About Axis Connects
Axis Connects is changing leadership. From mid-career to the boardroom, we support and accelerate the advancement and recognition of gender diversity throughout our business community.
We believe that gender diversity at the leadership table matters. Through Axis Connects’ programs, workshops, networks, and events, we support women in their journey towards leadership positions and professional potential.
Axis Connects curates events that support professional development and networking across multiple industries. Our free membership platform provides events, programs, and workshops for women in business to connect and advance career opportunities.
Axis Connects Programs
Career Development
Dialogue Sessions
Engage in workshops facilitated by Axis Connects in partnership with strategic consultants and industry leaders designed to empower members with valuable resources, tools, and professional connections essential for navigating today’s diverse business landscape
Lunch With A Leader
Designed to provide Axis Connects members with valuable opportunities to gain insights, mentorship, and network with senior professionals in various industries. We aim to inspire and empower our members by exposing them to diverse perspectives and experiences. These events book up fast so sign up today!
Networking Events
Our regular Networking Events offer opportunities to meet other proffessionals in your field, share ideas, and make connections to further your career goals.
Axis Connects Board
Arun Chandrasekaran
Head of Energy Investment Banking at National Bank Financial
Arun Chandrasekaran
Head of Energy Investment Banking at National Bank Financial
Arun Chandrasekaran has 17+ years of experience in industry. Mr. Chandrasekaran re-joined National Bank as Head of Energy, Investment Banking in August 2016. Prior to re-joining National Bank, Mr. Chandrasekaran worked as a Principal with Stream Asset Financial Management. Mr. Chandrasekaran graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Commerce Co-operative Education degree where he graduated with Distinction.
Heather Culbert
Board Chair and Co-founder of Axis Connects & Board Ready Women, Independent Board Director
Heather Culbert
Heather Culbert is a highly respected corporate director, strategic advisor, and community
leader with more than 30 years of senior executive experience in the energy sector and
extensive leadership across public, private, crown, and non-profit boards. She is recognized for
her deep expertise in governance, strategy, risk management, and organizational performance,
and is known for her pragmatic leadership and ability to align diverse stakeholders around bold,
long-term goals.
Heather was formerly Senior Vice President of Corporate Services at Enerplus, where she
oversaw corporate strategy, information technology, human resources, administration, and
communications. Since transitioning from her executive career, she has built a reputation as a
results-oriented board member, with particular strength in navigating complex governance
environments and driving performance through effective oversight and culture.
She currently serves on the Board of Export Development Canada (EDC), where she has held
roles as Interim Chair, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Human Resources Committee. She is also a
board member of Catapult Environmental, a private equity-backed environmental and RNG
company, and The Fraser Institute, a nationally respected economic policy think tank. Heather
previously served on the boards of Whitecap Resources, and chaired both the Alberta Research
and Innovation Advisory Council (ARIAC), and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
(SAIT).
In the non-profit and philanthropic sectors, Heather is a co-founder and Chair of two Alberta-
based organizations focused on advancing women in leadership: Board Ready Women and Axis
Connects. A passionate advocate for cancer care, she also served as Co-Chair of the
OWN.CANCER Campaign, which successfully raised $300 million for the Arthur J.E. Child
Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary, one of Canada’s largest-ever healthcare philanthropy
initiatives.
Heather’s leadership and community impact have been recognized with numerous awards,
including being inducted into the Southern Alberta Business Hall of Fame in 2025, named
Calgarian of the Year in 2024, and recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
in 2022, the Women’s Energy Council Female Executive of the Year in 2021, and the Governor
General’s Sovereign Medal for Volunteers. Other accolades for her philanthropic leadership
include the Doc Seaman Generosity of Spirit Award and SAIT’s Distinguished Alumna Award.
She holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and the GCB.D ESG
certification from Competent Boards. Her educational background includes a Queen’s
University Executive Program, a Technology Management certificate from Northeastern
University, a Computer Technology diploma from SAIT and an Honorary Bachelor of Science
from SAIT.
