, wetlands, and reclamation planning, and is known for bridging science, policy, and industry needs. Théo loves to have conversations about advancing sustainable, collaborative approaches to environmental management.

Jane Dauphinee is a registered professional planner with the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Alberta Professional Planners Institute. Jane is the principal and senior planner of Municipal Planning Services (MPS) – a planning consulting firm that provides short and long-range planning services to municipalities, and non-profit organizations throughout Alberta. In addition to her work on statutory plans, watershed management plans, land use bylaws & shoreline management plans, Jane has facilitated professional development sessions through the U of A faculty of extension department and for Municipal Councils, Planners, Development Officers, Municipal Planning Commissions, Appeal Boards, and Watershed Associations. One of main focus areas in Jane’s recent work is to support municipalities to implement natural asset management as a site assessment and evaluation tool integrated into municipal plans and bylaws to reduce municipal costs and risks associated with development, enhance drought resiliency, improve flood mitigation, support local agricultural industries and other economic development initiatives.

Dr. Laura Hambley is an Organizational Psychologist with a profound impact on the future of work and leadership. Her educational background includes a Master’s in Counselling Psychology and a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Calgary. Dr. Laura’s expertise lies in understanding the intricate dynamics of virtual teams and remote work environments. Her research in these areas has garnered numerous awards, highlighting her role as a pioneer in anticipating and shaping the shift towards flexible and mobile work. Her work in developing the Distributed Work Profiler, a groundbreaking tool for assessing remote work personalities, exemplifies her innovative approach. This tool, featured in Scientific American, reflects her unique ability to blend academic insights with practical applications.

In her professional career, Dr. Laura Hambley has excelled in applying her extensive knowledge to real-world scenarios, particularly in leadership development and organizational transformation. She has conducted numerous leadership assessments, ranging from first-level management to executive positions, emphasizing development and succession planning. Her approach to creating personalized development plans considers individual learning styles and organizational goals, ensuring a comprehensive strategy for leadership growth. Dr. Laura’s experience extends to various organizational development initiatives, including conducting interviews, focus groups, and surveys to address complex organizational challenges. Her strategies for attracting and retaining talent, coupled with her expertise in conflict resolution and stress management, demonstrate her holistic approach to enhancing employee engagement and workplace dynamics. As an Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary, she continues to contribute to academic research, further reinforcing her credibility and influence in the fields of organizational leadership and the future of work.

Brad has 12 years of experience as a hydrogeologist and is a practicing member of APEGA. He has worked on projects dealing with a wide array of groundwater related issues, including groundwater licensing, dewatering, aquifer delineation, and various projects determining impacts to groundwater caused by industrial and commercial developments. As a consultant he has completed dozens of reports dealing with groundwater supply for new residential subdivision applications.

Daina’s practice primarily focuses on municipal law and administrative
law.
As Co-Chair of the firm’s Municipal Law Team, she 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.

Gwendolyn Stewart-Palmer has been a partner in Shores Jardine LLP since 2007. She has practiced at Shores Jardine LLP since October 2003 after working with the City of Edmonton Law Branch for 12 years. She has been practicing law for over 35 years, focusing in the areas of municipal law, employment/labour law and administrative law.

She provides advice to her municipal clients on all areas which affect municipalities, including bylaw and contract drafting, procedural advice to councils, and providing advice to subdivision and development appeal boards, assessment review boards and other council committees and boards.

She acts for employers, both unionized and non-unionized, and employees, providing general advice, as well as representing client interests at arbitrations. She has conducted several workplace harassment investigations.

She acts for several boards and tribunals providing general advice and advice during the course of hearings. She taught the Constitutional and Administrative law module for the Senior & Executive Managers’ Development Program and the Legal Environment module for the Management Development Program at the University of Alberta School of Business. She has presented at numerous seminars throughout Alberta. She is the author of Planning Law & Practice in Alberta (4th) and was the recipient of the inaugural Canadian Bar Association Municipal Law Award of Excellence in 2023.

Jeneane Grundberg, KC, ICD.D, brings unparalleled experience to her practice in the areas of municipal, planning and administrative law.
With more than 120 reported decisions on multiple aspects of municipal, planning and administrative law at all levels of the Alberta Courts, Jeneane leads legal teams on complex litigation as well as policy and bylaw development. Her work has been recognized as having important precedential value, helping inform future court decisions and municipal actions; she is often a consultant to the provincial government on planning and development matters.
Jeneane takes a strong client-focused approach to her practice, with clients that include municipalities, provincial departments, and subdivision and development appeal boards. “I love to advocate on behalf of my clients. It’s an honour to represent them,” says Jeneane, who has made more than 200 appearances in the Alberta Court of Appeal.

