Executive Director of Co-operatives First

Audra Krueger is the Executive Director of Co-operatives First, a non-profit that promotes the co-operative model in rural and Indigenous communities across western Canada. With a background as Research Liaison at the University of Saskatchewan’s Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, Audra has also served on several co-op boards, including Good Food Junction and Saskatoon Car Share. She holds a Master’s in Collaborative International Development and Sociology from the University of Guelph. Under her leadership, Co-operatives First has supported the creation of more than 140 co-ops and engaged thousands of community leaders in building strong, locally owned solutions.

Executive Director,Northern Alberta Co‑operative Housing Association (NACHA)

Ayanna Inniss is a strategic and mission-driven leader with over 20 years of experience in co-operative housing governance, advocacy, and non-profit management. As Executive Director of the Northern Alberta Co-operative Housing Association (NACHA) since 2011, she has championed affordable housing across Northern Alberta and led its subsidiary, Casa Housing Services Inc. Ayanna’s leadership emphasizes equity, sustainability, and empowering members through education and democratic participation. She has guided NACHA through modernization, launched the Asset Management Program to strengthen long-term planning, and helped establish the Prairies Community Land Trust to support future co-op development. Recognized as Strathcona County’s International Women’s Day Woman of the Year (2013), Ayanna is known for her integrity, compassion, and commitment to building inclusive, resilient communities.  

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, UFA

Bob is a lawyer with over 20 years of legal experience in private practice as well as for large corporations. He has proven leadership skills, having led the Human Resources, Privacy and Compliance, Corporate Secretarial, Land, Procurement and Legal functions for various public companies. His experience includes Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Human Resources at Parkland Fuel Corporation, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at FortisAlberta Inc.,

Bob has his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Regina, his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Toronto, and his Master of Law degree from Osgoode Hall at York University.

Executive Director of the Federation of Rural Water Co-ops

With decades of experience in co-ops, federations, not-for-profits, and unions, Chris has held multiple executive roles and brings a wealth of governance and systems expertise. He has taught business courses at Grant MacEwan University for over 40 years and continues to consult in system design, training, and governance. Based in rural Alberta with his wife, Chris enjoys country living with their two dogs and cherishes time with their four children and eight grandchildren.

Executive Director, Alberta Community & Co-operative Association

Corinne serves as the Executive Director for ACCA, where she is dedicated to enhancing member services, building organizational stability and creating new energy within the Alberta co-op sector. With a background in communications, brand management, fund development/donor relations, business development, project management, and marketing, Corinne brings a dynamic skill set to her role. She is known for her creativity, efficiency, and unwavering determination in driving progress. She is a natural advocate who strives to ignite interest, foster common ground, and promote engagement through her work, passionately sharing the importance of the co-op model with a wide range of individuals.

Entrepreneur & Community-Builder

Dan is a devoted husband, father, entrepreneur, and community-builder. He played a crucial role in incorporating the Sangudo Opportunity Development Co-operative (SODC) in 2010, Canada's first of its kind, and has since collaborated with ACCA to develop the Unleashing Local Capital program. Dan has shared his insights on investment co-ops in numerous communities across Western Canada, the Yukon, and the USA, inspiring the formation of many such initiatives. He also supports new and existing Community Investment Co-ops, including the Vermilion Community Development Co-operative and the Homestead Investment Co-op in Edmonton. Additionally, Dan is a Founding Board member of Community Capital Solutions Co-operative and a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation.

President & CEO of cSPACE Projects

Deeter Schurig is a multidisciplinary designer and passionate city-building leader. cSPACE is a social purpose organization that develops affordable and sustainable spaces for artists, non-profits, and social entrepreneurs. Since 2009, Deeter has focused on developing the award-winning cSPACE Marda Loop Arts Hub, a 3-acre inner-city site showcasing the adaptive reuse of a historic sandstone school. This LEED® Gold facility is the first in a planned network of large-scale, multidisciplinary creative workspaces in Calgary. Currently, cSPACE is undertaking a feasibility study for the redevelopment of the Historic Fire Hall No. 1 and the North West Travellers building into a unique Calgary landmark and creative hub.

Executive Advisor with the Resilience Acceleration Lab

After 14 years of elected public service at Edmonton City Hall, Don founded Civic Good in 2021 to provide advice on climate, housing, civic innovation, and complex governance issues. He is primarily engaged with Co-operators as Executive Advisor to the Resilience Acceleration Lab, developing and investing in climate adaptation projects in communities across Canada. He also works with NGOs, startups and governments in areas ranging from cleantech to modular housing. Don also serves as Co-Chair of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, and as Chair of the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation – the nation’s sixth largest financial institution.

Founder, Art of Change

Jessica Szewczuk is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Change Management Practitioner with nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of strategy, finance, and transformation. A passionate advocate for values-based organizations, Jessica spent close to 10 years leading finance and change initiatives within the credit union system and has since worked extensively with co-ops, local governments, not-for-profits, and publicly funded agencies.

In her business, The Art of Change, Jessica helps mission-driven teams align strategy, systems, and culture through visual facilitation, graphic recording, and human-centered tools that bring clarity to complex work. Blending financial discipline, change leadership, and creative communication, she transforms purpose into lasting performance. Whether mapping a strategic plan, guiding a budgeting reset, or facilitating co-op leaders, her goal is the same: to turn purpose into performance in a way that sticks.

Vice President, National Client Success and Distribution at Co-operators and CUMIS

Kirsten is an innovative insurance professional. Leading distribution at CUMIS, Kristen works with an incredible team, bringing the multi-line strength of our organization to meet the needs of our partners, their members and clients. As part of the Co-operators, we have the strength and experience to partner with like-minded organizations in support of our mission of “financial security for Canadians and our communities”.

