Sponsor Board

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Gil McGowan

Chair

Gil is appointed by the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL).

In 2017, Gil McGowan was re-elected to a record seventh term as president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, Alberta’s largest union advocacy organization, representing more than 175,000 workers in both the public and private sectors.

McGowan, a father of three, has presided over a period of substantial growth for the AFL and has been instrumental in putting many important issues forward for public discussion in Alberta. He has led public discussion and policy changes on resource development, reform of the temporary foreign worker (TFW) program, climate change and green jobs, a $15 minimum wage, pension reform, reforms to the labour code and employment standards, reforms to occupational health and safety, and WCB legislation.

Gil has been instrumental in coordinating the AFL’s political-action campaigns, including the campaign that helped elect Alberta’s first NDP government in May 2015. That same year, Gil was named one of Alberta’s 50 most influential people. In addition to his position with the AFL, Gil also sits on the CLC’s Canadian Council and was Co-Chair of the Energy Diversification Advisory Committee (EDAC), a special committee established by the Alberta government to make recommendations about how to add more value to Alberta’s energy resources.

Gil has recently been appointed to the Federal Just Transition Task Force to support transition strategies for workers and communities affected by the phase out of coal fired electricity across Canada.

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Susan McGillivray

Vice Chair

Susan is appointed by Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Susan is a lawyer by training and has worked in the health sector in progressively senior legal and human resources roles since moving to Alberta from Saskatchewan in 1998.

Susan McGillivray is currently the Senior Program Officer, HR Talent and Workforce Strategies at Alberta Health Services (AHS). Susan’s areas of responsibility include employee and labour relations, total rewards, talent management, and workforce strategies.

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Dr. Vivian Abboud

Board Member

Dr. Abboud is appointed by Alberta School Boards Association.

Dr. Abboud is the Chief Executive Officer of ASBA, the provincial organization supporting its locally elected public, Catholic and Francophone member school boards. Since assuming this role in 2018, she has led the implementation of ASBA’s Strategic Plan, positioning the Association as a strategic and influential organization. In recognition of her leadership, she received the 2021 ASBA President’s Award.

Dr. Abboud has an extensive background in governance, education, business and women’s initiatives, having held multiple executive roles with the Government of Alberta. She is deeply committed to community service, having served as Chair of Daughters Day and as a Director of Canadians for Civil Society from 2015 to 2023. In 2013, she played a key role in re-establishing the Women of Advocacy Voice of Edmonton. She currently serves as a Senator Alumnus with the University of Alberta.

She is trilingual and holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Governance and Leadership from Simon Fraser University, along with multiple certifications in leadership, management and education.

Her leadership and advocacy have earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of RBC’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants, featured among Canada’s Top 40 Women Change Makers by Canadian Living Magazine and recognized in Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40.

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David Andrews

Board Member

David is appointed by LAPP Corporation.

David is currently the Pension Finance leader at The City of Calgary. His responsibilities include the financial management of the municipal’s pension and retirement arrangements, including oversight of the preparation of the financial statements, funding and investment policies, audit, ensuring the plans compliance with legislation, leading triennial valuations and accounting valuations, as well as the day to day financial requirements of the plans.

David is the Treasurer for Calgary’s Administrative Professional and Technical Employees Association (APTEA) representing non-union staff, and is on the Executive for the Municipal Employees Benefit Association of Calgary (MEBAC).

David is a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and holds his Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) designation in Canada and Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) designation in the UK. Over his 15-year career in finance, David has held various leadership roles in universities, manufacturing, and construction companies.

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Michelle Dorval

Board Member

Michelle is appointed by the City of Edmonton.

In July 2021, Michelle joined the City of Edmonton as Branch Manager, Labour Relations and Total Compensation, leading a team responsible for labour and employee relations, compensation and classification and payroll, pension and benefits services to the organization.

Michelle is a seasoned HR professional and experienced executive leader with a wide range of experience across all HR functions. Her experience in large complex organizations, including the Government of Alberta and former Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, included leading significant organization-wide transformation initiatives in labour and employee relations, employee engagement and HR service delivery.

Her dedication to life-long learning has resulted in extensive professional development in the areas of leadership, change leadership, conflict resolution, and LEAN systems. This dedication also sees her mentoring and sharing her knowledge and career journey in support of the next generation of HR professionals.

Outside of the office, Michelle enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, live music and cheering for her favorite sports team.

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Dennis Egert

Board Member

Dennis is appointed by Alberta Municipalities.

Prior to serving as Managing Director of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer for City of Medicine Hat, Dennis was Chief Financial Officer for The Monarch Corporation as well as Financial Controller for the Canadian Region of Dow Chemical Corporation and its predecessor Union Carbide Corporation.

As Audit Manager with KPMG, Dennis spent four years in Düsseldorf, Germany where he was responsible for the management of international and overseas clients in a wide variety of industries.

Dennis is a member of CPA Canada and has recently obtained the ICD.D designation. He received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta.

Dennis is proud to have served his community as a governor to Medicine Hat College and as a member of the board of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta.

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Raj Uppal

Board Member

Raj is appointed by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

Bio to come.

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Darren Graham

Board Member

Darren is appointed by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).

After serving as Chair of Local 057 (Alberta Health Services Central Zone – General Support Services), Darren Graham (he/him) was first elected as Vice President in 2021 and was re-elected at the 2023 Convention.

Vice President Graham has been employed with Alberta Health Services (formerly the David Thompson Health Region) since 2003 and was prior to that a member of Local 53 (University of Lethbridge) for three years. He has a history of union activism, involved in his first wildcat when he worked in the oil patch and served as Students’ Union Vice President while attending university.

Graham has previously served on AUPE’s Anti-Privatization and Political Committees and the AHS GSS Bargaining Committee, and currently chairs the Standing Committees for Membership Services and Pensions.

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Leland McEwen

Board Member

Leland is appointed by Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Lee brings two decades of health human resources expertise and leadership. As the AHS Executive Director of Labour Relations & In-scope Classification & Compensation since 2020, Leland provides strategic leadership, guides the bargaining process, collaborates with senior leadership on labour relations priorities, and ensures alignment with organizational goals.

Lee also sits as the vice-chair of the Health Benefit Trust of Alberta (HBTA) and chair of the HBTA’s Governance Committee.

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Heather Smith

Board Member

Heather is appointed by the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA).

Heather is President of the United Nurses of Alberta, which represents more than 30,000 Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, and allied workers. She is a prominent advocate for Canada’s universal public healthcare system and a national pharmacare program.

Elected as UNA president in 1988, she has served in that role ever since. She received the Spirit of Tommy Douglas Award in 2007 for her commitment to the dreams of the late Saskatchewan premier and creator of Canadian medicare.

Smith came to Alberta in 1976 after training in Ottawa. While working as an RN in Edmonton in 1980, Heather became active in the union, and was elected as a local president in 1983 while serving on every UNA negotiating committee since 1984. Since joining in 1999, she also has played an important role in the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.