On April 23, Axis Connects saw a record-breaking, sold-out crowd gather at the TELUS Convention Centre for an unforgettable evening at the seventh annual Calgary Influential Women in Business (CIWB) awards gala. With close to 1,600 people in attendance, guests came dressed to impress to celebrate exceptional leadership, diversity, and innovation across Calgary’s corporate landscape.
The gala serves not only as a night of recognition but as a crucial driver for fostering a culture of inclusion and empowerment across Calgary’s business landscape.
“This gala has evolved into a movement,” said Nuvyn Peters, CEO of Axis Connects. “Gathering Calgary’s top professionals under one roof isn’t just about celebrating the milestones of our honourees, it’s about setting a new, higher standard for what leadership looks like in this city.”
Axis Connects Co-founder and Board Chair, Heather Culbert, echoed this sentiment in her opening remarks, stating, “We’re on a mission to advance gender equity in Calgary’s business community – not someday, not slowly, but now.”
An Evening of Surprises, Laughter, and Celebration
The night was expertly guided by our emcee, two-time Olympic speed skater, Olympic & Paralympic Host and Calgary native, Anastasia Bucsis. She kept the crowd engaged and inspired throughout the night, bringing her trademark warmth and wit to the stage. Guests were also treated to a spectacular surprise performance by The Tenors, which set up a dazzling tone for the post-event celebrations.
As the evening progressed, the award presentations brought both inspiration and a touch of humour; provoking a little bank-on-bank friendly fire, keeping the audience laughing as various financial institutions took the stage to hand out the awards.
Celebrating this year’s bold and brilliant leaders
The true heart of the evening was honouring six extraordinary individuals who have made profound contributions to their respective industries and the broader community. The 2026 CIWB Award recipients are:
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- Small/Medium Enterprise: Lara Murphy, Co-founder, President & CEO, Calgary WildFC; Founder & Owner, Ryan Murphy Construction Inc.
- Social Enterprise: Saifa Koonar, President & CEO, Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
- Professional Services: Valerie Prather, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP.
- Large Enterprise: Tara Lockyer, Chief People, Culture, Brand and Communications Officer, ATB Financial.
- Male Champion: Vern Yu, President & CEO, AltaGas Ltd.
- Lifetime Achievement: Bonnie DuPont, Independent Director and President, DuPont Consulting.
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Accepting the final award of the evening, DuPont was met with a venue-wide standing ovation honouring her incredible legacy and impact.
As the 2026 recipients took the stage, they offered words of wisdom, advice, and insight into their inspiring journeys. To experience the energy of the night, relive the highlights, and hear directly from our incredible speakers and honourees, watch the official 2026 CIWB Awards recap video below:
Keeping the Momentum Going
The awards may have ended, but the energy stayed at an all-time high. Guests celebrated well into the night at our post-event reception, fueled by a dynamic performance from DJ Joanna Magik and Kate Stevens.
The CIWB Awards Gala is just the beginning. Axis Connects drives momentum year-round to advance gender equity in Calgary’s corporate landscape. We invite you to join us in the movement! Visit axisconnects.com to become a member, explore our career development programs, get involved in upcoming events like our 2026 Stampede Round Up, and nominate an inspiring leader for the 2027 CIWB Awards.