Director of Education at Co-operatives First

Kyle leads the development and delivery of start-up support services through online courses. Originally from Newfoundland and Labrador, Kyle has worked his way across Canada, focusing on community economic development in rural and Indigenous communities. With degrees in Geography and Public Policy, Kyle’s educational background has focused on community development, governance, and organizational policy. Aside from his work with Co-operatives First, Kyle stays busy as a volunteer, history enthusiast, and long-distance runner.

Research Chair in Sustainability and leads the Community Energy Innovation Centre (CEIC) at NorQuest College

Dr. Martin Boucher is an applied researcher and leader in community energy and sustainability, known for building cross-sector partnerships that turn research into real-world impact. His work focuses on energy diversification, community wealth building, and local economic development, with projects spanning Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe. His PhD,conducted across Canada, the U.S., and Sweden, explored decentralized socio-technical energy transitions, examining how communities shape more democratic and sustainable energy systems. He is the founding president of Community Energy Cooperative Canada (CECC), a national organization advancing community-led energy initiatives, and also serves on municipal and provincial advisory committees focused on climate resilience, energy policy, and just transitions. Prior to NorQuest, he was a faculty member at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, where he led the development of the online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program and helped grow it into one of the school’s flagship offerings.

Board Chair of CPA Alberta

Maureen is a former executive leader, corporate director, and governance advisor. She is deeply involved in advancing governance excellence as an instructor in the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Director Education Program and as a member of the ICD Edmonton Chapter Executive. Born in Elk Point and now based in St. Albert, Maureen brings a unique perspective informed by her Métis and Ukrainian heritage and her experience in both rural and urban business and community contexts.

ACCA Project Lead for Business NOT As Usual

Rebecca is a dynamic marketing professional passionate about helping organizations connect with their audiences through purposeful, results-driven strategies. She brings a strong blend of creativity, analytical insight, and hands-on experience to every project.

At the Alberta Community & Co-operative Association, Rebecca developed and led the national Business Not as Usual campaign, creating its brand identity, marketing strategy, and event experience. Her work drove engagement with students and co-operative associations across Canada, showcasing her ability to unite strategy, storytelling, and collaboration.

Research and Communications Coordinator at the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives

Stan supports research development and communications strategy. He joined the Centre in 2020 and brings a strong background in both quantitative and qualitative research.

Director at CSS Pension Plan

Tami is the Director of Member Experience at the CSS Pension Plan, with over 20 years in financial services focused on member advocacy, retirement education, and cooperative leadership. She holds an MBA and multiple professional designations, including CFP®, PMP®, and RRC®. A frequent presenter at ACPM and CPBI conferences, Tami is passionate about advancing equity, transparency, and innovation in pension delivery and shaping member-centred governance frameworks that foster trust and long-term sustainability.

United Conservative Party of Alberta
(Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills)

Tara Sawyer was first elected to the Alberta Legislature in a by-election on June 23, 2025. She is a farmer, business owner, and national agriculture leader.

She most recently served as Chair of Grain Growers of Canada—the first woman elected to the role in the organization’s history—advocating for Alberta and Canadian farmers across the country and around the world. She also served as Chair of Alberta Grains and Alberta Barley and is a respected voice on agriculture policy, market access, and sustainability.

Tara lives and works on her family farm near Acme, Alberta, where she and her husband Matt raise wheat, barley, canola, hay, and three adult children.

Her leadership began at home—volunteering in schools, coaching soccer, leading 4-H, and serving with the Acme Royal Purple Elks. Her family was named Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmers in 2011 and received the Calgary Stampede BMO Farm Family Award in 2014.

Tara has built a reputation for bridging the rural-urban divide, encouraging young people to pursue careers in agriculture, and creating space for women in leadership. She also owned and operated a local catering business for nearly a decade.

From the farm to the boardroom to the international stage, Tara brings a grounded, no-nonsense approach and a deep respect for Alberta’s values and industries.

Founder | Homestead Investment Cooperative

Tegan Martin-Drysdale is a civil engineer and community builder with expertise spanning structural design, construction, and project management. After project managing major developments in Edmonton and Calgary, she co-founded RedBrick in 2012 and later Homestead, a downtown Edmonton coworking hub. A former President of IDEA and Avenue Magazine Top 40 Under 40 honouree, Tegan champions sustainable and inclusive urban growth. Her current work focuses on creating sustainable and culturally appropriate First Nations housing, and building vibrant, affordable communities. Passionate about Alberta’s potential, she co-founded Homestead Investment Cooperative in 2022 to empower Albertans to invest in community-focused real estate that attracts top innovators and entrepreneurs, fostering creativity, collaboration, and lasting impact across the province.

President Unstoppable Conversations, Consultant, Master Coach, Trusted Advisor, TEDx Speaker

Vik Maraj is an original thinker; a speaker with the real-time battle-tested experience that comes with becoming a trusted advisor to some of the world’s most influential leaders. Vik has coached and consulted CEOs of the Fortune 500 in addition to the Premiers, Presidents, and Prime Ministers of countries. He has worked with Pro-

Athletes, celebrities, and even an astronaut. He's been a driving-force behind the growth of leading global companies, facilitated billion-dollar collaborations, restored projects and organizations on the brink of failure, and volunteered well over 10,000 hours of his time to coach local and global not-for-profit leaders and citizens to effectively address hunger, sex-trafficking, war, poverty, climate, colonialism, and other critical issues to humanity.