Our Board of Directors

Stephanie Pankratz is a Chartered Professional Accountant and an Audit Partner with KPMG LLP. She has been with KPMG Calgary since 2006, where she serves clients in the agricultural, chemical, oil and gas and power sectors.

Stephanie holds a Master of Professional Accounting from the University of Saskatchewan and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary. She served on the public practice working group for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta from 2014-2016.

She currently sits on Glenbow Museum’s board of governors.

Stephanie joined United Way of Calgary and Area’s Board of Directors in 2020.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Board Chair
• Vice Chair of the Governance and Strategy Committee
• Member of the H.R. Sub Committee
• Member of the Finance, Audit & Technology Committee

Kent Ferguson has over 25 years of experience in the banking industry and in 2019, was appointed Co-Head of Global Energy for the RBC Capital Markets investment banking group. Kent also leads senior account coverage and execution of financing for mergers and acquisitions for energy companies.

Kent holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan and is a member of the CFA Institute. His work in the community includes RBC’s Capital Markets Foundation and annual employee giving campaign, UNICEF’s patrons council in Calgary, and United Way of Calgary and Area.

Kent has served on United Way Calgary and Area’s Campaign Cabinet from 2015 to 2022, joined the Board of Directors in 2018, served as Chair, Finance, Audit & Technology from 2022 to 2024 and is currently serving as Board Vice-Chair.

Kent is married with two active children.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Vice Chair of the Board
• Member of the H.R. Sub Committee

Pam Kazeil is the Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of PrairieSky Royalty Ltd., and has significant experience in the oil and gas industry managing finance, accounting, treasury, and tax. Prior to joining the company, Pam was Chief Financial Officer at Sinopec Canada. Her experience includes Vice-President, Finance at Daylight Energy Ltd., and increasingly senior roles with Sword Energy Ltd. and its predecessor, Thunder Energy Trust, including as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Pam started her accounting career at KPMG LLP in 2001.

Pam is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

She is a Board member for Wood’s Homes and joined United Way Calgary and Area Board of Directors in 2021.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Chair of the Finance, Audit & Technology Committee

Beth Reimer-Heck, Q.C., ICD.D is a dedicated, proud Calgarian, with over 30 years of board, legal, and executive experience. She is Senior Counsel for BLG LLP, Canada’s largest law firm, and has extensive experience in governance, including as past Co-Chair of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Throughout her career, Beth has helped organizations navigate transformational change whether because of crisis, innovation, or growth. She believes in collaboration and community, demonstrated through her numerous community leadership positions including past Chair of HomeFront, past Chair of Banff Centre Foundation, and past Vice-Chair of SAIT.

Beth was appointed Queen’s Counsel by her peers in recognition for her contributions and was named an Acritas Star in 2019 and 2021. She has also been spotlighted by Canadian Diversity Network’s symposium among female business leaders.

Beth served as 2020’s Campaign Co-Chair and joined United Way of Calgary and Area’s Board of Directors in 2021.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Member of the Governance and Strategy Committee
• Board Liaison Indigenous Advisory Committee

Karen Young joined United Way of Calgary and Area as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in June 2014 and has been the President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2017.

Karen came to United Way from The City of Calgary where she served for 26 years as an award-winning leader. As the Director of Community and Neighbourhood Services at The City, Karen led change management, strategic planning and policy, partnership management, funding and grant programs, financial administration, community relations, and program development initiatives. She was instrumental in securing $480 million to build four new recreation facilities in Calgary and led the Emergency Social Services efforts during the flood of 2013.

Karen is a visionary leader who believes that positive change begins at the community level and values partnerships and collaborations in achieving a common goal. Driven by her belief that all Calgarians have the right to a good quality of life, Karen is a catalyst for social change and has been serving our communities since the 1980’s, including on the Calgary Housing Company Board of Directors, Calgary TELUS Convention Centre Board of Directors, Trustee of the Burns Memorial Fund, and the Calgary Economic Development Advisory Group.

Prior to joining the Executive Team, Karen worked closely with United Way over the years on many projects including the Calgary Poverty Reduction Initiative, Calgary AfterSchool, and the Calgary Local Immigration Partnership.

