Funding
Services
Coaching & Support
Tools & Resources
Impact
Strategic Initiatives
About
Who We Are
What We Do
Innovation Ecosystem
Subsidiaries
Not sure where to start?
Home > About > Governance
Alberta Innovates is governed by a board of directors appointed by the provincial government. It steers the innovation system according to provincial priorities and its business goals.
Alberta Innovates steers the innovation system to bring benefits to Albertans, within our mandate set by the Government of Alberta and in alignment with priorities of the Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy (ATIS) as well as the province’s Investment and Growth Strategy.
Our Board of Directors is accountable to the minister, and responsible for governance of the corporation and overseeing the management of the corporation’s business affairs.
This includes oversight of the CEO, the corporation’s strategies, budget, expenditure authority, and human resources policies.
Tony Williams, Chair
Tony Williams is an accomplished higher education leader with over 20 years of experience driving transformative change at universities across Canada.
Previously, Tony served as Vice President of Marketing and Recruitment with Navitas North America, where he managed a global marketing and recruitment team. He also served as Vice Provost International at Lakehead University and held leadership positions in international student recruitment at the University of Alberta and University of Winnipeg.
Tony’s expertise in strategic planning extends to several institutions, in Canada and internationally, including the University of Regina, Kings University College, Nipissing University, Charles Sturt University (Australia), and Linkoping University (Sweden). Additionally, he founded Zept, an international education marketing app and data company, and was a Special Advisor to the CEO of the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (amii).
Tony earned a BA in Geography from the University of Alberta, and he studied Peace and Conflict Studies and International Relations at Uppsala University in Sweden. While living in Sweden he was the Managing Director of the Canadian Swedish Business Association.
He continues to make an impact in higher education and beyond, leveraging his leadership and expertise to drive change and innovation.
Board committees: Executive Committee (Chairperson), ex officio on Audit Committee, Business Planning, Reporting & Engagement Committee, Governance & Human Resources Committee
Dr. Jodi Abbott, Vice Chair
Dr. Jodi L. Abbott is President and CEO of the University Hospital Foundation where she is bringing together people from industry, academia, government, healthcare, and philanthropy to tackle some of the world’s biggest health and healthcare challenges.
Prior to her current role, she led NorQuest College through significant transformation doubling its student population through expanded programs, and government, corporate and philanthropic partnerships. Earlier, Dr. Abbott was Senior Vice President, Quality Performance Improvement with Alberta Health Services creating a provincial portfolio encompassing patient safety, infection prevention and control, patient relations, and clinical data.
With extensive understanding of government relations and policy development, Dr. Abbott is deeply committed to community development. This was demonstrated in her role as former Chair of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board where she spearheaded progress on the Growth Plan alongside 13 Regional Mayors. And, as inaugural Chair of Edmonton’s Health City, she led creation of a 10-year economic strategy for the health ecosystem.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Abbott volunteers as a World and Olympic figure skating judge and is an Honorary Colonel Designate for the 41St Service Battalion for the Canadian Armed Forces. Dr. Abbott recently received the Order of Canada for leadership in Alberta’s healthcare and college systems, and for mentoring young figure skating athletes.
Carissa Browning
Carissa Browning, B.A., LL.B, ICD.D is an experienced board director with more than 20 years of experience in energy and capital markets. She currently serves as an Independent Director of Eldorado Gold with multiple roles on its board including Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and Committee Member of the Sustainability Committee.
Carissa is a Dene lawyer and has advised on corporate and commercial matters relating to renewable energy, corporate governance and capital markets. She is a member of the Law Society of Alberta, the Law Society of British Columbia and Institute of Corporate Directors. Carissa is an Executive with the Institute of Corporate Directors, Calgary Chapter and has previous served on the board of Energy Efficiency Alberta, Women + Power, TAMA Transmission LP and the Circle for Aboriginal Relations (CFAR).
David Edmonds
David Edmonds has held senior executive roles in sales, marketing and operations with large international companies including NCR, SHL System house and Computer Land/Computer Innovations with responsibility for successfully developing, commercializing, launching and scaling both products and services.
He is founding member of multiple technology companies, including Burntsand, which grew to 10 locations across North America at its peak with 500 employees. During this period, he was involved in acquiring six technology companies across North America. Burntsand traded on the TSE and ultimately was acquired by Open Text Corporation.
David Edmonds is an active board member of both public and private companies and has completed dozens of financings that have raised more than $40 million.
He is passionate about supporting early-stage startups in all aspects of their growth and in fostering a thriving tech community here in Alberta and continue to be involved as an active mentor of emerging entrepreneurs after his retirement as Industry Chairman of the A100 through the Venture Mentoring Service of Alberta, Alberta Female Founders and Funders and hosts Life Sciences CEO Socials in Calgary.
Robert Fernandez
Robert Fernandez has more than three decades of strategic leadership experience in the private and public sectors in Europe and Canada. As the President of Mansbach Advisory Group since 2014, he has guided business leaders, government officials and entrepreneurs in achieving growth and clarity in their strategic endeavors.
