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May 24

Advancing Alberta's Infrastructure Agenda

Calgary AB, McCarthy Tétrault Offices, Suite 4000, 421 7th Avenue SW

Roundtable Luncheon with Honourable Sandra Jansen, Ben Hawkins, Shannon Flint and James Pasieka

Introduction from the Honourable Sandra Jansen, Minister of Infrastructure, Government of Alberta

Sandra Jansen is the first female Minister of Infrastructure in Alberta and MLA for Calgary-North West in her second term. She was a journalist for 23 years, including 10 years as a national news anchor for CTV News. 

Minister Jansen is a Member of the Economic Development Policy Ministerial Committee and her most recent Legislative accomplishments include being responsible for creating Alberta’s first disability advocate.

In 2016, she was named by Alberta Venture Magazine as one of Alberta’s 50 most influential people and by Chatelaine as one of "the 18 Canadian women who blew our minds." She was also included in the Famous Five Foundation’s “Women Belong” campaign, and was made a honourary member of the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS). 

As the former Associate Minister, Family & Community Safety in 2013, she released the province’s first domestic violence framework and assembled the province’s first round table on sexual violence supports.

Minister Jansen has a Master’s Degree in Professional Communication and is an acrylic artist in her spare time.  She has donated most of her artwork to the many charities she supports including the United Way.

 

Ben Hawkins, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure & Timber, Alberta Investment Management Corporation  

As Senior Vice President, Ben leads the Infrastructure and Timber investment group for Alberta Investment Management Corporation where he has responsibility for acquisitions and asset management for a global portfolio of nearly $8 billion in assets. Ben currently also serves on the board of directors for Grupo SAESA (a Chilean power utility) and previously served on the boards of London City Airport, Puget Sound Energy and Autopista Central.

Prior to joining AIMCo over 10 years ago, Ben worked for EPCOR Utilities for seven years where he was involved in the development of new-build power generation projects and the acquisition of more than 20 power facilities
in the US and Canada. Prior to that, Ben worked for Vencom Business Solutions developing and refining business strategy for technology-based companies as well as assisting clients to secure private equity financing. Ben holds an MBA from the University of Alberta where he also received his undergraduate degree. Ben is also a CFA Charterholder.

 

Shannon Flint, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Government of Alberta

Shannon Flint currently serves as Deputy Minister of Alberta Infrastructure. As Deputy Minister, Shannon leads over 900 ministry staff responsible for the delivery of major capital projects totalling over $26.6 billion. Capital projects include learning, health, and government-owned facilities. Shannon is an active steward of developing and maintaining a citizen-centered public service by driving ministry outcomes and fostering cross-ministry collaboration. As a proponent of innovation, Shannon drives the ministry toward advanced systems thinking and proactive problem-solving in the development of strategic Infrastructure solutions.

Prior to her role as Deputy Minister at Alberta Infrastructure, Shannon served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises at Economic Development and Trade. In this role, Shannon advanced strategies and initiatives to enhance support for industry and collaborated with communities and stakeholders to foster regional economic development. As head of the Division, she lead the development of a $178 million program for investor and investment tax credits as well as a $20 million program for regional and community development. Shannon transitioned to Economic Development and Trade from her preceding role as Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy and Planning at Environment and Parks, where she was accountable for strategic leadership in the development of planning and policy frameworks, strategic relationships, and programs focused on air, climate change, water, land, forestry, biodiversity, fish and wildlife. As Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy and Planning, Shannon lead a division of over 300 people with a budget of $400 million.

Shannon holds a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge and an Administrative Management Diploma from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She has filled progressively responsible roles throughout her 37 years with the Alberta government, and continues to foster relationship building, strategic collaboration, and innovation now and into the future.

 

James Pasieka, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault​

James Pasieka is a senior partner in the Business Law Group of McCarthy Tetrault in Calgary.

His practice is focused on corporate and commercial law, in all segments of the energy sector, and corporate finance, including early-stage and venture capital financing, and in mergers and acquisitions.

James has provided legal advice on all facets of the energy business, having negotiated and closed transactions on six continents.

Additionally, he has extensive experience with Alberta’s electricity sector as Corporate Secretary and legal advisor to the Balancing Pool of Alberta for over a decade since its inception.

James is recognized in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading practitioner in the area of corporate mid-market, and in Best Lawyers in Canada as one of Canada’s leading natural resources lawyers. He is also listed as a leading lawyer in the current edition of Who's Who Legal: Energy.  In the February 2014 edition of Lexpert, he was recognized nationally for leading the top oil and gas deal in Canada in 2013 (FP Data Group) and the Lexpert award for top Foreign Outbound-Global deal — the Petrominerales (and its spinoff Alvopetro Energy) $1.6 billion dollar sale to Pacific Rubiales Energy.

James has previously been featured in “The Dealmakers” edition of Alberta Venture magazine as one of the top seven M&A lawyers in Canada’s Oil and Gas Sector. In 2014, the publication also recognized him as one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People. He was the only practicing lawyer named in the group of Alberta’s 50 most influential people.

Previously, James was a business executive and general counsel with several large multi-national oil and gas companies.

He also taught law in Calgary and international petroleum law in China.

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