Karen holds a master’s certificate in municipal leadership and a Bachelor of General Studies in Leisure, Recreation, and Tourism.

Rhonda Roth (she/her) is the Chief Impact Officer at United Way of Calgary and Area (UWCA). A collaborative and strategic leader, Rhonda catalyzes community change and builds awareness and support of UWCA to improve local lives. As Chief Impact Officer, Rhonda leads the organization’s Community Impact and Partnership, Marketing and Communications, and Resource Development teams to drive sustainable solutions for complex social issues.

Rhonda has a track record of motivating high-performing teams and more than two decades of leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector, with specialization in health care and the social sector. Rhonda believes that everyone can make a difference and is passionate about creating a community where everyone thrives.

Geoff Couldrey was Chief Operating Officer at Immigrant Services Calgary and brings a strong background in transformation, innovation, and technology as well as a background in mental health to United Way.

He has been Chief Operating Officer for Classroom Champions (USA/Canada), VP of Cloud Services for Britec Computer Systems, and both Vice President, Knowledge and Innovation and Executive Vice President for The Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Geoff has an Executive MBA with a specialization in Innovation Leadership from the University of Fredericton.

Gayle was the Chief Strategy Officer for the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) and has led strategy, operations and finance in health and post-secondary sectors. She has developed and implemented many large-scale planning initiatives and has deep expertise in strategic planning, organizational development, consensus building and change management.

She has been Vice President, College and Learner Services and Chief Financial Officer at Bow Valley College, Chief Operating Officer for the Alberta operations of Canada Diagnostic Centres and has served in multiple leadership capacities with the AMA, as well as with Deloitte’s National Health Practice, Alberta Health Services, and the Government of Alberta (Alberta Health and Wellness).

Gayle has a Masters of Public Health (Health Policy and Management) from the University of Alberta.

Debasis (DB) has more than 25 years of experience in operational management, solution delivery, professional teaching, and business development in several industries. Currently Vice-President, Information Technology at Nutrien, DB has held senior roles with global corporations like IBM, Siemens Medical, CGI, Enbridge, Potash Corp of Saskatchewan in various geographies including the USA, Canada and Asia Pacific.

DB has an MBA with specialization in Finance and a Master of Science in Physics. He is a certified project management professional (PMP) and is certified in risk and information systems control (CRISC) and organization change management (Prosci). He loves teaching, and currently teaches classes on project management and SAP project management at the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University. DB is also author of Leadership 4.0.

He serves on the board of McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association of Calgary & Area and Canadian Mental Health Association (Calgary), Let’s Talk Science, and is member of Innovation Leadership team for Calgary Economic Development. DB is also member of advisory councils with Mount Royal University and Waterloo University’s Artificial Intelligence department.

DB joined United Way’s Board of Directors in 2021.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Member of the Finance, Audit & Technology Committee

Alec Clark has over 35 years’ experience in corporate finance, energy and investment banking. In November 2019, Alec was appointed Head of Global Energy at TD Securities. With offices in Calgary, Toronto, Houston, New York, and London, Alec leads a team of professionals focused on providing full investment banking coverage for corporate clients participating in all aspects of the energy sector.

Alec is graduate of the HBA program at the Ivey Business School at Western University. As an active volunteer in the community, Alec has held senior leadership roles with the Glenlake Minor Hockey Club, Calgary West Little League, and has also supported numerous local charities.

Alec has volunteered with United Way of Calgary and Area for many years, most recently serving as 2020’s Campaign Co-Chair. His prior roles included Co-Chair of the Major Donor Cabinet, where he championed and promoted innovative ways of giving, like leveraging the gift of life insurance and gifts of securities.

A born-and-raised Calgarian, Alec and his wife Sloan Pipella-Clark have two adult children. He joined the Board of Directors in 2021.

Current Board involvement:

• Vice Chair of the Finance, Audit and Technology Committee

As Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Lara Conrad connects ARC’s subsurface development of core operations with business development activities and capital plans to enhance its long-term strategy. With more than 20 years of energy industry experience, Lara brings technical and strategic expertise to all aspects of the energy lifecycle, from exploration to production. After joining ARC in 2011, Lara has assumed many technical and leadership roles, including leadership of engineering, geosciences, joint ventures, mineral land, business development, strategic planning, reserves, and legal. Most recently, she was ARC’s Senior Vice President, Development from 2020 to 2021. Prior to joining ARC, Lara led fiscal, regulatory, and environmental policy at a major Canadian crude oil and natural gas producer.