With expertise across sectors including energy, technology, education, health care, and public
policy, Heather brings a powerful combination of strategic acumen, operational discipline, and
purpose-driven leadership to every board she serves.
Dawn de Lima
Executive Vice-President, TC Energy
Dawn de Lima
Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services & Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, TC Energy
As Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services, Mrs. de Lima provides strategic and functional leadership for human resources, information systems, aviation and facilities services. She also serves as the Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer for the Company.
Prior to joining TC Energy, Mrs. de Lima served as Chief Shared Services Officer on the executive leadership team with TransAlta Corporation, responsible for leading Business and Operational Services, Information Technology, Data & Innovation, Supply Chain Management, Corporate Security and Facilities. Mrs. de Lima has also held progressively senior positions in Human Resources, overseeing Executive Compensation, Talent and Culture, Leadership Development, Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations.
Mrs. de Lima currently sits as the Chair of the Board for Junior Achievement Canada and the Co-Chair for SHEInnovates Alberta, a United Nations project to advance the progress of women in innovation.
She holds a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Calgary.
Jenna Kaye
CEO, Odyssey Trust Company
Jenna Kaye
CEO, Odyssey Trust Company
Jenna is the Founder and CEO of Odyssey Trust Company, a North American transfer agent and trust company based in Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Denver, CO.
She is also the CEO and Founder of Corporate Diversity Consultants Ltd., a consulting firm that provides corporate governance and compliance services to publicly-listed companies and a Principal of Icebook Investments, a family run office that’s focused on early-stage businesses across a wide range of industries including renewable energy, real estate and fertility.
Jenna has an MBA/LLB from Dalhousie University and practiced law at a national law firm.
Jennifer Koury
Independent Director
Jen Koury
Independent Director
Ms. Koury has more than 35 years professional experience including C suite leadership roles and international experience, with the world’s largest mining Company, BHP Billiton, as well has worked with Enerplus Resources and Exxon Mobil as a senior executive.
Currently, Ms. Koury sits on the Board of Directors for Crescent Point Energy, chairing their HRC and member of the Governance Committee; Bird Construction in Toronto, Chairing the HR and Governance Committee and member of the EH&S Committee; the Calgary Zoo as Board Chair and is one of the Co-Founders of Board Ready Women. Ms. Koury also served on the Women in Mining Canada Board as Co-Chair from April 2017 to April 2021.
Ms. Koury holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (honors) from the University of Alberta and has her Directors Designation, ICD.D, from The Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto.
John Kousinioris
President & CEO, TransAlta
John Kousinioris
President & CEO, TransAlta
John Kousinioris is responsible for overseeing operations, shared services, commercial, trading, customer solutions, hedging and optimization at TransAlta. He is also the President of TransAlta Renewables Inc.
Prior to joining TransAlta, John was a partner and co-head of the corporate commercial department at Bennett Jones LLP. He has 30 years of experience in securities law, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance matters, and has represented clients in some of Canada’s largest public offerings and merger transactions.
John has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario, a Master of Business Administration degree from York University and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. John has also attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.
Rich Kruger
President & CEO, Suncor
Rich Kruger
President & CEO, Suncor
Rich joined Suncor in April 2023 with nearly 40 years of global experience in the energy industry, including extensive experience in the Canadian oil sands. Since joining Suncor, Rich’s priorities have been to increase the organization’s focus on the fundamentals and improve overall performance.
Prior to joining Suncor, Rich was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Oil Limited, a major petroleum refiner, producer of crude oil and fuels marketer in Canada, for nearly 7 years, from 2013 until his retirement in December 2019.
Prior to Imperial, Rich was Vice President of Exxon Mobile Corporation and president of Exxon Mobil Production Company responsible for the company’s global oil and gas producing operations. In total, Rich worked for Exxon Mobil Corporation and its predecessor companies since 1981 in various upstream and downstream assignments with responsibilities in the United States, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Africa, and the Southeast Asia.
