University of Calgary senators

Shelley is one of Canada's few international experts in wild canid ecology. She specializes in the conservation of coyotes and wolves, and was a pioneer in the use of geospatial analysis in conservation. Shelley received her MSc. and Ph.D. at the University of Calgary and is now a Full Professor in the Department of Geography at UofC. Most recently, she launched the Foothills Coyote Initiative, funded by SSHRC.

Dr. Kristin Baetz is the Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Calgary and an award-winning fundamental biomedical scientist, specializing in functional and chemical genomics. Dr. Baetz holds a PhD (2000) from the University of Toronto in medical genetics and microbiology and a BSc Honours (1995) from Queen’s University in biochemistry. She currently sits on the board of Research Canada, a national, broadly based alliance dedicated to advancing health research through collaborative advocacy.

Paula Bernat is the Manager of Operations for Calgary Transit at the City of Calgary. An accomplished, results-oriented senior executive with cross-enterprise education and experience in human resources, operations management, and internal audit. Recognized for transformational leadership and excellence in workplace safety transformation. Over 21 years’ experience leading large diverse teams to high performance in competitive, complex, and unionized environments. 

Tarjinder Bhullar is a communications professional with over 15 years of experience helping individuals and organizations in sharing their stories. She supplements her experience with a Diploma in broadcasting from the SAIT, Bachelors of Arts in communications from the University of Calgary and a Masters of Arts in communications and technology from the University of Alberta. 

Michael has a passion for the integration and communication of science and technology in the community, and actively seeks ways to bridge gaps and support entrepreneurs, including volunteering with the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurship, the University of Calgary Energy New Ventures Forum, the University of Alberta DiscoveryLab series, and the University of Calgary Innovation4Health Health Hack competition. 

Ann is a seasoned academic and community leader who has worked in the arts and education in Calgary as a senior executive (Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Calgary). As a member of the University’s leadership team, she led governance, research, budget, program design, fund-raising, and strategic planning projects over 20 years.

A.C. Cameron is a born and settled resident of these Treaty 7 lands in southern Alberta, and two-time alumnus of the University of Calgary. He has a background in physics, holding a B.Sc. (Hons, 2016) and M.Sc. (2019), specializing in Quantum Information.  

After graduating from the University of Calgary with a BA in Political Science, Anette worked briefly in publishing and lived abroad before returning to Calgary and embracing a career in human resources, primarily in the growing tech industry.

She is a full professor at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. She has a BSc (Combined Hons.) in Mathematics and Physics, BCom. in Financial Accounting, MSc in Mathematics, and PhD in Mathematics Education. 

Max is Senior Vice President & Corporate Development Officer and a member of the Executive Leadership Team for Enbridge Inc., based in Calgary. His teams are responsibilities for M&A, capital allocation, investment review, and corporate growth objectives. 

Sarah is a Senior Consultant with Stack’d Consulting Inc., a boutique management consulting firm specializing in human-centric transformation. She holds a BA Honours in Communications from the University of Calgary.

Born and raised in Calgary, Jeff Davison is best known for his skill at bringing people together, finding common ground, and building policies and programs that work for everyone. Jeff is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Prostate Cancer Centre, an innovative model for medical access and wrap-around clinical care for individuals with prostate and other urological cancer in Alberta.

As part of his passion to give back to the profession and community at large, Mr. Dullat dedicate his volunteer time as an experienced Coach/preceptor for individuals preparing for various leadership roles, precept University level students nationally and internationally and provide his services to “The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada”.

Diane Field is proud to be a senator, representing the University of Calgary Alumni Association. She holds a Master of Education from the University of Calgary, and a BEd and BSc (Hons) from the University of Toronto.

With over 35 years of business experience, Donna’s passion and ability to quickly synthesize information and create integrated strategies has earned her high praise from Boards and Senior Management teams struggling with competitive realities.

Wendy's impact extends beyond her career, as demonstrated by her five years as a mentor in the Haskayne School of Business, where she actively contributes to the development of future business leaders. Beyond her professional achievements, Wendy enjoys golf, reading and spending time with he daughter and husband.

Dianne Gereluk is Dean and Professor at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. Her research examines normative aspects of educational policy and practice specifically related to politically contested and controversial issues in education. 

With an extensive 16-year background in the education sector, Crystal stands out as a dedicated and passionate Program Specialist overseeing the Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Development program at the University of Calgary. As one of the two senators representing AUPE, she plays a crucial role in advocating for the university community.

David M. Holub, B.Sc., J.D., LL.M. is a lawyer, mediator and conflict resolution trainer who received his Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Calgary. David obtained his legal education from Osgoode Hall Law School and his Masters Degree from the London School of Economics where he specialized in mediation.