In 2020, Lara was named to the Global Female Influencer 275 list by the Energy Council. In 2022 she was United Way of Calgary and Area Campaign Co-Chair and has been an active volunteer with the United Way for more than five years. Lara has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo; a Certificate of Management Excellence from Harvard Business School, Executive Education; and is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA).

Michael Crothers has 37 years of operations, commercial and leadership experience in the upstream, downstream, and integrated gas businesses, of which over 33 years were with Shell plc. Michael served as President and Country Chair for Shell Canada for over 5 years, retiring in May of 2021.

He led business development and start-up of both Scotford Upgraders and Albian Jackpine Mine mega-projects, and the 2018 achievement of the final investment decision for the LNG Canada project. Michael’s extensive global experience includes assignments spanning five continents and several large scale joint ventures. Michael is a champion of the environment, diversity and inclusion and is committed to reconciliation and partnership with Indigenous peoples.

He currently serves as a Director of Keyera Corporation, a Director at Westgen Technologies and as Board Chair of Directors of Northern RNA. He is also on the Board of the Nature Conservancy Canada (Alberta branch). He is a native Calgarian who graduated in 1984 as a Chemical Engineer with distinction from the University of Alberta. He is married with three children and five grandchildren.

Michael joined United Way’s Board of Directors in 2022, after serving as Campaign Co-Chair in 2021.

Current Board involvement:

• Member of the Community Impact Committee
• Member of Business Development Committee

Kent Ferguson has over 25 years of experience in the banking industry and in 2019, was appointed Co-Head of Global Energy for the RBC Capital Markets investment banking group. Kent also leads senior account coverage and execution of financing for mergers and acquisitions for energy companies.

Kent holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan and is a member of the CFA Institute. His work in the community includes RBC’s Capital Markets Foundation and annual employee giving campaign, UNICEF’s patrons council in Calgary, and United Way of Calgary and Area.

Kent has served on United Way Calgary and Area’s Campaign Cabinet from 2015 to 2022, joined the Board of Directors in 2018, served as Chair, Finance, Audit & Technology from 2022 to 2024 and is currently serving as Board Vice-Chair.

Kent is married with two active children.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Vice Chair of the Board
• Member of the H.R. Sub Committee

Naushad Jamani retired from NOVA Chemicals after 39 years of service in 2019. His most recent role there was Senior Vice President, Olefins & Feedstock, based in Calgary, Alberta and a was member of the NOVA Management Board as of January 2015.

Naushad participated in all NOVA Chemicals Board sessions as a key member of the Management teamed had the overall responsibility and accountability of NOVA’s Olefins Business. Naushad represented NOVA on the Boards of the following Industry Associations…American Fuel and Petrochemicals Manufacturers, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, Canadian Fuels Association and was the founding Chair of the Resource Diversification Council of Alberta.

Naushad also lead all aspects of Government Relations (Municipal, Provincial and Federal) for NOVA as part of his Management Board responsibilities. Naushad graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from the University of Waterloo in 1980. He married his wife, Yasmin that same year and they spent the first 15 years of their careers with NOVA in Sarnia, Ontario prior to their relocation to Calgary in 1995. They have two daughters who live in Calgary and are enjoying spending time with their two grandchildren when not traveling around the world to see and experience other cultures and environments.

Naushad joined United Way’s Board of Directors in 2022.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Member of the Revenue Generation Committee

As a marketplace partner, Marc is focused on relationships and providing value-added services to clients to solve problems or leverage opportunities.

Marc has become a trusted advisor to Alberta’s senior executives and owners with his deep industry experience, ability and willingness to connect people in the business community, and his no-nonsense, straight-talk approach to addressing problems.

Marc has always been a very active community volunteer, mostly with United Way of Calgary and Area. He has been on the Board of Directors, was 2019’s Campaign Co-Chair and co-chaired the Major Donor cabinet in 2017 and 2018.

