THECIS Board – Bio’s

Ronald J. Dyck, PhD has over 37 years of executive and senior management experience in the public, academic and not-for-profit sectors, Ron has provided leadership to governments, academia, agencies, communities and companies in accelerating the identification, development, implementation and evaluation/reviews of needs-based, sustainable solutions through realizing and applying the benefits of science, technology and innovation.

Peter Josty, PhD has been Executive Director of THECIS since 2001. THECIS is a not for profit research company that specializes in innovation research.

Before this he had a diversified career in the chemical industry in Canada, holding positions as research chemist, market development specialist, technical manager, new products application manager, business development manager and head of strategy and planning. In these roles he was a practitioner of innovation and led numerous new product introductions to North American markets.

Peter has a PhD in chemistry from the University of London and an MBA from IMI [now IMD] in Geneva Switzerland.

Dr. Saunders is an Associate Professor in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation area at the Haskayne School of Business and holds adjunct appointments with the Department of Community Health Sciences and the Department of Medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine. Chad received a BSc in Applied Mathematics, and an MBA from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a PhD from the Haskayne School of Business. Chad has published in leading journals including Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Journal of Business Venturing, Research Policy, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, and the Ivey Business Journal. Chad completed the Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D designation as part of his commitment to effective governance and recently finished his term as Chair of the Board at the Business Link.

Mark Fedorak P.Eng, PMP has over 20 years of technical, business, and project management expertise and his current primary position is as CEO of Xanantec Technologies Inc. an Edmonton based Electrical Engineering consulting firm. Mark has worked on over 300 projects, and has been in the role of CEO, CTO, or Chief Engineer in a number of different medical and high tech startups. Mark has served on a number of not for profit boards and provides THECIS with an SME perspective.

Blake is a CPA (Charted Professional Accountant) and MBA (Master of Business Administration). He has 20 years of public sector experience including financial leadership roles in the areas of health, advanced education, innovation and technology. He is currently the Director of Forecasting and Financial Analytics for Alberta Health Services.

Daphne worked in government and government agencies for 35 years. She started her career at the Alberta Research Council conducting applied environmental research – in the areas of landscape dynamics, resource management decision support systems, and corporate environmental risk management. After 18 years of “doing science”, she moved to the Alberta Science and Research Authority to work in the area of science and innovation policy. Since then, her work in government has spanned many domains – from health to oil sands, and a number of different ministry portfolios – such as, science, resource management and economic development. Throughout, her career has focused on systems, strategy, policy and performance. She’s recognized as a collaborative, systems thinker, with a proven track record in government systems and management. After retiring from government service, Daphne has incorporated a small consulting company: dbkc3 Solutions Inc., offering research, systems, performance and management consulting.

Daphne has a master’s degree in environmental science (University of Alberta) and a bachelor of science (honours) in chemistry (Trent University).

Anita is currently Director with Portfire Associates, a consulting company to the Energy and Petrochemical industrial sectors. Previously, she worked as Program Director with CMC Research Institutes (Carbon Management Canada) and as the Executive Director Research for the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary.

She has held numerous industry positions spanning a 25-year period including Technology Business Development Manager at NOVA Chemicals Corporation, Research Scientist at Canadian Fracmaster and Development Specialist at Union Carbide Canada. As a result of her experiences in the corporate, academic and not-for-profit sectors, she is well-versed in research promotion and facilitation and all aspects of technology commercialization.

She received a B.Sc. (Honours Chemistry) from the University of British Columbia and a PhD (Inorganic Chemistry) from the University of Alberta.

Jim Saunderson retired after 36 years of experience in the federal public service including senior leadership roles as Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer with Western Economic Diversification Canada. He has wide ranging experience including economic development, program delivery, inter-departmental and inter-governmental collaboration as well as financial and human resource management. Jim holds a BA (Honours) in political science from Carleton University and completed the Canada School of Public Service Advanced Leadership Program.

Tracey Scarlett is an experienced Board Director, currently serving on the boards of Business Development Bank of Canada, Alberta Enterprise Corporation, Sawridge Trusts, and SFN Group of Companies. She has previously held numerous other Crown corporation, non-profit and advisory board roles.

As a prior CEO and Executive, she is a strategic business leader who has started and scaled innovative and technology-based ventures and has been recognized for her leadership in developing ecosystems to support entrepreneurs and communities.

Tracey is a frequent speaker and presenter on topics related to entrepreneurship and women in leadership and is an active mentor of students and entrepreneurs.

Karen has over 40 years of experience working within Alberta and Canada’s research and innovation system. She held several leadership and executive management roles at the Alberta Research Council (now Alberta Innovates) including Vice-President of External Relations and Alliances and director of its first Office of Technology Commercialization and the Joint Research Venture (JRV) Program.

She served as Director of Innovation Policy in the department of Advanced Education and Technology (AET) where she was directly involved in the re-design of Alberta’s research and innovation system, participated in a number of cross ministry initiatives and federal-provincial-territorial initiatives in the area of research and innovation. She served for over 10 years as the first Fairness Monitor the Board of CCEMC – Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation (now operates as ERA – Emissions Reduction Alberta), a role instrumental to the integrity and rigour of the organization’s program review, evaluation and funding processes.

She has been an active and long-standing member of the Alberta business and technology community, and has served on a number of boards and industry associations including THECIS, ASTech, the Alberta Women’s Enterprise Initiative (AWEIA) and the Edmonton Council for Advanced Technology (ECAT). She is currently President of Beliveau Consulting Inc.

Lori Schmidt (EC DEV, C.M.C.), leader of Loral Management Group (LMG), brings over 25 years of experience in executive and organizational advisory, focusing on strengthening businesses and nonprofit agencies and the ecosystems they operate in. With a background in economic and community development, productivity, and innovation, Lori’s work builds the capacity of leaders and organizations to amplify their impact. She has held key leadership roles, including as CEO of a national productivity and innovation consultancy, driving collaborative solutions to pressing economic and social challenges.

Currently a Distinguished Fellow of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils, Lori contributes to global dialogues on innovation, competitiveness, and leadership. She is also the Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Belgium, fostering business, academic, and cultural ties between Belgium and Alberta.

An advocate for social innovation and giving back, Lori is a member of Children Believe, improving lives in developing nations, and advises several business and non profit boards as well as Wellness Works Canada. She is an active Rotarian and was named one of Canada’s Top 50 over 50 for her business and community leadership. Lori’s passion for collaboration and innovation underscores her belief in people and social progress as keys to a prosperous future.

Martha has been the Executive Secretary of THECIS since its beginning in 2001. During this time, she also worked for TWM, and was the Administrator for Strategic Leadership Forum – Calgary Chapter for 10 years. She has held many positions in different organizations and companies over the years. A graduate of Mount Royal University, she has a diverse background in leadership, leisure leadership and coaching, event co-ordination and planning, healthcare, and pastoral care.