Prepare Her Program Facilitators - Fall 2020
KEYNOTE AND KICK-OFF
Honourable Leela Aheer,
Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women
Keynote: Run As You Are
Minister Aheer was first elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Chestermere-Rocky View on May 5, 2015. She was re-elected on April 16, 2019, as the MLA for the newly formed riding of Chestermere-Strathmore.
Born in Edmonton and raised in Chestermere, where she is raising her family, Aheer is a proud wife and mother of two boys. Prior to entering politics, Aheer was a professional vocal coach and music teacher, who instructed singing in 7 languages, owned and operated businesses as an entrepreneur, and was heavily involved in the arts, volunteerism and community service. Leela Aheer was appointed as Alberta’s Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women on April 30, 2019. She is also Minister responsible for the Francophone Secretariat. Previously serving as the Opposition Critic for Children’s Services and Status of Women, Aheer brings her experience as a legislator to her new portfolio.
MODULE: EXPLORING LEADERSHIP
Dr. Melanee Thomas
Forewarned is Forearmed
Melanee Thomas is an Associate Professor in Political Science at the University of Calgary.
Her research focuses on gender and political attitudes and behaviour, and political careers. She is the 2019 winner of the John McMeney Prize for the best paper published in the Canadian Journal of Political Science for her study investigating the political careers of Canada’s women premiers. Her current projects include an exploration of the effects of gender and psychological orientations to politics, and an exploration of public and elite opinion about the environment, the economy, and climate change.
Dr. Rachel Pettigrew
Battling Imposter Syndrome
Dr. Rachael Pettigrew is an Assistant Professor of General Management and Human Resources in Bissett School of Business at Mount Royal University. With a deep commitment to social justice, Rachael’s primary research focus is organizational culture and policies surrounding employees' work-life responsibilities, with a specific focus on gender and gender role norms. Recent projects have explored fathers' parental leave use and employer adaptation to the new extended parental leave legislation. Her secondary research stream investigates workplace diversity and inclusion, including newcomers. Rachael has over 15 years of teaching university experience, is a public speaker, and is regularly engaged with the business community.
MODULE: UNDERSTANDING THE CITY
Dr. Paul Fairie
Understanding Calgary’s Political Landscape
Paul Fairie (PhD, political science) is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Calgary. Paul teaches courses about politics, served on the City's 2019 Tax Shift Assessment Working Group, and tweets too much.
Lorelei Higgins
Indigenous Issues and Intersectionality in the City of Calgary
Lorelei Higgins is a Métis Canadian Cultural Mediator, Rotary Positive Peace Activator and an Indigenous Relations Strategist with the City of Calgary. She is also a Rotary Peace Fellow and the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Program alumni. Lorelei is passionate about creating bold, open spaces for building peace through cross-cultural learning and helping to establish and nurture positive relationships as part of the journey towards truth and reconciliation. Lorelei is a consultant with Mediators Beyond Borders International and works locally and globally on peace-building projects. She is often found adventuring with her two young children.
MODULE: INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY
Dr. Lisa Young
Municipal Public Policy
Lisa Young is Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary, and Director of Graduate Programs at the School of Public Policy. Dr. Young has published extensively in the field of Canadian politics, authoring/co-authoring several books, including Rebuilding Canadian Party Politics, Feminists and Party Politics, and Advocacy Groups. Her current research focuses on election law and digital globalization. From 2011 to 2018, she served as Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Calgary.
MODULE: CAMPAIGNING
Vincent St. Pierre
GOTV and Data Utilization
Vincent is a born and raised Calgarian who is passionate about the political process with involvement in Calgary’s political scene for more than ten years. He has managed multiple campaigns, such as a successful campaign for the School Board managing Dr. Judy Hehr’s candidacy in the 2013 (winning with 67% of the vote). After that campaign he took a senior role in Hon. Kent Hehr’s team where he was a key person in electing the first Liberal MP in Calgary since 1968.
