Environmental & Innovation Forum 2026
October 6, 2026
Forum Program: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Networking: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Ranchmen's Club, 710 – 13 Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta
Environmental & Innovation Forum 2026
Resource Sector Innovation: Technologies Improving Environmental Outcomes
Alberta Success Stories & the Evolving Global and Domestic Innovation Landscape
October 6, 2026
Forum Program: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Networking Reception: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Ranchmen’s Club | 710 – 13 Avenue SW, Calgary
This year’s Environmental & Innovation Forum explores innovation from two connected perspectives—the technologies and approaches delivering results today, and the changing global and domestic landscape that will influence innovation going forward.
The morning will showcase Alberta success stories and practical technologies supporting environmental protection, risk reduction and more efficient operations. Presenters will share the journey behind their innovations, including lessons learned in developing, commercializing and bringing new solutions to market.
The afternoon shifts the conversation forward, bringing together perspectives from public policy, government, international trade and investment to explore how changing priorities, global markets, access to capital and government objectives may influence the future of environmental innovation in Alberta and Canada.
Together, the day will explore not only what we are innovating, but what it takes for those innovations to succeed in Alberta and beyond.
Why Attend?
Attendees will gain practical insights into:
Technologies improving environmental and operational outcomes across Alberta’s resource sectors
Real-world innovation success stories and lessons learned
Developing, commercializing and scaling new technologies
Applying successful innovations across resource sectors
Shifting global and domestic priorities influencing innovation
Government perspectives and opportunities for industry-government collaboration
Investor priorities and access to capital
Taking Alberta-developed technologies into global markets
New connections across industry, government, technology, academia and finance
Featured Presentations
Morning Sessions: The Journey and Advice from Successful Innovators in Alberta
The morning segment examines four successful case studies of practical technologies and approaches being deployed to enhance environmental outcomes related to various priorities, including forest fire risk mitigation, energy efficiency, water management, and monitoring and detection systems. Presenters will:
· Showcase how their innovations help industry meet both environmental objectives and operational excellence.
· Discuss how innovations implemented in one sector are being applied across others, creating opportunities for collaboration, shared best practices and increasing the resource sector’s leading role in delivering responsible, sustainable development.
· Offer practical lessons learned in successfully bringing their innovations to the Alberta and global marketplace.
Purpose-Built Innovation
Hugh Evans
Vice President – Programs, Avatar Innovations
Learn how collaboration between industry and innovators is helping commercialize breakthrough technologies that address challenges such as carbon management, production optimization, methane mitigation and the utilization of waste products.
Energy Management Information Systems
Ian Ignatiuk
Solutions Consultant, Industrial Software & Applications, Spartan Controls
Discover how improved monitoring and energy management systems are helping organizations reduce energy consumption, lower costs and improve environmental performance.
Improving Economic and Environmental Outcomes with Lower Carbon Intensity Fuels
Gord Crawford
President & Chief Executive Officer, Expander Energy
Explore how renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel technologies are reducing emissions while maintaining strong commercial performance, and hear the lessons learned from bringing these technologies to market.
Locating Wasted Energy: From Lost Gas to Productive Use
Phil Tomlinson
Senior Engineering Advisor – Emissions & Energy Infrastructure, Geologic
Learn how advanced infrastructure data and analytics are helping organizations identify emissions reduction opportunities that also create business value.
Interactive Panel Discussion
All morning presenters will return for a moderated discussion exploring common themes, answering audience questions and sharing additional insights on advancing environmental innovation across Alberta's resource sectors.
The Technology is Only Part of the Story.
What does it take for innovation to continue succeeding as global priorities, government objectives, investment conditions and markets evolve?
The afternoon shifts from the innovations delivering results today to the changing landscape shaping what comes next.
Afternoon Sessions: Looking Forward to a Shifting International and Domestic Landscape
The afternoon looks forward to a rapidly changing international and domestic landscape impacting innovation.
Bringing together perspectives from public policy, government, international trade and sustainable finance, our speakers will explore how changing global priorities, government objectives, investor expectations and access to international markets may influence environmental innovation in Canada.
The conversation will consider how Alberta can continue to attract investment, reduce risk, strengthen collaboration and position successful innovations for growth at home and around the world.
Subject matter experts will explore three related themes:
· Shifting global priorities that are changing environmental approaches around the world and their potential consequences for related innovation in Canada.
· Perspectives and advice from policy makers.
· The imperatives of the investment community when examining environmental innovation opportunities in Canada
Global Environmental Policy Variability: Causes & Consequences for Innovation in Canada
Robert Johnston
Director of Energy and Natural Resources, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary
Robert will explore how changing global priorities—from trade conflict and energy security to AI, data centres and shifting capital markets—are influencing environmental policy and innovation in Canada.
