Expert Guests and Speakers

Dr.James's Bio

Dr. James Makokis and Anthony Johnson are renowned as the trailblazing Two-Spirit team on the Amazing Race Canada. Their compelling victory in Season 7 brought pivotal gender, sexuality, and Indigenous issues to the forefront of national consciousness, reshaping societal perceptions. Distinguished in their individual capacities, they bring rich, diverse experiences and a profound depth of expertise to their advocacy efforts, championing the rights of First Nation and LGBTQ2S+ communities.

Residing in Treaty 6 Territory, Edmonton, Anthony Johnson is dedicated to the resurgence of Traditional Cree Medicine practices in Kehewin Cree Nation. Together, they are a formidable force, advocating for systemic change and promoting equity and inclusivity. Their journey transcends the Amazing Race; it’s a continual stride towards societal transformation, galvanizing communities, and allies alike to dismantle prejudices and foster a more inclusive, empathetic world. Their narrative is not just one of triumph but a compelling call to action for unity, understanding, and relentless pursuit of justice.

Bryan's Bio

Bryan Helfenbaum is the Vice President of Clean Energy at Alberta Innovates, where he oversees programs in Clean Technology and Advanced Hydrocarbons with key initiatives in hydrogen, CCUS, digital energy, bitumen beyond combustion, and others. Before joining Alberta Innovates, he spent 20 years in technical, business, and innovation roles in the private sector.  Bryan has taught courses at the University of Calgary and worked on innovative community residential development projects.  

Bryan has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Waterloo and an MBA from Calgary.

Alberta Innovates

Lisa's Bio

Lisa has worked for nearly 20 years in the energy sector, gaining valuable field experience in health and safety and collaborating with various teams at Energy Safety Canada. Since joining the Careers in Energy team in 2018, Lisa has enthusiastically shared her knowledge of opportunities in both traditional and emerging energy technologies. She brings a comprehensive expertise that covers many facets of the industry. Lisa’s credentials include a Bachelor of Science and the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation.

Energy Safety Canada

Aspen's Bio

Aspen Dudzic is the Director of Communications at the Alberta Forest Products Association and has been working with the association for over 5 years. She supports media and government relations at the AFPA, but most of her work is centered around public engagement and educational initiatives including leading AFPA’s award-winning campaigns, Work Wild and Love Alberta Forests.

Aspen serves on the leadership team of the Forestry Together alliance, an initiative that works to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in Canada’s forest industry. She is also the host of AFPA’s podcast, Forestry Talks, which explores all things forestry in Alberta and can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

Alberta Forest Products Association

Jaeson's Bio

Jaeson Cardiff is the CEO and visionary behind CleanO2 Carbon Capture Technologies and the inventor of the innovative CarbinX micro-scale carbon capture system. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Jaeson leads a dedicated team of 20 staff members committed to reducing carbon emissions and making a positive impact on the environment. With a strong background in the HVAC industry, Jaeson combines his passion for innovation with his expertise in heating technologies to create solutions that improve lives and promote sustainability. He is a published author who shares his experiences and insights to inspire others to pursue their dreams and leave the world better than they found it.

Clean02

Rajko's Bio

Rajko Pavic is a business professional with two college degrees in Marketing, who has been passionate about EVs since around the time of the movie “Who Killed The Electric Car?” With past experience in Customer Service, Management, and Global Logistics across a few different industries, Rajko finally got to work with Electric cars 10 years later.

GoElectric Vehicle Corporation

Rory's Bio

With a background in energy security, Rory uses an interdisciplinary approach to navigate the complex regulatory and commercial ecosystem of project development. Since it’s inception, Rory has helping shape and propel Varme’s mission forward. His role within the company includes government engagement, policy strategy, business development, and grant writing.

Varme Energy