Board Resilience: Navigating Crises with Confidence

September 18, 2024

Join us for an insightful discussion on the critical topic of Board Crisis Management. In today’s dynamic business environment, the ability to effectively manage risks is a fundamental requirement for organizational resilience and success. Our expert panel will delve into practical strategies for proactive risk identification, assessment and mitigation, as well as communication strategies during times of crisis.

Our Fireside Chat Features:


Patricia McLeod, K.C., ICD.D., MBA

Board Chair – Pieridae Energy Ltd., & FutEra Power Corp.
Board Member – Green Line Board City of Calgary & MINDD Bra Company

Rich Kruger

President & CEO – Suncor
Former Chairman & CEO – Imperial Oil

Kerry O'Reilly Wilks

EVP of Growth and Energy – TransAlta
Board Director – St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation
Co-Founder – Malachy’s Soiree

Moderated by:


Jason Hatcher

Managing Principal, Navigator
Board Chair – Calgary Chamber of Commerce & United Way Centraide Canada

Due to high demand, we’ve expanded our capacity to accommodate more attendees, as this event was fully sold out!

Thank you for your enthusiasm and support!

We look forward to having you join us in person or virtually!

 

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We are pleased to invite you to join our next Board Ready Women event on September 18th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm (MT). We are hosting this event in person and virtually. In-person registration starts at 4:00 pm, with the panel starting at 4:15 pm, followed by cocktails and networking.

 

Join us for an insightful discussion on the critical topic of Board Crisis Management with Patricia McLeod, Rich Kruger and Kerry O’Reilly Wilks, moderated by Jason Hatcher from Navigator.

 In today’s dynamic business environment, the ability to effectively manage risks is a fundamental requirement for organizational resilience and success. Our expert panel will delve into practical strategies for proactive risk identification, assessment and mitigation, as well as communication strategies during times of crisis. From cybersecurity breaches to reputation management challenges, we’ll explore actionable insights to empower boards with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate uncertainty. Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your crisis management skillset and ensure your board is prepared to lead with confidence in any situation.

Board Ready Women members will receive access to a crisis management tool kit.

Board Ready Women is grateful to Navigator for sponsoring this discussion:
For over 20 years, Navigator has supported clients with effective counsel, strategy and support with crisis management, government relations, capital market advisory and communications. In times of disruption, transformation and uncertainty, Navigator’s proprietary methodologies ask the toughest questions, uncover indispensable answers and ensure you have the right strategies and tactics to succeed. Stop reacting and seize control – when success is critical and you can’t afford to lose.

 

Should you have any questions, please direct them to boardreadywomen@gmail.com.

 

We look forward to your participation in what will surely be an exciting afternoon of insight and inspiration. 


Speakers' Bios:

Patricia McLeod, K.C., ICD.D, MBA


Board Chair - Pieridae Energy Ltd. & FutEra Power Corp.


Board Member - Green Line Board, City of Calgary & MINDD Bra Company

Patricia is an experienced corporate director and lawyer having worked with public, private, and cooperative organizations as well as crown, regulatory and non-profit agencies. She is a former General Counsel, Vice President, and Privacy and Compliance Officer, with extensive experience in contracts and corporate legal matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securities regulations and disclosure, regulatory applications, privacy, ethics and compliance. Patricia is a passionate community builder with a strong understanding of innovation, strategic transformation, and change management.

Patricia is the current Board Chair of FutEra Power Corp., a renewable (geothermal) power producer as well as the current Board Chair of Pieridae Energy Limited (TSX: PEA), a publicly traded integrated midstream/upstream natural gas exploration and production company.

She has led board oversight of significant strategic decisions, capital projects, and business transformations for various organizations, such as Calgary Co-op, Alberta Innovates, City of Calgary Green Line Board, Canadian North (formerly First Air), MINDD Inc., Real Estate Council of Alberta, Calgary Film Centre Ltd., YW Calgary, Calgary Economic Development and cSPACE Projects. She has been Board Chair of multiple organizations and the Committee Chair of Governance, Human Resources, Nominations and Compliance Committees as well as member of Audit & Risk and CEO Recruitment Committees.

