Alberta Innovates
Abbott, Jodi
Dr. Jodi L. Abbott is President and CEO of the University Hospital Foundation where she is bringing together people from industry, academia, government, healthcare, and philanthropy to tackle some of the world's biggest health and healthcare challenges.
Prior to her current role, she led NorQuest College through significant transformation, doubling its student population through expanded programs and government, corporate, and philanthropic partnerships. Earlier, Dr. Abbott was Senior Vice President, Quality Performance Improvement with Alberta Health Services, creating a provincial portfolio encompassing patient safety, infection prevention and control, patient relations, and clinical data.
With extensive understanding of government relations and policy development, Dr. Abbott is deeply committed to community development. This was demonstrated in her role as former Chair of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board where she spearheaded progress on the Growth Plan alongside 13 Regional Mayors. As inaugural Chair of Edmonton's Health City, she led creation of a 10-year economic strategy for the health ecosystem.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Abbott volunteers as a World and Olympic figure skating judge and is an Honorary Colonel Designate for the 41st Service Battalion of the Canadian Armed Forces. Dr. Abbott recently received the Order of Canada for leadership in Alberta's healthcare and college systems, and for mentoring young figure skating athletes.
Fernandez, Robert
Robert Fernandez is President of Mansbach Advisory Group and Chair of Invest Alberta’s Board of Directors. He brings more than three decades of strategic leadership experience in the private and public sectors in Europe and Canada.
As President of Mansbach Advisory Group, a position he has held since 2014, Robert advises business leaders, government officials and entrepreneurs on strategy and growth. He previously served as Director of Economic Diversification for Parkland County, where his work included a major multi-decade investment plan and facilitating the establishment of Amazon’s first robotics fulfillment centre in Alberta.
Earlier in his career, Robert served as Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for Stuart Olson Inc. and worked with Siemens AG in Europe. He subsequently held senior Government of Alberta roles with the Alberta Economic Development Authority and Oil Sands Secretariat.
Robert holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and executive education credentials from Duke University and the University of Alberta. He speaks English, German and Spanish and has extensive board experience with community and business organizations, including the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and Invest Alberta Corporation. His current role as Chair of Invest Alberta’s Board of Directors is particularly relevant to his Alberta Innovates biography.
Browning, Carissa
Carissa Browning, B.A., LL.B, ICD.D is an experienced board director with more than 20 years of experience in energy and capital markets. She currently serves as an Independent Director of Eldorado Gold with multiple roles on its board including Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and Committee Member of the Sustainability Committee.
Carissa is a Dene lawyer and has advised on corporate and commercial matters relating to renewable energy, corporate governance and capital markets. She is a member of the Law Society of Alberta, the Law Society of British Columbia and Institute of Corporate Directors. Carissa is an Executive with the Institute of Corporate Directors, Calgary Chapter and has previously served on the board of Energy Efficiency Alberta, Women + Power, TAMA Transmission LP and the Circle for Aboriginal Relations (CFAR).
Riopel, Janet
Janet Riopel, ICD.D, is President and CEO of TREYL Communications Inc. She has extensive experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives and has held senior roles with organizations including the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Katz Group, CAREERS: The Next Generation, EPCOR and Port Alberta.
A graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors, Janet currently serves on the boards of Alberta Innovates, Melcor Developments and Civida, which she joined in 2026. Her previous board service includes Invest Alberta Corporation and Nearctic Industrial REIT. She has also served as Board Chair of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, MacEwan University and Compassion House Foundation, as well as a Board Governor of NAIT, Campaign Chair for United Way and President of the Urban Development Institute Alberta.
Janet has received both the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and Platinum Jubilee Medal, has twice been named one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People, and was recognized as a Global TV Woman of Vision. Her other honours include the Urban Development Institute’s Merit Award and the City of Edmonton’s Outstanding Service Award.
A lifelong Edmontonian, Janet is a member of the International Women’s Forum and the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Williams, Tony
Tony Williams is Senior Engagement Executive at Siemens Healthineers and Chair of the Alberta Innovates Board of Directors. He is an accomplished higher education leader with more than 20 years of experience driving transformative change at universities across Canada.