He has won national awards for blogging (Canada’s #1 Political Blog [2012 & 2013 Canadian Blogging Awards] and Canada’s #2 Political Blog [2012, Canadian Weblog Awards]) and has worked in a constituency offices for MLAs, as a staffer on campaigns, and a political aide in Ottawa.
Cathy Moar
GOTV and Data Utilization
Catherine is an accomplished public affairs professional with 25 years of experience in stakeholder relations, public policy development and corporate event management.
Her professional career began on Parliament Hill, where she advised cabinet ministers and senators on public policy and issues management. Since 2003, she has played key roles in election campaigns across Canada, including, most recently, serving as the 2015 & 2019 Alberta election campaign co-chair for the federal Liberal Party.
Prior to joining Navigator, Catherine ran her own event management consultant company, where she planned and executed events for some of Calgary’s top corporations and cultural institutions.
She holds a BA from the University of Lethbridge and an MA in political campaigning from the University of Florida.
TALES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Trustee Julie Hrdlicka
Julie Hrdlicka has been the CBE trustee for Wards 11 & 13 since 2015.
Julie has a degree in International Relations from the University of Calgary. She has made a career as a human rights, social justice and environmental advocate and community builder. Over the years, Julie has been committed to working on local issues of poverty, childcare, gender inequality and sustainability. Julie is passionate about building a strong community and helping to empower citizens young and old, to find and use their 'voice'.
During her downtime, Julie can be found exploring her community and finding every opportunity to be silly with her partner Sean and her two young children.
Ward 13 Councillor - Diane Colley-Urquhart
Diane reached her 20-year milestone as an elected City of Calgary Official in 2020. In this capacity, she is recognized and respected as a dynamic community leader and a senior member of Council, having served for over eight terms in Office.
Her balanced, grounded, common-sense approach to politics and the respect she has garnered in working with her Council colleagues as a team player and healthcare professional, has resulted in numerous policies and community investments being implemented. She has made health & wellness, prevention, community safety and security hallmarks of her career.
Diane brings her public health, wellness and healthcare professional expertise & perspective to the table of Council to initiate and collaborate on mental health and addictions, public safety, security, human rights, diversity and inclusion, land-use decisions and the public impacts of poverty and attainable housing on citizens. She is recognized for her highly collaborative style and listening skills in building consensus and forging strategic alliances and partnerships with key stakeholders both internally and externally in the City of Calgary.
Laurie Blakeman
The first third of Laurie’s working life was in the not-for-profit sector in Arts and women’s issues as an actor, producer, General Manager and Executive Director; the second third of her working life included 18 years as the MLA for the fabulous constituency of Edmonton-Centre, Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, and House Leader for the Official Opposition and the 3rd Party; and the third part of her professional career has started by sitting as a Member of a federal administrative tribunal.
After that…Well, you’re just going to have to ask her!
Zain Velji
Digital Organizing
As VP Strategy for Northweather, Zain brings a decade of experience in political, business, and non-profit communications, as well as marketing and engagement.
Zain's consulting and political experience has allowed him to work for companies and non-profits as well as notable political campaigns, serving as campaign manager for Mayor Naheed Nenshi and working on the campaigns for US Senator Elizabeth Warren and US President Barack Obama.
Zain’s writing has been published by the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, Christian Science Monitor, and The National Post. He was recently named one of Calgary’s Top 40 under 40 by Avenue Magazine and one of the top 50 political thinkers in Canada by the Hill Times.
Zain has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Alberta.
SPECIAL
FEATURE
SESSIONS
Ward 3 Councillor - Jyoti Gondek
A Day in the Life of A City Councillor
Jyoti Gondek has been the Ward 3 Councillor for the city of Calgary since 2017. In addition to representing the needs of several north central Calgary communities, Jyoti chairs the City of Calgary’s Standing Policy Committee on Planning and Urban Development and is a member of the Priorities and Finance Committee.
