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MACEWAN MEANS BUSINESS

CAMPAIGN Cabinet

Meet our campaign cabinet, led by John Day, prominent businessman and commercial real estate developer, and Robert Seidel, managing partner with DLA Piper Canada.  

Co-chairs

John Day

john day

Following a distinguished legal career with Fraser Milner Casgrain, John is now known for his work as a businessman and commercial real estate developer. With a long history of supporting MacEwan University, serving as Chair of the Board of Governors from 2010 to 2016, John is passionate about the revitalization of Edmonton's downtown. John is founding Chair of Edmonton Global and former Chair of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. Raised in Edmonton, John has a history of building community connections that have inspired our city's growth and development.

Robert Seidel

Rob Seidel

Robert (Rob) Seidel, K.C., is currently serving his fifth consecutive elected three-year term as Managing Partner for DLA Piper Canada. Rob is a former chair of the Grant MacEwan University Foundation. Rob also served on the Board of Governors for MacEwan University from 2002 to 2008. Rob's areas of practice include corporate/commercial law, and providing strategic advice to senior executives, boards and elected officials.

Members

enzo barichelloEnzo Barichello, co-head of the Government Affairs and Public Policy practice, acts in commercial electrical power and gas transactions, mergers and acquisitions with a focus on transactions in the pharmaceutical sector, forestry purchase and sale transactions, major commercial leases, and major commercial and financing transactions. He also acts on airport management and operations transactions and related joint ventures.

Enzo has lectured on drafting and negotiating commercial agreements and presents corporate/commercial seminars to clients on various topics relevant to his clients’ businesses.

Enzo serves on the boards of various corporations in different sectors. He is the Chairman of Edmonton Global. He was a Governor for the Board of Governors of MacEwan University and Interim Chair. He is past vice-chairman and director of the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority and a past board member of the Forestry Industry Suppliers Association of Alberta. He is a former managing partner of the Edmonton office of Bennett Jones and director on the Bennett Jones LLP Board of Directors.

Enzo is a member of the Canadian Who’s Who, published by University of Toronto Press as a reference source for leading and influential Canadians.

lisa baroldiLisa Baroldi is an award-winning business and community leader. She is currently President and CEO of Building Owners and Managers Association Edmonton (or BOMA Edmonton). Prior to joining BOMA Edmonton, Lisa was a senior advisor to the Canada-UAE Business Council in Toronto and Dubai and executive director of an economic development authority in Northern Alberta. Other previous roles include associate editor of Diplomat & International Magazine in Ottawa and CEO of Progress Unlimited, a global consulting firm that has been involved in many ground-breaking initiatives such as Canada’s first New in Town Indigenous Welcome Service and Kahkiyaw, which is the first collaborative service delivery for urban Indigenous children, youth and families in Alberta. Through Progress, Lisa has provided economic, community, and business development services since 2007 in Canada, France, Sierra Leone, and the United Arab Emirates. She has obtained $100 million dollars for projects since 2011 and has brought attention to and action on various issues.

In 2009, Lisa co-founded the national intercity exchange, Designing Downtown.

Lisa holds a master’s degree from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and degrees from L’institute d’études politques de Lyon and the University of Alberta, where she was awarded the Dr. John MacDonald Medal in Arts for overall superior academic achievement in the BA Honours Program. In 2015, Lisa was selected for the prestigious Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. In 2012/13, she was named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 under 40, Top 100 Women in Business, and Alberta Venture magazine’s Ten Rising Stars.

traci bednardTraci Bednard is the President and CEO of Explore Edmonton. She has spent her career promoting Edmonton, joining Explore Edmonton in November 2021 after two decades with Edmonton International Airport (YEG). Traci has travelled globally promoting Edmonton as a place for investment, aviation and tourism. She has led marketing and sales, ESG, community relations, advocacy, and partnerships, including tourism and Indigenous tourism partnerships.