Rich has deep experience in successfully driving a strong performance culture focusing on safety, reliability and operational excellence, with a proven track record of enabling companies to deliver exceptional financial results and returns to shareholders.
He holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Business Administration from the University Houston.
Catherine Samuel
Partner, McCarthy Tétrault
Catherine Samuel
Partner, McCarthy Tétrault
Marnie Smith
Managing Director, Russell Reynolds Associates
Marnie Smith
Managing Director, Russell Reynolds Associates
Marnie brings a passion for partnering with clients to build their businesses. A leader of the western Canadian team, Marnie is a member of the Board & CEO Advisory Partners, Industrial and Natural Resources and Financial Services Sectors. She works with C-suites and boards across multiple industries to strategically identify leaders of the future. Additionally, she advises clients on their strategic leadership initiatives involving Board, CEO and C-suite succession; leadership assessment and development; and board structure and effectiveness.
In her previous roles, she was deeply involved in the energy sector through corporate finance and investment banking. Previously, Marnie was a managing director and the head of Canadian energy at Macquarie Group. There she provided clients with financing solutions, valuations, strategic M&A advice and led the execution of principal investments in energy and financial institutions.
Marnie holds an Masters of Finance from INSEAD. She also earned a Bachelors of Commerce with distinction and a Bachelor of Arts, International Relations, with distinction from the University of Calgary.
Katie Smith-Parent
BD, Industry Diversification, Spartan Controls
Katie Smith-Parent
BD, Industry Diversification, Spartan Controls
Katie leads Business Development for Industry Diversification for Spartan Controls, an industrial technology company with process automation, valve, measurement and control solutions in Western Canada.
In addition to being a Co-Founder and Board Member at Axis Connects; Katie is the Executive Director of Young Women in Energy (YWE), a non-profit Alberta organization of more than 4,500 members that provides voice, presence, development, and leadership of women working in the energy industry.
She has received several accolades for her volunteerism and advocacy including, being recognized as a SheInnovator by She Innovates Alberta (2019); a Young Resource Leader Award (2021) from the Alberta Chamber of Resources, and most recently received a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022) and was recognized as one of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 (2022).
As a cancer survivor, she co-leads the Next Generation Committee for the OWN.CANCER $250M fundraising campaign and is currently pursuing her MBA in Executive Management at Royal Roads University.
Curtis Stange
President & CEO, ATB Financial
Curtis Stange
President & CEO, ATB Financial
Curtis Stange was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of ATB Financial on June 30, 2018. With courage, disciplined thought and precise action, he leads a team of more than 5,000 team members who are dedicated to ATB’s purpose—to make it possible for over 800,000 clients and business owners.
With more than 35 years of experience in financial services in Canada, Curtis has led teams across diverse geographic markets and through various economic cycles—always with an inquisitive nature and a desire to get to know the people and places around him.
Curtis is a Stanford alumnus and member of the Alberta Business Council and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Western Executive Council. In 2023, he was awarded as Canada’s Most Admired CEO by Waterstone Human Capital.
Along with his role on the Axis Board, Curtis serves on advisory boards for the Edmonton International Airport, Visa Canada, and Advancing Women Executives in Western Canada. He also co-chairs the STARS Air Ambulance board and is a strong advocate for mental health
Management Team
Nuvyn Peters
CEO
Nuvyn Peters
CEO
Nuvyn is a community leader and seasoned executive with a strong record of achievements in capital raising, philanthropy, communications, advocacy, community engagement and campaigns. Nuvyn was Vice-President (Advancement) at the University of Calgary where, under her leadership, the ambitious Energize Campaign exceeded its $1.3 billion goal, raising a milestone $1.41 billion. Nuvyn’s unique vision to develop a culture of lifelong philanthropic engagement earned the University of Calgary a place on the Globe and Mail’s list of the top 25 fundraising institutions in Canada.