Prior to taking office in 2017, Jyoti was the Director of the Westman Centre for Real Estate Studies at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business. Jyoti also served on Calgary Planning Commission, as well as holding board and advisory positions the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Alberta, the National Executive Forum on Public Property, and Calgary Economic Development’s Commercial Real Estate Committee. Jyoti holds a PhD in urban sociology.
Kristina Sammut
Your Values Are Your Value
Kristina Sammut, MAdEd, CMP, CEC is the Founder, CEO, and Lead Coach of FRONTIER Leadership, Executive Coaching for Women. Kristina focuses on leadership foundations and supports high- achieving professional women, who are looking for clarity on who they are, what they have to offers, and how they can make an impact as future leaders in the workplace and their business.
Kristina is a highly sought-after keynote speaker who has shared her expertise on negotiation and high- performance leadership in Canada, the USA, and the UK. Her specialty training has helped hundreds of women advance their careers through comprehensive assessment, values- based leadership development intensives and negotiation retreats, as well as customized one-on-one executive coaching.
MODULE: FUNDRAISING
Haiqa Cheema
COVID Campaigning
Haiqa Cheema is a community organizer and campaign consultant.
She has worked on multiple campaigns in the country and brings a wealth of knowledge on data driven campaigns and volunteer retention.
Haiqa holds a Masters of Public Policy, and serves on the board of Paths for People and Friends of Royal Alberta Museum.
In 2018, Haiqa was named Alberta’s Top 30 Under 30. She is passionate about building inclusive communities and robust cities.
Katherine O’ Neill
Fund Her
Katherine has worked in leadership positions in communications and politics throughout her career. A writer by trade, she spent most of her journalism career working as a national correspondent with the Globe and Mail, dispatching stories from across Canada and even the dusty battlefields of Afghanistan in 2008.
After leaving journalism, Katherine led several organizations, including the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta and Alberta Together, a non-partisan, not-for-profit that conducted political research and worked to attract more young Albertans to enter politics. She also ran a communications company that specialized in crisis communications and media relations.
Katherine has worked on numerous political campaigns at all three levels of government. She also ran as a candidate in Alberta’s last provincial election.
Katherine holds a Bachelor of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Journalism from Carleton University.
Zoe Keirstead
Fundraising Essentials
Zoe is a Consultant at Navigator where she specializes in crisis communications, issues management, government relations and strategic communications campaigns.
Prior to joining Navigator, Zoe served as an adviser for British Columbia’s finance minister and government house leader. In this role she worked closely in the creation of the provincial budget communications plan and rollout, analyzed Treasury Board documents and strategized communications following the 2017 election that resulted in a minority government.
Before to moving to British Columbia, Zoe worked for the federal government in Ottawa as a policy adviser to the Minister of Status of Women and Labour. She has worked on numerous campaigns from coast to coast, including local and leadership campaigns and riding the premier’s media bus during the 2017 B.C. election.
Zoe holds a bachelor of commerce degree with distinction from Queen’s University. During her studies, Zoe was accepted into an international exchange program at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, where she studied public relations and communications.
Robin Steudel
Grassroots Fundraising
Robin Steudel (she/her) is the Creative Director and co-founder of a digital communications firm called Metric.
She’s managed election campaigns, served as a fundraiser, communications director, field director and every role in between. She’s particularly nerdy about fundraising, and will inspire you to get started with your campaign goals. In between elections, and before founding Metric, Robin put her skills to use as a media strategist, working in issues management, government and opposition caucuses across Canada.
MODULE: COMMUNICATIONS AND BRANDING
Shifrah Gadamsetti
Building Your Brand
Shifrah is a registered nurse with a passion for public health and education, political literacy, and civic engagement. With roles in both acute and community-oriented settings, she has used her experience on the front lines of healthcare to shape public policy and community engagement with the goal of creating a more vibrant and inclusive Calgary.
Shifrah holds a Bachelor of Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a Minor in Women and Gender Studies. She has been recognized as a fierce advocate for education both locally and internationally, leading teams involving government relations and policy development alongside senior administrators, elected officials, and large stakeholders to advocate on behalf of post-secondary students across the country.
