Board of Directors
Heather Culbert
Board Chair and Co-founder of Axis Connects & Board Ready Women
With 3 decades of experience in the oil and gas sector, Heather Culbert has held senior positions in the oil and gas sector and was formerly the Senior Vice President of Corporate Services at Enerplus, a mid-sized oil and gas company.
Heather served as Vice Chair on the Board of Export Development Canada (EDC) and chaired the HR Committee. She was recently appointed to the Board of The Fraser Institute and Catapult Environmental. She chairs the United Way World Leadership Council, a member of the She Leads Economic Council of Alberta and is Past Chair of the Alberta Research and Innovation Advisory Council (ARIAC), Past Chair of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), and a past Director of Whitecap Resources.
Heather has been an active volunteer and philanthropist for many years and has co-founded both the Board Ready Women and Axis Connects not-for-profit organizations in Alberta. She is now the Co-Chair of the Calgary Cancer Centre campaign with the goal of raising $250 million. Heather has served on many not- for-profit Boards over the past 15 years.
She has been recognized for her leadership and community service and most recently was the recipient of the 2022 Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal and the 2021 Women’s Energy Council Female Executive of the Year Award. In March of 2019, she proudly received the Governor General’s Sovereign Volunteerism Medal to recognize her exemplary philanthropic efforts in Canada. Heather has received numerous other awards, including: the BMO Celebrating Women 2016 Community and Charitable Giving award; a SAIT Honorary Bachelor of Science degree in 2014; the Doc Seaman Generosity of Spirit Award as an individual philanthropist in 2013; the Alberta Centennial Medal for Community Service in 2005; and in 2003, she was recognized as SAIT’s Distinguished Alumna.
Heather recently completed her ICD.D certification through the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management ICD program and her GCB.D ESG certification through Competent Boards.
Arun Chandrasekaran
Head of Energy Investment Banking at National Bank Financial
Arun Chandrasekaran has 17+ years of experience in industry. Mr. Chandrasekaran re-joined National Bank as Head of Energy, Investment Banking in August 2016. Prior to re-joining National Bank, Mr. Chandrasekaran worked as a Principal with Stream Asset Financial Management. Mr. Chandrasekaran graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Commerce Co-operative Education degree where he graduated with Distinction.
Jennifer Koury
Independent Director
Ms. Koury has more than 35 years professional experience including C suite leadership roles and international experience, with the world’s largest mining Company, BHP Billiton, as well has worked with Enerplus Resources and Exxon Mobil as a senior executive.
Currently, Ms. Koury sits on the Board of Directors for Crescent Point Energy, chairing their HRC and member of the Governance Committee; Bird Construction in Toronto, Chairing the HR and Governance Committee and member of the EH&S Committee; the Calgary Zoo as Board Chair and is one of the Co-Founders of Board Ready Women. Ms. Koury also served on the Women in Mining Canada Board as Co-Chair from April 2017 to April 2021.
Ms. Koury holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (honors) from the University of Alberta and has her Directors Designation, ICD.D, from The Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto.
Rich Kruger
President & CEO, Suncor
Rich joined Suncor in April 2023 with nearly 40 years of global experience in the energy industry, including extensive experience in the Canadian oil sands. Since joining Suncor, Rich’s priorities have been to increase the organization’s focus on the fundamentals and improve overall performance.
Prior to joining Suncor, Rich was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Oil Limited, a major petroleum refiner, producer of crude oil and fuels marketer in Canada, for nearly 7 years, from 2013 until his retirement in December 2019.
Prior to Imperial, Rich was Vice President of Exxon Mobile Corporation and president of Exxon Mobil Production Company responsible for the company’s global oil and gas producing operations. In total, Rich worked for Exxon Mobil Corporation and its predecessor companies since 1981 in various upstream and downstream assignments with responsibilities in the United States, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Africa, and the Southeast Asia.
Rich has deep experience in successfully driving a strong performance culture focusing on safety, reliability and operational excellence, with a proven track record of enabling companies to deliver exceptional financial results and returns to shareholders.
He holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Business Administration from the University Houston.
Curtis Stange
President & CEO, ATB Financial
Curtis Stange was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of ATB Financial on June 30, 2018. With courage, disciplined thought and precise action, he leads a team of more than 5,000 team members who are dedicated to ATB’s purpose—to make it possible for over 800,000 clients and business owners.
With more than 35 years of experience in financial services in Canada, Curtis has led teams across diverse geographic markets and through various economic cycles—always with an inquisitive nature and a desire to get to know the people and places around him.
Curtis is a Stanford alumnus and member of the Alberta Business Council and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Western Executive Council. In 2023, he was awarded as Canada’s Most Admired CEO by Waterstone Human Capital.
Along with his role on the Axis Board, Curtis serves on advisory boards for the Edmonton International Airport, Visa Canada, and Advancing Women Executives in Western Canada. He also co-chairs the STARS Air Ambulance board and is a strong advocate for mental health
Dawn de Lima
CEO, Odyssey Trust Company
As Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services, Mrs. de Lima provides strategic and functional leadership for human resources, information systems, aviation and facilities services. She also serves as the Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer for the Company.
Prior to joining TC Energy, Mrs. de Lima served as Chief Shared Services Officer on the executive leadership team with TransAlta Corporation, responsible for leading Business and Operational Services, Information Technology, Data & Innovation, Supply Chain Management, Corporate Security and Facilities. Mrs. de Lima has also held progressively senior positions in Human Resources, overseeing Executive Compensation, Talent and Culture, Leadership Development, Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations.