Traci is committed to community service and industry advancement, lending her executive leadership experience to several organizations’ boards of directors, including the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Edmonton Global and Covenant Foundation.

As a graduate of MacEwan, and someone working every day in Edmonton’s downtown, Traci is excited to join the effort to build the new MacEwan University School of Business building and the many benefits it will generate for innovation, business connections and the visitor economy in Edmonton’s downtown.

Nicole BouchierNicole Bourque-Bouchier is an industry leader, philanthropist, and advocate for the communities she lives and works in. Nicole is proudly Mikisew Cree First Nation, born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and raised in Fort McMurray, Alberta, where she resides with her husband and five children.

As co-owner and CEO of Bouchier, Nicole’s creative and strategic approach has transformed the business into one of the largest Indigenous-owned and operated integrated site service companies in the Athabasca Oil Sands region. Today, Bouchier employs over 1,000 people, 43% of whom self-identify as Indigenous. The company also operates a fleet of 400+ equipment. Nicole began her career in computer systems, before transitioning to the oil and gas sector where she worked with several top producers. She then began her own consulting company where her entrepreneurial spirit flourished.

Named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Influential Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2015, Nicole uses her traditional teachings, experience, and voice to advocate for Indigenous women’s economic empowerment. Dedicated to her community and giving back, she has served on the boards of numerous non-profits across Alberta, including Keyano College’s Board of Governors, the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association, Alberta Apple Schools Foundation, and Indspire’s Board of Directors.

Nicole's career serves as an inspiration to those around her, particularly as the recipient of numerous accolades including the 2022 RBC WOI Excellence Award, Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, Indspire Award for Business and Commerce, CCAB Indigenous Women in Leadership Award, and was named one of six Canadian CEOs as 2020 Catalyst Honours Champion.

chad brennandChad Brennand has over 23 years of commercial real estate experience in the Edmonton market. His services include real estate strategic planning; market analysis; real estate development; and lease negotiation. He has provided advisory services to companies in the private and public sector throughout Canada and the U.S. and has consulted for several government related agencies and not-for-profit organizations.

Prior to joining Canderel, Mr. Brennand was the Executive Vice President at JLL, a leading global commercial real estate firm. Chad is a director on the board for the YMCA of Northern Alberta. He is a member of the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA), holds the designation of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta.

sine chadiSine Chadi is the founder and CEO of Imperial Equities Inc., a publicly traded industrial real estate company, and has been the principal driver of its growth and development, overseeing all day-to-day aspects of the Corporation’s development and management. He has worked in the real estate and development industries for more than 45 years. He is the owner of several companies involved in real estate sales, asset management, property management and mortgage financing. In addition to his business career, he also served in the Alberta Legislature (1993-1997) as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Northwest Edmonton.

Mr. Chadi is an active community leader who has determinedly and financially supported many community groups and charities. He has received numerous awards for his business achievements and community involvement including being recognized as a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), the Alberta Centennial Medal (2005), a finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year (2008), the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012). He was inducted to the City of Edmonton Hall of Fame (2013), the Alberta Business Hall of Fame by the Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta and NWT (2022) and received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023).

Mr. Chadi is a renowned philanthropist and fundraiser in the Edmonton area, donating and raising millions on behalf of a myriad of organizations including the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital’s pediatric unit, where $7,000,000 was raised and the Chadi Family Foundation made a lead donation of $1 million toward the Chadi Centre for Pediatric Rehabilitation. His charitable activities are conducted through his companies and increasingly through the Chadi Family Foundation, which prioritizes education, healthcare, the arts, sports, and other community causes. He is a current board member of the Parkinson Association of Alberta, and of the Gordon and Diane Buchanan Family Foundation, and a past board member of the Capital Care Foundation and the Glenrose Hospital Foundation.

darrell halliwellDarrell Halliwell is the former managing principal for DIALOG’s Edmonton studio, with over 150 team members. He was a member of the leadership team, responsible for the strategic direction and management of the firm as a whole.