More recently, she explores intersections between civic engagement, public health, social policy, and gender equity through her work at the City of Calgary, Calgary Womxn: Taking Strides, and the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Marina Banister
Your Personal Style
Marina Banister is a communications and government relations professional who is skilled in creating strategies to reach organizational goals, including effectively interacting with all levels of government.
Her professional experience is built on a strong experience base including President of the University of Alberta Students' Union, Policy and Communications Advisor for an Edmonton City Councillor, as well as a Government Relations Consultant in the private sector. She serves on the board of YWCA Edmonton and YWCA Canada, where she volunteers her advocacy expertise to support women, girls, and families. Marina is also a professional makeup artist, with a certificate in Makeup Artistry from the Alberta Academy of Aesthetics. She owns and is the head artist at Marina Georgia Makeup. When Marina is not working, she enjoys playing with her two border collies and listening to talk radio.
Megan Szanik
Your Power Style
Megan is the owner, visionary, creator and proprietor of espy.
With a career spanning more than 20 year in all realms of the fashion industry she has truly lived every fashionista’s dream.
Megan’s vivacious and bold energy is hard to miss and she definitely knows how to make an entrance. Her ultimate desire alongside her team of professional stylists is to show you how amazing you look, and to make you truly feel your best, one styled outfit at a time. Standing at the helm of a multi-million dollar independently owned business, Megan and the stylish espy team have to date raised more than $350,000 for charitable causes close to their hearts, racked up thousands of followers on their social platforms, and proudly sold more than 53,000 pairs of jeans to their adoring retail fans
Jason Hatcher
Campaign Communications
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.
For over 15 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.
Catherine Keill
Campaign Communications
Catherine is the Chief Eternal Optimist (CEO) and Chief Strategist of Keill & Co. a small but mighty communications firm in Edmonton.
Catherine is the unique government relations specialist that has held leadership and senior executive positions in municipal, provincial and federal offices – on both the administration AND political side of government. And she has worked on more than 38 political campaigns holding all manner of roles – everything from her first lit-dropping days in 1988 through to running for office herself in 2015.
She is a mom, wife, corgi fan and has a goal to learn American Sign Language sometime in the near future.
Avnish Mehta
Public Speaking
Avnish is born and raised in Calgary and loves this town. His career has taken him all over the world and he uses those experiences in his day to day work. He has built three successful companies in the last 15 years. Currently he heads up Stand and Command, a presentation and public speaking consulting practice, is an owner of the Village Brewery and is in the midst of raising capital to build a food hall concept, which will help address two major societal needs, food security and food sustainability.
He is the current Chair of the Calgary Public Library Board, a member of the fundraising committee for the Calgary Folk Music Festival and a member of the Community Relations governance committee at Bow Valley College.
Avnish believes deeply in equity and fairness. These are the values that drive his behaviour on a day to day basis. He is passionate about many things, the most of which is people.
MEDIA TRAINING
Rosa Ellithorpe
Rosa is a Senior Consultant at Navigator who brings extensive communications and strategic operations experience through her various management roles in the Alberta and B.C. government caucuses and the post-secondary sector.
Most recently, Rosa has served as a Senior Advisor with NorQuest College, pursuing her passion for adult-education and re-skilling Canada’s workforce for the future economy.
Rosa has actively participated in campaigns across all levels of government, having served in two provincial election war rooms, leadership campaigns, a provincial transition team, and as an Executive Director for a Third Party Advertiser.
Danielle Murray
Danielle Murray is a communications specialist who is passionate about storytelling and community. She believes in the power of possibility. Her experience as an entrepreneur, advocate and community builder led her to get involved on the campaign trail spending countless hours volunteering in support of local candidates during the 2019 election. Specializing in digital content, design, photography and communications was an incredibly valuable asset and prepared Danielle to transition into a role supporting Alberta’s Government. Danielle brought her vast skill set and experience to the Government of Alberta in spring 2019. Her role as Press Secretary in Agriculture and Forestry followed by Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women offered Danielle the opportunity to lead ministry and department communications teams through many complex issues.