Robert recently served as Director of Economic Diversification for Parkland County, Alberta, where he spearheaded a major multi-decade investment plan and facilitated the establishment of Amazon’s first robotics fulfillment center in the province.
Previously, Robert served as Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for Stuart Olson Inc., where he defined national business structures and secured major joint venture projects. He began his career with Siemens AG in Europe prior to joining the Government of Alberta in senior roles with the Alberta Economic Development Authority (AEDA) and the Oil Sands Secretariat, with the Alberta Treasury Board.
Robert holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and executive education credentials from Duke University and the University of Alberta. He is fluent in English, German, and Spanish, and has extensive experience as a board member of various community and business organizations including Alberta Foundation of the Arts and Invest Alberta Corporation.
James Keirstead
James Keirstead is the President of Levven Electronics, developing, and executing long-term corporate strategies, and building relationships with partners, stakeholders and investors.
Levven has a vision of making intelligent buildings available to everyone. Focused on delivering technology and products to advantage new construction, Levven’s promise is mobile device access and control of building infrastructure that lowers building costs, speeds construction and conserves building materials.
He is a life-long entrepreneur with a commitment to innovation, excellence and enhancing people’s lives. Prior to founding Levven, James and his partners founded Blue Falls Manufacturing, makers of Arctic Spas and expanded its footprint to more than 30 countries. James is an active member and contributor to several entrepreneur organizations including Entrepreneurs’ Organization, the A100 and Rainforest Alberta.
When he isn’t focused on the business, you can find him on Edmonton’s mountain bike trails or hanging out with his family.
Kim Moody
Biography coming soon.
Janet Riopel
Janet Riopel is the President & CEO of TREYL Communications Inc. She has deep roots in our community and considerable experience in managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
She honed her skills and experience in the land development industry, with subsequent adventures including working with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Katz Group, CAREERS The Next Generation, EPCOR, the Governor General of Canada, the Government of Alberta, and Port Alberta.
As a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors with an ICD.D designation, Janet has a lifelong commitment to excellence in the boardroom and a keen appreciation for effective board governance. She is currently a director on the board of Melcor Developments in addition to her role with Alberta Innovates. Past service includes roles as a director on the boards of the Invest Alberta Corporation and Nearctic Industrial REIT. She was board chair of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, MacEwan University and Compassion House Foundation. She was a board governor of NAIT, campaign chair for the United Way, and president of the Urban Development Institute Alberta.
Her community service has brought her much recognition. She was honoured with both the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal and the Golden Jubilee Medal, has twice been named one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People, and was a Global TV Woman of Vision. Janet has received UDI’s Merit Award and the City of Edmonton’s Outstanding Service Award. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum and the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Janet is a lifelong Edmontonian with a passion for her city and her province.
Brad Severin
Brad Severin has over 25 years of experience as a taxation specialist. He has served as a Tax Partner with nationally-recognized accounting firms. He specializes in consulting in Canadian and international taxation matters including corporate reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions and succession planning for family-owned businesses.
A former high school teacher, Brad has been a lecturer for the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the Canadian Tax Foundation and has been a frequent advisor to the media on income tax matters.
He has been extensively involved in community service and been active on several boards of not-for-profit organizations. Brad was named to Alberta Venture Magazine’s list of “Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People”; was a recipient of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta’s Early Achievement Award and a Fellow of the CPA’s of Alberta and was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. He has previously served as the Chair of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce, as a director with the Chambers of Commerce Insurance Corporation of Canada, and as a director with Goodwill Industries of Alberta.
Rhea Solis
Rhea Solis, MBA, J.D, is a Partner in the Business Law Group of the Calgary office of Miller Thomson LLP.
She advises clients on a variety of corporate and commercial matters with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, private equity and capital markets and securities. Rhea has experience in corporate reorganizations, private placements and public offerings and handles securities offerings, fund formations, share and asset purchases, plans of arrangement, amalgamations and other corporate restructurings and reorganizations. Additionally, she provides assistance with continuous disclosure obligations, securities regulatory requirements, and corporate governance matters.
Rhea sits on volunteer Board of Calgary Rangers Soccer Club & Sports Association as its Executive Director. Rhea holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at Western University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Calgary.
Richard Wong
Richard Wong is an experienced leader with a 40-year tenure in tourism and hospitality demonstrating strategic leadership, business acumen, and impact.
In the past two decades, he has led various corporate, charitable, and community boards, such as Travel Alberta and the Edmonton Convention Centre. He spearheaded the consolidation of five tourism entities as Vice President of Industry Relations at Travel Alberta and unified the award-winning Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce under his chairmanship.
Under his leadership, Edmonton Convention Centre garnered the prestigious North American Venue Excellence Award in 2019. As Chair of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, it developed the largest 50/50 raffle in professional sports, driving sustainable funding.
Wong has served as President of Nova Hotels since 2019 and recently transitioned to Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Chateau Lacombe Hotel. Wong’s education in Tourism & Hospitality at Vancouver Community College laid the foundation for his successful career with stops in Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago and California, which began in 1984. His dedication earned him the 2024 Hotelier Lifetime Achievement award, recognizing his exceptional leadership and contributions.