Nuvyn first earned her reputation as a philanthropic leader as Development Director of the Tahirih Justice Center where she advocated for the rights of vulnerable women and girls. Through subsequent leadership positions, including management of Georgetown University’s $1.5 billion campaign, Nuvyn continues to be an influential leader in the philanthropic community, working with donors and organizations throughout North America.
Nuvyn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Saskatchewan, and a Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution from Landegg International University in Switzerland. An innovative and empathetic leader, Nuvyn was named one of Canada’s top newsmakers of the week by Maclean’s magazine, and is a recipient of Avenue magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” (2016) and Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40” (2018).
Claire Edwards
Program and Marketing Manager
Claire Edwards
Program Manager
Claire embarked on her professional journey at Peters and Associates, a boutique consulting firm dedicated to empowering non-profit organizations. There she honed her expertise in strategic communication, fundraising campaigns, and leadership development. Armed with a Bachelor of Commerce degree specializing in International Business, Claire seamlessly integrates her business acumen with her exceptional project management skills.
Born and raised in Calgary, Claire brings a profound dedication to her hometown. As part of Axis Connects, she advocates for gender diversity in decision-making roles, facilitates impactful networking events, and collaborates with community partners to accelerate women into leadership positions at all levels. Her expertise aligns seamlessly with Axis Connects’ mission, fostering a future where gender diversity in leadership is a tangible reality.
Alexandra Stante
Executive Director
Alexandra Stante
Executive Director
Alexandra Stante is a strategic leader and creative problem solver with extensive experience in innovation management, business transformation, corporate storytelling, and strategic leadership. She has successfully led transformational initiatives that have unlocked the potential of people, technology, and physical spaces, driving significant growth and future-focused solutions for her clients.
Passionate about advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace, Alex is driven by the potential to reimagine outdated systems, creatively transform industries, and redefine the future. Her superpower lies in grounding this work in purpose and ensuring a focus on human impact.
As the Founder and CEO of Rebelle Money Inc., Alex launched an AI-driven financial technology platform designed for women, demonstrating a unique ability to blend technological innovation with gender inclusivity. This venture highlighted her commitment to reshaping financial systems and developing tools that resonate with diverse users.
Alex has held key leadership roles at RBC, WestJet Airlines, and ATB Financial, where she spearheaded strategic initiatives that resulted in organizational transformation, cultural realignment, and measurable financial impact. She contributed to building Canada’s first robo-advisor and, more recently, played a pivotal role in developing a generative AI financial advisor solution for one of Canada’s largest banks. Throughout her career, Alex has been instrumental in launching platforms, funds, and product strategies that power female investors and entrepreneurs across Canada, driving greater economic participation by women.
With a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary and advanced certifications from institutions like Stanford University and Cambridge Judge Business School, Alex is a lifelong learner committed to fostering human-centered change. She continues to shape the future through her passion for solving complex challenges and delivering lasting human impact.
Rachel Wams
Manager, Community Engagement
Rachel Wams
Manager, Community Engagement
As Community Engagement Manager, Rachel brings a multidisciplinary background across the public, corporate, and tech sectors. Drawing on impactful roles with the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care, AgeCare, and AI startup Aiyarise Intelligence Inc., she specializes in aligning high-level strategy with daily operations to deliver real value to the community.
An advocate for continuous learning, Rachel is currently completing her MBA at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business and holds a BBA in Marketing alongside specialized diplomas in Accounting and Finance. An active community volunteer, she has also dedicated her time to organizations like Platform Calgary, the Canadian Women’s Foundation, the YMCA, the Calgary Stampede Prelude Parade, and the MS Society of Canada.
Deeply driven by social impact, Rachel’s approach blends strategic vision with creative problem-solving to advance women in leadership and empower diverse networks. By bridging the gap between business strategy and community-driven execution, she leverages this comprehensive foundation to champion community voices, cultivate highly engaged networks, and drive meaningful growth across the organization.
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