John was born and raised in Calgary. He has a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alberta, an MBA from the University of Calgary and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. He is a Professional Engineer and a member of the Canadian Heavy Oil Association and The Chancellor’s Club of the University of Calgary. 

Narmin is a Principal of impact@work inc. delivering consulting, training, and facilitating, since 1992 across all sectors and industries in Calgary and globally. Narmin is committed to education and civic engagement as fundamental tools to change the lives of individual and communities.&nbsp.

Saqib Jalil is a CPA, CA, with over 20 years of experience, primarily in the Oil & Gas sector. He has worked for E&Y Canada and Enbridge Inc. and is currently working as Manager, Coastal GasLink, Finance, TC Energy. He has delivered lectures at The University of Calgary and serves as a Senator at the University of Calgary. Saqib is also a member of the Awards Review Committee, CPA Alberta and member of the Audit and Finance Committee at Wood’s Homes. 

Gregory John is a proud UCalgary alum who has had the pleasure of serving his university community as senator for the five of the last six years. As a proud gay and Metis entrepreneur he helps transform the business and communities around him in a way that truly highlights the importance of an inclusive workplace and society.

The University of Calgary welcomed Dr. Sheila LeBlanc as the Director of Continuing Education in July 2015. In early 2022, Sheila became Associate Vice-President (Continuing Education). Sheila brings a wealth of both academic and industry experience to the Continuing Education team and has a self-proclaimed passion for both teaching and lifelong learning.

Melissa is an accomplished finance professional and leader in the energy sector in Calgary.  In her role as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer at Enbridge, Melissa is accountable for Enterprise FP&A, Financial Reporting, Internal Controls, and Accounting Research as well as FP&A and Accounting for all Enbridge Business Units.

Jennifer currently serves as the President of the Alberta College of Occupational Therapists (ACOT) Board of Directors. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alberta, and an MBA from Queen's University. 

Recently Teri completed a 2 year contract with BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions, responsible for voice of the customer initiatives and customer experience excellence. She is a voice for community; leading with heart, guided with empathy and sound in wisdom.

With over 30 years of public affairs and business expertise, Duane has worked in a breadth of industries encompassing real estate, energy, the environment, technology, and education. Recently Duane had been the Administrator-CEO and Principal Advisor to the Chair for the regulatory body governing Alberta Real Estate.

Emmanuel Owusu is a senior leader with experience working in academia and in the field of Human Rights, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In his current role, Emmanuel is part of the senior leadership of an independent government organization that has a mandate of reducing discrimination in Alberta. Currently, Emmanuel serves as the co-chair of the City of Calgary's Anti-Racism Action Committee where he leads a group of community experts to support the City's efforts to make Calgary an anti-racist city.

William O’Yeung is a Chartered Professional Accountant with an MBA from Nova Southeastern University in addition to his UCalgary degree. During his thirty-year career at Shell Canada, he held various positions including accounting, planning, project management and leadership roles. He is currently on connectFirst Credit Union’s Board of Directors.

Currently, Josh serves as the Manager of Policy and Government Relations with the Calgary Chamber, where he and his team develop, enhance, and advocate for policy that benefits the unique needs of Calgary’s vibrant business community. He also serves on the Board of Directors at Learning City. 

With over 25 years in industry, and her own firm for 18 years, Colleen’s career has been focused on  corporate turnarounds, transitions and transformations with an emphasis on strategy and delivery. Colleen began her volunteering in 1990 and continues to be grateful for the amazing opportunities to learn and meet new people. Coming from multiple generations of educators, she is honoured to be a part of the Senate, and the Management Advisory Council at Haskayne.

Dr. Jeffrey Priest, PhD, is a Professor (Geotechnical) within the Dept of Civil Engineering within the Schulich School of Engineering. He is the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and MEng within the school. Since his arrival at the University of Calgary, he has also collaborated with colleagues in Geoscience and Physics to improve our understanding of hydraulic fracturing of shale reservoir rocks and their link to induced seismicity.

Ali is a Lead Admission Advisor and Community Liaison Coordinator at Columbia College. He supports more than 300 students annually in achieving their academic and career goals and oversees the entire admission process. In addition, Ali plays a crucial role in connecting the organization with its community and stakeholders. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and an Alberta Premier’s Advisory Council member.

After serving last year as an SU Faculty of Arts Representative on the 80th SLC, Ermia was elected to VP Student Life. His passion for equity and accessibility is informed by his experience as an immigrant to Canada and by his experience as a student trying to navigate the university system to access resources. His practice in the latter turned him into an advocate to help others navigate the system as well. These experiences are what inspired him to run for VP Student Life.