In practice, Darrell brings a wide range of architectural experience gained in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and the Northwest Territories. His project involvement, at a senior level, has included prototypical, “one of” assignments, to numerous commercially driven initiatives.

Darrell’s focus is on achieving success through in-depth project knowledge and effective team management.

Janet RiopelJanet Riopel, a lifelong Edmontonian, has deep roots in our community and considerable experience in managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects.

Janet honed her skills and experience in the land development industry, with other adventures including working with Canada’s Governor General, the Alberta Government, Katz Group, CAREERS The Next Generation, EPCOR, and Port Alberta. Most recently she was the President & CEO of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

Janet is a director on the boards of Melcor Developments, Nearctic Property Group, and Invest Alberta Corporation. Past service includes roles as board chair of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, and Compassion House Foundation. She was board chair of MacEwan, a board director of NAIT, campaign chair for United Way, and president of the Urban Development Institute Alberta.

Her community service has brought her much recognition. She was honoured with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, has twice been named one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People, and was a Global TV Woman of Vision. Janet has received UDI’s Merit Award and the City of Edmonton’s Outstanding Service Award. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum and the Institute of Corporate Directors.

mike saundersAs Senior Vice President, Qualico Properties, Mike oversees the leasing, development, and property management of all Qualico income-producing properties in Canada, which includes mixed-use, office, retail, residential, and light industrial buildings.

Having always had an affinity for architecture and urban development, Mike considers his contributions to the built environment to be the most gratifying aspect of his career. Mike is able to execute at a high level by growing and fostering trusted relationships and conducting himself with the utmost integrity and transparency.

shawna vogelShawna Vogel is a committed leader with extensive experience in strategy and oversight, governance, acquisitions and risk, having practiced business law and participated in and led boards for over 35 years. Currently, she is the Chief Legal Officer of DAK Capital, a family office, and a member of the executive committee of the Katz Group, one of North America’s leading privately owned enterprises. Prior to joining the Katz Group, Shawna’s legal career focused on mergers & acquisitions, corporate reorganizations and international trade and, from 2016 - 2018, she served as the Presiding Member (Chair) of Dentons Canada LLP and a Global Vice Chair.

Selective Experience

  • Director, Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation 2019–present
  • Executive Member, Institute of Corporate Directors Alberta Branch 2018 - present
  • Senior Managing Director and General Counsel, Katz Group 2018 - 2022
  • Director, Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation, 2017 - 2019
  • Global Vice Chair of the Global Board of the Dentons, 2016; Chair, Dentons Canada LLP, November 2015–February, 2017, Member, Dentons Canada LLP Board 2013 - 2016; Chair, Governance Committee, 2014-2015
  • Member, Strategic Committee, Jerry Forbes Centre 2010-2011
  • Director, Legal Education Society of Alberta, 2006 to 2011
  • Director, Organization of Women in International Trade (Alberta Branch), 2007
  • Director, Kids Up Front Foundation (Edmonton), 2003 to 2007
  • Director, Edmonton Economic Development Corporation 1999 to 2003

Recognition

  • Received WILL (Women In Law Leadership) Award 2018 for leadership in the profession (in-house)
  • Recognized in Lexpert’s 2017 Zenith Awards - Celebrating Women in Law
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada as one of Canada’s leading lawyers in the areas of Corporate Law (2016-2018), Mergers & Acquisitions Law (2016-2018) and Sports Law (2011-2018)
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada as “Lawyer of the Year: Alberta” in Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Edmonton (2017)
  • Repeatedly recommended by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as one of Canada’s leading lawyers in the areas of Corporate Commercial Law (2014-2017), Corporate Mid-Market (2017) and International Trade Regulation (2015-2016)
MacEwan University is an academic leader not only in our province but in the country. They have a reputation backed by the thousands of graduates that are changing their communities and leading industries, thanks to the skills learned in MacEwan’s classrooms.
John Day, Campaign Co-Chair
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