2023 Resource Futures Forum Speaker Announcement
Alberta Chamber of Resources 2023 Resource Futures Forum was an event for the books. This year’s speakers were leaders in their field and brought their insights and perspectives on Alberta’s resource future, including discussions around the changing political landscapes, economic analysis, and commodity insights.
Speaker Bios
Mathew Steppan
Senior Strategy Advisor - Prairie Sky Strategy
Born and raised in Fort McMurray, Mat Steppan has more than 20 years of experience in government, post-secondary and the non-profit sector. Over his career, Mat has established a successful record of building positive relationships with elected representatives, government officials, and their staff on both sides of the government relations table and across the political spectrum
Mat has worked with premiers, cabinet ministers, senior department officials and key policy-makers to move complex issues through various decision-making processes. His ministry experience includes: Energy, Justice and Solicitor General, Municipal Affairs, Housing and Urban Affairs, Health, and Culture.
Most recently, Mat served as the Executive Director of the United Conservative Caucus under Premier Jason Kenney. He was responsible for: supporting the caucus leadership with policy decision and legislation; managing the Research, Communications, and Caucus Support branches; recruiting, training, and mentoring new political staff; and ensuring timely and effective caucus meetings, briefings and events.
This combined experience has taught him how policy decisions are tied to political leadership and has learned how to adjust through political volatility to achieve results.
Mat is a member of the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) and earned the Certified Association Executive designation, which builds on the competencies for association executives and demonstrates the essential skills of efficient and effective not-for-profit management. Mat’s non-profit experience includes navigating though budget constraints, advocating for policy and legislation changes and chairing committees.
Mat enjoys spending time with his family and travelling across Europe.
Ben Thibault
Senior Strategy Advisor – Prairie Sky Strategy
Ben Thibault joined the team in 2021 as Senior Strategy Advisor where he will apply his expertise in renewable energy and environment, energy, climate and electricity policy to provide strategic policy analysis and insights, government relations, and market intelligence advice to renewable energy and cleantech clients across Canada, the US and overseas.
Ben was born and raised in Lethbridge where he earned his B.Sc. in Biochemistry (great distinction) before attending Harvard Law School where he received his J.D. (magna cum laude) and landed a prestigious judicial clerkship with the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Ben returned home to Alberta in 2010, where he has gained over 11 years of experience in renewable energy and environment, energy, climate and electricity policy analysis and advocacy. For 6 years, Ben applied his legal and policy training in Calgary with the Pembina Institute’s clean energy transition work, including through strategic consulting and collaboration with industry and governments.
From 2016 to 2019, Ben served as a senior climate and electricity policy advisor to Alberta cabinet ministers and the Premier’s Office. Ben also advised the Premier and cabinet ministers with respect to utilities regulations, governance issues and appointments.
Since 2019, Ben served as executive director of Solar Alberta — a non-profit devoted to public education around renewable energy — and has provided independent consulting and research-and-writing services to a variety of clients. Ben recently co-authored an academic book chapter on Alberta’s electricity transition, which awaits peer review and publication.
Lately, when he’s not helping clients to navigate new and emerging policies and markets for emissions reductions, Ben can most likely be found at the playground or training a future cycling companion. His vegetable garden has almost as much square footage as his 1960s bungalow in Edmonton, where he lives with his wife and preschool-aged son.
Kevin Birn
Vice President GHG Estimation & Coordination, and Chief Analyst Canadian Oil Markets - S&P Global Commodity Insights
Kevin Birn has overall responsibilities for western Canadian oil market analysis, leads the Canadian Oil Sands Dialogue, and contributes to oil and gas GHG emission accounting and estimation efforts at S&P Global Commodity Insights.
Kevin is Vice President in the GHG Estimation and Coordination group within Energy and Natural Resources at S&P Global Commodity Insights. He is responsible for a small team of GHG experts tasked with assisting and ensuring consistency in GHG estimation efforts across Energy and Natural Resources. Kevin has authored numerous reports on GHG emissions through the hydrocarbon value chain and is a major contributor to GHG estimation strategy. He is also an established thought leader on the Canadian oil market and serves as the chief analyst for the Canadian oil market within the crude oil market group. He is regularly called upon to brief senior industry and government officials on energy related GHG emissions and on the Canadian energy market. Kevin is currently a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Prior to joining S&P Global, Kevin was a Senior Economist with the Government of Canada and a Partner in a software firm.
Kevin holds an undergraduate degree in business and a graduate degree in economics from the University of Alberta.
Charles St-Arnaud
Chief Economist – Credit Union Central Alberta
Charles St-Arnaud i an experienced FX Strategist and Economist with experience in sell-side, Central Banking and Government appointments. Charles combines expertise in macroeconomics, international economics, economic policy and financial markets with the ability to develop and disseminate innovative trade and investment strategies.
Laurie Pushor
President and Chief Executive Officer - Alberta Energy Regulator
Prior to joining the AER, Laurie Pushor served as Deputy Minister for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources for two years, from 2018 until 2020. He served as the Deputy Minister for the former Ministry of the Economy from 2014 to 2018, and served four years as Chief of Staff for several government departments in Saskatchewan, including Social Services, Energy, and Health.
Mr. Pushor’s previous roles include Director of Recruitment and Admissions for the University of Saskatchewan, where he was responsible for Canadian and international recruitment and activities. Prior to this, Mr. Pushor and his family spent three years in Nova Scotia where he played a similar role for St. Francis Xavier University.
Mr. Pushor and his family lived in Edmonton for many years before relocating to Nova Scotia.
In Edmonton, Mr. Pushor worked with the provincial government in a number of roles, including with the Ministry of Economic Development. Early into his career, he worked for the Lougheed government as well as the Klein administration.
Mr. Pushor’s private sector experience includes managing a consulting operation involved with marketing, public opinion research, and fundraising counsel.
Mr. Pushor’s wife Debbie is a Professor at the University of Saskatchewan with research interests in parent engagement and parent knowledge. They have three sons.