His session will consider how Canada and Alberta can balance environmental commitments with resource development, economic growth, productivity, market diversification and economic security—and how we can continue attracting the capital needed to support decarbonization, clean energy and environmental innovation.
From Pilot Project to Global Market: What Alberta Innovators Need to Know About Scaling Internationally
Nicole Harbauer
Trade Commissioner, Global Affairs Canada
Developing an innovative technology is one challenge. Achieving the scale needed to create lasting value is another—and increasingly, global markets are essential to that success.
Nicole will explore what Alberta innovators need to consider when taking proven technologies beyond Canada and into international markets, including:
Why global markets matter. Innovation does not create its full value until it is adopted at scale, and international markets can provide Alberta resource technologies with the opportunity to achieve that scale.
What the world wants from Alberta. Technologies and expertise developed through Alberta’s experience responsibly developing its resources can have applications well beyond our borders.
Overcoming barriers to global growth. Nicole will provide a practical look at the non-technical barriers innovators can encounter when scaling internationally and what companies should understand as they pursue opportunities in new markets.
Her session will provide an important international perspective on how environmental innovations developed and proven in Alberta can reach new customers, access larger markets and compete globally.
Domestic Considerations and Opportunities
Michele Evans
Assistant Deputy Minister, Alberta Region,
Prairies Economic Development Canada
Michele will introduce Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) and its mandate to support the growth and competitiveness of small and medium-sized businesses across the Prairies, including its recent focus on strengthening domestic trade.
The session will provide practical insight into how businesses and innovators can access federal programming and supports, including the Regional Tariff Response Initiative and Business Scale-up and Productivity program, and how PrairiesCan can help companies navigate opportunities for growth.
Looking ahead, Michele will also explore how PrairiesCan is working with businesses and innovators to achieve successful outcomes in Canada while adapting to ongoing transformational change in the global economy.
Investment Community Imperatives: Financing Canadian Cleantech Startups
Dr. Yrjö Koskinen
BMO Professor, Sustainable & Transition Finance, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary and Director of Research, Institute of Sustainable Finance, Smith School of Business, Queen’s University
Drawing on the Institute for Sustainable Finance’s report on The State of Canadian Cleantech Venture Capital Markets, this session examines Canadian investment trends, gaps in financing commercial growth, and implications for Alberta’s resource-sector innovators. It explores how financing suited to different technologies, public–private investment, and stronger customer demand can help Canadian and Albertan cleantech companies attract capital and scale domestically.
Networking Opportunities
The conversations don't end with the presentations. Your registration includes a networking lunch and an extended networking reception, providing dedicated opportunities to connect with speakers, government representatives, industry leaders, researchers, technology providers and colleagues from across Alberta's resource sectors.
With Thanks to Our Partners
Why Partner with ACR?
The Environmental & Innovation Forum brings together the people shaping the future of responsible resource development in Alberta. As a partner, your organization will be part of those conversations while building relationships with the leaders driving innovation across the resource sector.
Why Partner?
Reach a highly targeted audience of approximately 100 senior leaders and professionals from Alberta's resource sectors.
Connect with decision-makers from industry, government, academia, Indigenous organizations, and the technology community.
Showcase your organization's leadership in environmental innovation and responsible resource development.
Build meaningful relationships during dedicated networking opportunities, including a networking lunch and extended networking reception.
Increase brand visibility before, during, and after the event through event marketing, digital promotions, and onsite recognition.
Position your organization alongside innovative companies driving practical environmental solutions across Alberta.
Support cross-sector collaboration by helping bring together organizations committed to advancing environmental performance and operational excellence.
Engage with organizations actively seeking new technologies, partnerships, and ideas to improve environmental outcomes.
Audience Profile
Senior executives and operational leaders
Environmental and sustainability professionals
Engineering and technical specialists
Government representatives
Regulators and policymakers
Technology developers and solution providers
Academic and research institutions
Indigenous organizations and community leaders
Industry associations and non-profit organizations
Networking Opportunities
Networking Lunch
Extended Networking Reception (3:00–4:00 p.m.)
Direct access to speakers and presenters
Dedicated time to build relationships with attendees from across Alberta's resource sectors
If you're interested in supporting the Environmental & Innovation Forum or would like to discuss which partnership opportunity best aligns with your organization's goals, please contact:
Jennifer Cummings, Director of Operations
We look forward to partnering with you to showcase innovation and collaboration across Alberta's resource sector.
