rachelwams – Axis Connects

Align Your Health, Life, and Career: What to know as you lead through life transitions

Join us for an informative conversation exploring how biological changes and life stages shape our wellbeing and leadership journeys through the lens of women’s health. Drs. Jayna Holroyd-Leduc and Erin Brennand will dive into how life transitions, from pregnancy to menopause, profoundly influence energy, emotional intelligence, and long-term career trajectories.

The discussion will cover insights like cardiovascular and brain health, highlight pioneering women researchers, and address the everyday complexities of caregiving. You’ll leave with actionable strategies to support your health and thrive personally and professionally at every phase.

Whether you are currently navigating these life transitions, preparing for the future, or leading others through their own journeys, this session offers the insights and inspiration needed to lead with authenticity, resilience, and intention.

- Date: June 22, 2026
- Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
- Location: Calgary Petroleum Club, Devonian Room
- Tickets: $50, includes light refreshments

Celebrating the 2026 Calgary Influential Women in Business Awards

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 over 1,500 people in attendance, guests came dressed to impress to celebrate exceptional leadership, equity, 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:

- - 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.

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.

Lunch with a Leader featuring Chief Katie McLellan

Join us for an exclusive lunch discussion featuring Chief Katie McLellan, a visionary leader and the current Chief of the Calgary Police Service (CPS).

With a career spanning nearly four decades, Chief McLellan offers a rare perspective shaped by leadership roles in municipal policing, federal enforcement with the RCMP, and executive security in the international oil and gas sector. Since joining the CPS in 1987 after immigrating from Scotland, she has risen through the ranks, from a patrol Constable to the first woman Inspector of the Criminal Operations Section, consistently championing the idea that true public safety requires more than just enforcement; it requires deep-rooted community partnership.

Throughout her tenure, Chief McLellan has broken new ground in integrating social development with crime prevention. Whether leading frontline operations in Calgary or managing high-stakes federal investigations into serious and organized crime, her focus remains on building a safe and resilient Calgary through inclusive leadership and cross-sector collaboration.

This is a premier opportunity to hear firsthand from one of Canada’s most seasoned public safety executives on the evolving landscape of urban policing, the critical interface between corporate security and public law enforcement, and her strategies for fostering a healthy, respectful, and inclusive workplace.

- - Date: April 30, 2026
  - Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MST
  - (Guests are welcome to stay until 1:30 PM for optional networking)
  - Location: Calgary Petroleum Club
  - Room: Trophy Lounge
  - Cost: $50 + fees and GST
  - Attendee limit: 14

Registration Process

Registration for this event is managed by request. Please submit your details below to hold your place in line. Our team reviews all submissions and will be in touch within 48 hours to officially confirm your registration and process payment.

Chief Katie McLellan

Chief Katie McLellan possesses a unique perspective rooted in extensive policing and security experience across both the private and public sectors. Her time as a private-sector security expert reinforced her belief in building safe, resilient communities through partnership and collaboration. Consequently, she remains a strong advocate for crime prevention through social development.

Immigrating to Calgary from Scotland, Chief McLellan joined the Calgary Police Service (CPS) in 1987. For the next thirteen years, she served in the Communications Section and as a patrol Constable and Sergeant in Districts 4 and 3. These foundational years in grassroots community policing taught her that police cannot solve crime in isolation; success requires the support of communities and social agencies committed to improving the lives of all Calgarians.

Chief McLellan’s CPS career has spanned numerous critical areas, including the Professional Standards Section, the Chief Crowfoot Learning Center, and the Emergency Communications Center. Notably, she served as the first Inspector of the Criminal Operations Section. Following her promotion to Superintendent in 2008, she led the Information and Technology Division and the Executive Office of the Chief Constable. In this capacity, she oversaw Professional Standards, Legal Services, Strategic Communications, and Freedom of Information and Privacy.

From 2010 to 2013, as Superintendent of the Field Operations Division, she and her team of commanders led frontline policing for the City of Calgary. In this role, she played a strategic part in advancing the model of community mobilization and engagement. The complexity of social issues encountered during this time furthered her resolve to leverage social service supports to ensure public safety.

In 2013, Chief McLellan retired as Senior Superintendent to join an international oil and gas company as Senior Security Advisor. In the corporate realm, she focused on the critical interface between security and policing, workplace violence prevention, and building inclusive environments. Working alongside Human Resource teams, she performed a strategic leadership role in fostering healthy and respectful workplace cultures.

Driven by a goal to return to public policing, she joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in May 2018 as the Officer in Charge of Federal Policing South, Serious and Organized Crime (K Division). In December 2019, she returned to municipal policing to begin the next stage of her career as a Chief of the Calgary Police Service.

Chief McLellan holds a Bachelor of Professional Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Athabasca University and a Corporate Executive Diploma from the University of Alberta. Her professional development includes graduation from the Senior Management Institute for Police and various certificates in Senior Police Management and Leadership. She is also trained as a Hostage Negotiator, an Emergency Operation Centre Lead, and an Incident Management Team Commander.

She is a decorated officer, having received the Police Exemplary Service Medal, Alberta Police Officer Centennial Medal, Alberta Emergency Services Medal, Calgary Police Distinguished Service Medal, and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal. Chief McLellan looks forward to enhancing community partnerships and working with all CPS employees to ensure Calgary remains a safe place to live for everyone.

