Leadership

Kirstie Boyle is a leader in the technology and entrepreneurship community who leverages new technologies to solve complex problems. She has been recognized by the United Nations Global Innovation of Change program, Women of Influence in Calgary, and the Rising Stars program of the Daily Oil Bulletin.

Jason Green began his career as an engineer in the environmental services sector. He has a BSc in civil engineering and an MEng in environmental engineering from the University of Alberta as well as an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at Western University. Jason specializes in diversification and strategy in global energy and technology and is a registered professional engineer in Alberta.

Graeme Harrison is a lawyer and entrepreneur, who worked at a major national law firm in Calgary prior to starting an energy storage technology company set on revolutionizing Canada’s energy future.

Sophia Langlois recently retired from KPMG where she was an audit partner, corporate services leader for the Calgary office and national audit people strategy leader for Canada. She recently served as the Vice-Chair of the Board and the Audit Committee Chair at SAIT.

Nancy is an experienced executive, with over 20 years leading legal, sustainability and external relations teams in the energy sector. She holds an LLB degree from Dalhousie University and a BA from the University of Alberta. She is active in the community and previously served on other not for profit boards in Calgary.

Asanga Gunatillaka is a senior executive currently based in the UK with 20 years of experience in transforming media and telecommunications companies with the introduction of new products and business models. He brings 20 years of diverse international technology and business leadership experience across a variety of companies including Accenture and Virgin Media.

Bhushan Ivaturi has shaped, led and transformed the business of technology and services in several industries. Prior to moving to Calgary, he was Vice President and global CIO at AP Moller Maersk, where he led and transformed the global data, cybersecurity, information and industrial technology and built the digital strategy. Before Maersk, Bhushan served as an executive at General Electric (GE) for 15 years.

Mario Mele has an extensive background as Chief Marketing Officer in telecommunications and is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School. He is also a Chartered Management Accountant and holds a BCom degree from the University of Alberta.

Nuvyn is a community leader and seasoned executive with a strong record of achievements in capital raising, philanthropy, communications, advocacy, community engagement and capital campaigns. Nuvyn was Vice-President (Advancement) at the University of Calgary where, under her leadership, the ambitious Energize Campaign exceeded its $1.3 billion goal, raising a record $1.41 billion. Nuvyn’s unique vision to develop a culture of lifelong philanthropic engagement earned the University of Calgary a place on the Globe and Mail’s list of the top 25 fundraising institutions in Canada.

Nuvyn first earned her reputation as a philanthropic leader as Development Director of the Tahirih Justice Center where she advocated for the rights of vulnerable women and girls. Through subsequent leadership positions, including management of Georgetown University’s $1.5 billion campaign, Nuvyn continues to be an influential leader in the philanthropic community, working with donors and organizations throughout North America.

Peters & Associates is a boutique consulting firm that supports and strengthens the capacity of nonprofit organizations. From fundraising and marketing, to strategic planning and community engagement, Peters & Associates partners with nonprofit organizations and empowers them to achieve their goals.

Duane Schellenberg co-heads the investment team at ARC Financial, is a member of ARC's Executive Committee and currently represents ARC on the boards of Convergent Oil Corp. and Longshore Resources Ltd. Duane joined ARC in 2007 with prior experience at a global investment bank. He has an MBA from the Yale School of Management, a BCom in Finance from the University of Saskatchewan.

Kelly Schmitt became Chief Executive Officer at Benevity after serving as Chief Financial Officer and, prior to that, as CFO at Calgary tech companies including Solium and Smart Technologies. She is a Chartered Accountant and holds a BCom degree from the University of Calgary.

Linda Shea has more than 30 years of senior management experience in the oil and gas, utilities and telecommunications industries, and an extensive background in human resources management. She served on the board of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and Hospice Calgary, as well as on the HR Committee for AltaLink, where she was the former Senior Vice President of Human Resources. She holds a BA from Mount Allison University and a MSc in Organizational Development from American University.

Jana Taylor is a passionate supporter of social impact initiatives and an accomplished tech executive whose career adventures have included senior roles in strategy, marketing and people operations. She was part of the original team at Benevity and more recently she has advised and guided numerous early and growth stage tech companies in Alberta.

Rod was appointed interim CEO at TELUS Spark Science Centre in January of 2023.

Rod Tate is a creative, execute leader with more than 20 years’ experience in in the development and execution of world class attractions and events. Rod joined TELUS Spark Science Centre in 2021 as Chief Experience Officer, where he built a solid vision and strategy for executing world-class guest experiences at Spark.

Prior to joining the Spark team, Rod provided the strategic direction for the delivery of all entertainment programming as part of the annual Calgary Stampede.

Rod is a musician and performer by trade. His musical talents and years in the entertainment industry, strategic leadership of large-scale attraction and events, have culminated into his vision and mission for delivering extraordinary guest experiences and high-performance teams.

Angela Stinson is an interior designer with a bachelor of interior design degree from Ryerson University and 15 years of design and project management experience working in real estate development and large-scale commercial interiors. Prior to joining Spark, Angela led the design and construction for the cross-Canada expansion of Canadian retailer, Simons. Her portfolio includes a number of award-winning projects, with a focus on public-facing spaces that incorporate sustainable design and renewable energy.

Laurie Shinkaruk has more than 25 years in leadership positions in the areas of post-secondary advancement and not-for-profit management and fundraising. She led the Calgary office as Assistant Dean, Advancement, for the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta for a decade and was subsequently an integral member of the campaign planning team for University of Calgary’s $1.3 billion campaign.

Pamela Todd is a strategic marketing and brand professional with over 25 years of experience in both big-box retail and small business. Pamela ran an award-winning small business for over 10 years, and was voted one of Alberta’s Top Ten Entrepreneurs by Venture Magazine and awarded best Retail Business in Canada by the Canadian Gift and Tableware Association. Prior to joining Spark, she grew her career at the Canadian Tire Corporation, leading large scale projects and progressing into increasingly senior roles in communications, marketing and digital innovation at FGL Sports, Sport Chek and Mark’s. Pamela is a Métis mixed media artist who graduated from the Alberta University for the Arts with a BFA in Drawing and Digital Media. She also holds a certificate in Social Media Management from Babson College in Boston.

Zack is a passionate science communicator and self-professed nature nerd. He has led education and programming teams at Spark for the last five years, and has extensive experience leading experiential teams across the attraction and museums industry at locations such as the Calgary Zoo, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, and the Government of Alberta. He also currently serves as the Vice President of the Alberta Museums Association, and on the Advisory Board of Campus Calgary Open Minds. He has a fun animal fact for every occasion.

Cicilia Hartley has more than 20 years of experience providing C-suite executive support. As the Executive Business Partner in the office of the CEO at Spark, she works closely with the executive team and the Board of Directors, managing organizational and communications priorities. Her role provides a direct connection between the CEO and the Board with external stakeholders. Over her career, Cicilia has worked in both the corporate and non-profit world as an administration and governance specialist with a passion to create community impact.

Parker makes their living collaborating with artists, nerds, and weirdos — and they like it that way. Over 25 years of varied professional experience in business development, corporate training, community engagement, festival production, operations management, non-profit leadership, and more, has led Parker to their current role as the Executive Director at Beakerhead, where they advance the understanding of science through art. And light things on fire for fun. Literally.

Parker is also the owner and founder of BadAss Creative, a business development and production company providing event production and project management support to entrepreneurs of all kinds. They're a proud mom to three cool kiddos, and one giant dog named Charlie. Parker believes there is room for everyone in the sandbox, but that Mister Rogers said it best: “There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.”