Board of Directors
The Calgary Airport Authority’s Board of Directors bring extensive experience, diverse perspectives and strong roots in the community to their governance role.
Members are appointed by the City of Calgary, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce Long Range Planning Committee, Rocky View County and the Government of Canada. With skills in air transportation, industry, finance, law, engineering and consumer interests, The Board ensures the Calgary and Springbank airports operate in a safe, secure and efficient manner. As leading members in our community, they also advance economic and community development by promoting the aviation industry.
Matt Heffernan
Board Chair
Appointed by the Calgary Chamber in 2015
Matt was most recently the CEO of Banded Iron Group (formerly Zedi Inc.), a Calgary-based technology oil and gas field services company. He currently serves on the board of Dycar Pharmaceuticals and as an advisor to WaterSMART Solutions and Simplex Legal. Matt has served on many other boards including executive chairman of the board for Blackbridge, a private company involved with satellite im-aging for various companies and government departments. He is a former board member of Canadian Locators Inc. and the Van Horne Institute and has also served as a member of the Chairman’s Circle for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Matt has extensive experience in executive management roles in technology, sales and business development including TELUS Corporation, and an entrepreneurial venture, Outrider Technologies.
Jina Abells Morissette
Appointed by the City of Calgary in 2020
Jina has more than twenty years of experience as a legal executive and board member. She was most recently the General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Cavalier Energy Inc. Prior to that she held the same role at SilverBirch Energy Corp. and UTS Energy Inc. Jina has extensive experience in the energy industry, governance, human resources and executive compensation. She works extensively in the community and currently serves as board chair of Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and previously served on the boards of Calgary Reads and Theatre Calgary. Jina has a bachelor of commerce from the University of Regina with a major in marketing and a bachelor of laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
David C. Blom CPA CA TEP ICD.D FEA
Appointed by the Calgary Chamber in 2016
David is the President of Desiderata Family Enterprise Advisory Corp. Prior to his appointment to The Calgary Airport Authority Board of Directors, David was a senior executive with the Carey Management Group of companies and is a retired partner of Grant Thornton LLP. David volunteered in various roles and is currently chair of Ducks Unlimited Canada. He also serves on several other non-for-profit and professional boards.
Randolph (Randy) M. Charron
Appointed by the Rocky View County in 2019
Randy is the President and director of Star Valley Drilling Ltd., a private oilfield drilling contractor with petroleum drilling assets in Canada, the U.S.A., Trinidad W.I. and West Africa. He is also the President of Characo Corporation, a privately held oil and gas investment firm. Randy is a director of PHX Technology Services Corp., an oilfield service company providing horizontal and directional drilling services in Canada, the U.S., Albania and Russia. Randy graduated with a bachelor’s degree from McMaster University. An aviation enthusiast, he presently holds a Transport Canada-issued airline transport pilot license. He is type rated on several citation jets and turbo prop aircraft and presently operates a private turbine aircraft out of Springbank Airport. Randy is also a director of the Springbank Airport Business and Pilots Association (SABPA).
Donald (Don) Cormack, CPA, ICD.D
Chair, Audit & Finance Committee
Appointed by the Calgary Chamber in 2016
Don is a retired partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where he served as the Calgary and Alberta Audit and Advisory practice leader and was a member of the National Assurance Executive. He has extensive financial accounting and reporting experience with both private and public companies of all sizes, covering regulatory compliance, risk management, acquisitions, corporate restructuring, internal controls and governance in Canada, the U.S. and internationally. Don has served on numerous not-for-profit and public boards, and he is currently a director and audit committee chair at Petrus Resources Ltd as well as United Farmers of Alta. He was the chair of The Calgary Foundation and a director of the Parks Foundation, Calgary. He is a Chartered Accountant (CA, CPA), a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors Program (ICD.D) and has a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
Andrea Goertz
Appointed by the Government of Canada in 2019
Andrea has extensive experience as an executive and board member. Andrea was chief communications and sustainability officer at TELUS, leading a national team responsible for a diverse portfolio comprised of external communications, media relations, privacy, provincial government relations, real estate, corporate marketing, sponsorships, community investment, and corporate social responsibility. Andrea was accountable for the vision, design, partnership and execution of several iconic real estate developments, most notably TELUS Garden in Vancouver and TELUS Sky in Calgary. Andrea's leadership earned TELUS repeated recognition on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, and she was a recipient in 2012 and 2014 of WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards. Andrea's past board experience includes Alberta Ballet, Theatre Calgary, Arts Commons, the TELUS Calgary Community Board and the Haskayne School of Business Advisory Council. Andrea currently serves on the boards of Boardwalk REIT and TriSummit Utilities Inc. Andrea holds a bachelor of commerce in Finance and a master of business administration, both from the University of Alberta, and is a graduate of the ICD Directors Education Program.
Heather Kennedy, P.Eng, F.C.A.E.
Appointed by the Calgary Chamber in 2015
Heather is a fellow with the Canadian Academy of Engineering. She has a certificate in administrative tribunal justice from the Foundation of Administrative Justice and has an engineering degree from Queen's University. Heather currently focuses on board work including Braveheart Resources Inc. and volunteering with Ingenium and several engineering-related organizations promoting diversity and innovation within the profession. Heather's career has been diverse with executive roles in government and external relations, major projects, and human resources, an extended secondment to the Government of Alberta and a term as a Hearing Commissioner for the Alberta Energy Regulator. Heather enjoys volunteering and has, for more than 30 years, chaired or was on the board of many local community organizations. She also provided leadership and support to multi stakeholder groups and initiatives in north eastern Alberta.