Previously, Tony served as Vice President, Marketing and Recruitment with Navitas North America, where he managed a global marketing and recruitment team. He also served as Vice Provost International at Lakehead University and held leadership positions in international student recruitment at the University of Alberta and University of Winnipeg.
Tony has provided strategic planning expertise to institutions in Canada and internationally, including the University of Regina, King’s University College, Nipissing University, Charles Sturt University in Australia, and Linköping University in Sweden. He also founded Zept, an international education marketing and data company, and served as Special Advisor to the CEO of the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute.
Tony holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Alberta and studied Peace and Conflict Studies and International Relations at Uppsala University in Sweden. While living in Sweden, he served as Managing Director of the Canadian Swedish Business Association.
Board committees: Executive Committee, Chair; Audit Committee, ex officio; Business Planning, Reporting and Engagement Committee; and Governance and Human Resources Committee.
Severin, Brad
Brad D. Severin, FCPA, FCA, CFP, TEP, is President of Bradley D. Severin Professional Corporation and has more than 25 years of experience as a taxation specialist. He has served as a Tax Partner with nationally recognized accounting firms and specializes in Canadian and international taxation matters, including corporate reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, and succession planning for family-owned businesses.
A former high school teacher, Brad has lectured for the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and Canadian Tax Foundation, and has been a frequent advisor to the media on income tax matters.
Brad has been extensively involved in community service and has served on several not-for-profit boards. His previous leadership roles include Chair of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce and director positions with the Chambers of Commerce Insurance Corporation of Canada and Goodwill Industries of Alberta.
He has been named to Alberta Venture Magazine’s list of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People, received the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta’s Early Achievement Award, was named a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta, and received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Wong, Richard
Richard Wong is Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Chateau Lacombe Hotel and has more than 40 years of leadership experience in tourism and hospitality. His career has spanned hotel operations, tourism, convention-centre management, business development, sales and marketing, and organizational leadership.
Richard has held senior leadership positions with Nova Hotels, Travel Alberta and the Edmonton Convention Centre. As Vice President of Industry Relations at Travel Alberta, he spearheaded the consolidation of five tourism entities. During his leadership of the Edmonton Convention Centre, the facility received the North American Venue Excellence Award in 2019.
He has also contributed to numerous corporate, charitable and community boards. His leadership roles have included Chair of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and Chair of the Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Richard studied Tourism and Hospitality at Vancouver Community College. His career, which began in 1984, has included experience in Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago, California and Edmonton. He received the 2024 Hotelier Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the hospitality industry.
Keirstead, James
James Keirstead is the President of Levven Electronics, developing, and executing long-term corporate strategies, and building relationships with partners, stakeholders and investors. Levven has a vision of making intelligent buildings available to everyone. Focused on delivering technology and products to advantage new construction, Levven’s promise is mobile device access and control of building infrastructure that lowers building costs, speeds construction and conserves building materials. He is a life-long entrepreneur with a commitment to innovation, excellence and enhancing people’s lives. Prior to founding Levven, James and his partners founded Blue Falls Manufacturing, makers of Arctic Spas and expanded its footprint to more than 30 countries. James is an active member and contributor to several entrepreneur organizations including Entrepreneurs’ Organization, the A100 and Rainforest Alberta. When he isn’t focused on the business, you can find him on Edmonton’s mountain bike trails or hanging out with his family.
Solis, Rhea
Rhea Solis, MBA, J.D, is a Partner in the Business Law Group of the Calgary office of Miller Thomson LLP.
She advises clients on a variety of corporate and commercial matters with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, private equity and capital markets and securities. Rhea has experience in corporate reorganizations, private placements and public offerings, and handles securities offerings, fund formations, share and asset purchases, plans of arrangement, amalgamations and other corporate restructurings and reorganizations. Additionally, she provides assistance with continuous disclosure obligations, securities regulatory requirements, and corporate governance matters.
Rhea sits on volunteer Board of Calgary Rangers Soccer Club & Sports Association as its Executive Director. Rhea holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at Western University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Calgary.