Carmelina has worked in roles across Canada and most recently was based in The Hague leading various initiatives for Shell’s global capital projects. She is interested in sharing her skills and experience with Corporate boards and is currently on the boards of ABC Life Literacy, Prosper Canada and World Heart Caregivers. She was on the CPA Energy Advisory Board and recently served as VIP Liaison Officer to the Energy Minister for Romania at the World Petroleum Congress. 

Mateusz is studying Psychology under the Faculty of Arts, completing a certificate in Sustainability Studies. He has aspirations to complete a Masters in Social Work. While he originally wanted to become a counselling therapist, the love he developed for advocacy and grassroots organizing has pushed him towards a path where he can pursue both. That being said, he is open to following the journey of life, which often takes us on unpredictable paths.

Aly Samji is a 3rd year business student at the University of Calgary with aspirations to eventually pursue a future in law. Aly is currently serving as one of two student-at-large sente representatives on the University of Calgary Senate. Aly has developed into a passionate advocate for underrepresented and marginalized groups, with a particular focus and emphasis on mental health.  His most significant contribution to the University of Calgary community is his work in establishing the University of Calgary Wellness Society. 

Wilma Shim is a lawyer with Alberta Justice and Solicitor General. In 2003, she was awarded the Chancellor's Club Scholarship.  In 2010, she received the President's Award for Excellence in Student Leadership and was also inducted into The Order of the University of Calgary. Currently, Wilma is chair of the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Alberta and is a director on the Board of the Association of Women Lawyers. She is a volunteer coach with Special Olympics Calgary. Wilma is an instructor with the Law School’s Trial Advocacy Course and volunteers as a guest judge. She is a member of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 Class of 2015.

Dr. Smith’s experience at the University spans several decades, and the unique perspective of a competitively funded STEM research scientist, award-winning scholar and educator, combined with considerable experience as an administrator and leader both within the CSM and across various portfolios within the academy and beyond. She is pleased to represent the academic staff as a University of Calgary Senate member.

Graham is a born and raised Calgarian with close connections to UCalgary. He has a diverse professional background, managing people and projects in complex and fast-paced environments. He has frontline experience through senior roles in industry, not for profit, and government. Graham now provides outreach and stakeholder relations support for the tech not-for-profit Cybera, which operates the research and education network for Alberta’s post secondary institutions. In his role Graham curates the annual Cyber Summit and fosters strong relationships with startups and tech entrepreneurs.

My identity is an accumulation of my work, mentors and past experiences. I try to take on roles that involve my passions, energize me and where I know I’ll learn something new. This involves improving my community by advocating for more youth representation in policy and decision-making at UNICEF Canada as a National Youth Advocate, conducting research on Enhanced Recovery after Surgery as well as examining social disparities, mentoring high school students at Youreka Canada, and advocating for my faculty as the Student’s Union Cumming School of Medicine Faculty Representative.

Throughout her career, Sangeetha has played leadership roles in significant organizational transformations. Using a highly collaborative approach, augmented by her diverse toolkit, she is known to deliver business value in challenging environments consistently. By effectively blending theory with practicality, she envisions and implements "fit-for-purpose" solutions to various organizational challenges.

Katherine is excited to continue her ongoing contributions to the University of Calgary as a member of the Senate. She is an alumnus and has maintained her commitment to the institution and the Faculty of Environmental Design since her graduation as; a member of the Advisory Selection Committee for Dean, a member of the Faculty Council, scholarship adjudicator, architecture studio guest critic as well as sessional instructor for five years. 

Cynthia Watson is Chief Evolution Officer of the charity Vivo for Healthier Generations Society. She brings perspectives from the spectrum of healthcare, health promotion and chronic disease prevention, grassroots to Olympian-level sport, and community wellbeing, recreation and active living. She is dedicated to championing diverse communities of belonging to have their voices in leadership roles.

Dr. Penny Werthner, PhD, became the Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology in 2012 and left the role in 2022 to become the Interim Provost & Vice-President (Academic). She is one of Canada’s most distinguished consultants in the field of sport psychology. She has served as a sport psychology consultant for Canada's national and Olympic teams since 1985. 

Kate has been a registered nurse in pediatrics with Alberta Health Services since 2012. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Nursing at UCalgary studying children’s experiences of serious illness with support from a UCalgary Eye’s High Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship and a Doctoral Fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. 

Kamaal completed their BSc in Science, Technology, and Society in 1997 at the University of C. They pursued their JD at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, graduating in 2004. Following this, they obtained a LLM (Master of Laws) in Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law.

Gary Zhang received his B.Sc. from Wuhan University in 1983 and his M.Sc. from University of Calgary in 1989. He is the founder and President of MRF Geosystems Corporation. He is also the President of Silver Valley Development Inc. and Westpeaks Properties Inc. Gary is the winner of 2013 ASTech (Alberta Science and Technology Foundation) Awards and the 2014 TechRev Awards.