Insights & Reflections: The Power of Our Collective Voice

In our last newsletter, we opened the floor to hear insights and reflections from this year’s International Women’s Day. After looking through the common threads, we’ve synthesized the key takeaways that resonated most.

What was the most impactful thing you have heard, learned, or experienced this International Women’s Day so far?

Sharing your perspective while you are still in the middle of the learning process or figuring things out is actually more relatable for others and keeps you human. You don’t always have to have everything figured out.
Learn to advocate for yourself as loudly as you do for others.
Careers are rarely a straight line, and the quiet periods of growth are often just as important as the big, visible milestones.
Understanding the critical difference between mentorship and sponsorship, while a mentor talks to you, a sponsor talks about you in rooms you haven’t entered yet.
Building a Personal Board of Directors around you: a group of trusted voices who know your aspirations and can offer the right support or a bit of inspiration when you need it most.
Define success on your own terms rather than letting the corporate ladder or societal expectations define you.
Network when you don’t actually need anything, so that you have a foundation of support when you finally do.

In a world where we all juggle and give so much, how do you plan to keep this momentum alive in a way that feels sustainable?

Remembering that everyone is on their own unique journey with invisible challenges; giving grace, understanding, and kindness to both ourselves and those around us.
Reframing rest as a productive part of the work cycle rather than a luxury or something we only do once we’ve hit burnout.
Finding time for the things you love, or better yet, integrating those small moments of joy into your daily life so they aren’t always being pushed to the back burner.

What is a favourite quote, book, podcast, or resource (by or about women) that you’d love to share with our community?

“The best thing about being a woman, is the prerogative to have a little fun!” – Shania Twain
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez for anyone wanting to understand the hidden gaps in our daily systems.
Adam Grant’s WorkLife podcast, specifically the episodes on rethinking how we network and how to find more joy in our routines.
The First, the Few, the Only by Deepa Purushothaman for a powerful look at how to navigate and lead in corporate spaces from a unique perspective.
The Authority Gap by Mary Ann Sieghart, which offers a great deep dive into why women are still taken less seriously in professional environments.
The Dare to Lead podcast by Brené Brown, which has been a staple for many of us learning to lead with more courage and empathy.
Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke, which provides a fresh perspective on knowing when to walk away from a project or role that is no longer serving you.
Harvard Business Review: IdeaCast episodes that feature female leaders discussing how they navigated pivot points in their careers.

Lunch with a Leader featuring Jim Dewald

Prepare for an afternoon of powerful insights as we welcome Jim Dewald, a leader who seamlessly bridges real-world executive success with academic rigor, and the 2022 Male Champion honouree at Axis Connect’s Calgary Influential Women in Business awards.

Before his transformative 11-year run as Dean of the Haskayne School of Business, where he drove over $100 million in philanthropic funding, built Mathison Hall, and launched the Creative Destruction Lab (Rockies), Jim spent years as a prominent President and CEO for companies like Hopewell Residential Communities and StoneCreek Resorts.

A cornerstone of Alberta’s business ecosystem, Jim brings deep practical and strategic wisdom to the table. He has served on over 30 boards and his community dedication has earned him prestigious honours, including Calgary’s Citizen of the Year and Thought Leader by Alberta Real Estate Foundation.

This intimate lunch is your chance to learn directly from a leader who has spent decades shaping both the boardrooms and the future business talent of our community.

Limited seating is available for this exclusive event—don’t miss out.

- - Date: March 30, 2026
  - Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MST
  - (Guests are welcome to stay until 1:30 PM for optional networking)
  - Location: Calgary Petroleum Club
  - Room: Wine Cellar
  - Cost: $50 + fees and GST

Jim Dewald, B.Sc., MBA, PhD

Jim Dewald is a professor of strategy and global management at the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. He earned a BSc in civil engineering and MBA from the University of Alberta, and a PhD from the Haskayne School of Business. He has several research and teaching awards, three books, two book chapters, over 20 academic papers, and over 60 newspaper and practitioner articles.

Prior to entering academia, Jim held several senior executive positions, including President & CEO of Walker Newby & Partners Inc., President & CEO of Hopewell Residential Communities Inc., President & CEO of StoneCreek Resorts Inc., and President of 411HomeNet Inc.

From 2012 to 2023 he served as dean of the Haskayne School, piloting the establishment of the Creative Destruction Lab (Rockies) and six new Centres of Excellence (leadership, entrepreneurship, real estate, corporate sustainability, business futures, and social entrepreneurship). During his tenure, the school grew in funding, programs, and national ranking, attracting over $100 million in philanthropic funding, and added Mathison Hall, a 100,000 square foot student learning centre.

Jim has served on over 30 boards, including Lead Trustee of Boardwalk REIT, Deputy Chair of the SAIT Board of Governors, Chair of the Business Schools Association of Canada, and the Canadian appointee to the Continuous Improvement Review Committee for AACSB.

He was named Calgary’s Citizen of the Year, Thought Leader by Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Honorary Member of the Appraisal Institute of Canada, and 2022 Male Champion in the Calgary Women in Business Awards. He currently serves on the board of Trico Group Inc. and as an Advisor to several organizations.