Marc is married to Lesley and has four children. He is an avid skier—downhill and backcountry—and road, gravel, mountain bike, and fat bike cyclist.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Vice Chair of the Revenue Generation Committee

In her role as Senior Vice-President of Shared Services at TransAlta, Shasta provides strategic and functional leadership for operations services, business services, information technology, innovation and data, facilities, safety, security, supply chain management, and engineering.

Since joining TransAlta in 2002 as part of the new grad program, Shasta has held various positions in TransAlta’s operations area, including roles in plant and project engineering, business development, project management, safety, and operations integrity.

Shasta has a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Calgary.

Pam Kazeil is the Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of PrairieSky Royalty Ltd., and has significant experience in the oil and gas industry managing finance, accounting, treasury, and tax. Prior to joining the company, Pam was Chief Financial Officer at Sinopec Canada. Her experience includes Vice-President, Finance at Daylight Energy Ltd., and increasingly senior roles with Sword Energy Ltd. and its predecessor, Thunder Energy Trust, including as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Pam started her accounting career at KPMG LLP in 2001.

Pam is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

She is a Board member for Wood’s Homes and joined United Way Calgary and Area Board of Directors in 2021.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Chair of the Finance, Audit & Technology Committee

Christy Morgan (she/her) is a proud First Nations woman from the St’uxwtéws (Bonaparte) Band, which is a part of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation, in British Columbia. Christy holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary and is employed with TELUS as the Reconciliation Strategy Manager. Christy brings her traditional knowledge, and her work and lived experience supporting the growth and development of Indigenous communities to this position.

Prior to joining TELUS, Christy worked for over 23 years in Calgary and area’s not-for-profit sector, focusing on community development and relations building with the urban Indigenous community. She has been honoured and recognized many times throughout her career, including being named one of the Top 40 Under 40 by Avenue Magazine in 2011; being awarded the Dr. Douglas Cardinal Award for Community Leadership in 2015 from the University of Calgary Student Association and Native Centre; receiving the Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award recognizing leadership in building relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in Calgary in 2021; and in 2022, Christy was recognized by the Calgary Herald during its annual honouring of 20 Calgarians “making their mark on the community and beyond” as one of the Top 20 Compelling Calgarians.

Christy sits on many committees and boards in Calgary and enjoys giving back to the community.

Lillian Pan’s practice is primarily focused on commercial litigation, including the areas of business litigation, securities, product liability, energy and employment litigation. She has appeared before many levels of court, including the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, the Alberta Court of Appeal, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Ontario Superior Court and the Federal Court; as well as the Alberta Securities Commission and the Ontario Securities Commission.

Lillian is a passionate mentor and a strong advocate for diversity. She is a senior advisor and mentor to the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL) since 2014, and an instructor in the trial advocacy course at the University of Calgary Law School. She has joined the Board of The Advocates’ Society for a four year term starting in mid-2019. In November 2019, Lillian was awarded the Leadership in the Profession & Private Practice Award in the 9th Annual WILL Awards, which is described as a lawyer who has shown extraordinary leading in a number of areas namely mentoring of law students and junior lawyers, demonstrated leadership in law and diversity initiatives, and a commitment to being a positive role model for other lawyers.

Lillian joined United Way’s Board of Directors in 2022.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Member of the Community Impact Committee

Stephanie Pankratz is a Chartered Professional Accountant and an Audit Partner with KPMG LLP. She has been with KPMG Calgary since 2006, where she serves clients in the agricultural, chemical, oil and gas and power sectors.

Stephanie holds a Master of Professional Accounting from the University of Saskatchewan and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary. She served on the public practice working group for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta from 2014-2016.

She currently sits on Glenbow Museum’s board of governors.

Stephanie joined United Way of Calgary and Area’s Board of Directors in 2020.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Board Chair
• Vice Chair of the Governance and Strategy Committee
• Member of the H.R. Sub Committee
• Member of the Finance, Audit & Technology Committee

Beth Reimer-Heck, Q.C., ICD.D is a dedicated, proud Calgarian, with over 30 years of board, legal, and executive experience. She is Senior Counsel for BLG LLP, Canada’s largest law firm, and has extensive experience in governance, including as past Co-Chair of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Throughout her career, Beth has helped organizations navigate transformational change whether because of crisis, innovation, or growth. She believes in collaboration and community, demonstrated through her numerous community leadership positions including past Chair of HomeFront, past Chair of Banff Centre Foundation, and past Vice-Chair of SAIT.