Nadia Stewart
Nadia Stewart’s love for news has taken her from coast to coast.
These days, you’ll find her at Global BC, where she works as a video journalist. She got her start at Rogers TV Peel as a reporter, anchor and talk show host. She’s also worked as a news writer for The Weather Network, writing weather-centric casts for a national audience. In 2010, Nadia joined the CBC, working as a multi-platform reporter and anchor in St. John’s, Calgary and Edmonton. She also spent six years as an editor and freelance writer for Planet Africa Magazine, a Toronto-based quarterly publication that celebrates the achievements of the black community across the diaspora.
Nadia is also proud to be among the first graduates of the University of Guelph-Humber (2006). Off-camera, Nadia is active in her community as a mentor.
Natasha Kornak
Natasha Kornak is a Master’s of Public Policy Candidate at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy. She has experience working on policy, communications, and campaigning at all levels of government. Natasha is passionate about health policy and engaging young people of all backgrounds in our democracy.
Puneeta Sandhu McBryan
Puneeta is Director of Account Services in the Edmonton office of ZGM Modern Marketing Partners, Alberta's largest independently owned advertising agency.
For the past 8 years, Puneeta has led strategic marketing, branding & communications work for businesses of all shapes and sizes in industries ranging from heavy manufacturing to fast food, and for major public sector clients like the City of Edmonton and AGLC. She is passionate about the power and potential of socially conscious and purpose-based business and branding, and is a frequent guest lecturer, media commentator, and public speaker on the subject. In her 'spare' time, Puneeta has also managed marketing & communications for political campaigns at the federal and municipal levels since 2015, and was previously President of the Advertising Club of Edmonton.
Puneeta is a new mom, and is just getting ready to re-enter her professional life after a year spent focused on keeping her tiny new human alive.
Maureen Mariampillai
Maureen is a former journalist, columnist and communications professional. After her career in media, she worked for the Alberta NDP Government and NDP Opposition caucuses, writing speeches, press releases, web copy, social media content and doing media relations. Her writing is powerful and inviting. She currently works as the content lead at Metric, a digital marketing agency that partners with progressive organizations.
WRAP UP & GRADUATION!
Elder Ruth
Elder Ruth Scalplock is a member of the Siksika Nation, a former band councillor, author of the book “I am Shield Women'', founder of Awo Taan Healing Lodge, a shelter in Calgary, and is an advisor and speaker.
Lt. Governor Salma Lakhani
Salma Lakhani was installed as Alberta’s 19th Lieutenant Governor on August 26, 2020. Her longstanding service as a community leader and volunteer has been guided by her deep commitment to the values of pluralism and inclusion and her dedication to championing those who face barriers in life.
Salma Lakhani was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda. She is a proud Ismaili Muslim who inherited her devotion to giving back from her parents, Abdul and Malek Rajabali, who were active members of their community. A keen student with a deep seeded love of education, Salma attended the Aga Khan School in Kampala before pursuing post-secondary studies at the University of Manchester in England. Her life took an unforeseen and dramatic turn during a summer visit home to Kampala in 1972, when it was announced that the country’s entire Asian minority population was to be expelled. Salma’s parents pressed her to return immediately to England, travelling on her Ugandan passport. Within three months, her family would be stripped of virtually everything and she would be stranded in England with no funds to continue her education and no valid passport. She had become a stateless person.
Salma had two saving graces that sustained through this challenging time. First, she had the love and support of her fellow exile and future husband, Zaheer Lakhani. The couple also learned that their tuition would be covered by the British government, allowing Salma to complete her Honours degree in Clinical Biochemistry and Zaheer to graduate in Medicine from the University of Leeds. The couple married in Leeds in 1977. That year, the University of Alberta accepted Zaheer’s application to continue his postgraduate studies in Edmonton and the Lakhanis began writing a new chapter in Canada.