Lisa Ford is the REDS for Northeast Alberta, based in Cold Lake, and is an economic development leader with a Business Economics background and experience in banking, accounting, and business coaching. Previously, as General Manager of Community Futures Lakeland, she championed regional innovation and growth—leading initiatives like an award-winning procurement training series and the 2023 Power Up North Entrepreneur and Economic Development event. Currently, through her role as a REDS, Lisa fosters collaboration through regional roundtables that unite municipalities, educators, and government partners to expand funding and support across northeast Alberta. Her work reflects a deep commitment to community-driven progress, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable regional development.

Jennifer Hartigh is the REDS for the Highway 2 Central Corridor. Prior to joining Alberta’s Public Service, Jennifer served as a Business Supports Specialist with the City of Red Deer and as the Economic Development Officer for the Town of Blackfalds. Through these roles she came to appreciate that municipal economic development and planning are deeply interconnected and that by working together effectively, communities can achieve sustainable growth, attract investment, and improve quality of life.

Jake is a Community Planner with Urban Systems and has more than 10 years of experience in consulting on a range of planning topics, including land use, organizational and strategic, parks and recreation, and social planning, and more. Driven to help communities however he can, Jake is always willing to jump into messy, complex work that needs doing yesterday.

Rob joined the County of Grande Prairie in January 2024, as GM Financial and Business Planning Services. He oversees a diverse group of talented individuals, in the Finance, Assessment, Procurement and Information Systems. He over 10 years of experience in government in various levels.

Rob previously served as the CAO at the Town of Placentia in Newfoundland and as the Director of Corporate Services for Mountain View County in Central Alberta. He has an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business, a BBA from Memorial University of Newfoundland, as well as his CPA designation. Besides his municipal experience he has held various senior roles in private industry.

He lives in Grande Prairie with his wife, two kids and his dog Cocoa Bean.

Jim Hole’s rise to a successful commercial horticultural enterprise is an inspiring story. It all starts with his mom, Lois Hole, former Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, his dad and his extended family selling vegetables as a small family business. His entrepreneurial attitude and the successful planning of his farm and greenhouse operation, hold valuable lessons for business innovation.

Jim and his brother Harry created the world-renowned and award-winning “The Enjoy Centre” in Saint Albert. It boasts a 100-mile diet restaurant, day spa, organic food store, wine store, bakery, deli, convention/conference space, and greenhouses. Jim implemented a self-sufficient eco-system for the facility. This system recycles rainwater and nutrients from the greenhouses to nourish the plants. It also collects renewable energy. Jim implements innovative ideas for his business on a daily basis. He is recognized in Alberta as a leader for growing a business while protecting the environment. He has developed a business model that surpasses all greenhouses in Canada through innovation. It’s now a successful multi-million-dollar enterprise. Jim delivers practical insights on leadership, innovation, farming, future of agriculture, ethical eating, ethical growing, community development, sustainable development, entrepreneurship, sustainability, horticulture, green technology, and philanthropy.

Mark Baxter co-founded Outlook Market Research and Consulting in 1997. The firm soon gained a specialization in rural economic development and First Nations consulting. Mark’s core consulting interests lie in marketing and market research for regional economic development organizations and their member communities. The majority of his time is spent working with a team of consultants whose expertise ranges from strategic planning to feasibility studies to graphic design & website development. The team has been developed over the past 29 years specifically to act as a single source solution for economic developers looking to attract investment and labour to their communities.

Carl is a leader in the data center industry with rich experience in Artificial Intelligence data centers. Currently a pivotal leader in the development of Wonder Valley for O’Leary Ventures.
Previously, Carl was the co-founder and COO of Group 42, the largest AI, Big Data and Cloud company in the Middle East. Where he developed their AI, cloud, and telecommunications business, Carl led the strategy for data center, developing 100MW of data center for AI and high-performance computing. Carl also was responsible for growing the annual revenue from startup to $400 million per year in less than three year. Carl also led the development of the largest supercomputer in UAE. Prior to G42 Cloud, Carl managed several of the largest government projects for UAE from cyber security to smart cities. Carl also oversaw the development of a $75 million dollar critical infrastructure system used by the US Armed Forces.
Carl has been honored as with the distinguished James T Lynch Award as the top government employee for meritorious service related to superior dedication, project execution, and key decision making.
Carl holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Idaho and master’s Degree from University of Phoenix