Beth was appointed Queen’s Counsel by her peers in recognition for her contributions and was named an Acritas Star in 2019 and 2021. She has also been spotlighted by Canadian Diversity Network’s symposium among female business leaders.

Beth served as 2020’s Campaign Co-Chair and joined United Way of Calgary and Area’s Board of Directors in 2021.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Member of the Governance and Strategy Committee
• Board Liaison Indigenous Advisory Committee

David Smith has more than 38 years of experience in Canada’s energy industry. Most recently, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Keyera Corp. from 2015 until he retired in 2020. David held senior management roles with Keyera and its predecessors since the company’s began in 1998. He began his career with Imperial Oil, Ltd. in 1982, before joining Gulf Canada Resources Limited in 1991.

David holds a Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo, a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University, and the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.David is currently a director of Arts Commons (Calgary Centre for Performing Arts), in addition to his role with United Way of Calgary and Area.

He has been a supporter and volunteer with the United Way of Calgary and Area for many years. He was Co-Chair of the Campaign Cabinet in 2018 and he joined the Board of Directors in 2019.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Chair of Revenue Generation Committee

Janet is an experienced executive search professional with over 25 years of experience and is the Founding Partner of Janet Soles and Associates Executive Search, an Alberta based global search firm. Her practice has always focused on senior leadership and along with her colleagues she serves a diverse client base from the private, public, academic and not-for-profit sectors.

Janet’s community involvements have included serving as a Governor for the Calgary Petroleum Club, a Director at Hull Child and Family Services and prior to Co-Chairing last year’s campaign for the United Way she held volunteer roles as Chair of the Leaders Cabinet and Vice-Chair for the Women United Committee with the United Way in Calgary.

Janet attended the University of Calgary and earned her BA in Psychology; her Human Resources Certificate and she holds her CPHR designation.

After having grown up in Calgary Janet is proud to raise her two children in this wonderful community with her husband Rod, a business development executive at MasTec Canada.

Janet joined United Way’s Board of Directors in 2022.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Member of the Community Impact Committee

Liz is currently the Executive Vice-President, Consumer and Wealth at Connect First Credit Union. She is a versatile senior executive with 30 years of experience in Financial Services. She is known as a strategic problem solver and visionary with success leading P&L in Wealth Management, Business, Agriculture, and Retail Banking. Liz has experience in all aspects of HR, Organizational Culture, Corporate Social Responsibility, Strategic Planning, Business transformation and Information Management. She has an MBA from Dalhousie University, holds the ICD.D, and CFP.

She is actively involved in the community and sits on several not-for-profit organizations and advisory boards.

Liz joined United Way’s Board of Directors in 2022 after volunteering in a number of roles since 2019.

Current Board involvement includes:

• Vice Chair of Community Impact Committee

Karen Young joined United Way of Calgary and Area as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in June 2014 and has been the President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2017.

Karen came to United Way from The City of Calgary where she served for 26 years as an award-winning leader. As the Director of Community and Neighbourhood Services at The City, Karen led change management, strategic planning and policy, partnership management, funding and grant programs, financial administration, community relations, and program development initiatives. She was instrumental in securing $480 million to build four new recreation facilities in Calgary and led the Emergency Social Services efforts during the flood of 2013.

Karen is a visionary leader who believes that positive change begins at the community level and values partnerships and collaborations in achieving a common goal. Driven by her belief that all Calgarians have the right to a good quality of life, Karen is a catalyst for social change and has been serving our communities since the 1980’s, including on the Calgary Housing Company Board of Directors, Calgary TELUS Convention Centre Board of Directors, Trustee of the Burns Memorial Fund, and the Calgary Economic Development Advisory Group.

Prior to joining the Executive Team, Karen worked closely with United Way over the years on many projects including the Calgary Poverty Reduction Initiative, Calgary AfterSchool, and the Calgary Local Immigration Partnership.

Karen holds a master’s certificate in municipal leadership and a Bachelor of General Studies in Leisure, Recreation, and Tourism.