Dr. Lakhani went on to establish himself as a cardiologist while Salma helped to manage his practice and operated a business focused on early childhood education, which developed out of her innate affinity for teaching. She also began looking for opportunities to give back and to help those in need to thrive. She became one of the first mentors in NorQuest College’s Youth in Transition program, providing invaluable guidance for students with English as a second language, and she was a founding member of the College’s 1000Women: A Million Possibilities movement. Salma has also shared her skills, energy and passion for service with the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, Kids Kottage, Sorrentino’s Compassion House, the Alberta Cancer Board, the Zebra Foundation and Aga Khan Foundation Canada. She has further demonstrated her commitment to pluralism and fostering diversity through her work as a board member of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights. During a year’s sabbatical in the late 1990’s, while Dr. Lakhani helped set up cardiac services at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Her Honour volunteered at two of the city’s schools and with local women’s charity groups.
Lieutenant Governor Lakhani has received the Alberta Centennial and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of her services to community and civil society. NorQuest College awarded her an Honorary Diploma in Community Services Leadership in 2019. Upon her installation as Alberta’s vice-regal representative, she became a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence and Chancellor of the Order. Her Honour is Vice-Prior of the St. John Council for Alberta and a Dame of Justice the Order of St. John.
Timiro Mohamed
Timiro is an award-winning Somali-Canadian spoken word poet based in Edmonton, Alberta. Her practice is rooted in responsible storytelling, centers Black Femmes, and celebrates her many identities. She is passionate about creating platforms for BIPOC artists and as part of her tenure as the 2019-2020 City of Edmonton Youth Poet Laureate, she spearheaded a poetry mentorship program for young Black women. Timiro is one of the Poetry Editors for the literary magazine: The Drinking Gourd which highlights the voices of Black Muslim writers, she has competed nationally at the Canadian festival of spoken words and is the co-author of the chapbook Water.
Esmahan Razavi
Esmahan is a passionate supporter of women in politics. Esmahan is a co-founder of Ask Her and served as its first President. She is also a former steering committee member of Equal Voice Calgary, and former national board director for Equal Voice. She has held senior campaign roles for women candidates in federal and provincial politics, and ran for city council in Calgary in 2017, where she came in second place in a ward with eight candidates.
For her work in supporting women in politics, Esmahan was selected as one of Canada's top 33 women in 2017 by Chatelaine magazine. Esmahan was also named one of the top 50 Arab women in North America by the Arab Women of Excellence Awards in 2019.
Esmahan is an associate principal at Champion Communications & PR. She has extensive experience in public engagement, public policy, government relations, strategic planning and communications.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi
Naheed Nenshi, A’paistootsiipsii, was sworn in as Calgary's 36th mayor on October 25, 2010 and was re-elected in 2013 and 2017.
Prior to being elected, Mayor Nenshi was with McKinsey and Company, later forming his own business to help public, private and non-profit organizations grow. He designed policy for the Government of Alberta, helped create a Canadian strategy for The Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy, and worked with the United Nations to determine how business can help the poorest people on the planet. He then entered academia, where he was Canada's first tenured professor in the field of nonprofit management, at Mount Royal University's Bissett School of Business.
For his work, Mayor Nenshi was named a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, was awarded the President’s Award from the Canadian Institute of Planners, and received the Humanitarian Award from the Canadian Psychological Association for his contributions to community mental health. In 2013, after his stewardship of the community during devastating flooding, Maclean’s magazine called him the second-most influential person in Canada, after the Prime Minister. He was also awarded the 2014 World Mayor Prize by the UK-based City Mayor’s Foundation as the best mayor in the world.
In 2014, he was also honoured by Elder Pete Standing Alone with the Blackfoot name A’paistootsiipsii, which means "Clan Leader" or "He who moves camp and the others follow". In 2016, Elder Bruce Starlight of the Tsuu T'ina First Nation honoured him with the name Iitiya: "Always Ready".
Mayor Nenshi holds a Bachelor of Commerce (with distinction) from the University of Calgary, where he was President of the Students' Union, and a Master in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he studied as a Kennedy Fellow