James Midwinter
Appointed by the Calgary Chamber in 2015
James is a seasoned real estate executive with a 35-year career that has spanned public and private commercial real estate firms working across Canada. Most recently, James was Executive Vice President, Development, at GWL Realty Advisors, a leading Canadian real estate investment advisor providing comprehensive portfolio, asset manage-ment, development and investment advice to pension funds and other clients. James oversaw the company’s extensive development program, which encompassed a wide variety of projects in major urban centres across Canada. James has a bachelor of environmental studies (Honours Urban and Regional Planning) from the University of Waterloo and a masters of business administration from the University of Ottawa.
Manjit K. Minhas
Appointed by the Calgary Chamber in 2020
Manjit is the co-founder and CEO of Minhas Breweries, Distilleries and Wineries, which were developed in Alberta and now sold in 16 countries and the ninth largest in North America. Manjit is a venture capitalist on CBC’s Dragons’ Den for the last eight years/seasons investing in dozens of Canadian small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country. Manjit is highly skilled and experienced in brand development, marketing, sales management and brewing operations, distribution, and manufacturing. Manjit has served for numerous businesses and not-for-profit boards and is a current board member for ATB Financial, Alberta Brewers Association (ESG Committee Chair), Spiritleaf Cannabis and is the co-chair of the United Way of Calgary and Area. Manjit has extensive background and experience in shareholder relations, governance and executive performance and compensation.
Lisa Oldridge, CFA, ICD.D
Appointed by the City of Calgary in 2019
Lisa is founding principal of Fulcrum Advisors with expertise in environmental social and corporate governance (ESG) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) performance integration and governance strategy for public and private companies, and for venture capital funds. Currently acting as strategic advisor with The51, a women-led financial platform and venture capital firm. Prior experience includes acting as senior advisor to boards & founders on advanced leadership and governance strategy, and over 15 years in the capital markets on the buy- and sell-sides, including as managing director institutional equity sales and portfolio management. Lisa is a CFA charterholder, holds an MBA (Finance) from the Haskayne School of Business, the SASB (now Value Reporting Institute) FSA credential, and the Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D designation. Lisa has spent 20 years serving on crown, municipal, and not-for-profit boards as a board director and advisory board member. She recently completed the Akimbo altMBA.
Craig Richmond, MBA
Appointed by the Calgary Chamber in 2021
Craig is a former President & CEO of the Vancouver Airport Authority. His aviation background includes a decade as a pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force, pivotal roles at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and CEO positions with Vantage Airport Group at six airports in three countries. After rejoining YVR as President & CEO in 2013, Craig over saw the airport's vision to become a world-class, sustainable hub. Under his leadership, YVR experienced rapid growth and continued to gain recognition. Craig is the 2016 recipient of Airports Council International – North America's (ACI-NA) Excellence in Visionary Leadership Award. And in 2019 he was awarded B.C. CEO of the Year (not-for-profit category) in Business in Vancouver's annual British Columbia CEO Awards. He is a former director of the Vancouver Board of Trade and Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.
Andrea Robertson
Appointed by the Calgary Chamber in 2017
Andrea is the President & CEO of STARS, a not-for-profit organization that provides helicopter emergency medical care to critically ill and injured patients across Western Canada. Prior to joining STARS, she held several leadership roles in health care including senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Alberta Health Services. Andrea has also held operational roles such as Vice President for the Foothills Medical Centre and Alberta Children's Hospital and planning roles including Vice President of Calgary’s South Health Campus. Andrea’s leadership and contributions to business and community life are widely recognized. She has a bachelor of science baccalaureate in nursing, a master’s degree in healthcare administration, an executive fellowship from Wharton University and Ivey School of Business and has completed the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program. Andrea also serves as a director on the Canadian Pacific Railway board.
Phillip (Phil) J. Scheibel
Appointed by the Government of Canada in 2019
Phil is a founding partner at Rose LLP where he advises on natural resource and infrastructure projects and disputes across western Canada. His experience includes critical infrastructure such as ring roads, light rail transit, hospitals, post-secondary institutions and airports. He is actively involved in the community including serving 9 years as a director of the Canadian Mental Health Association Calgary Region and as a long-time minor hockey, football and baseball coach.
Sheldon Schroeder
Appointed by the Calgary Chamber in 2020
Sheldon is a Vice President with Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL), leading major projects in upstream oil sands mining along with logistics and infrastructure support. Sheldon has 30 years of engineering and construction experience and has been with CNRL for 20 years in various capacities during the development of its oil sands mining business. He holds a bachelor and masters of science in engineering from the University of Alberta and is a profess ional engineer and has served on a standards development committee for the Association of Professional Engineering Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). He has previously served as director and board chair of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority.
Tracey Zehl, FCA, FCPA, FEA
Appointed by the City of Calgary in 2022
As the Southern Alberta Managing Partner at Grant Thornton LLP, Tracey Zehl, FCA, FCPA, FEA has over twenty-five years of experience as a Chartered Professional Accountant providing assurance and business advisory services to clients in the not-for-profit and private sectors. She has extensive experience in financial reporting, governance, executive leadership, risk management and strategic planning. In 2018, Tracey received a Fellowship from CPA Alberta recognizing the exceptional service, honor and distinction she brings to the profession, community and charitable organizations. Tracey works extensively in the community and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Limited and Calgary Stampede Casino (GP) Ltd. She previously served on boards and various committees of Tourism Calgary, Rocky Mountain Equipment and Ronald McDonald House of Southern and Central Alberta.