Patricia has a law degree and a business degree from the University of Alberta and an MBA from Queen’s University, during which time she completed an applied thesis in creating a culture of innovation in regulated entitles. She is also a certified Compliance and Ethics Officer and completed the Competent Boards’ certification program for board directors in ESG oversight. She was appointed as King’s Counsel in January 2014 (Q.C. at time of appointment).

Patricia was recognized by the Premier of Alberta with a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for her contributions to Alberta in 2022. She was recognized by BMO Financial and Women Get on Board in 2021 as one of five Canadian leading women corporate directors. She was awarded Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN in 2018 and 2019 and Legal Advisor of the Year (2019) by Women in Finance Canada.

Rich Kruger

President & CEO - Suncor


Former Chairman & CEO – Imperial Oil

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.

 

Kerry O'Reilly Wilks

Executive Vice President of Growth and Energy Marketing at TransAlta


Board Director - St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation


Co-Founder of Malachy’s Soiree

Kerry O’Reilly Wilks is the Executive Vice President of Growth and Energy Marketing at TransAlta where her mandate spans the global growth portfolio, trade floor and our energy marketing program.

Prior to this role, Kerry held the position of Executive Vice President, Commercial, Legal and External Affairs where her portfolio spanned legal, commercial, sustainability (ESG), government relations, stakeholder engagement, indigenous affairs, regulatory and market policy, corporate secretarial, governance and trading compliance. Kerry also sat on the Board of Directors of the public company TransAlta Renewables Inc prior to its acquisition by TransAlta.

Prior to her time with TransAlta, Kerry was Head of Legal, North Atlantic & UK, for Vale. Kerry also sat as the Head of Legal, Corporate & Marketing, as well as the Global Chief IT Counsel for Vale globally across all business lines. Additionally, Kerry occupied a senior strategic advisory role with Vale’s Asia-Pacific affiliates, as Head of Legal, Asia Pacific. Prior to joining Vale, Kerry was a partner with Davies, Ward, Phillips & Vineberg LLP, a leading business law firm, focusing on large securities offerings and M&A transactions.

Kerry has been widely recognized for her professional achievements including being named as an inaugural Calgary Influential Woman in Business, Large Enterprise, Top 40 under 40 lawyers in Canada, an Alumni of Distinction by the University of New Brunswick, a Leading Female Lawyer and Woman of Excellence in Canada, one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada and a Top General Counsel Thought Leader in North America.

Kerry also sits on the Board of Directors of St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation and is the Co-Founder of Malachy’s Soiree, a fundraising capital campaign aimed at improving neo-natal intensive care in the inner city of Toronto.

 

Jason Hatcher

Managing Principal of Navigator


Board Chair of Calgary Chamber of Commerce & for United Way Centraide Canada,

 Jason Hatcher is the Managing Principal of Navigator and leads the Western Canadian operations from Calgary. He specializes in strategic communications, media relations, issues management, and government relations. 

Before joining Navigator, Jason was the co-founder and president of a successful public relations firm in Calgary, emerging as one of Canada’s leading professionals in the field of strategic communications. 

For over 20 years, he has worked at the provincial and federal levels of government advising Premiers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador. He has also advised Canadian Cabinet Ministers and political leaders and parties across the country, in areas concerning campaign and election strategy, media relations and public policy. 

As a media commentator on public policy, government and politics, Jason has appeared regularly on national and regional public affairs programming. 

In his role as Managing Principal of Navigator’s Western Canadian operations, Jason leads business development for the region, while also managing a team in three offices (Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver). He works with clients in the telecommunications, technology, health, agriculture, finance, and energy sectors to enhance their public profiles through communication, stakeholder consultation, and government advocacy strategies. 

Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Jason’s English and French bilingual education covered political science, business and law. 

As a community leader and passionate volunteer, Jason believes it is important for people to be involved and to give back to their community. He is current Board Chair of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce as well as Board Chair for United Way Centraide Canada, which comprises 80 community-based organizations and the National Office. Jason is the past Board Chair at United Way of Calgary and a board member for three privately owned corporations. 

Jason lives in Calgary with his wife and two children and their two Labrador retrievers, Mac and Brigus.