Mrs. de Lima currently sits as the Chair of the Board for Junior Achievement Canada and the Co-Chair for SHEInnovates Alberta, a United Nations project to advance the progress of women in innovation.
She holds a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Calgary.
John Kousinioris
President & CEO, TransAlta
John Kousinioris has served as the President and CEO of TransAlta Corporation since 2021 and has been with the company since 2012. Prior to stepping into this role, he has held several leadership positions at TransAlta including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Growth Officer and Chief Legal Compliance Officer.
TransAlta is one of Canada’s largest publicly traded electricity generation companies, with over 112 years of experience operating hydro, wind, solar, gas and storage facilities across five provinces in Canada, the United States and Western Australia.
John holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Ivey Business School, an MBA from York University, a Law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University. Beyond his role at TransAlta, he is the Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors at Bow Valley College, a Director on the Calgary Stampede Foundation Board, a director on the Axis Connects Board, and is a member of the Business Councils of Canada and Alberta.
Jenna Kaye
CEO, Odyssey Trust Company
Jenna is the Founder and CEO of Odyssey Trust Company, a North American transfer agent and trust company based in Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Denver, CO.
She is also the CEO and Founder of Corporate Diversity Consultants Ltd., a consulting firm that provides corporate governance and compliance services to publicly-listed companies and a Principal of Icebook Investments, a family run office that’s focused on early-stage businesses across a wide range of industries including renewable energy, real estate and fertility.
Jenna has an MBA/LLB from Dalhousie University and practiced law at a national law firm.
Catherine Samuel
Partner, McCarthy Tétrault
Cathy is a partner in the Business Law and Technology Groups of McCarthy Tétrault LLP where she currently leads the national Procurement Group and is Alberta Chair of the Inclusion Now PRIDE Committee. With over 20 years’ experience, Cathy’s practice focuses on complex M&A and commercial transactions, acting for early stage and mid-market companies as well as large Canadian and international clients in the energy, telecommunications, technology, retail, cannabis, financial services and healthcare industries. Cathy is recognized as a Leading Lawyer by Chambers Canada in the area of Corporate/Commercial (Alberta) and by Lexpert in the areas of Corporate Mid-Market, Computer & IT Law and Technology Transactions.
Cathy currently serves on the board of Theatre Calgary, where is she is Chair of the HR Committee and a member of Governance & Nominating Committee. She is also a director of Apollo Endosurgery Canada Ltd. She is the Corporate Secretary for Pulse Seismic Inc. (TSX: PSD) and Baby Gourmet Foods Inc.
Marnie Smith
Managing Director, Russell Reynolds Associates
Marnie brings a passion for partnering with clients to build their businesses. A leader of the western Canadian team, Marnie is a member of the Board & CEO Advisory Partners, Industrial and Natural Resources and Financial Services Sectors. She works with C-suites and boards across multiple industries to strategically identify leaders of the future. Additionally, she advises clients on their strategic leadership initiatives involving Board, CEO and C-suite succession; leadership assessment and development; and board structure and effectiveness.
In her previous roles, she was deeply involved in the energy sector through corporate finance and investment banking. Previously, Marnie was a managing director and the head of Canadian energy at Macquarie Group. There she provided clients with financing solutions, valuations, strategic M&A advice and led the execution of principal investments in energy and financial institutions.
Marnie holds an Masters of Finance from INSEAD. She also earned a Bachelors of Commerce with distinction and a Bachelor of Arts, International Relations, with distinction from the University of Calgary.
Katie Smith-Parent
BD, Industry Diversification, Spartan Controls
Katie leads Business Development for Industry Diversification for Spartan Controls, an industrial technology company with process automation, valve, measurement and control solutions in Western Canada.
In addition to being a Co-Founder and Board Member at Axis Connects; Katie is the Executive Director of Young Women in Energy (YWE), a non-profit organization of more than 4,500 members working to increase the presence and voice of women in Alberta’s energy industry.
In 2019, she was recognized by SHE Innovates Alberta, UN Women’s first pilot chapter of its Global Innovation Coalition for Change (GICC). Katie is currently pursuing her MBA in Executive Management at Royal Roads University.
Management Team
Nuvyn Peters
CEO
Nuvyn is a community leader and seasoned executive with a strong record of achievements in capital raising, philanthropy, communications, advocacy, community engagement and 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 milestone $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.
Nuvyn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Saskatchewan, and a Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution from Landegg International University in Switzerland. An innovative and empathetic leader, Nuvyn was named one of Canada’s top newsmakers of the week by Maclean’s magazine, and is a recipient of Avenue magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” (2016) and Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40” (2018).
Katarina Seckarova
Executive Director
Katarina has a diverse professional background spanning the technical, business, and non-profit sectors. She received a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics from the University of Calgary with Honours and then began a career in the Oil & Gas sector. After earning her Master’s in Business Administration specializing in Finance from the Haskayne School of Business, she transitioned to the non-profit sector, where her passion lies in advancing women to corporate boards.
Katarina’s expertise extends to regulatory and corporate services, providing guidance to start-ups on navigating regulatory landscapes, optimizing business operations, and strategizing for growth. She initially worked with Board Ready Women on a project to identify barriers hindering women’s advancement to boards and propose actionable initiatives and programs to support their Board journey. This collaboration led to her joining the Board Ready Women team in 2020.
Katarina’s commitment to supporting and empowering women extends beyond her professional endeavours. In 2022, she joined Board of Directors of the Alberta Women’s Science Network, an organization focused on improving recruitment, retention and recognition of women in the STEM fields. Katarina also serves as a member of the Awards and Nominations Committees.
